Articles tagged with Health Care Costs
Research suggests that high-deductible insurance plans can lead to delayed medication dosages and hospitalizations among COPD patients. Patients with high deductibles are more likely to forgo needed healthcare due to financial constraints.
As the population ages, surgery rates are increasing, leading to a higher risk of complications and death for elderly patients. The BJS analysis reveals that more than one in ten people in England will undergo surgery at 75+, with estimated costs exceeding €3.2 billion by 2030.
A study suggests that transitioning to electric vehicles could reduce cardiopulmonary illness due to air pollution, leading to improved quality of life. The research found that the financial costs of building charging infrastructure are lower than the health benefits in many scenarios.
Spatial neglect affects over half of stroke survivors, causing functional disability and poor motor recovery. Implementing a care pathway can improve outcomes by incorporating assessment and treatment options.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that physicians in ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices were more likely to schedule different-day procedures, resulting in higher costs. The study suggests that financial incentives may be a contributing factor to this trend.
A new RAND Corporation study reveals that private health plans pay hospitals an average of 241% of what Medicare would pay, with significant variations in prices among states. The analysis suggests that employers can redesign their health plans to better align hospital prices with care value.
A rare but potentially fatal infection of the genitals has been identified as a side effect of SGLT2 inhibitors, requiring immediate attention and surgical intervention. Awareness of this association can inform prescriber-patient discussions about appropriate diabetes therapy.
A joint study between University of Utah Health and Intermountain Healthcare found that inducing labor one week early costs the same as waiting for spontaneous labor. The study analyzed data from over 6,000 low-risk mothers and found that increased costs from longer hospital stays are offset by cost savings from avoiding additional tes...
A new study by American Cancer Society researchers finds that more than half of Americans experience medical financial hardship, with 56.0% of adults reporting at least one domain of hardship. The study estimates that 137.1 million adults in the US suffer from this issue, which can lead to delays in care, distress, and economic hardship.
A study found that patients enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid had higher healthcare costs, cognitive impairments, and social support needs. Researchers propose adjusting reimbursement to account for risk factors in this population.
A new genetic test accurately identified over 200 disease-causing gene variations in the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities. The test could help reduce morbidity and mortality by detecting asymptomatic newborns with rare genetic disorders.
A new study suggests that genetic testing, such as Oncotype DX, can help women with early-stage hormone-positive breast cancer avoid chemotherapy and save on treatment costs. The test is estimated to cost around $3,400, and its use could lead to a 8% reduction in chemotherapy costs, resulting in savings of about $338 million annually.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that over half of women with cardiovascular disease do not meet recommended physical activity levels. The researchers suggest targeted counseling could reduce risk and healthcare costs for these women.
A new study shows that feces transplantation for Clostridium difficile colitis saves at least $1.2 million annually per 50 patients, reducing hospital costs from 37 to 20 days per year. The treatment provides significant cost savings without compromising patient care.
Researchers estimated that bacterial infections resistant to antibiotics resulted in a 20% higher death rate and an additional €1100 hospital stay cost. Infections accounted for 12% of all hospitalizations, with the majority caused by E.coli, MRSA, and P.areuginosa.
A new study compares the effectiveness and cost of gene therapy to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with major beta-thalassemia. Gene therapy was found to be associated with fewer complications and hospital admissions over 2 years, but was nearly twice as costly.
Achieving sugar reduction targets could lead to a 5.5% reduction in obese children and adults, as well as significant decreases in type 2 diabetes cases and NHS costs. However, the potential benefits may be lost if goals are not fully met.
A new study estimates that the FDA's added sugar labeling policy could prevent nearly 1 million cases of cardiometabolic disease, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes, over a 20-year period. The label is expected to save $31 billion in net healthcare costs and $61.9 billion in societal costs.
A new RAND Corporation study finds that primary care services account for only 2.12% to 4.88% of total medical and prescription spending among Medicare beneficiaries. This estimate is lower than previous studies, and highlights the importance of investing in primary care for better outcomes and lower costs.
Researchers found that eliminating routine but low-value preoperative tests for cataract surgery patients can lead to significant cost savings. The study showed a savings of $67,241 over three years at one medical center, without measurable negative effects on patients.
A new study by UCSF research suggests that reducing smoking among Medicaid recipients by 1% could lead to significant cost savings, with the median state saving an estimated $25 million. This reduction in smoking prevalence is expected to result in $2.6 billion in total Medicaid savings within a year.
