Articles tagged with Health Care Costs
New research reveals that over 40% of people with depression and anxiety skipped healthcare treatment due to cost. Adults with asthma, emphysema, and COPD faced significantly higher household out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure compared to those without a health condition.
A recent study published in JAMA found that only 25% of seniors in the US used digital health technology between 2011 and 2014. The study also revealed socioeconomic disparities in digital health use, with older age, black and Latino ethnicity, divorce, and poor health associated with lower use.
A new study of over 1 million people found that doing at least one hour of physical activity per day can eliminate the increased risk of death associated with sitting for 8 hours a day. The study also highlights the significant economic burden of physical inactivity, with estimated costs of over $67 billion annually.
A study published in The Lancet found that physical inactivity costs the global economy over INT$67.8 billion in 2013, primarily due to increased healthcare expenditure and lost productivity. Type 2 Diabetes was the costliest disease, accounting for $37.6bn of direct costs.
A University of South Florida study found that placental syndromes increase women's short-term risk for cardiovascular diseases. Women with placental syndromes and poor fetal outcomes have a 45% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease within five years of their first pregnancy.
Two new studies estimate the economic cost of malignant and non-malignant blood disorders in Europe, with a total cost of €23 billion in 2012. Blood cancers account for a significant proportion of cancer costs, with healthcare expenses being twice as high as average across all types of cancer.
A study of 869 Tsimane women over 12 years found that high birthrates do not significantly impact maternal health, contrary to expectations. Despite a harsh environment with limited nutrition and high parasite exposure, women experience minimal health costs from their intense reproductive effort.
Researchers at the University of Leicester found that hospital admissions for hypoglycemia have risen by 39% between 2005 and 2014, with almost 80,000 people admitted. The average cost per admission is estimated to be £1,000, with the total cost of treating severe episodes in the UK around £13 million.
A systematic literature review by The Dartmouth Institute found that multicomponent strategies targeting both patient and clinician involvement are effective in reducing low-value care. These interventions include providing feedback to physicians and medical staff on their use of low-value services.
A study found that about 15% of complex postoperative pain patients develop moderate to severe chronic pain, consuming 90% of healthcare's pain-related resources. The annual projected total cost linked to TGH surgical patients who develop moderate-to-severe chronic post-surgical pain could range from $2.5 million up to a possible $4.1 ...
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.
A recent study by the University of Sydney found that obese preschoolers have 60% higher healthcare costs and are two to three times more likely to be hospitalized. The research highlights the significant economic impacts of childhood obesity, which can lead to serious chronic diseases.
A state medical home initiative has been shown to slash healthcare costs for complex Medicaid patients by an average of $4,145.28 per patient per year. The integrated care model reduced hospitalizations and emergency department visits among patients with chronic illnesses and substance abuse or psychiatric conditions.
A recent study analyzed data from over 50 million privately insured patients, finding a 37% rise in out-of-pocket spending for hospital stays. Deductibles and co-insurance costs increased by 86% and 33%, respectively, with average total bills ranging from $1,200 to $1,800.
Out-of-pocket spending per hospitalization rose by 37%, driven by deductible and coinsurance increases, affecting treatment choices and access to care. Adults in individual-market plans faced the highest cost sharing.
A new study reveals that the Healthy Michigan Plan has led to a significant shift in insurance coverage for hospital patients in Michigan. The proportion of uninsured patients dropped by nearly 4 percentage points, while the proportion of Medicaid-covered patients rose more than 6 points within three months of the plan's launch.
Clinical research waste is estimated at 85% of total medical research costs. Professor Ioannidis argues that reforming clinical research with problem-base, context-placing, and patient-centered features can make it more useful to clinicians. This would result in more efficient and effective clinical decision-making.
A UK study found that a seven-day doctor surgery pilot significantly reduced weekend emergency hospital visits, admissions, and ambulance call-outs. Elderly patients with moderate injuries or illnesses drove the reduction, as GPs took fewer risks and sent less serious cases home.
A new study analyzing Medicare data identifies four patterns of end-of-life spending, revealing that nearly half of older Americans' high spending was already in motion a year before death. The 'High Persistent' group had the highest spending, while the 'Late Rise' group had very low spending until their final months.
