Looking back on a disturbing case of health care fraud
August 5th 2021In last month’s Legally Speaking, we published “Health care fraud exposed” by James M. Shwayder, MD, JD. It is disturbing in its details but exposes fraud and medical malpractice that went on for years. The ob-gyn at the center of it, Javaid Perwaiz, was recently sentenced to 59 years in prison.
Breastfeeding and alcohol: Do they mix?
August 5th 2021Even with these recommendations, women commonly ask questions about alcohol consumption and breastfeeding such as “Should I pump and dump if I have a glass of wine?” and “Do I just wait until it has passed through my system?” This month, experts Susan Crowe, MD, and Tricia Wright, MD, MS, provide the needed insight—with as much data as are available on this topic.
Breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings on the decline
August 2nd 2021According to data from the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the total number of cancer screening tests declined 87% for breast cancer and 84% for cervical cancer during April 2020.
Updated CDC guidelines: Diagnosing and treating STIs
August 2nd 2021The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), notably for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
ACOG and SMFM recommend COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant individuals
August 2nd 2021The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for all pregnant individuals. The recommendations come amid the current low vaccination rates and increase in cases.
Oral contraceptive use during adolescence has small but meaningful link to future depression
July 29th 2021Adolescent oral contraceptive use is associated with a small yet meaningful increased risk of experiencing an episode of major depressive disorder (MDD) in early adulthood, especially among women with no history of MDD in adolescence.
Lower risk of peripheral arterial disease linked to dietary patterns
July 29th 2021An evaluation of multiple recommended eating patterns has found that intakes of legumes, dietary fiber, and vegetable protein is linked to lower risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), whereas intakes of unprocessed red meat, processed meat, and regular soft drinks are associated with higher risk.
Bringing sexual dysfunction into the conversation for women with diabetes
July 27th 2021The management of diabetes is multifaceted, often requiring the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team of providers. While sexual side effects of diabetes are not commonly discussed during patient visits, there is a correlation between the presence of diabetes and frequent sexual dysfunction in women.
Medicare closes gaps in racial and ethnic health care disparities
July 27th 2021A cross-sectional study in JAMA Internal Medicine has found that entry to Medicare increases coverage rates, access to care, and self-reported health, and it also closes gaps in access and health between racial and ethnic groups.
Smart default policy helps lower-income enrollees avoid inferior health plans
July 22nd 2021An analysis of individual enrollment and premium data from California’s marketplace and the American Rescue Plan premium tax credit subsidy schedule has concluded that a smart default policy avoids defaulting lower-income marketplace enrollees to objectively inferior health care insurance plans and leads to large reductions in lower-income enrollees’ deductibles, copayments, and maximum out-of-pocket amounts.