Lower Commercial Rates for Breast Surgical Procedures are Associated with Socioeconomic Disadvantage: A Transparency in Coverage Analysis.

Background: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Transparency in Coverage Rule in 2022, which requires payers to disclose commercial rates for the first time in the history of the US healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to characterize payer-disclosed commercial facility rates and examine the relationship with county-level social disadvantage for common breast surgical procedures.

Materials And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 2023 pricing data for 14 ablative and reconstructive breast procedures from Turquoise Health.

Near-infrared imaging retinal diagnostic applications-a review.

Objective: Near-infrared reflectance (NIR) is a commonly performed noncontact and rapid imaging technique. This paper reviews the clinical applications of NIR for diagnosing and monitoring retinal diseases.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across the Pubmed database.

Health System Purchasing Professionals' Approaches to Considering Equity in Procurement.

Background: Continuing data on racial bias in pulse oximeters and artificial intelligence has sparked calls for health systems to drive innovation against racial bias in healthcare device and artificial intelligence markets by incorporating equity concerns explicitly into purchasing decisions.

Research Question: How do healthcare purchasing professionals integrate equity concerns into purchasing decision-making?

Study Design And Methods: Between 8/2023-3/2024, we conducted semi-structured interviews via videoconferencing with healthcare purchasing professionals about purchasing processes for pulse oximeters and other devices-and whether and where equity concerns arise in decision-making. An abductive approach was used to analyze perspectives on how equity and disparity concerns are currently integrated into healthcare purchasing decision-making.

Return to Swimming After Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Background: Swimming is one of the most common sporting activities in the United States, and often popular among shoulder arthroplasty patients. While return to sport has become a popular topic recently, the literature focused on swimming is limited. The purpose of this study is to report the rate of return to swim after primary shoulder arthroplasty and evaluate changes in performance after surgery.