Essential Business

The Business of Health: Keeping The Lights on Through The Pandemic and Beyond

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For some hospitals and health systems, especially those in rural areas, keeping the lights on by having stable financial performance has long been a challenge. And now COVID-19 is causing even strong positive margins to slip into the red.

The government, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has eased some of the burden by allowing providers flexibility in the use of telehealth during the public health emergency. Some of these temporary measures may become permanent, though the big question of whether payment parity will remain has yet to be answered.

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Mental Health Group

Houston To Launch COVID-19 Mental Health Support Program

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The program — called “Let’s Beat COVID-19: Health Education, and Support Services,” or HESS — launches Thursday, and includes a support hotline, virtual support groups, and other resources, according to the city’s health department.

The city is launching a new mental health support program providing resources to people during the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston officials announced Tuesday.

The program — called “Let’s Beat COVID-19: Health Education, and Support Services,” or HESS — launches Thursday, and includes a support hotline, virtual support groups, and other resources, according to the city’s health department.

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Health & Wellness

Researchers Prove A Healthy Lifestyle Extends Life Expectancy By Up To 8 Years

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Ditching cigarettes, exercising and abstaining from alcohol can add up to 8 years onto a person’s life span even if they are chronically ill, researchers have said.

According to a University of Leicester study, not smoking is the single most effective health booster, followed by physical activity and giving up booze.

The team used health data from 480,000 adults aged about 45 and monitored their health for at least six years.

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Coronavirus

COVID-19 ‘Far From Done,’ Expert Tells Biotech Meeting in Madison

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With daily COVID-19 cases on the rise again nationally and more than doubling in Wisconsin since early this month, a leading infectious disease expert said Wednesday he expects the trend to carry on.

“We are going to continue to see major increases occurring right through the fall,” Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, said during the first day of a three-day Wisconsin Biohealth Summit. “We’re far from done with this virus.”

The online event, which continues the next two Wednesdays, is sponsored by BioForward Wisconsin, a biohealth industry group. The first day included updates on UW-Madison and industry working together to make masks, face shields and other equipment in response to the pandemic.

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Ventilator Shortage

How to Solve the Coronavirus Ventilator Shortage

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Mechanical ventilators play a critical role in the management of patients with severe respiratory illness, such as COVID-19, who require assistance because they cannot breathe effectively….

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