Health News

Insurance plans vary in policies for gender-affirming surgeries

(HealthDay)—There is great variability in coverage and medical necessity criteria for gender-affirming top surgery across insurance companies, according to a study published in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Ledibabari M. Ngaage, M.B., B.Chir., from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and colleagues assessed insurance coverage of “top” gender-affirming surgery and evaluated the […]

Health News

One in SIX GP surgeries has closed since 2004

One in SIX GP surgeries has closed since 2004 and there are now more than 45% MORE patients per practice The average practice in England now has over 8,500 patients  Analysis of NHS figures show 670 surgeries have more than 15,000 patients Some bodies believe merging and closures will continue, adding pressure But others have […]

Health News

ACA expansion did not improve access to complex surgeries for low-income/minority patients

A first look at the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s Medicaid expansion finds that despite expectations, there was no increased use of complex surgical procedures at high volume hospitals—a proxy for high quality hospitals—among ethnic/racial minorities and low-income populations. The findings came from comparing surgery records from high-volume hospitals in three states that opted in to […]