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Shutterstock U.S viagra prices costco. Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) re-introduced the Criminalizing Abused Substance Templates (CAST) Act Wednesday. The legislation would modify the Controlled Substances Act to define the criminal penalty for making counterfeit drugs using a pill press.

Currently, the law bans the practice but doesn’t define the penalty for doing so. The CAST Act would make possessing a pill press with the intent to make counterfeit schedule I or II substances a crime and establish a sentence of up to 20 years for possession alone. €œThe opioid epidemic has ravaged our communities in West Tennessee and across our nation. Unfortunately, as we continue to battle erectile dysfunction treatment, the opioid crisis has only grown worse.

We owe it to our loved ones to take stronger action to fight back against this public health emergency. The CAST Act is the much-needed, bold step forward in this fight,” Kustoff said. €œIt will increase penalties against possession of harmful drugs and pill press molds, helping to combat the illegal drug market and the dangers it presents to our citizens and our brave law enforcement officers across the nation.”The Congressmembers said the law would prevent overdoses and reduce fentanyl-related deaths. €œFamilies, businesses, and entire communities in Virginia continue to face immense challenges due to opioid abuse.

As this public health crisis significantly worsens as a result of the erectile dysfunction treatment viagra, we also face the threat of extremely dangerous substances — such as fentanyl — being pressed into illicit pills and sold on our streets,” said Spanberger. €œThis bill would help crackdown on the production of counterfeit drugs via illicit pill press molds. By deterring drug traffickers and those who produce illicit drugs, we would take another step in the fight against fentanyl-related deaths.”Shutterstock U.S. Sen.

Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Democratic whip and Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, recently spoke about the dramatic increase in suicides and opioid overdose deaths associated with the erectile dysfunction treatment viagra.“While the human suffering of erectile dysfunction treatment has captured our attention, as it should, two other deadly epidemics in America still rage on. Opioids and the mental health crises,” Durbin said. €œEven before the viagra took its toll, we had been in the midst of the worst drug overdose crisis in our nation’s history, and we’re witnessing skyrocketing rates of suicide, but erectile dysfunction treatment has deepened these epidemics, which sadly feed on isolation and despair. With the convergence of erectile dysfunction emergencies, we are failing those most vulnerable to addiction and mental health challenges.” Durbin spoke about a Lake County, Ill., resident who struggled with substance use disorder and committed suicide after being unable to access treatment and about the increase in suicides among African-American residents in Cook County, Ill.In 2020, 437 Cook County residents committed suicide, and more than 700 died from opioid overdoses between January and June 2020.

The opioid death rate is double 2019’s rate. Durbin also urged support for President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which includes nearly $4 billion in addiction and mental health treatment grants.Shutterstock The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services plans to offer a training program on treating opioid use disorder (OUD) among Medicaid recipients. The program is open to medical providers and practice managers in psychiatry, primary care, infectious diseases, and women’s health.The Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) Fellowship Program will offer webinars, self-paced modules, and weekly discussion groups from March 23 through Sept. 23.

Participants will learn about the available Medicaid financing mechanisms for OBOT, receive technical assistance to offer OBOT, exchange ideas, and access a curated online library of tools and evidence-based practices.The program will be taught by addiction-medicine experts and will be offered in two phases.OBOT involves prescribing safe, effective, Food and Drug Administration-approved medications to treat OUD “Opioid addiction is an ongoing and often deadly presence for many Delawareans and their families, and we need every tool at our disposal to help them confront it,” Gov. John Carney said. €œEquipping our medical providers to manage the treatment of these patients is an important part of this effort.”The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services supports the program through a $3.58 million grant awarded to the state.Shutterstock Pennsylvania’s Senate Labor and Industry Committee recently advanced legislation that aims to reduce opioid dependency.Senate Bill 147 would amend the Workers’ Compensation Act of 1915 to require employers who have a certified safety committee to provide employees with information about the consequences of addiction, including opioid painkillers.Under Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Law, employers receive a 5 percent discount on their workers’ compensation insurance premium if they establish a certified safety committee.

The bill would require employers to incorporate addiction risks to receive certification and the discount. The Department of Labor and Industry would develop and make available the information.State Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R-Bedford and Cambria counties) introduced the bill. It was one of five bills approved by the committee addressing workplace issues.“Pennsylvanians face a much greater risk of mental health challenges during the erectile dysfunction treatment viagra, so combatting the addiction crisis has never been more important than right now,” state Sen.

Camera Bartolotta (R-Carroll), committee chairwoman, said. €œThese bills accomplish the key goals of providing a pathway for individuals in recovery to find quality jobs to rebuild their lives, while also making sure more Pennsylvanians do not fall victim to addiction.”The bill was originally introduced in May 2020..

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SALT LAKE CITY, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Catalyst, Inc does viagra always work. ("Health Catalyst," Nasdaq. HCAT), a leading provider of data and analytics technology and does viagra always work services to healthcare organizations, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Twistle, Inc. ("Twistle"), an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based healthcare patient engagement SaaS technology company that automates patient-centered, HIPAA-compliant communication between care teams and patients to transform the patient experience, drive better care outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.

We anticipate that Twistle's leading clinical workflow and patient engagement platform, paired with the Health Catalyst population health offering, does viagra always work will enable a comprehensive go-to-market solution to address the population health needs of healthcare organizations, as well as Life Science organizations, around the globe. Health Catalyst's cloud-based data platform, DOS™, will enhance Twistle's automation by enabling richer data-driven patient interaction. The Twistle technology also enables Health Catalyst's clinical, quality, and Life Sciences solutions, through established clinical pathways and patient communication channels."Twistle is a leading does viagra always work healthcare technology company committed to developing software that healthcare organizations and Life Science companies need to keep patients engaged in their healthcare," said Dan Burton, CEO of Health Catalyst. "Their efforts to improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of care are deeply aligned with our mission to be the catalyst for massive, measurable, data-informed improvements.

