by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 20, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight, Healthcare Payment Policy
A U.S. District Court in Alabama has given preliminary approval to a landmark antitrust settlement involving Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), calling for the insurer to pay $2.8 billion into a settlement fund designated for settlement class members, including...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 17, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight
JAMA has published a patient handout explaining the categories of weight loss medications. You have to sign in to download the PDF, but anyone can view it in the link. The need for clinicians of all types to be engaged in conversations with patients about obesity is...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 15, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight
Given that the new Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) on CTPs/skin subs are almost surely going to be implemented on Feb 12th, it’s likely that patients are going to be asked to sign Advanced Beneficiary Notices (ABNs) around their use. I got an interesting email...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 13, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight
WHATLEY KALLAS TO HOST WEBINARS FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON HOW TO SUBMIT CLAIMS IN THE $2.8 BILLION BCBS ANTITRUST SETTLEMENT – Whatley Kallas Whatley Kallas, LLP, who served as co-lead counsel on behalf of medicine in the recent Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 13, 2025 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitute Arrests
The CGS J15 Contractor Medical Directors have given me permission to share the slide deck that was presented on December 20th, which was a training session on the upcoming “skin sub” LCD. This PDF of the slide deck reviews the LCD requirements for the treatment of...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 10, 2025 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitute Arrests
According to data obtained from SmartTrak Medical Device and Wound Market Intelligence, in the third quarter of 2024 (Q324), the US Skin Substitute / Cellular Tissue Product (CTP) market reached $1.75 BILLION. That figure is up 64.0% compared to the third quarter of...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 8, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight, Miscellaneous Musings
Yes, I admit it, what I find interesting often seems sort of random. The outward manifestation of my thought processes appears as organized as the typical sock drawer, but bear with me. I am interested in the whole topic of “off-label” use of drugs and devices since...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 6, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight
Congress left for the holidays without addressing the 2.83% pay cut for doctors. The American Medical Association (AMA) and many other physician organizations have lobbied for a permanent, inflation-based payment update as recommended by the Medicare Payment Advisory...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 31, 2024 | Miscellaneous Musings
As 2024 closes, I am grateful to all of you for your interest in my random observations. If you need a New Year’s resolution for 2025, read The Undoing Project: a Friendship that Changed Our Minds. The book explores the partnership of Israeli psychologists Daniel...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 30, 2024 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitute Arrests
According to data obtained from SmartTrak Medical Device and Wound Market Intelligence, in the fourth quarter of 2024 ( Q424), the US Cellular Tissue Product (CTP) / Skin Substitute market grew 64.0% over the third quarter of 2023 (Q323). Three market leaders combined...
