Articles tagged with Health Care Costs
A new study by USC researchers finds that US families provide nearly $36 billion in uncompensated medical care to children with special health care needs each year. These caregivers spend an estimated 5.1 hours per week providing care, which can be time-intensive and emotionally stressful.
A pilot study at Nationwide Children's Hospital demonstrates that a local learning health system can improve clinical quality while reducing healthcare costs. The study implemented an electronic health record and robust care coordination system, resulting in significant reductions in hospital days, admissions, and urgent care visits, a...
A recent study by University of British Columbia researchers found that excessive reoperations in breast cancer surgeries result in significant costs to the Canadian healthcare system. The study concludes that with current reoperation rates being over double recommended targets, the additional cost is substantial.
A new study from OpenNotes investigators finds that offering patients a mechanism to provide feedback about their notes enhances engagement and improves patient safety. The majority of patients reported understanding the content of their notes and providing valuable feedback, which led to changes in the record or care in 57% of cases.
A study published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics found that medical care costs for children with Down syndrome are less than $100 a month higher than those for typically developing children. The average monthly cost difference is lower when the child is older, ranging from $537 a year for children aged 13-18.
Researchers identified a small portion of the population with high-needs/high-costs as the lion's share of socially costly problems. Early interventions at preschool age showed promise in avoiding these costs.
A new study finds that middle-aged patients with psychosis are incurring significant costs in long-term care facilities and with hospitalization, highlighting the need to address both mental and physical health in younger patients. Chronic psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, are associated with high health care costs due to you...
A recent hospital discharge, and prepares them for successful transition back into community settings. Older black patients bear a disproportionate risk of readmissions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A new study suggests that persistent job insecurity over a 25-year career can lead to increased psychological distress among older workers. The research found that stress from perceived job insecurity was particularly high among minorities and those without a high school degree, and that this stress can have significant impacts on health.
A new study found that only half of highly rated mHealth apps for people with asthma and stroke, and a quarter for elderly users, responded appropriately to dangerous health values. Many apps offered useful tracking functions and reminders but lacked tailored guidance or ongoing engagement.
A Northwestern University study found that applying petroleum jelly to high-risk newborns can prevent eczema, a costly skin disorder. The cost benefit of prophylactic moisturization was $353 per quality-adjusted life year, making it an affordable option.
Research suggests direct costs for select orthopaedic procedures at ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) could be significantly less than university hospitals. ASCs offer convenient and potentially cost-effective care options with streamlined processes.
A study published in JAMA Oncology found that Medicare beneficiaries without supplemental insurance incur average annual out-of-pocket costs ranging from $2,116 to $8,115. Hospitalizations are a major driver of these costs.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that home-based telemental health for depression can deliver a similar quality of life and patient satisfaction as in-person visits, overcoming barriers such as mobility issues and transportation costs. The trial enrolled 241 depressed elderly veterans who received eight ...
A study by Eugene Lin and colleagues found that multi-disciplinary care is a cost-effective intervention, costing $24,613 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), compared to dialysis which costs $129,090 per QALY. This approach can improve the health of patients with kidney disease while reducing medical costs.
A new study by RAND Corporation found that retail clinics near hospital emergency departments did not reduce visits to emergency departments for minor health ailments. The study examined over 2,000 emergency departments across 23 states and found no significant reduction in low-acuity visit rates despite increased retail clinic access.
Achieving optimal asthma control results in a 30% reduction of healthcare costs, with greater savings for obese patients. The study also found higher spending on asthma drugs yields net savings in total asthma costs.
According to a new Dartmouth Institute study, 16 of 32 ACOs addressed patients' nonmedical needs. ACOs are creating financial incentives for providers to improve outcomes and lower costs. The study found that addressing these needs can lead to reduced medical costs and improved quality of care.
The highly competitive residency matching process has become increasingly frenzied, driving up costs for students and disrupting the fourth year of medical school. Students are applying to an average of 30-45 programs, with some specialties requiring over 70 applications, leading to excessive travel and financial burdens.
A new study finds that both patients and healthcare providers account for half of the regional spending differences in medical costs. Patient characteristics, such as basic health and care preferences, contribute to nearly 50% of these disparities, while provider practices and incentives drive the remaining 50%. The research provides i...