We're excited to welcome the Twistle team to Health Catalyst and look forward to working together to enable healthcare organizations to achieve the promise of population health." "Health Catalyst's acquisition of Twistle highlights our belief that the most promising technology in does viagra always work healthcare is combining AI and data with 'digital endpoints' for patient services to deliver value. Twistle creates endpoints that, in our experience, make it simple for us to interact asynchronously with patients in smarter ways, meeting them where they are digitally, and give our care teams the time to be even better at what they do best—delivering great care," said Aaron Martin, managing general partner of Providence Ventures and chief digital officer of Providence. "Combined with Health Catalyst's data and analytics technology, we expect accelerated innovation in personalizing our outreach to patients," he added."The synergy between our cultures, values, and solutions does viagra always work will have a tremendous impact on the health and wellness of patients. Health Catalyst's patient insights can trigger personalized outreach, and the patient's unique profile will allow Twistle's communication pathways to adapt to their preferences and attributes in unprecedented ways.

We are excited about the prospects of our joint solutions proactively engaging at-risk populations, advancing health equity, and improving patient activation in their care," does viagra always work said Kulmeet Singh, founder and CEO of Twistle. "We anticipate that care teams will realize even more efficiency gains as our automated outreach will be more intelligent and individualized, freeing their time to focus on patients that require intervention to stay on track with their medical plan of care."Health Catalyst expects to fund the transaction using a mix of stock and cash. The parties expect the transaction, which is subject to customary does viagra always work closing conditions, to close in early Q3 2021. Further details regarding the acquisition will be reported on a Form 8-K filing that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today.About Health CatalystHealth Catalyst is a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations committed to being the catalyst for massive, measurable, data-informed healthcare improvement.

Its customers leverage the cloud-based data platform—powered by data from more than 100 million patient records and encompassing trillions of facts—as well as its analytics software and professional services expertise to make data-informed decisions and realize measurable clinical, financial, and operational improvements does viagra always work. Health Catalyst envisions a future in which all healthcare decisions are data informed.About TwistleTwistle, a healthcare technology company founded in 2011, automates patient-centered, HIPAA-compliant communication between care teams and patients to transform the patient experience, drive better outcomes, and reduce costs. An automatic navigation (GPS) system for health, does viagra always work Twistle offers "turn-by-turn" guidance to patients as they navigate care journeys before, during, and after a care episode. Patients are engaged in their own care and follow best practices, communicate as needed with their care teams, and realize measurably better outcomes.

Twistle integrates sophisticated automation with multi-channel communication, engaging patients through secure text messaging, interactive voice response, patient portals, or the health system's digital applications.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements relating to expectations, plans, and prospects including expectations relating does viagra always work to our ability to close, and the timing of the closing of, this transaction and the benefits that will be derived from this transaction. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Health Catalyst's management as of the date of this release, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the risk of adverse and unpredictable macro-economic conditions and risks related to closing this transaction and integration of the companies. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the does viagra always work date hereof, and Health Catalyst disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.Media Contact:Amanda Hundtamanda.hundt@healthcatalyst.com575-491-0974 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/health-catalyst-announces-agreement-to-acquire-twistle-301319757.htmlSOURCE Health CatalystSALT LAKE CITY, May 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Health Catalyst, Inc. ("Health Catalyst", Nasdaq.

HCAT), a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations, today announced that Dan Burton, CEO, and Adam Brown, SVP of Investor Relations and FP&A, will participate in the 41st Annual William Blair Growth Stock Conference including a fireside chat on Wednesday, June 2, does viagra always work 2021 at 5:40 p.m. ET. A webcast link will be available at does viagra always work https://ir.healthcatalyst.com/investor-relations. About Health Catalyst Health Catalyst is a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations committed to being the catalyst for massive, measurable, data-informed healthcare improvement.

Its customers leverage the cloud-based data platform—powered by data from more than 100 million patient records and encompassing trillions does viagra always work of facts—as well as its analytics software and professional services expertise to make data-informed decisions and realize measurable clinical, financial, and operational improvements. Health Catalyst envisions a future in which all healthcare decisions are data informed. Health Catalyst does viagra always work Investor Relations Contact. Adam BrownSenior Vice President, Investor Relations and FP&A+1 (855)-309-6800ir@healthcatalyst.com Health Catalyst Media Contact.

Amanda Hundtamanda.hundt@healthcatalyst.com+1 (575) 491-0974.

SALT LAKE Website CITY, June 24, 2021 viagra prices costco /PRNewswire/ -- Health Catalyst, Inc. ("Health Catalyst," Nasdaq. HCAT), a leading provider of data viagra prices costco and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Twistle, Inc. ("Twistle"), an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based healthcare patient engagement SaaS technology company that automates patient-centered, HIPAA-compliant communication between care teams and patients to transform the patient experience, drive better care outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.

We anticipate that Twistle's leading clinical workflow and patient engagement platform, paired with the Health Catalyst population health offering, will enable a comprehensive go-to-market solution to address the population health needs of healthcare viagra prices costco organizations, as well as Life Science organizations, around the globe. Health Catalyst's cloud-based data platform, DOS™, will enhance Twistle's automation by enabling richer data-driven patient interaction. The Twistle technology also enables Health Catalyst's clinical, quality, and Life Sciences solutions, through established clinical pathways and patient communication channels."Twistle is a viagra prices costco leading healthcare technology company committed to developing software that healthcare organizations and Life Science companies need to keep patients engaged in their healthcare," said Dan Burton, CEO of Health Catalyst. "Their efforts to improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of care are deeply aligned with our mission to be the catalyst for massive, measurable, data-informed improvements.

We're excited to welcome the Twistle team to Health Catalyst and look forward to working together to enable healthcare organizations to achieve the promise of population health." "Health Catalyst's acquisition of Twistle highlights our belief viagra prices costco that the most promising technology in healthcare is combining AI and data with 'digital endpoints' for patient services to deliver value. Twistle creates endpoints that, in our experience, make it simple for us to interact asynchronously with patients in smarter ways, meeting them where they are digitally, and give our care teams the time to be even better at what they do best—delivering great care," said Aaron Martin, managing general partner of Providence Ventures and chief digital officer of Providence. "Combined with Health Catalyst's data and analytics technology, we expect accelerated innovation in personalizing our outreach to patients," he added."The synergy between our viagra prices costco cultures, values, and solutions will have a tremendous impact on the health and wellness of patients. Health Catalyst's patient insights can trigger personalized outreach, and the patient's unique profile will allow Twistle's communication pathways to adapt to their preferences and attributes in unprecedented ways.