A study by Penn State researchers estimates that the US government lost up to $37.8 billion in tax revenue between 2000 and 2016 due to opioid-related employment loss. The state of Pennsylvania was among the hardest hit, with approximately $638.2 million lost in income and sales tax.
A new study found that the current 'repeal and replace' debate is already affecting women's health by increasing interest in IUDs as a cost-efficient form of reversible birth control. The study used Google Trends data to track searches for IUDs, showing a significant increase following the 2016 presidential election.
Research published by the European Society of Cardiology found that victims of heart attack and stroke who return to work are 25% less productive in their first year back. The study estimated direct medical costs of acute coronary syndrome as €1,547-€18,642 and stroke costs as €5,575-€31,274.
A new study found that continued smoking by patients with cancer adds significant costs to subsequent cancer treatment. The analysis conservatively suggests a total of nearly $11,000 in increased treatment costs for each smoking patient after their initial cancer treatment fails.
Researchers found that patients with vision loss experienced longer hospital stays and higher healthcare costs compared to those without vision loss. The study estimates excess health costs of over $500 million annually due to vision loss in hospitalized patients.
A new study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that counties with more forests and shrublands tend to have lower Medicare costs. The analysis revealed an average Medicare expenditure savings of $4.32 per person per year for each 1 percent of forest cover.
Thousands of migrant agricultural workers have died in Italy due to exploitation, with many facing poor working conditions, low pay, and lack of access to basic services. The doctors' call for action aims to address these issues and promote fair treatment for these vulnerable workers.
A recent study found that adults who experienced three or more adverse childhood experiences have significantly higher household medical costs, with medical debt doubled. The study highlights the long-term effects of childhood adversity on adult health care expenses.
A new study suggests that healthy food prescriptions for adults in Medicare and Medicaid could prevent millions of cardiovascular disease events and save billions of dollars in healthcare costs. The study found that programs incentivizing diet, particularly through fruit and vegetable purchases, could be highly cost-effective.
A new study finds that a drug given to pregnant women at risk of premature birth also lowers healthcare costs. The analysis revealed that pairs who received the treatment had average costs of $4,681 compared to $5,379 for those who did not receive it.
Researchers found that increased access to e-cigarettes containing nicotine could lead to a significant health benefit, equivalent to adding 19 healthy days to the life of each living New Zealander. The study suggests that this could result in cost savings of NZ$3.4 billion due to reduced tobacco-related diseases.
A study using models of infection and hospital behavior found that matching dollar-for-dollar subsidies for low-transmission rates yielded the greatest reduction in infected patients. This approach effectively encourages hospitals to prioritize infection control efforts.
A new study estimates that living in districts with intense crop residue burning increases the risk of acute respiratory infection three-fold among children. The study also found that crop burning causes an estimated USD 30 billion annual economic loss due to exposure to air pollution. Implementing targeted government initiatives can i...
Patient-centered care has merged with the concept of patients as consumers, potentially causing harm. The consumer metaphor fails to account for health care's distinct characteristics, such as lack of information and time to select options. Instead, costs are driven by physician compensation and government failure to negotiate prices.
A study found that paying patients to use lower-priced medical providers can reduce healthcare spending by an average of 2.1%. The program offered a cash reward to patients who used lower-priced providers, resulting in a 4.7% decrease in MRI prices, 2.5% decrease in ultrasound prices, and 1.7% decrease in mammogram prices.
A study by Bocconi University found that a new sanitation system reduced healthcare-associated infections by 52% and drug consumption by 60.3%, resulting in a 75.4% decrease in related costs. The system, which uses ecologically sustainable probiotic-based detergents, also led to an 83% decrease in detected pathogens on hospital surfaces.
A new study from Case Western Reserve University finds that low- to middle-income individuals with subsidized health-exchange insurance are more likely to experience problems with access and affordability. They are 2.5 times more likely to have difficulty paying medical bills and skip needed care, compared to Medicaid recipients.
A new report suggests that incentivizing downsizing for 'last-time buyers' aged 55+ can ease the UK's housing crisis. The report highlights the role of financial services in expanding mortgage offerings and insurance policies to help older people monetize their housing wealth, thereby funding retirement and covering care costs.
