Investments give lawmakers personal stake in biotech, healthcare | STAT
Nearly a third of U.S. senators and a fifth of representatives have financial ties to biotech and healthcare companies and investment firms, and there is no rule forbidding them from voting on or shaping legislation that would present a conflict of interest between their investments and their duty to their constituents, STAT reports.
Doctors' use of computers during appointments leaves patients less satisfied | Reuters
A small study of patients with chronic conditions being treated at safety net hospitals found that patients whose physician used a computer to update eletronic health records during the visit rated their care excellent less often. That could lend credence to some docs' worries that the records interfere with care. Physicians who used computers and EHRs during appointments were less likely to engage patients with eye contact and other positive interactions and were more likely to disagree with or correct them.
Patients want to price shop for care, but online tools unreliable | Kaiser Health News
As more Americans chose or are forced into high deductible health plans, employers and insurers are increasingly offering online price-shopping tools to help their members compare prices for services and procedures. But many patients are finding out too late that the data in the tools can be outdated or inaccurate.
Getting mental healthcare—virtually—at your regular doctor's office | Washington Post
Federal statistics show that around 80 million Americans live in areas without adequate access to mental health professionals. In those regions, the burden is on primary-care providers to spot or address mental health issues. Some health systems are now offering such patients "telemental health" services, virtual visits with mental health providers the patients would otherwise be unable to access.