We are excited about the prospects of our joint solutions proactively engaging at-risk populations, advancing health equity, and viagra prices costco improving patient activation in their care," said Kulmeet Singh, founder and CEO of Twistle. "We anticipate that care teams will realize even more efficiency gains as our automated outreach will be more intelligent and individualized, freeing their time to focus on patients that require intervention to stay on track with their medical plan of care."Health Catalyst expects to fund the transaction using a mix of stock and cash. The parties expect the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, to viagra prices costco close in early Q3 2021. Further details regarding the acquisition will be reported on a Form 8-K filing that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today.About Health CatalystHealth Catalyst is a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations committed to being the catalyst for massive, measurable, data-informed healthcare improvement.

Its customers leverage the cloud-based data platform—powered by data from more than 100 million patient records viagra prices costco and encompassing trillions of facts—as well as its analytics software and professional services expertise to make data-informed decisions and realize measurable clinical, financial, and operational improvements. Health Catalyst envisions a future in which all healthcare decisions are data informed.About TwistleTwistle, a healthcare technology company founded in 2011, automates patient-centered, HIPAA-compliant communication between care teams and patients to transform the patient experience, drive better outcomes, and reduce costs. An automatic navigation (GPS) system for health, viagra prices costco Twistle offers "turn-by-turn" guidance to patients as they navigate care journeys before, during, and after a care episode. Patients are engaged in their own care and follow best practices, communicate as needed with their care teams, and realize measurably better outcomes.

Twistle integrates sophisticated automation with multi-channel communication, engaging patients viagra prices costco through secure text messaging, interactive voice response, patient portals, or the health system's digital applications.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements relating to expectations, plans, and prospects including expectations relating to our ability to close, and the timing of the closing of, this transaction and the benefits that will be derived from this transaction. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Health Catalyst's management as of the date of this release, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the risk of adverse and unpredictable macro-economic conditions and risks related to closing this transaction and integration of the companies. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and Health Catalyst disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.Media Contact:Amanda Hundtamanda.hundt@healthcatalyst.com575-491-0974 View original viagra prices costco content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/health-catalyst-announces-agreement-to-acquire-twistle-301319757.htmlSOURCE Health CatalystSALT LAKE CITY, May 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Health Catalyst, Inc. ("Health Catalyst", Nasdaq.

HCAT), a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations, today announced that Dan Burton, CEO, and Adam Brown, SVP of Investor Relations viagra prices costco and FP&A, will participate in the 41st Annual William Blair Growth Stock Conference including a fireside chat on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 5:40 p.m. ET. A webcast link will be available at https://ir.healthcatalyst.com/investor-relations viagra prices costco. About Health Catalyst Health Catalyst is a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations committed to being the catalyst for massive, measurable, data-informed healthcare improvement.

Its customers leverage the cloud-based data platform—powered by data from more than 100 million patient records and encompassing trillions of facts—as well as its analytics software and professional services expertise to make data-informed viagra prices costco decisions and realize measurable clinical, financial, and operational improvements. Health Catalyst envisions a future in which all healthcare decisions are data informed. Health Catalyst viagra prices costco Investor Relations Contact. Adam BrownSenior Vice President, Investor Relations and FP&A+1 (855)-309-6800ir@healthcatalyst.com Health Catalyst Media Contact.

Amanda Hundtamanda.hundt@healthcatalyst.com+1 (575) 491-0974.

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More than 90% of babies born with viagra how does it work additional hints heart defects survive into adulthood. As a result, there are now more adults living with congenital heart viagra how does it work disease than children. These adults have a chronic, lifelong condition and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has produced advice to give the best chance of a normal life. The guidelines are published online today in European Heart Journal,1 and on the ESC website.2Congenital heart disease refers to any viagra how does it work structural defect of the heart and/or great vessels (those directly connected to the heart) present at birth.

Congenital heart disease affects all aspects of life, including physical and mental health, socialising, and work. Most patients are unable to exercise at the same level as their peers which, along with the awareness of having a chronic condition, affects mental wellbeing."Having a congenital heart disease, with a need for long-term follow-up and treatment, can also have an impact on social life, limit employment options and viagra how does it work make it difficult to get insurance," said Professor Helmut Baumgartner, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and head of Adult Congenital and Valvular Heart Disease at the University Hospital of Münster, Germany. "Guiding and supporting patients in all of these processes is an inherent part of their care."All adults with congenital heart disease should have at least one appointment at a specialist centre to determine how often they need to be seen. Teams at these centres should include specialist nurses, psychologists and social workers given that anxiety and depression are common concerns.Pregnancy is contraindicated in women with certain conditions such high viagra how does it work blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.

"Pre-conception counselling is recommended for women and men to discuss the risk of the defect in offspring and the option of foetal screening," said Professor Julie De Backer, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and cardiologist and clinical geneticist at Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.Concerning sports, recommendations are provided for each condition. Professor De Backer viagra how does it work said. "All adults with congenital heart disease should be encouraged to exercise, taking into account the nature of the underlying defect and their own abilities."The guidelines state when and how to diagnose complications. This includes proactively monitoring for arrhythmias, cardiac imaging and blood tests to detect problems with heart function.Detailed recommendations are provided on how and when viagra how does it work to treat complications.

Arrhythmias are an important cause of sickness and death and the guidelines stress the importance of correct and timely referral to a specialised treatment centre. They also list when particular treatments should be considered such as ablation (a procedure to destroy heart tissue and stop faulty electrical signals) and device implantation.For several defects, there are new recommendations for catheter-based viagra how does it work treatment. "Catheter-based treatment should be performed by specialists in adult congenital heart disease working within a multidisciplinary team," said Professor Baumgartner. Story Source viagra how does it work.

Materials provided by European Society of Cardiology. Note. Content may be edited for style and length.One in five patients die within a year after the most common type of heart attack. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) treatment guidelines for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome are published online today in European Heart Journal, and on the ESC website.Chest pain is the most common symptom, along with pain radiating to one or both arms, the neck, or jaw.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should call an ambulance immediately. Complications include potentially deadly heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias), which are another reason to seek urgent medical help.Treatment is aimed at the underlying cause. The main reason is fatty deposits (atherosclerosis) that become surrounded by a blood clot, narrowing the arteries supplying blood to the heart. In these cases, patients should receive blood thinners and stents to restore blood flow.

