Research on the cost of health care and how to control it. Covers cardiovascular care in Latin America, emergency-visit costs, insulin pricing, and screening gaps.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 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 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 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 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 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.