HIMSSCast

House gives final approval to the $1.9T American Rescue Plan; Bad bots are complicating vaccine sign-ups. Also: PatientPoint merges with Outcome Health to facilitate patient-clinician communications.Links to the stories:House approves $1.9 trillion rescue plan, which now goes before Biden for his signatureBig uptick in bot traffic jeopardizes vaccine appointmentsPatientPoint merges with Outcome Health to form combined patient engagement entity

NurX CEO Varsha Rao joins host Jonah Comstock and MobiHealthNews Managing Editor Laura Lovett to discuss her telehealth company's journey from a laser focus on contraception to a broader play for women's (and men's) health that includes dermatology and migraines. Along the way, we also discuss broader trends in telehealth, challenges of femtech, and NurX's foray into COVID-19 testing.Talking points:NurX’s storyWhat does it mean to be a female-focused telehealth company?Following a patient through her lifelong patient journeyHow NurX got into home COVID testingDigital health companies as service companiesChallenges and advantages of a woman-led startupThings men don’t understand about contraceptionNurX’s roadmap for new products, and COVID’s effect on itShould telehealth be a one-stop shop?The advantages of asynchronous telemedicineDealing with stigma in healthcareThe future of digital health and telehealthNurX’s role in COVID-19 testingWhat’s next for NurX?Varsha’s advice for healthcare startupsMore about this episode:Nurx CEO on what's next for women's health in 2021Nurx sets sights on the migraine and headache spaceNurx collects another $22.5M for birth control & STI treatment deliveriesAt-home COVID-19 testing services pump the brakes after FDA warns of 'fraudulent' kitsEverlyWell, Nurx to release at-home COVID-19 test kits within a weekNurx gets another $52 million to deliver mail-order birth control, PrEP, STI test kitsNurx adds STI testing to its mail-order product suiteNurx gets $36M for telemedicine for birth control, adds Chelsea Clinton to boardNurx raises $5.3M for app-based birth control and PrEP service

We know that telehealth can be a tremendous opportunity to expand healthcare access for people who might face barriers to medical services. But it also may be replicating the digital divide.In a recent study, researchers examined data from nearly 150,000 unique patients who scheduled telemedicine visits from March 16 to May 11, 2020. They investigated who completed those visits, and how. Two of those researchers, Dr. Lauren Eberly, a fellow in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Srinath Adusumalli, assistant chief medical information officer for connected health and assistant professor of clinical medicine, cardiovascular at Penn Medicine, joined MobiHealthNews Managing Editor Laura Lovett and Healthcare IT News Senior Editor Kat Jercich to discuss their findings and the importance of centering equity in virtual care.Talking points:Structural inequities are pervasive, and the digital divide is realPatients of color have lower rates of access to broadband and digital connectivityIn this study, older patients, Asian patients, Medicaid users and non-English speakers were less likely to complete telehealth visitsIt’s important to meet patients where they’re at and to meet their clinical needsThere are many opportunities for telehealth outside of rural careIt's a matter of population health as well – and we have to get it right sooner rather than laterThis is the chance to rethink strategies to deliver careVendors should incorporate equity into their designLaying a stronger foundation for reimbursement of care —especially payment parity—would be helpful to safeguard careBroadband access will also be keyMore about this episode:Women are less likely to use video for telehealth careStudy: Black patients more likely than white patients to use telehealth because of pandemicTelehealth may worsen digital divide for people with disabilitiesTelehealth's digital divide is real, and members of Congress want to address itHims & Hers, ATA, and 10 others launch Telehealth Equity Coalition

Medical groups urge racial data collection efforts for COVID-19 vaccinations; Apple and the University of Michigan share first results from hearing study. Also: Merck and Johnson & Johnson partner with the federal government to ramp up vaccine manufacturing.Links to the stories:Medical groups urge racial data collection efforts for COVID-19 vaccinationsApple, University of Michigan share first results from Apple Hearing StudyMerck to open facilities to Johnson & Johnson for speedier COVID-19 vaccine production

In today's Top Stories with Jeff Lagasse: Operating margins and other hospital metrics are struggling to recover from a winter COVID-19 surge; HHS pick Becerra praises telehealth. Plus: Google launches CareStudio to tackle EHR navigation issues.Links to the stories:U.S. hospitals and health systems face a long road to recoveryHHS Secretary nominee Xavier Becerra signals support for virtual careGoogle rolls out EHR navigation tool Care Studio