For the first time, the guidelines recommend imaging to identify other causes such as a tear in a blood vessel leading to the heart.Regarding diagnosis, there is no distinguishing change on the electrocardiogram (ECG), which may be normal. The key step is measuring a chemical in the blood called troponin. When blood flow to the heart is decreased or blocked, heart cells die, and troponin levels rise. If levels are normal, the measurement should be repeated one hour later to rule out the diagnosis.

If elevated, hospital admission is recommended to further evaluate the severity of the disease and decide the treatment strategy.Given that the main cause is related to atherosclerosis, there is a high risk of recurrence, which can also be deadly. Patients should be prescribed blood thinners and lipid lowering therapies. "Equally important is a healthy lifestyle including smoking cessation, exercise, and a diet emphasising vegetables, fruits and whole grains while limiting saturated fat and alcohol," said Professor Jean-Philippe Collet, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and professor of cardiology, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.Behavioural change and adherence to medication are best achieved when patients are supported by a multidisciplinary team including cardiologists, general practitioners, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, and pharmacists.The likelihood of triggering another heart attack during sexual activity is low for most patients, and regular exercise decreases this risk. Healthcare providers should ask patients about sexual activity and offer advice and counselling.Annual influenza vaccination is recommended -- especially for patients aged 65 and over -- to prevent further heart attacks and increase longevity."Women should receive equal access to care, a prompt diagnosis, and treatments at the same rate and intensity as men," said Professor Holger Thiele, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and medical director, Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Heart Centre Leipzig, Germany.

Story Source. Materials provided by European Society of Cardiology. Note. Content may be edited for style and length.Feeling angry these days?.

New research suggests that a good night of sleep may be just what you need.This program of research comprised an analysis of diaries and lab experiments. The researchers analyzed daily diary entries from 202 college students, who tracked their sleep, daily stressors, and anger over one month. Preliminary results show that individuals reported experiencing more anger on days following less sleep than usual for them.The research team also conducted a lab experiment involving 147 community residents. Participants were randomly assigned either to maintain their regular sleep schedule or to restrict their sleep at home by about five hours across two nights.

Following this manipulation, anger was assessed during exposure to irritating noise.The experiment found that well-slept individuals adapted to noise and reported less anger after two days. In contrast, sleep-restricted individuals exhibited higher and increased anger in response to aversive noise, suggesting that losing sleep undermined emotional adaptation to frustrating circumstance. Subjective sleepiness accounted for most of the experimental effect of sleep loss on anger. A related experiment in which individuals reported anger following an online competitive game found similar results."The results are important because they provide strong causal evidence that sleep restriction increases anger and increases frustration over time," said Zlatan Krizan, who has a doctorate in personality and social psychology and is a professor of psychology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.

"Moreover, the results from the daily diary study suggest such effects translate to everyday life, as young adults reported more anger in the afternoon on days they slept less."The authors noted that the findings highlight the importance of considering specific emotional reactions such as anger and their regulation in the context of sleep disruption. Story Source. Materials provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Note.

Content may be edited for style and length.Overcoming the nation's opioid epidemic will require clinicians to look beyond opioids, new research from Oregon Health &. Science University suggests.The study reveals that among patients who participated in an in-hospital addiction medicine intervention at OHSU, three-quarters came into the hospital using more than one substance. Overall, participants used fewer substances in the months after working with the hospital-based addictions team than before.The study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment."We found that polysubstance use is the norm," said lead author Caroline King, M.P.H., a health systems researcher and current M.D./Ph.D. Student in the OHSU School of Medicine's biomedical engineering program.

"This is important because we may need to offer additional support to patients using multiple drugs. If someone with opioid use disorder also uses alcohol or methamphetamines, we miss caring for the whole person by focusing only on their opioid use."About 40% of participants reported they had abstained from using at least one substance at least a month after discharge -- a measure of success that isn't typically tracked in health system record-keeping.Researchers enrolled 486 people seen by an addiction medicine consult service while hospitalized at OHSU Hospital between 2015 and 2018, surveying them early during their stay in the hospital and then again 30 to 90 days after discharge. advertisement Treatment of opioid use disorder can involve medication such as buprenorphine, or Suboxone, which normalizes brain function by acting on the same target in the brain as prescription opioids or heroin.However, focusing only on the opioid addiction may not adequately address the complexity of each patient."Methamphetamine use in many parts of the U.S., including Oregon, is prominent right now," said senior author Honora Englander, M.D., associate professor of medicine (hospital medicine) in the OHSU School of Medicine. "If people are using stimulants and opioids -- and we only talk about their opioid use -- there are independent harms from stimulant use combined with opioids.

People may be using methamphetamines for different reasons than they use opioids."Englander leads the in-hospital addiction service, known as Project IMPACT, or Improving Addiction Care Team.The initiative brings together physicians, social workers, peer-recovery mentors and community addiction providers to address addiction when patients are admitted to the hospital. Since its inception in 2015, the program has served more than 1,950 people hospitalized at OHSU.The national opioid epidemic spiraled out of control following widespread prescribing of powerful pain medications beginning in the 1990s. Since then, it has often been viewed as a public health crisis afflicting rural, suburban and affluent communities that are largely white.Englander said the new study suggests that a singular focus on opioids may cause clinicians to overlook complexity of issues facing many populations, including people of color, who may also use other substances."Centering on opioids centers on whiteness," Englander said. "Understanding the complexity of people's substance use patterns is really important to honoring their experience and developing systems that support their needs."Researchers say the finding further reinforces earlier research showing that hospitalization is an important time to offer treatment to people with substance use disorder, even if they are not seeking treatment for addiction when they come to the hospital.

Story Source. Materials provided by Oregon Health &. Science University. Original written by Erik Robinson.

Note. Content may be edited for style and length..

More than 90% of babies viagra prices costco born with heart defects survive into adulthood. As a result, there are now more adults living with congenital heart disease than children viagra prices costco. These adults have a chronic, lifelong condition and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has produced advice to give the best chance of a normal life. The guidelines are published online today in European Heart Journal,1 and on the ESC website.2Congenital heart disease refers viagra prices costco to any structural defect of the heart and/or great vessels (those directly connected to the heart) present at birth. Congenital heart disease affects all aspects of life, including physical and mental health, socialising, and work.