A study presented at EULAR 2016 found that UK rheumatologists often deviate from NICE guidance on cost when treating RA patients, citing clinical autonomy and patient involvement as key factors. The study suggests that further research is needed to explore the impact of these deviations on patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Researchers developed a new method to measure healthcare value transparently, combining quality and cost measures. They found that hospitals' ability to deliver high-quality, low-cost care varied across procedures, with those providing the highest-value care having more beds and beds than those providing the lowest-value care.
A new study from MD Anderson Cancer Center found substantial variation in costs of breast cancer treatment for different chemotherapy regimens, with insurer costs varying by as much as $20,354. Choosing equally effective but less costly regimens could impact the cost of breast cancer care nationally by $1 billion every year.
A free colonoscopy program for uninsured patients has been shown to detect cancer at an earlier stage and appears to be cost-neutral. The program, which was expanded to all hospitals in Louisville, is being hailed as a model for statewide implementation in Kentucky.
A study by Aarhus University researchers found that people across countries share a common intuition that ill individuals are unlucky and deserving of help. This psychological tendency makes it challenging to change attitudes towards healthcare costs, despite growing concerns about lifestyle diseases.
Researchers found that excessive drinkers would pay nearly $3 in $4 of the increased cost of alcohol following state alcohol tax increases. In contrast, non-excessive drinkers would pay less than $10 per year, regardless of hypothetical tax increase amounts.
A comprehensive analysis of data from 1.6 million hospital stays found that patients undergoing common operations at critical access hospitals had lower risks of major complications and were healthier before surgery. These hospitals also cost the Medicare system nearly $1,400 less than larger hospitals.
A recent study found that 92.2% of physicians believe doctors should control costs, but only 36.9% have a clear understanding of test and procedure costs. Primary care physicians reported greater awareness of the Choosing Wisely campaign, which aims to identify low-value services.
A new study has found that home-based pulmonary rehabilitation can be equally effective in improving fitness and quality of life for COPD patients as traditional center-based programs. The low-cost program resulted in comparable outcomes to the hospital-based program, with no significant differences in clinical outcomes at any time point.
The NHS should significantly increase weight loss surgery rates to help patients reduce weight and obesity-related conditions. Studies show surgery is clinically effective and cost-effective, with benefits including reduced healthcare costs in the long term.
A commentary in the journal Gastroenterology argues that current policy harms low-income patients by not waiving their share of coverage costs for screening. The authors recommend waiving coinsurance and copay for diagnostic procedures associated with screening, as well as value-based and evidence-based benefit design.
A new simulator is being developed to help individuals and families select the most suitable health insurance plans based on realistic cost estimates and potential healthcare outcomes. The simulator combines buyer-specific information with bespoke databases, producing transparent output that enables informed decision-making.
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 UVM study examines the trade-offs between IVF financial savings and medical complications from multiple embryo transfers. The research found increased rates of cesarean-section deliveries, premature births, and low birth weight with two or more embryos transferred into the mother at one time.
A new study found that virtual dermatology care can nearly double the number of patients receiving dermatological care from a specialist. Teledermatology expanded access to younger and healthier patients with targeted skin conditions like acne and warts, while serving half of all enrollees who received any dermatology care.
A study published in JAMA found that providing patients with online tools to search for healthcare prices did not lead to lower spending. Researchers compared over 445,000 employees who used the tool to those who didn't and found no significant reduction in outpatient spending.
A recent study found that offering health care price transparency tools to employees did not result in lower outpatient spending. The study compared the spending patterns of employees who had access to the tool with those who did not, and found no significant difference in average outpatient spending.
Researchers found a 72% increase in opioid-related hospitalizations between 2002 and 2012, with serious infections rising 91% and health care costs nearly quadrupling to $15 billion. The study highlights the significant impact of opioid abuse on the US hospital system and health care costs.
A study published in JAMA Surgery identifies the top 7 emergency general surgery (EGS) procedures that account for most complications, deaths, and costs. These procedures include partial colectomy, small-bowel resection, and laparotomy, which collectively accounted for 80% of EGS frequency, mortality, and hospital costs nationwide.
A new study estimates that norovirus causes approximately $4.2 billion in healthcare costs and $60.3 billion in societal costs each year. The disease, which affects nearly 700 million people worldwide, also results in significant productivity losses.