HIMSSCast host Jonah Comstock welcomes Sheldon Fields, RN, PhD, a researcher, health policy analyst, educator and advocate. He serves as Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion at Penn State, First Vice President at the National Black Nurses Association, and founder and CEO of his own consulting firm, the SDF Group. On today's episode, they talk about some of the current health equity challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and how to combat them. Talking points:Dr. Fields' history as a nurse and academicThe mission of the National Black Nurses’ AssociationHow caregiver representation aligns with care equityComparing the COVID-19 pandemic with the HIV/AIDS epidemicHow pandemics can illuminate health disparitiesThe history of medical atrocities in the US, and its aftereffectsIs vaccine hesitancy as big an issue as vaccine access?How minority nursing associations can help expand vaccine accessHealth equity beyond the pandemic — including medical researchHow the NIH’s All of Us initiative has continued throughout the pandemicMore about this article:Nurses You Should KnowThe National Black Nurses AssociationDr. Fields' PSU Faculty PageAll of UsIn-depth: Health organizations harness the power of technology to address health disparities during pandemicAMA past president Dr. Patrice Harris advocates for equity in the COVID-19 eraAI bias may worsen COVID-19 health disparities for people of colorNIH All of Us program gearing up for 'precision engagement,' Eric Dishman saysHuman rights law can provide a fair, transparent framework for vaccine allocationsDisadvantaged census areas are linked to COVID-19 incidenceCVS Health, Lyft and YMCA team for equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccination siteBig tech, digital health coalition forms to undercut COVID-19 healthcare disparitiesCalifornia taps Blue Shield to oversee an equitable vaccine distribution plan

In today's Top Stories with Jeff Lagasse: Online platform ClassPass unveils a new COVID-19 vaccine locator, while New Jersey struggles with its Microsoft-powered vaccine registration portal. Plus: Insurers are feeling the financial effects of the pandemic.Links to the stories:ClassPass adds COVID-19 vaccine search feature to its platformNew Jersey blames Microsoft for weeks of vaccine rollout glitchesFourth quarter COVID-19 costs catch up to insurers

With a small population distributed over a large geographical area, North Dakota doesn't lend itself to the easiest vaccine rollout. But the state has a secret weapon: a robust database called the North Dakota Immunization Information System (NDIIS). NDIIS manager Mary Woinarowicz joins host Jonah Comstock to talk about the early days of the COVID rollout, and how having a robust data management system has helped the state to make the most of its allocated COVID-19 vaccine doses. Talking points: The NDIIS and its pre-COVID functionHow NDIIS is supporting the COVID-19 vaccine rolloutLogistical challenges to vaccine administration, especially in rural areasThe challenges of launching a state-level response that’s part of a national rolloutHow NDIIS has responded to strong vaccine demandPatient-facing tools to improve the vaccine rolloutAdditional challenges related to the second doseThe NDIIS’s Immunization Forecasting toolThe slip in non-COVID vaccination during the pandemicWhat still lies ahead for COVID-19 vaccinationShould people who have had COVID get the vaccine?How to decide which vaccine patients get which vaccineMore about this episode:NDIISAthenahealth developer creates COVID-19 vaccine website from maternity leaveHow patient engagement tools can help ensure 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dosesHow top EHR vendors are prepping their systems for COVID-19 vaccinesEpic, Cerner offer updates on COVID-19 vaccine rollout effortsAI has advantages for COVID-19 vaccine rollout, but potential dangers tooHealthcare Finance News' latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccine distributionCalifornia taps Blue Shield to oversee an equitable vaccine distribution planHospitals need vaccine supply predictability 'all the way to the loading docks' 6,500 pharmacies to get 1 million doses of COVID-19  vaccineApple requires COVID-19 vaccine passport developers to work with public health authoritiesGoogle adds feature to help users find COVID-19 vaccination sitesGoogle Cloud launches vaccine distribution tool for local governments

In today's Top Stories with Jeff Lagasse:  Best practices for weathering the COVID-19 pandemic are emerging among hospital CEOs, while reimbursement restrictions for telehealth have been removed at a rapid pace. Plus: Fitbit introduces blood glucose monitoring.Links to the stories:The top 10 things CEOs got right during the pandemicReport shows 'vast improvement' in state telehealth reimbursement policiesFitbit adds blood glucose tracking to its connected app

Matthew Zachary — cancer survivor, patient advocate, influencer, pianist, and podcast DJ — joins host Jonah Comstock to tell his story and break down his patient's-eye view of the healthcare system and what needs to change for it to serve its consumers better. In a wide-ranging conversation with Matthew's irreverent style, they address topics like patient experience, financial incentives, socio-economic disparities, and more.This podcast is brought to you by RingCentral.Talking points:Matthew’s patient storyPatient advocacy in a nutshellThe beginnings of the modern patient-centered movement and the founding of Stupid CancerChallenges in today’s healthcare systemWhat can healthcare stakeholders do to make life better for patients?Aligning monetary incentives with patient needs and experiencesClinical trial databases as an example of profits over patientsThe challenge of bringing good care to minority and underserved groupsThe gaps between innovation, adoption, and patient awarenessMore about this podcast:A more active role for consumers will decelerate health spending over the next two decadesThe role of health systems in empowering communities3 patient experience trends that IT leaders should act onFocus on Health Equity (our new collection page)The Stupid Cancer Show (Matthew's previous podcast)Out of Patients (Matthew's current podcast)