Most patients are unable to exercise at the same level as their peers which, along with the awareness of having a chronic condition, affects mental wellbeing."Having a congenital heart disease, with a need for long-term follow-up and treatment, can also have an impact on social life, limit employment options and make it difficult to get insurance," said Professor Helmut Baumgartner, viagra prices costco Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and head of Adult Congenital and Valvular Heart Disease at the University Hospital of Münster, Germany. "Guiding and supporting patients in all of these processes is an inherent part of their care."All adults with congenital heart disease should have at least one appointment at a specialist centre to determine how often they need to be seen. Teams at these centres should include specialist nurses, psychologists and social workers given that anxiety and depression viagra prices costco are common concerns.Pregnancy is contraindicated in women with certain conditions such high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. "Pre-conception counselling is recommended for women and men to discuss the risk of the defect in offspring and the option of foetal screening," said Professor Julie De Backer, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and cardiologist and clinical geneticist at Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.Concerning sports, recommendations are provided for each condition. Professor De viagra prices costco Backer said.

"All adults with congenital heart disease should be encouraged to exercise, taking into account the nature of the underlying defect and their own abilities."The guidelines state when and how to diagnose complications. This includes proactively monitoring for arrhythmias, cardiac imaging and blood tests to detect problems with heart function.Detailed recommendations are provided on how and when to treat viagra prices costco complications. Arrhythmias are an important cause of sickness and death and the guidelines stress the importance of correct and timely referral to a specialised treatment centre. They also list when particular treatments should be considered such as ablation (a procedure to destroy heart tissue and stop faulty electrical signals) and device implantation.For viagra prices costco several defects, there are new recommendations for catheter-based treatment. "Catheter-based treatment should be performed by specialists in adult congenital heart disease working within a multidisciplinary team," said Professor Baumgartner.

Story Source viagra prices costco. Materials provided by European Society of Cardiology. Note. Content may be edited for style and length.One in five patients die within a year after the most common type of heart attack. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) treatment guidelines for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome are published online today in European Heart Journal, and on the ESC website.Chest pain is the most common symptom, along with pain radiating to one or both arms, the neck, or jaw.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should call an ambulance immediately. Complications include potentially deadly heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias), which are another reason to seek urgent medical help.Treatment is aimed at the underlying cause. The main reason is fatty deposits (atherosclerosis) that become surrounded by a blood clot, narrowing the arteries supplying blood to the heart. In these cases, patients should receive blood thinners and stents to restore blood flow. For the first time, the guidelines recommend imaging to identify other causes such as a tear in a blood vessel leading to the heart.Regarding diagnosis, there is no distinguishing change on the electrocardiogram (ECG), which may be normal.

The key step is measuring a chemical in the blood called troponin. When blood flow to the heart is decreased or blocked, heart cells die, and troponin levels rise. If levels are normal, the measurement should be repeated one hour later to rule out the diagnosis. If elevated, hospital admission is recommended to further evaluate the severity of the disease and decide the treatment strategy.Given that the main cause is related to atherosclerosis, there is a high risk of recurrence, which can also be deadly. Patients should be prescribed blood thinners and lipid lowering therapies.

"Equally important is a healthy lifestyle including smoking cessation, exercise, and a diet emphasising vegetables, fruits and whole grains while limiting saturated fat and alcohol," said Professor Jean-Philippe Collet, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and professor of cardiology, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.Behavioural change and adherence to medication are best achieved when patients are supported by a multidisciplinary team including cardiologists, general practitioners, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, and pharmacists.The likelihood of triggering another heart attack during sexual activity is low for most patients, and regular exercise decreases this risk. Healthcare providers should ask patients about sexual activity and offer advice and counselling.Annual influenza vaccination is recommended -- especially for patients aged 65 and over -- to prevent further heart attacks and increase longevity."Women should receive equal access to care, a prompt diagnosis, and treatments at the same rate and intensity as men," said Professor Holger Thiele, Chairperson of the guidelines Task Force and medical director, Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Heart Centre Leipzig, Germany. Story Source. Materials provided by European Society of Cardiology. Note.

Content may be edited for style and length.Feeling angry these days?. New research suggests that a good night of sleep may be just what you need.This program of research comprised an analysis of diaries and lab experiments. The researchers analyzed daily diary entries from 202 college students, who tracked their sleep, daily stressors, and anger over one month. Preliminary results show that individuals reported experiencing more anger on days following less sleep than usual for them.The research team also conducted a lab experiment involving 147 community residents. Participants were randomly assigned either to maintain their regular sleep schedule or to restrict their sleep at home by about five hours across two nights.

Following this manipulation, anger was assessed during exposure to irritating noise.The experiment found that well-slept individuals adapted to noise and reported less anger after two days. In contrast, sleep-restricted individuals exhibited higher and increased anger in response to aversive noise, suggesting that losing sleep undermined emotional adaptation to frustrating circumstance. Subjective sleepiness accounted for most of the experimental effect of sleep loss on anger. A related experiment in which individuals reported anger following an online competitive game found similar results."The results are important because they provide strong causal evidence that sleep restriction increases anger and increases frustration over time," said Zlatan Krizan, who has a doctorate in personality and social psychology and is a professor of psychology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. "Moreover, the results from the daily diary study suggest such effects translate to everyday life, as young adults reported more anger in the afternoon on days they slept less."The authors noted that the findings highlight the importance of considering specific emotional reactions such as anger and their regulation in the context of sleep disruption.

Story Source. Materials provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Note. Content may be edited for style and length.Overcoming the nation's opioid epidemic will require clinicians to look beyond opioids, new research from Oregon Health &. Science University suggests.The study reveals that among patients who participated in an in-hospital addiction medicine intervention at OHSU, three-quarters came into the hospital using more than one substance.

