The fall in life expectancy at birth was more alarming than the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on national income for a majority of countries in the Central American and Caribbean region, as a result of the rise in death rates. There were just four countries where life expectancy rose between 2019 and 2021, thanks to the fact that they recorded relatively few Covid-related deaths: life expectancy … [Read more...]
A terrible cycle’: Hurricane Fiona, natural disasters expose mental health crisis in Puerto Rico
In the days after Hurricane Fiona, Dr. Brenda Rivera-García sat at home without electricity, water and Wi-Fi in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was stuck listening to the hum of generators powering households across the neighborhood, drowning out the cheerful coquis that chirp throughout the night. The sad hum, the droning "lullaby," mirrored the island's collective grief, Rivera-García … [Read more...]
Telemedicine During The Pandemic: Leaving The Visually Impaired And Others With Disabilities Behind?
Initially, COVID-19 was dubbed “the great equalizer” due to its transmissibility across borders and demographic groups. As the virus continued to spread, however, it became evident that the elderly, immunocompromised, and marginalized groups were disproportionately affected. Health care responses, including the expansion of telemedicine, fueled by the CARES Act, redefined access to care for many … [Read more...]
Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Issues Special Fraud Alert Regarding Telemedicine Arrangements
On July 20, 2022, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) issued a special fraud alert (“Alert”) advising “practitioners to exercise caution when entering into arrangements with purported telemedicine companies.” The Alert is only one of four such “special fraud alerts” that the OIG has issued in the past decade and it illustrates the importance of … [Read more...]
Cyberattackers shift targets, breach style against healthcare providers
Cyberattackers are turning their attention to smaller hospital systems and specialty clinics. While larger providers and payers have the most data, smaller ones have lower levels of security preparedness, staff size and budget for sophisticated defenses, according to cybersecurity firm Critical Insight in its H1 2022 Healthcare Data Breach Report. And while total attacks are declining, the … [Read more...]