A national 10% tax on SSBs in Mexico may prevent 189,300 new cases of type 2 diabetes, 20,400 incident strokes and heart attacks, and 18,900 deaths among adults aged 35-94 over 10 years. The tax could save 983 million international dollars in healthcare costs due to prevention of diabetes cases.
A study comparing two hospitalist groups found no significant differences in key clinical outcomes, including patient mortality and hospital readmissions. The results suggest that hospitals can safely reduce costs by using well-trained physician assistants (PAs) in a formal PA-physician collaboration arrangement.
Research suggests doctors are more likely to prescribe growth hormones for slow-growing children if the child's family requests it or if they believe in its intangible benefits. This raises concerns about access, overuse, and cost of life-enhancing products, which can be expensive and create financial burdens.
A study of patient perceptions by Henry Ford Hospital found that patients overestimate the Medicare reimbursement for knee surgery and ACL reconstruction procedures. Patients believe a surgeon's salary should be compensated more for advanced training and are willing to pay more out-of-pocket costs.
Annual exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals has a significant impact on the US healthcare system, causing over 2.3% of the country's GDP to be lost. The estimated disease burden from these chemicals is valued at $340 billion annually, with specific effects including neurological damage, infertility, and certain cancers.
Underpriced policies and the absence of young, healthy individuals in insurance risk pools are driving up premiums. Insurers like Aetna face significant losses, prompting rate hikes and withdrawals from the marketplaces. The long-term consequences threaten the sustainability of the Affordable Care Act.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill found that unvaccinated adults contribute to $7.1 billion in healthcare costs, accounting for 80% of vaccine-preventable disease expenses in 2015.
A study found that Medicaid expansion in 2014 led to a decline of $2.8 million in average annual uncompensated care costs per hospital, while increasing Medicaid revenue by $3.2 million annually. Hospitals in states with Medicaid expansion also experienced improved excess margins, but not operating margins.
A new study finds that breast cancer chemotherapy regimens with similar efficacy have significantly varying costs, affecting patients' financial burden. The study highlights the need for accessible information to inform treatment decisions and promote well-informed shared decisions regarding treatment options.
A new study from MD Anderson found substantial variation in the costs of breast cancer treatment for different chemotherapy regimens, with varying prices by up to $20,354. The researchers suggest that informed choice of chemotherapy could impact costs nationally by $1 billion annually.
A new survey tool, COST, measures a patient's risk for financial stress and ability to tolerate it. The study identified employment status, household income, and psychological distress as key factors contributing to financial toxicity.
The University of Illinois-led project aims to calculate the economic benefits of urban forestry on health care costs. It will use Kaiser Permanente data to examine the relationship between green spaces and health expenditures among over 4 million members.
A study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of prosthetic interventions for transtibial amputees, finding that they can reduce healthcare burden and improve quality of life despite higher initial costs. The analysis suggests that prosthetic use can lead to lower overall costs by decreasing utilization and adverse events.
A new study reveals significant variation in care costs for patients with the same surgery complication, with high-cost hospitals often having higher rates of complications. Medicare payments for rescued patients at high-cost hospitals were two- to three-fold higher than at low-cost hospitals.
A study published in JAMA Surgery found significant variation in Medicare expenditures for treating surgical complications across hospitals. High-cost hospitals charged 2- to 3-fold more than low-cost ones, despite similar rates of failure to rescue and overall mortality.
A study from Duke-NUS Medical School found that activity trackers alone or with rewards did not increase physical activity levels. However, those who received cash rewards showed significant increases in activity. The benefits of tracking were short-lived, and participants returned to their previous activity levels after the incentives...
A comprehensive set of reference values for handgrip strength is provided, enabling practitioners to identify individuals at risk of premature death and disease. The study builds on previous research, showing that handgrip strength corresponds with markers of age, such as mortality, disability, and cognitive decline.
A new study estimates that invasive insects globally incur at least US$70 billion in annual costs to goods and services, while also resulting in significant health expenses. The researchers stress that these figures are likely underestimates due to the lack of research on the topic in many regions.
A pair of experts, Mark Fendrick and Michael Chernew, propose altering consumer cost-sharing in health insurance plans to make services more affordable based on individual patient and provider factors. They suggest changes to IRS rules, Medicare plan design, and encouraging value-based cost-sharing to promote high-value clinical services.