Overall, participants used fewer substances in the months after working with the hospital-based addictions team than before.The study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment."We found that polysubstance use is the norm," said lead author Caroline King, M.P.H., a health systems researcher and current M.D./Ph.D. Student in the OHSU School of Medicine's biomedical engineering program. "This is important because we may need to offer additional support to patients using multiple drugs. If someone with opioid use disorder also uses alcohol or methamphetamines, we miss caring for the whole person by focusing only on their opioid use."About 40% of participants reported they had abstained from using at least one substance at least a month after discharge -- a measure of success that isn't typically tracked in health system record-keeping.Researchers enrolled 486 people seen by an addiction medicine consult service while hospitalized at OHSU Hospital between 2015 and 2018, surveying them early during their stay in the hospital and then again 30 to 90 days after discharge. advertisement Treatment of opioid use disorder can involve medication such as buprenorphine, or Suboxone, which normalizes brain function by acting on the same target in the brain as prescription opioids or heroin.However, focusing only on the opioid addiction may not adequately address the complexity of each patient."Methamphetamine use in many parts of the U.S., including Oregon, is prominent right now," said senior author Honora Englander, M.D., associate professor of medicine (hospital medicine) in the OHSU School of Medicine.

"If people are using stimulants and opioids -- and we only talk about their opioid use -- there are independent harms from stimulant use combined with opioids. People may be using methamphetamines for different reasons than they use opioids."Englander leads the in-hospital addiction service, known as Project IMPACT, or Improving Addiction Care Team.The initiative brings together physicians, social workers, peer-recovery mentors and community addiction providers to address addiction when patients are admitted to the hospital. Since its inception in 2015, the program has served more than 1,950 people hospitalized at OHSU.The national opioid epidemic spiraled out of control following widespread prescribing of powerful pain medications beginning in the 1990s. Since then, it has often been viewed as a public health crisis afflicting rural, suburban and affluent communities that are largely white.Englander said the new study suggests that a singular focus on opioids may cause clinicians to overlook complexity of issues facing many populations, including people of color, who may also use other substances."Centering on opioids centers on whiteness," Englander said. "Understanding the complexity of people's substance use patterns is really important to honoring their experience and developing systems that support their needs."Researchers say the finding further reinforces earlier research showing that hospitalization is an important time to offer treatment to people with substance use disorder, even if they are not seeking treatment for addiction when they come to the hospital.

Story Source. Materials provided by Oregon Health &. Science University. Original written by Erik Robinson. Note.

Content may be edited for style and length..

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In doing so, Where to get zithromax over the counter the CBE must give priority to measures that expired viagra. (1) Address the health care provided to patients with prevalent, high-cost chronic diseases. (2) have the greatest potential for improving quality, efficiency, and patient-centered health care.

And (3) may be implemented rapidly due to existing evidence, standards expired viagra of care, or other reasons. Additionally, the CBE must take into account measures that. (1) May assist consumers and patients in making informed health care decisions.

(2) address expired viagra health disparities across groups and areas. And (3) address the continuum of care furnished by multiple providers or practitioners across multiple settings. Endorsement of Measures.

The CBE expired viagra must provide for the endorsement of standardized health care performance measures. This process must consider whether measures are evidence-based, reliable, valid, verifiable, relevant to enhanced health outcomes, actionable at the caregiver level, feasible to collect and report, responsive to variations in patient characteristics such as health status, language capabilities, race or ethnicity, and income level and are consistent across types of health care providers, including hospitals and physicians. Maintenance of CBE Endorsed Measures.

The CBE is required to establish and implement a process to ensure that endorsed measures are updated (or retired if obsolete) as new expired viagra evidence is developed. Convening Multi-Stakeholder Groups. The CBE must convene multi-stakeholder groups to provide input on.

(1) The selection of certain categories of quality and efficiency measures, from among such measures that have been endorsed by the entity and from among such measures that have not been considered expired viagra for endorsement by such entity but are used or proposed to be used by the Secretary for the collection or reporting of quality and efficiency measures. And (2) national priorities for improvement in population health and in the delivery of health care services for consideration under the national strategy. The CBE provides input on measures for use in certain specific Medicare programs, for use in programs that report performance information to the public, and for use in health care programs that are not included under the Act.

The multi-stakeholder groups provide input on quality and efficiency measures for various federal health care quality reporting and quality improvement programs including those that address certain Medicare services provided through hospices, ambulatory surgical centers, hospital inpatient and outpatient facilities, physician offices, expired viagra cancer hospitals, end stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and home health care programs. Transmission of Multi-Stakeholder Input. Not later than February 1 of each year, the CBE must transmit to the Secretary the input of multi-stakeholder groups.

Annual Report to expired viagra Congress and the Secretary. Not later than March 1 of each year, the CBE is required to submit to Congress and the Secretary an annual report. The report is to describe.

The implementation of quality and efficiency measurement initiatives and the coordination expired viagra of such initiatives with quality and efficiency initiatives implemented by other payers. Recommendations on an integrated national strategy and priorities for health care performance measurement. Performance of the CBE's duties required under its contract with the Secretary.

Gaps in endorsed quality and efficiency measures, including measures that are within priority areas identified by the Secretary under the national strategy established under section 399HH expired viagra of the Public Health Service Act (National Quality Strategy), and where quality and efficiency measures are unavailable or inadequate to identify or address such gaps. Areas in which evidence is insufficient to support endorsement of quality and efficiency measures in priority areas identified by the Secretary under the National Quality Strategy, and where targeted research may address such gaps. And The convening of multi-stakeholder groups to provide input on.

(1) The selection of quality and efficiency measures from among such measures that have been endorsed by the CBE and such measures that have not been considered for endorsement by the CBE but are used or proposed to be used by the Secretary for the collection or reporting of quality and efficiency expired viagra measures. And (2) national priorities for improvement in population health and the delivery of health care services for consideration under the National Quality Strategy. Section 50206(c)(1) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Pub.

L. 115-123) amended section 1890(b)(5)(A) of the Act to require the CBE's annual report to Congress to include the following. (1) An itemization of financial information for the previous fiscal year ending September 30, including annual revenues of the entity, annual expenses of the entity, and a breakdown of the amount awarded per contracted task order and the specific projects funded in each task order assigned to the entity.

And (2) any updates or modifications to internal policies and procedures of the entity as they relate to the duties of the CBE including specifically identifying any modifications to the disclosure of interests and conflicts of interests for committees, work groups, task forces, and advisory panels of the entity, and information on external stakeholder participation in the duties of the entity. The statutory requirements for the CBE to annually report to Congress and the Secretary of HHS also specify that the Secretary must review and publish the CBE's annual report in the Federal Register, together with any comments of the Secretary on the report, not later than 6 months after receipt. This Federal Register notice complies with the statutory requirement for Secretarial review and publication of the CBE's annual report.

