A new study finds that Brexit led to a decline in EU-trained doctors and nurses in the UK, but physician vacancies continued to rise, highlighting the need for careful consideration of immigration policies and their impact on healthcare staffing and access to care.
A large cohort study found that the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) can identify patients most likely to benefit from immediate antibiotics, allowing clinicians greater confidence in treating lower-risk patients. The study analyzed nearly 100,000 adults treated for suspected infection and suggests NEWS2 may provide a more comprehe...
A long-term study of 1,200 women in eastern Massachusetts found that those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods faced faster declines in heart health and worse cardiovascular risk before menopause. The research highlights the importance of addressing socioeconomic factors in preventing heart disease.
A new national study reveals that about two-thirds of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) offer prenatal care, while one in three do not, highlighting missed opportunities to address inequities in maternal health access. The study underscores the critical role of FQHCs in caring for low-income and racially diverse pregnant popul...
A new study shows that a telehealth navigator program can significantly improve blood pressure control among Black patients with hypertension cared for at federally qualified health centers. The program was associated with a 31.4 percentage point increase in the likelihood of having controlled blood pressure.
Despite an increase in federally funded residency slots, a new study finds that physician shortages persist, particularly in primary care and rural communities. The expansion of Medicare-funded residency positions was intended to support shortage specialties and underserved areas, but most positions were allocated to non-rural areas.
A new study found a steady rise in children's mental health concerns during routine primary care visits, with anxiety-related visits increasing by 300% over 10 years. The study highlights the growing role of pediatric primary care in addressing mental health needs and calls for more training and resources to support this shift.
Access to hospital-based obstetric care declined across the US as hospitals closed labor and delivery units between 2010-2021. Rural communities were hit hardest, with access dropping by over 50% in some areas.
A new study estimates that more than 18,000 hospitalized children in the US have sepsis each year, including over 1,800 who die. The study also found that most pediatric sepsis cases were present on admission, but a smaller proportion developed during hospitalization and were associated with higher mortality.
A new study by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute reveals that one in five US households reported a child needing mental health treatment, yet nearly a quarter didn't receive it. The study also found disparities among families with single parents, multi-child households, homeschooling families, and uninsured households.
A new study finds that the 2010 WHO Code initially reduced physician migration from World Health Organization-designated shortage countries, but did not improve their physician supply. The code showed promise in reducing physician emigration by approximately 2,600 fewer physicians each year, but its effects diminished over time.
A recent study found that accelerated cancer drug approvals provided limited survival benefits for patients, while costing Medicare billions of dollars. The research, published in BMJ Medicine, analyzed the costs and benefits of early access to new cancer drugs through the FDA's accelerated approval pathway.
The study found that federal loan restrictions will place substantial financial barriers on aspiring physicians, potentially reducing workforce diversity and worsening existing physician shortages. The researchers urge policymakers and medical schools to consider targeted solutions like loan forgiveness or tuition reduction programs.
Researchers found that Medicaid accountable care organizations (ACOs) can improve some maternal health outcomes if designed thoughtfully. The study highlights the importance of value-based care delivery design within Medicaid programs to support low-income women before, during, and after pregnancy.
A new analysis examines the effectiveness of a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) add-on code targeting infectious disease (ID) physicians. The measure aims to combat the growing shortage of ID physicians and has the potential to reset national benchmarks for ID compensation.
A new study found that living in disadvantaged neighborhoods can cause menopause to start earlier, leading to a higher risk of long-term health issues. The research followed nearly 700 women and found those in highly vulnerable areas experienced menopause approximately two years earlier.
Researchers found that patients who received non-compliant care had more complex medical conditions and were more likely to present with unusual symptoms. The study's findings challenge the assumption that SEP-1 compliant care is associated with better survival, highlighting the need for risk-adjusted outcome measures.
A new study reveals significant shifts in new physicians' perceptions of their jobs, financial incentives, and practice locations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research highlights the need for urgent policy interventions to address rural physician shortages and improve compensation structures.
The new center aims to advance understanding, prevention, and management of sepsis through innovative research. Dr. Chanu Rhee and Dr. Michael Klompas will lead the effort, building on their expertise in sepsis surveillance, prevention, treatment, and policy.
A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the 2019 Medicare opioid safety policy reduced initial opioid prescriptions and high-dose prescriptions from multiple prescribers among Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities. However, these reductions diminished over time, highlighting the need for ongoing research to unders...
A new study calls for regulatory reforms to address the rising trend of physician strikes in the US, citing international best practices as a solution. The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute researchers highlight the need to balance the rights of physicians with patient safety.
A new study has found that rates of chlamydia and syphilis plummet among people prescribed doxycycline for STI prevention in routine clinical care. The study used pharmacy data to determine which HIV PrEP users filled prescriptions for doxyPEP, with 2,253 people receiving the medication within its first year of availability.
A new study finds that cardiovascular health scores start to decline around age 10, driven by health behaviors rather than health factors. Improving these health behaviors, especially between mid-childhood and early adolescence, could help optimize CVH.
A new study by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute suggests that policy interventions tailored to the citizenship status of international medical graduates can help address US primary care physician shortages. The research found significant effects on IMGs' choices of specialties and practice locations, with varying trends depend...
A systematic review found that FDA-issued warnings about antidepressant use among youth led to a decline in pediatric mental health care and an increase in suicides. The study suggests that these warnings, intended to encourage physician vigilance, had unintended consequences.