A major Arizona health system implemented financial turnaround process focusing on improving productivity, efficiency, and revenue. By end of 2018, the system achieved a financial turnaround of over $150 million through price transparency initiatives.
A new study from UC Berkeley finds that a soda tax led to a significant decrease in sugary drink consumption, with water consumption also increasing. The results suggest that taxes may be an effective tool in reducing sugar-linked diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
A study at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that African-American patients with blood type B can receive blood type A2 kidneys with similar outcomes. This new option has improved access to transplants for minority patients, increasing the number of available organs and reducing disparities in wait times.
Gun injury hospitalizations averaged $911 million from 2010 to 2015, with Medicaid and Medicare covering most of the costs. The study highlights the chronic nature of firearm injuries, with 93% of patients surviving their initial hospital stay and 15.6% readmitted within six months.
A new national poll suggests that many people in their 50s and early 60s harbor serious worries about their health insurance status, now and in the future. The poll found that 45% of those age 50-64 concerned they won't be able to afford insurance in retirement.
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School found that Medicare's bundled payment model for hip and knee replacement surgeries resulted in a 3.1% reduction in costs, with $812 in savings per procedure. The model also reduced the use of skilled nursing care after hospitalization.
Research estimates that bidi smoking in India results in INR 805.5 billion (US$12.4 billion) in direct and indirect costs, including healthcare expenses and lost productivity. The habit disproportionately affects men, particularly those from lower-income households who already struggle with poverty.
Researchers found that providing universal vaccination against meningitis B infection to college students would be too costly, as the vaccine prevents only a small number of cases. However, they suggest that if the price is lowered, universal vaccination might be worth requiring on college campuses.
A new analysis in BJS reveals that women requiring breast-conserving surgery re-operation pay £4,511 more in hospital costs than those with clear margins. This finding emphasizes the importance of reducing re-operation rates to achieve significant cost savings.
A new study by IHME finds that the average US outpatient visit costs nearly $500, highlighting the high cost of healthcare in the country. The study also estimates that universal health coverage (UHC) for all nations would require a significant increase in admissions and visits, with costs estimated at $576 billion.
A £36k lifetime cap on care costs could cost £3.6 billion by 2035, while ensuring a minimum level of social care for all older people with high needs would also cost around £3.6 billion. The proposed reforms investigated include previous plans and suggestions for caps on care costs, free personal care, and easing the means test.
The study found that animal-related injuries in the US result in over $5.9 billion in healthcare costs each year. The majority of these incidents are caused by smaller animals and insects, with dog bites, insect stings, and snake bites being among the most common causes.
One in four patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes have reported using less insulin than prescribed due to high costs. This underuse of insulin is often accompanied by poor glycemic control and difficulty affording other diabetes management equipment.
A study by Washington State University found that rural children with mild traumatic brain injuries receive less care and have significantly higher healthcare costs compared to urban youth. This disparity is attributed to limited access to specialized services and a shortage of healthcare providers in rural areas, leading to longer tra...
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) carries significant healthcare costs, with an average of $23,000 per person per year for children and $24,000 for adults. The condition also leads to substantial productivity losses and costs in corrections systems.
The study found a significant increase in test ordering among GPs between 2000/1 and 2015/16, with an average of five tests per year in 2015/16. This has major implications for general practitioners' workload and the NHS budget.
A systematic review of 15 studies found no strong evidence to support the effectiveness and safety of diverting low-need patients from emergency departments. The strategy was also not effective in reducing subsequent use of emergency care services.
Implementing a national pharmacare program in 2020 would require $9.7 billion in public funding, resulting in $13.5 billion in savings to the private sector. The authors suggest using a mix of federal revenue sources, including small increases in personal and corporate taxes.
A randomised controlled trial found that gut-directed hypnotherapy delivered by psychologists was effective in relieving IBS symptoms, with benefits persisting at 9-month follow-up. Group hypnotherapy was as effective as individual sessions, potentially offering a new treatment option for IBS patients.
A study by Stanford University researchers found that surgery remains the best treatment option for appendicitis, despite being more expensive upfront. Patients treated with antibiotics alone had higher rates of hospital readmissions and abdominal abscesses, highlighting the risks of this alternative approach.
A new study by Yale University estimates that ageism costs the US healthcare system $63 billion annually, affecting conditions like cardiovascular disease and mental disorders. The study found that 17.04 million cases of these conditions were linked to ageism among those aged 60 and older.