NQF submitted a report on its 2019 activities to Congress and the Secretary on March 2, 2020. The Secretary's Comments on this report are presented in section II. Of this notice, and the National Quality Forum 2019 Activities Report to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is provided, Start Printed Page 60177as submitted to HHS, in the addendum to this Federal Register notice in section III.

II. Secretarial Comments on the National Quality Forum 2019 Activities. Report to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Once again, we thank the National Quality Forum (NQF) and the many stakeholders who participate in NQF projects for helping to advance the science and utility of health care quality measurement.

As part of its annual recurring work to maintain a strong portfolio of endorsed measures for use across varied providers, settings of care, and health conditions, NQF reports that in 2019, it updated its measure portfolio by reviewing and endorsing or re-endorsing 110 measures and removing 41 measures.[] Endorsed measures address a wide range of health care topics relevant to HHS programs, including. Person- and family-centered care. Care coordination.

Palliative and end-of-life care. Cardiovascular care. Behavioral health.

Pulmonary/critical care. Perinatal care. Cancer treatment.

Patient safety. And cost and resource use. In addition to endorsing measures and maintenance of endorsed measures, NQF also worked to remove measures from the portfolio of endorsed measures for their 14 projects related to the topics discussed in the previous paragraph for a variety of reasons, such as.

Measures no longer meeting endorsement criteria. Harmonization between similar measures. Replacement of outdated measures with improved measures.

And lack of continued need for measures where providers consistently perform at the highest level.[] This continuous refinement of the measures portfolio through the measures maintenance process ensures that quality measures remain aligned with current field practices and health care goals. Measure set refinements also align with HHS initiatives, such as the Meaningful Measures Initiative at the Centers for Medicare &. Medicaid Services (CMS).

CMS is working to identify the highest priorities for quality measurement and improvement and promote patient-centered, outcome based measures that are meaningful to patients and clinicians. NQF uses its unique role as the CBE to undertake a partnership with CMS to support the Core Quality Measures Collaborative (CQMC). Convened by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the CQMC is a public-private coalition, with representation by medical associations, specialty societies, public and private payers, patient and consumer groups, purchasers, and quality collaboratives.

The CQMC aims to identify high-value, high-impact quality measures that promote better outcomes. The CQMC supports nationwide quality measure alignment between Medicare and private payers and in turn, advances the ongoing work to establish a health quality roadmap to improve reporting across programs and health systems, as referenced in the recent Executive Order on Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First.[] To date, CQMC has convened workgroups and developed eight (8) core measure sets to be used in high impact areas, including those for the topics of primary care/accountable care organizations/person-centered medical homes, cardiology, gastroenterology, HIV/Hepatitis C, medical oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedics, and pediatrics. Recognizing the importance of public-private collaboration, the CQMC's work enhances measure alignment and reduces provider burden.

CMS awarded NQF a 3-year contract in September 2018 to support the CQMC's work to update and expand the core sets. In 2019, NQF convened all of the eight CQMC workgroups to update the core sets and discuss maintenance of the core sets. In addition, NQF updated and finalized the principles for selecting measures for existing and new core sets, based on the input of the workgroups.

During the same period, NQF also developed the approaches for prioritizing the topics or areas for potential new core sets. Through its partnership with NQF, CMS has contributed to the CQMC by making sure that the core sets drive innovation, reflect evidence-based care, and are meaningful to all stakeholders. The work of the CQMC to develop core measure sets addresses widely recognized and long-standing challenges of quality measure reporting and helps to align quality measurement across all payers, reducing burden, simplifying reporting, and resulting in a consistent measurement process.

This in turn can result in reporting on a broader number of patients, higher reliability of the measures, and improved and more accurate public reporting. Facilitating measure alignment across payers and reducing provider burden is just some of many areas in which NQF partners with HHS to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans. Meaningful quality measurement is essential to the success of value-based purchasing, as evidenced in many of the targeted projects that NQF is being asked to undertake.

HHS greatly appreciates the ability to bring many and diverse stakeholders to the table to unleash innovation for quality measurement as a key component to value-based transformation.

In doing so, the CBE must give priority viagra prices costco to measures that. (1) Address the health care provided to patients with prevalent, high-cost chronic diseases. (2) have the greatest potential for improving quality, efficiency, and patient-centered health care. And (3) may be implemented rapidly due to existing evidence, standards viagra prices costco of care, or other reasons. Additionally, the CBE must take into account measures that.

(1) May assist consumers and patients in making informed health care decisions. (2) address viagra prices costco health disparities across groups and areas. And (3) address the continuum of care furnished by multiple providers or practitioners across multiple settings. Endorsement of Measures. The CBE must provide for the endorsement of viagra prices costco standardized health care performance measures.

This process must consider whether measures are evidence-based, reliable, valid, verifiable, relevant to enhanced health outcomes, actionable at the caregiver level, feasible to collect and report, responsive to variations in patient characteristics such as health status, language capabilities, race or ethnicity, and income level and are consistent across types of health care providers, including hospitals and physicians. Maintenance of CBE Endorsed Measures. The CBE is required to establish and implement a process to ensure that endorsed measures are updated viagra prices costco (or retired if obsolete) as new evidence is developed. Convening Multi-Stakeholder Groups. The CBE must convene multi-stakeholder groups to provide input on.

(1) The selection of certain categories of quality and efficiency measures, from among such measures that have been endorsed by the entity and from among such measures that have not been considered for endorsement by such entity but are used or proposed to be used viagra prices costco by the Secretary for the collection or reporting of quality and efficiency measures. And (2) national priorities for improvement in population health and in the delivery of health care services for consideration under the national strategy. The CBE provides input on measures for use in certain specific Medicare programs, for use in programs that report performance information to the public, and for use in health care programs that are not included under the Act. The multi-stakeholder groups provide input on quality and efficiency measures for various federal health care quality reporting and quality improvement programs including those that address certain Medicare services provided through hospices, ambulatory surgical centers, hospital inpatient and outpatient facilities, physician offices, cancer hospitals, end viagra prices costco stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and home health care programs. Transmission of Multi-Stakeholder Input.