Pragmatic clinical trials compare treatments in everyday clinical settings, but adoption of trial findings has been inconsistent. To address this, the authors propose adaptive trial designs to align trial goals with healthcare system needs. By doing so, they aim to generate evidence that truly improves patient care.
A nationwide multi-cohort study found that residence in low-income-low-food-access neighborhoods during pregnancy or early childhood significantly raises the risk of obesity and severe obesity from childhood to adolescence. The study underscores the importance of early-life neighborhood environments in shaping child health outcomes.
A new study found that bupropion is associated with the least amount of weight gain among common antidepressant medications, with users being 15-20% less likely to gain clinically significant weight. The research also highlights the varying weight gain effects of different antidepressants.
A recent study by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute found that bisexual women died 37% sooner and lesbian women 20% sooner than heterosexual women. The study analyzed data from over 100,000 female nurses and highlighted the need for targeted interventions to reduce disparities among sexual minority groups.
A new study has identified a deficit in the placental expression of IGFBP1 and low circulating levels as associated with insulin resistance during pregnancy. The findings suggest that measuring IGFBP1 levels could help identify people at risk of developing gestational diabetes early in pregnancy.
State policies on insulin copayment caps showed no increase in insulin use but reduced OOP costs, particularly for high-deductible health plans with HSAs. Insulin users benefited from cost savings, but higher-income users experienced larger decreases in OOP costs.
A new study found that while NHSC clinicians increased from 2003-2008 to 2009-2019, concordance with the target population remained low. After expansion, concordance was achieved for non-Hispanic White and Black individuals, but Hispanic clinicians were still underrepresented.
A new study by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute reveals that nearly one-quarter of US counties had high heat-related emergency activation rates, with the South, Midwest, and Southwest being most affected. Vulnerable communities already at risk for cardiovascular disease were found to be particularly hard hit.
A new policy analysis from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute identifies the intensive care crisis in rural America and proposes comprehensive solutions. The study suggests policies like reducing uninsured populations through ACA Medicaid expansion and increasing healthcare workforce can strengthen rural intensive care capacity.
A nationwide cohort study found that 25% of pregnant women don't eat fish during pregnancy and only 16% take omega-3 supplements. The study suggests that supplement use is less common among those who consume less fish, increasing their risk for insufficient intake.
A new study found that reducing out-of-pocket costs for patients with diabetes can lead to improved health outcomes, particularly among those living in lower-income areas. The study showed a 10.2% decrease in preventable diabetes complications among PDL members from lower-income areas compared to the control group.
A new review suggests that female reproductive characteristics, such as early menstruation and polycystic ovary syndrome, may contribute to later metabolic dysfunction. The study highlights the importance of screening for reproductive risk factors to aid in prevention or treatment of chronic metabolic diseases.
A Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute study found a strong link between higher prenatal PFAS exposure and increased rates of obesity and body fat in adolescent offspring. Higher levels of certain PFAS were associated with a 13-59% increase in the risk of obesity, highlighting the long-term consequences of PFAS for developmental health.
The international consensus report on precision diabetes medicine highlights significant advancements in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. The report also sheds light on knowledge gaps and provides a framework for future research.
A federal policy during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in uninsured rates among adult Medicaid enrollees due to continuous enrollment. However, churning among children remained unchanged. The study suggests that over 300,000 people monthly avoided becoming uninsured as a result of the policy.
The new law creates a provisional pathway for International Medical Graduates, reducing barriers to practice and potentially attracting more IMGs. To achieve maximum impact, policymakers must address existing gaps in ensuring IMGs work in physician shortage areas and providing adequate labor protections.
A large multi-state study found that mupirocin ointment is highly effective at preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections in critically ill patients, outperforming an antiseptic solution. The study involved over 800,000 ICU patients in 137 hospitals and showed a durable benefit from mupirocin.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that viral pathogens, particularly SARS-CoV-2, are a significant contributor to sepsis. The researchers found that approximately 1 in 6 cases of sepsis were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new study by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute found that residence in neighborhoods with higher opportunity or lower vulnerability is associated with a decreased risk of pediatric asthma. The study used a geographically diverse cohort of over 10,000 children and examined associations between neighborhood attributes and asthma in...
A new study found that unionized health care workers received better pay and non-cash benefits, but not more work hours, compared to their non-unionized counterparts. Labor unionization was associated with improved worker conditions, including higher earnings and better employer-provided insurance.
A new study found that living in neighborhoods with higher opportunity or lower vulnerability can lead to lower mean BMI trajectory and lower risk of obesity in children. The study suggests that investing in neighborhood environments could help mitigate future chronic disease risk, particularly for marginalized communities.
A new study by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute examines cost-related experiences of families with non-group health insurance plans. Despite lower out-of-pocket spending among subsidy-eligible enrollees, negative cost-related experiences persist, highlighting the need for expanded subsidies to address affordability challenges.
A nationwide multi-cohort study found that male children who gained weight or grew faster in the first five years of life entered puberty at a younger age. Female children with faster weight gains during infancy and early childhood also started their periods earlier, suggesting sex-specific associations between early growth and puberta...
A new study investigated changes in physicians' voting behavior between 2000-2020 using nationally representative data. Physicians were found to be growing more engaged in the political process, particularly through voting, with higher turnout in states allowing no-excuse mail-in voting.
Two new studies examine rising cancer drug spending in the US, finding that many patients receive treatments with no documented overall survival benefit. The studies suggest that the combination of regulatory, pricing, and reimbursement policies contributes to wasteful healthcare spending.