A comprehensive review of studies on alternative management strategies for low-risk acute medical conditions found that all four evaluated approaches are safe, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs. However, some exceptions were noted, including higher-than-anticipated return hospitalization rates for certain condit...
A study found that implementing an analytic tool to allocate clinical care costs and quality measures led to significant improvements in value of care for three designated outcomes. The program resulted in reduced costs and improved quality, with notable decreases in hospitalist laboratory testing and sepsis management.
Researchers discovered a combination of two inhibitor drugs that can stop CML completely and significantly lower treatment costs. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, found encouraging response and cure rates for both chronic phase and blast crisis, offering new hope for patients.
A new analysis by Case Western Reserve University found that testing backlogged sexual assault kits can prevent future sexual assaults and save victims millions of dollars. The study estimates that serial sexual offenders are more common than previously thought, with a 25% recidivism rate among rapists.
A new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that patients who had major surgery at high-quality hospitals in the US cost Medicare less than those who had surgery at low-quality hospitals. The difference was driven primarily by lower use of post-acute care services.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that regular exercise can lead to lower healthcare costs, even for those with established cardiovascular disease. Participants who met exercise guidelines had average yearly medical costs $500 lower than those who didn't.
Research by Australian National University has found that diagnoses of differentiated thyroid cancer have increased three-fold in 25 years despite no change to death rates. Over-meticulous examinations are leading to unnecessary surgeries, causing substantial medical costs and complications for patients.
Research from University of Manchester shows link between extended GP hours and fewer A&E visits, but cost savings may not outweigh benefits.
A new study validates a low-cost, rapid, and highly accurate screening tool, KlebSeq, for detecting healthcare-acquired infections. The test can identify multiple strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, including antibiotic-resistant strains, earlier than traditional methods.
Experts predict a significant increase in lung disease cases due to rising smoking rates and longer life expectancy, with over 1.3 million cases projected in England by 2030. The condition is expected to cost £2.5 billion annually, with more women than men affected, mainly due to their longer average lifespan.
A new study by Michigan Medicine found that African Americans and Hispanics have higher Medicare costs for end-of-life care, despite controlling for individual factors. The researchers conclude that disparities are rooted in the healthcare system as a whole.
A new study found that malnourished older adults who received a specialized nutrition supplement had an additional 8.5 months of estimated life expectancy compared to a placebo group. The analysis also showed that the treatment was cost-effective, costing only $524 for each year of life saved.
A 10-year study shows that integrating mental and physical healthcare results in higher screening rates, more proactive treatment, and better clinical outcomes for patients. Patients in team-based practices had lower rates of healthcare utilization and costs compared to traditional practices.
A national study on low-value health services found that $32.8 million was spent on 28 procedures in 2013, accounting for 0.5% of total spending. The most expensive procedures were spinal injections and imaging tests for low-back pain.
The MORE-CARE trial found that remote monitoring of cardiac devices did not improve hard clinical outcomes, but showed cost savings and reduced in-office visits, with a 41% reduction in healthcare resource utilization
A recent study found that the UK spends at least £1.1 billion on asthma care each year, resulting in approximately 1000 deaths and 270 hospital admissions daily due to severe attacks. The majority of these fatalities are preventable with proper basic care.
Patients with persistent face pain may experience significant disability and inconvenience due to inadequate treatment. Experts propose a 'hub and spoke' model for efficient diagnosis and management, which could save the NHS money while improving patient outcomes.
A Canadian study found that a $240 million incentive program aimed at improving primary care for patients with complex health conditions had no measurable impact on access to physicians, hospital admissions or healthcare costs. The researchers concluded that other strategies are needed to improve care for this patient group.
A recent study estimates the financial burden of acute gastrointestinal illnesses on the Swiss healthcare system, which costs between €29-€45 million annually. The most commonly reported cause of foodborne disease in Switzerland is Campylobacter infections, generating estimated EUR 8 million annual costs.
A new study by LA BioMed and UCLA found that hospitals using ICUs more frequently perform more costly and invasive procedures but do not see better mortality rates among patients with four common conditions. The study analyzed records from 156,842 hospitalizations and reported higher costs ranging from $647 to $3,412.
A study of four common medical conditions found that hospitals using intensive care units (ICUs) more frequently were associated with more invasive procedures, higher hospital costs, but showed no improvement in mortality rates. Smaller hospitals and teaching hospitals had higher ICU utilization rates.