Not later than February 1 of each year, the CBE must transmit to the Secretary the input of multi-stakeholder groups. Annual Report to Congress and viagra prices costco the Secretary. Not later than March 1 of each year, the CBE is required to submit to Congress and the Secretary an annual report. The report is to describe. The implementation of quality and efficiency measurement initiatives and the coordination of such initiatives with quality and efficiency initiatives implemented by viagra prices costco other payers.

Recommendations on an integrated national strategy and priorities for health care performance measurement. Performance of the CBE's duties required under its contract with the Secretary. Gaps in endorsed quality and efficiency measures, including measures that are within priority areas identified by the Secretary under the national strategy established under section 399HH of the Public Health Service Act (National Quality Strategy), and where viagra prices costco quality and efficiency measures are unavailable or inadequate to identify or address such gaps. Areas in which evidence is insufficient to support endorsement of quality and efficiency measures in priority areas identified by the Secretary under the National Quality Strategy, and where targeted research may address such gaps. And The convening of multi-stakeholder groups to provide input on.

(1) The selection of quality and efficiency measures from among such measures that have been endorsed by viagra prices costco the CBE and such measures that have not been considered for endorsement by the CBE but are used or proposed to be used by the Secretary for the collection or reporting of quality and efficiency measures. And (2) national priorities for improvement in population health and the delivery of health care services for consideration under the National Quality Strategy. Section 50206(c)(1) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-123) amended section 1890(b)(5)(A) of the Act to require the CBE's annual report to Congress to include the following.

(1) An itemization of financial information for the previous fiscal year ending September 30, including annual revenues of the entity, annual expenses of the entity, and a breakdown of the amount awarded per contracted task order and the specific projects funded in each task order assigned to the entity. And (2) any updates or modifications to internal policies and procedures of the entity as they relate to the duties of the CBE including specifically identifying any modifications to the disclosure of interests and conflicts of interests for committees, work groups, task forces, and advisory panels of the entity, and information on external stakeholder participation in the duties of the entity. The statutory requirements for the CBE to annually report to Congress and the Secretary of HHS also specify that the Secretary must review and publish the CBE's annual report in the Federal Register, together with any comments of the Secretary on the report, not later than 6 months after receipt. This Federal Register notice complies with the statutory requirement for Secretarial review and publication of the CBE's annual report. NQF submitted a report on its 2019 activities to Congress and the Secretary on March 2, 2020.

The Secretary's Comments on this report are presented in section II. Of this notice, and the National Quality Forum 2019 Activities Report to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is provided, Start Printed Page 60177as submitted to HHS, in the addendum to this Federal Register notice in section III. II. Secretarial Comments on the National Quality Forum 2019 Activities. Report to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Once again, we thank the National Quality Forum (NQF) and the many stakeholders who participate in NQF projects for helping to advance the science and utility of health care quality measurement.

As part of its annual recurring work to maintain a strong portfolio of endorsed measures for use across varied providers, settings of care, and health conditions, NQF reports that in 2019, it updated its measure portfolio by reviewing and endorsing or re-endorsing 110 measures and removing 41 measures.[] Endorsed measures address a wide range of health care topics relevant to HHS programs, including. Person- and family-centered care. Care coordination. Palliative and end-of-life care. Cardiovascular care.

Behavioral health. Pulmonary/critical care. Perinatal care. Cancer treatment. Patient safety.

And cost and resource use. In addition to endorsing measures and maintenance of endorsed measures, NQF also worked to remove measures from the portfolio of endorsed measures for their 14 projects related to the topics discussed in the previous paragraph for a variety of reasons, such as. Measures no longer meeting endorsement criteria. Harmonization between similar measures. Replacement of outdated measures with improved measures.

And lack of continued need for measures where providers consistently perform at the highest level.[] This continuous refinement of the measures portfolio through the measures maintenance process ensures that quality measures remain aligned with current field practices and health care goals. Measure set refinements also align with HHS initiatives, such as the Meaningful Measures Initiative at the Centers for Medicare &. Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is working to identify the highest priorities for quality measurement and improvement and promote patient-centered, outcome based measures that are meaningful to patients and clinicians. NQF uses its unique role as the CBE to undertake a partnership with CMS to support the Core Quality Measures Collaborative (CQMC).

Convened by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the CQMC is a public-private coalition, with representation by medical associations, specialty societies, public and private payers, patient and consumer groups, purchasers, and quality collaboratives. The CQMC aims to identify high-value, high-impact quality measures that promote better outcomes. The CQMC supports nationwide quality measure alignment between Medicare and private payers and in turn, advances the ongoing work to establish a health quality roadmap to improve reporting across programs and health systems, as referenced in the recent Executive Order on Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First.[] To date, CQMC has convened workgroups and developed eight (8) core measure sets to be used in high impact areas, including those for the topics of primary care/accountable care organizations/person-centered medical homes, cardiology, gastroenterology, HIV/Hepatitis C, medical oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedics, and pediatrics. Recognizing the importance of public-private collaboration, the CQMC's work enhances measure alignment and reduces provider burden. CMS awarded NQF a 3-year contract in September 2018 to support the CQMC's work to update and expand the core sets.

In 2019, NQF convened all of the eight CQMC workgroups to update the core sets and discuss maintenance of the core sets. In addition, NQF updated and finalized the principles for selecting measures for existing and new core sets, based on the input of the workgroups. During the same period, NQF also developed the approaches for prioritizing the topics or areas for potential new core sets. Through its partnership with NQF, CMS has contributed to the CQMC by making sure that the core sets drive innovation, reflect evidence-based care, and are meaningful to all stakeholders. The work of the CQMC to develop core measure sets addresses widely recognized and long-standing challenges of quality measure reporting and helps to align quality measurement across all payers, reducing burden, simplifying reporting, and resulting in a consistent measurement process.

This in turn can result in reporting on a broader number of patients, higher reliability of the measures, and improved and more accurate public reporting. Facilitating measure alignment across payers and reducing provider burden is just some of many areas in which NQF partners with HHS to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans. Meaningful quality measurement is essential to the success of value-based purchasing, as evidenced in many of the targeted projects that NQF is being asked to undertake. HHS greatly appreciates the ability to bring many and diverse stakeholders to the table to unleash innovation for quality measurement as a key component to value-based transformation.