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1) The fallout from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  I'm not making predictions if it will be a sum gain or a sum loss, but it will shuffle the deck and the outcome will change heathcare, but no one knows for sure how just yet.

 

2) Using the immune system to fight diseases, for example immunotherapies will cure some previously incurable cancers. In my area of headache, humanized rabbit monoclonal antibodies against calcitonin gene related peptides might be a game changer.

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Electronic Health Records (EHR):

  • Beginning in 2014, all physician assistants participating in the federal electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use incentive program must use a Stage two-certified EHR. This is true even for physician assistants attesting for Stage one meaningful use. It's said that choosing an EHR system is like choosing a spouse. While the majority of EHR unions seem destined for happily ever after, that is not the case with all. Physician Assistants should have an exit strategy as they enter the EHR vendor relationship. The best way to do this is to seek mutually agreeable contract terms.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

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agree with JMJ above regarding ACA.

at the very least I think there will be many more pts seeking care. the question is will there be enough providers to see them? I think the answer is yes but many of those providers will be in urgent care and emergency medicine settings, not ideal for ongoing pcp level care.

ACA is like an ATM card good for care. the problem is there are not enough "atm machines" (pcps) out there who take the card. the cards are all good at your local er though. you do the math....the only 2 places in my county accepting medicaid already have a 3 mo wait for new pts and a 5 week wait for established pts today in 2013. this will get worse. there need to be more incentives to those willing to accept medicaid(loan repayment, better pay, etc). they could tie the emr payments into also taking medicaid or something. too may pcps cherry pick those pts with blue cross, etc leaving many of the sickest in our community with nowhere to turn but the  ER. we have many folks in my community who come to the er and wait multiple hrs every month for things as simple as bp med refills.

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---Hepatitis C treatment.  In very simple terms the far majority of people living with HCV can be cured in the next few years. Even those with adherence and comorbid issues. 12 weeks of antiviral therapy .... but at a cost ... perhaps 100,000 to complete a treatment cycle with the far majority going towards pharma.  At least 3-4 million people live with this in the US and how many of them go on to have sever costly liver disease ? 10-30% at least.

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---Hepatitis C treatment.  In very simple terms the far majority of people living with HCV can be cured in the next few years. Even those with adherence and comorbid issues. 12 weeks of antiviral therapy .... but at a cost ... perhaps 100,000 to complete a treatment cycle with the far majority going towards pharma.  At least 3-4 million people live with this in the US and how many of them go on to have sever costly liver disease ? 10-30% at least.

Ya, could be one of the most significant breakthroughs in a long time

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Exit strategy/alternative income source in case PAs get the shaft with SGR reforms and Obamacare... see the Sticky and contact your Congressmen/Senators today!

 

This one scares me.  I have contacted my Senators/Congressmen several times.  What type of strategy/alternative income source to you suggest?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Electronic Health Records (EHR):

  • Beginning in 2014, all physician assistants participating in the federal electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use incentive program must use a Stage two-certified EHR. This is true even for physician assistants attesting for Stage one meaningful use. It's said that choosing an EHR system is like choosing a spouse. While the majority of EHR unions seem destined for happily ever after, that is not the case with all. Physician Assistants should have an exit strategy as they enter the EHR vendor relationship. The best way to do this is to seek mutually agreeable contract terms.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

 

so agree. informatics.

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Interesting comments on the ACA and the expansion of healthcare. Agree with SocialMedicine re: Hep C treatment, very exciting stuff.

 

I'm surprised noone has mentioned antibiotic resistance yet. It was identified by the director of CDC as being one of the top health priorities in 2014: http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/18/5-health-challenges-for-2014/

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  • 2 months later...
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Dream list

PA able to order VNA

PA able to certify for hospice

SGR finally gets the boot

AAPA realizes we gotta move forward get left behind - tells AMA to bugger off, gains our own voice and demands name change, equal everything

 

 

more realistic

PAFT rattle cages at AAPA and gets them to wake up

AMA will continue to block PAs ordering VNA or Hospice

Medicare gets spanked for their stupid policy of restricting admissions

States with out a state run exchange have political unrest as their citizens realize they are getting left behind

NP's will continue to outflank us in the political realm, but PAFT (and maybe AAPA?) might help this be minimal

Hep C treatment is a major break though

Zohydro maker sues everyone who does not write it.. (tongue in cheek) but states are banning it and they are getting sued

Medical MJ booms

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