A Harvard study found that 20% of diabetes patients with high-deductible health plans reported skipping medications due to cost, compared to 16% in traditional plans. Patients with insulin reliance were 31% more likely to miss medication.
A new analysis by Harvard Medical School and Hunter College found a 2.3 million increase in uninsured Americans between 2016-19, leading to 25,180 excess deaths; overturning the Affordable Care Act could lead to up to 68,000 extra deaths annually
A new study reveals the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on working-age adults in the US, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, racial/ethnic minorities, and those with less education. The analysis found that these individuals had high rates of uninsurance and food insecurity, which can exacerbate health harm.
A new study suggests that COVID-19 was more widespread than official illness counts, with immigrant workers most affected. The study found a record high of 2 million workers absent from work in mid-April, with those 55 and older, and less educated workers experiencing larger-than-average increases.
A study by Physicians for a National Health Program found that nearly 25% of US dwellings are unsuitable for isolation or quarantine due to lack of space and plumbing facilities. This is particularly concerning among minority and low-income households, which have faced high rates of COVID-19 illness and death.
A new study by Harvard researchers finds that 18.2 million individuals at increased risk of severe COVID-19 are uninsured or underinsured, with racial minorities and lower-income individuals being disproportionately affected. The study highlights the need for adequate coverage to prevent financial ruin and ensure access to necessary care.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has endorsed single-payer Medicare for All, reflecting growing support among physicians. The endorsement coincides with an open letter signed by over 2,000 physicians, including prominent figures in American medicine.
A study finds that US healthcare bureaucracy cost $812 billion in 2017, accounting for 34.2% of total health spending. Cutting administrative costs to Canadian levels could have saved over $600 billion.
A new study found that VA patients are less likely to skip medications and more likely to afford them compared to non-VA patients. The VA's pharmacy benefit model could be a key to making prescription drugs universally affordable.
A new Harvard study contradicts the assumption that implementing universal coverage would lead to a sharp increase in hospital use. Instead, researchers found that past insurance expansions redistributed care, with increases in hospital care among newly insured individuals offset by small decreases among healthier and wealthier Americans.
A new study found that nearly 10 million Americans gained coverage under the ACA, but twice as many remained uninsured. The researchers discovered major gaps in coverage and access to care for low-income Americans and communities of color.
A new study found that hospitalizations for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) surge in the US among young adults, but remain relatively low in Canada. The disparity is attributed to differences in healthcare systems and access to insulin, with the US experiencing a significant increase in DKA rates as teenagers become young adults.
Researchers discovered that current health care proposals have been circulating in various forms since the 1940s. Key findings include the roots of Medicare for All dating back to the 1948 Wagner-Murray-Dingell national health insurance bill and the 1971 single-payer plan proposed by Sen. Ted Kennedy.
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that medical problems contributed to 66.5% of all bankruptcies, with 530,000 families affected annually. The study suggests that health insurance offers little protection to middle-class Americans and that private health insurance is a defective product.
A new analysis found competing visions for health reform among newly elected governors, with Democrats advancing proposals to expand public coverage. Seven Democratic nominees proposed single-payer health care plans, while six others proposed creating a new public insurance option.
A new study by Harvard Medical School and Tufts University finds that immigrants use significantly less health care than US-born individuals, with lower rates of utilization and expenditures. Immigrants also pay more out-of-pocket health care payments, effectively subsidizing private insurance and some public programs like Medicare.
A group of 21 physicians published a comprehensive proposal for universal access to safe, innovative, and affordable medications. The plan outlines seven critical areas for reform, including establishing national formularies, negotiating with manufacturers, and increasing transparency in clinical trials.
A study by Harvard University researchers found that households' payments for medical premiums, copayments, and deductibles pushed over 7 million Americans into poverty in 2014. The study also showed that health care spending worsened overall income inequality, with the poorest 10% experiencing a 47.6% decline in income.
A single-payer health reform would provide comprehensive first-dollar coverage to all Americans, abolishing copayments and deductibles, while saving an estimated $504 billion annually in administrative costs. The proposal, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, also includes hard bargaining with drug companies over prices.
A study finds substantial segregation in NYC's hospital system, with Blacks making up only 18% of AMC patients. In contrast, Boston's hospitals show less racial segregation. The findings highlight the unequal distribution of care and resources among different patient groups.
A new Harvard study found that 4.9% of Americans with chronic diseases gained insurance coverage under the ACA, while nearly 1 in 7 remained uncovered. The study also showed significant barriers to regular medical care for those without coverage.
A nationwide study found that Black and Hispanic children and youth are less likely to receive mental health care than their white counterparts, despite similar rates of mental health problems. The study also revealed significant racial and ethnic disparities in substance abuse treatment and outpatient mental health services.
A Harvard study reveals that wealthier Americans are getting significantly more healthcare than middle-class and poor individuals, reversing a long-term trend of increased equality. The wealthiest fifth of Americans now consume 43% more healthcare than the poorest fifth, while middle-income people receive 23% less care.
Physicians urge sweeping single-payer reform with publicly financed system, citing high administrative costs and profits in private insurance. The proposal aims to save $500 billion annually by eliminating overhead and profits.
A new study finds that the Cadillac tax will hit middle-income families hardest, while sparing the wealthy. The tax will reduce the financial burden of health benefits on lower-income workers and exacerbate inequalities in healthcare.
A new study finds that government funds account for 64% of US health care spending, exceeding private spending and surpassing other nations with universal health programs. Taxpayers pay the highest health-related taxes per capita, yet millions remain uninsured.