HPV vaccination programs in Canada are currently limited, leaving men vulnerable to HPV-related diseases. The Canadian Medical Association Journal recommends expanding the programs to include males and negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to decrease costs.
Researchers argue that health systems need leaders who can think like designers to address complex challenges like obesity, diabetes, and cost control. Design thinking offers tools for empathy, radical collaboration, and rapid prototyping to innovate and improve healthcare.
Researchers found that high-volume lung transplant centers had lower transplantation costs and fewer early hospital readmissions. The average cost of lung transplantation was $135,622, with recipients at low-volume centers being 14% more likely to experience early readmissions.
A new study shows a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks could reduce annual health expenditure by up to $29 million. The tax would also result in an estimated 800 fewer new Type 2 diabetes cases each year.
A new publication by the Association for Molecular Pathology provides cost and value analysis of gene panels, including non-small cell lung cancer and hearing loss. The study demonstrates economic value in optimizing care for patients with hereditary diseases and cancer through targeted gene panels.
A review of 20 studies found little evidence that co-located primary care services can curb patient demand or improve emergency department throughput. In fact, set-up costs often outweigh marginal savings, and diverting patients to primary care may not be cost-effective.
Millennials with higher deductible spending are the most frequent comparison shoppers for healthcare services. The study found that women and younger adults use price transparency tools more than others.
A new study by NYU Langone Health reveals that air pollution in the US is responsible for approximately 3% of premature births, with a total economic cost of $4.33 billion annually. The majority of these births occur in urban counties, primarily in Southern California and the Eastern U.S.
Half of uninsured minority children are unaware they're eligible for Medicaid, leading to suboptimal health, special healthcare needs, and financial strain on families. Parents face significant stress and anxiety due to their child's health issues, with many experiencing financial problems and reduced work hours.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University recommend revisiting current adult vaccination schedule due to long-lasting immunity against tetanus and diphtheria. A revised 30-year schedule could reduce healthcare costs by two-thirds, saving approximately $280 million annually.
A new study found that endocrine-disrupting chemicals may contribute to reproductive health problems, including uterine fibroids and endometriosis, affecting millions of women worldwide. The estimated cost of these conditions in the European Union is €1.4 billion annually.
US out-of-hospital birth rates increased to nearly 1.5% of total births in 2014, with non-Hispanic white women experiencing the largest growth. Many women face difficulty accessing insurance coverage for out-of-hospital births, leading to high self-pay rates.
A study by Ohio State University found that PulseNet, a CDC-coordinated network, prevents about 276,000 cases of foodborne illness each year. The network's early detection capabilities and encouragement of safer business practices contribute to this significant reduction in illnesses.
A study analyzing US cancer survivor data reveals nearly 29% face financial burden due to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Cancer survivors with financial problems experience lower physical and mental health-related quality of life, higher risk of depressed mood and psychological distress.
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 study by The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice found that large, urban hospitals are more likely to participate in ACOs, which involve managing hospital care to improve quality and lower costs. Teaching hospitals and those with more services also tend to join ACOs.
A recent study published in Health Affairs found that retail clinic visits may not be as cost-effective as previously thought. The research suggests that the convenience of retail clinics can lead to increased spending on new medical care, outweighing any potential savings from reduced office or emergency department visits.
A study at Hospital for Special Surgery found that directing patients with knee replacement surgery to high-volume hospitals can significantly reduce complication rates, hospital readmissions, and revision surgeries. This could result in annual cost savings of up to $4 billion by 2030, according to the researchers.
Reported dog attacks on guide dogs in the UK rose from an average of three per month in 2010 to eleven attacks per month in 2015. Guide Dogs' stock were injured in 43% of attacks, with veterinary costs estimated at £34,514.30.
Researchers found that charges are inflated by a factor of three to one, disproportionately affecting the underinsured and uninsured. The study suggests targeting office-based events and procedures rather than operating room interventions for improved value within surgical care.
A three-year pilot program at NYU Langone Medical Center reported reductions in patient length-of-stay and readmission rates among Medicare patients undergoing total joint replacements. The bundled payment initiative resulted in lower overall costs while improving quality of care and patient outcomes.