A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that Medicaid insurance is associated with better awareness and treatment of chronic diseases among low-income Americans. People with Medicaid are five times more likely to see a doctor than those with no health insurance.
Researchers find per capita public health spending declining from $281 in 2008 to $256 in 2014, reflecting a $40.2 billion loss to disease prevention and related programs. This decline reflects the nation's 'dangerously out of balance' healthcare system, where more is spent treating disease than preventing it.
A JGIM study finds unauthorized immigrants paid in $3.5 billion more than they utilized in care in 2011, generating an average surplus of $316 per capita to the Trust Fund. Reducing unauthorized immigration would worsen Medicare's financial health.
A study published in the International Journal of Health Services found that the Affordable Care Act's requirement to increase medical loss ratios had no significant impact on insurers' overhead spending. Insurers' financial filings show that the law did not lead to a greater share of premium dollars being channelled into actual patien...
A recent study published in BMC Health Services Research estimates that medical billing paperwork and insurance-related red tape cost the US economy approximately $471 billion in 2012. The researchers suggest that adopting a simplified, single-payer system of financing health care could result in savings of at least $375 billion annually.
A nationwide study found that US doctors spend an average of 8.7 hours per week on administration, including tasks such as billing and insurance approvals. The study also revealed that physicians in Canada spend less time on administrative work due to their single-payer system.
Harvard researchers found that only 26% of psychiatrists offered appointments despite making multiple calls, highlighting the challenges faced by patients seeking mental health care. The study also reveals a significant difference in success rates between cities, with Houston having the most accessible psychiatric services.
A study by Physicians for a National Health Program finds that US hospital bureaucracy consumes a quarter of hospital budgets, driving inefficiency and diverting resources away from patient care. Single-payer reform could potentially save $150 billion annually on hospital overhead.
A nationwide study published in Health Affairs reveals that for-profit home health agencies are significantly more expensive for Medicare than nonprofit agencies, with operating costs accounting for $752 of the difference. Despite their higher costs, for-profits delivered lower-quality care, with patients experiencing more repeat hospi...
A recent study found that minority physicians care for 54% of minority patients and 70% of non-English-speaking patients. Minority physicians are also more likely to care for patients with lower self-reported health status. The study suggests expanding the racial diversity of the physician workforce could improve access to care.
A study finds that private Medicare Advantage plans have cost Medicare an extra $282.6 billion since 1985, with $34.1 billion overpaid in 2012. The plans' strategies include cherry-picking healthier beneficiaries and recruiting patients from the Veteran's Administration to increase profits.
Researchers found that severely ill psychiatric patients in the Boston area experience lengthy waits for hospitalization, with some cases taking up to five hours of psychiatrist time. This delays treatment and wastes valuable clinician time, highlighting the need for reform in the healthcare system.
Researchers studied data on economic and social conditions, utilization of health services, and health outcomes in Greece. They found that key public health indicators declined during the recession and austerity policies, leading to increased suicide and homicide mortality rates, mental disorders, substance abuse, and infectious diseases.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine finds that per capita Medicare spending on the elderly has grown nearly three times faster in the US than in Canada since 1980. The authors attribute this difference to Canada's single-payer system, which includes fewer administrative costs and a greater emphasis on primary care.
A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that most uninsured patients in Massachusetts are employed but unable to afford employer-sponsored insurance or subsidized state plans. The study suggests that the system of coverage failed those who lost their job, particularly during economic downturns.
Most US medical schools provide inadequate mental health coverage to their students, with co-pays and coinsurance rates as high as 20%, discouraging them from seeking necessary treatment. This can have serious consequences for the students' well-being and ultimately affect patient care.
A Harvard study reveals that access to outpatient psychiatric care in Massachusetts is severely limited, even for those with private insurance. The researchers found that only a small percentage of facilities listed by the largest insurer offered appointments within two weeks of a simulated patient's call.
A new study reveals that African Americans with muscular dystrophy face a significant mortality gap compared to their white counterparts, largely due to unequal access to quality healthcare and insurance coverage. This widening disparity is attributed to systemic inequalities in the healthcare delivery system and the effects of inadequ...
The first for-profit insurance company approved in Massachusetts' health reform has restricted access to primary care, according to a report. Only 217 out of 326 doctors identified as members of the provider network were non-duplicate adult primary care providers, with many unable to be reached by telephone.
Harvard researchers found that life and health insurance companies hold significant investments in the fast-food industry, totaling nearly $2 billion. This raises concerns about prioritizing profits over public health and the potential expansion of private insurers in the healthcare system.
A recent Harvard Medical School study found that uninsured individuals are twice as likely to receive substandard treatment for migraines compared to their privately insured counterparts. This disparity affects approximately 5.5 million people in the US who lack health insurance, leading to needless suffering and economic burden.
A new Harvard study reveals that uninsured adults with diabetes or high cholesterol are more likely to be misdiagnosed and undertreated. The researchers found significant gaps in care for these conditions, with the uninsured being more likely to experience poor blood pressure control and inadequate treatment.
A new Harvard study estimates nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with a lack of health insurance, up from an earlier estimate of 18,000. The uninsured face a 40% higher risk of death compared to those with private insurance.
A major statistical review of 82 studies found that nonprofit nursing homes deliver higher quality care than for-profit homes, with benefits including more staff, lower rates of bedsores and restraints. The findings have significant patient-care implications and raise concerns about the role of for-profit firms in U.S. health reform.