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 recent UBC study found that planned home births attended by registered midwives in BC between 2001-2004 saved an average of $2,338 compared to hospital births. The study also showed lower health costs for babies born at home, with first-year health costs being $810 less than those for hospital births.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Cardiology found that home-based treatment (HBI) for chronic heart failure patients was more cost-effective than traditional clinic-based intervention. The study showed that HBI resulted in longer patient survival, reduced hospital stay duration, and lower healthcare costs
Researchers have developed a new capability to minimize human health effects of air pollution from electric power generating facilities. The Air Pollutant Optimization Model provides a hybrid approach that balances health and cost savings, reducing health impacts by $176 million while increasing costs by $84 million.
Keystone Symposia has received a five-year, $2.25 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support Global Health Series meetings and Travel Awards for scientific investigators and clinicians from low and middle-income countries.
NHS trusts under severe financial pressure are least likely to terminate expensive PFI contracts, warns expert. Alternative solutions, such as adjusting commissioner payments to compensate for capital costs, are considered more effective.
A study published in CMAJ found that people with food insecurity use more health care services and incur higher health care costs. Adults in marginally food-insecure households had 23% higher health care costs, while those in severely food-insecure households had 121% higher costs.
A new study estimates the cost of implementing revised physician board recertification requirements will be a significant burden on physicians and patients. The study found that most costs arise from the time required for physicians to fulfill requirements, rather than fees payable to the American Board of Internal Medicine.
A major new review reveals that every country can afford to support its smokers to stop, with effective measures like cytisine, brief advice, telephone helplines, text messaging programs, and books available globally at low cost. Implementing these solutions could save thousands of lives worldwide.
A new RAND analysis reveals that enrolling in a health insurance plan is only the first step for consumers to be actively engaged in their healthcare. The study found that low health literacy and limited access to primary care physicians are significant barriers to consumer engagement. To overcome these challenges, a collaborative and ...
A recent report by the King's Fund shows that increasing day surgery has led to improved patient outcomes and reduced NHS expenditure. By 2013, day case activity had increased from 7% in 1974 to nearly 35%, saving an estimated £2bn for the NHS.
UC Davis researchers estimate that the total costs of caring for people with autism spectrum disorder will range from $162 to $367 billion in 2015 and potentially reach $1 trillion by 2025. The study recommends increased investment in research and early intervention programs to reduce these costs.
A new study found that mechanical thrombectomy in stroke treatment reduced hospital stays to 14 days from 90 days and saved the UK healthcare system £3.2 million. The procedure also led to over 9 in 10 patients being discharged home.
A doctor argues that long sleeved white coats spread infection and lead to avoidable harm and cost to patients. He advocates for banning doctors and medical students from wearing white coats to reduce hospital acquired infections in India.
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has launched a new program to provide independent analysis on pricing linked to patient benefit for new FDA-approved drugs. The program will produce public reports near the time of FDA approval, providing a transparent basis for price negotiations and coverage decisions.
The Low Risk Ankle Rule reduces unnecessary radiation exposure and healthcare costs for children with ankle injuries. Implementing the rule leads to a 22.9% decrease in x-ray orders and $36.93 less in healthcare costs.
A national initiative launched in 2007 to improve hip fracture care has led to substantial improvements in the use of early surgery and mortality rates among older people. The study, published in Medical Care journal, found a 7.6% annual relative reduction in 30-day mortality after the initiative's introduction.
Researchers at UTHealth found that mental illness was the most common reason for hospitalizing children ages 10-14, while pregnancy/birth was a leading cause for adolescents. The costs were staggering, with $51 million spent on mental disease-related hospitalizations of teens aged 15-17.
A new study aims to increase the accessibility of mental health research in community clinics by developing practical measures for implementing evidence-based practices. The project will explore two methods for integrating measurement-based care into routine clinical work.
Peter Fisher argues that homeopathy is misunderstood and that some reviews have omitted key evidence, while Edzard Ernst claims that most independent systematic reviews have failed to show homeopathy's effectiveness due to methodological flaws.
A study by Yale University researchers found significant variation in the cost of low-risk childbirth across hospitals in the US. The average estimated facility cost per maternity stay ranged from $1,189 to $11,986, with higher costs associated with hospitals that performed more cesarean deliveries or had more maternal complications.
The study estimates the total cost of smoking in California at $18.1 billion for 2009, down from $7.6 billion and $15.8 billion in previous years. This decline is attributed to a decrease in adult smoking prevalence and a shift towards less intense smoking habits.
Research conducted by King's College London found a 50% increase in females reaching age 100 between 1990 and 2013, with women four times more likely to reach this milestone than men. Centenarian men, on the other hand, tend to be healthier, experiencing fewer chronic illnesses and disabilities compared to their female counterparts.
A Cochrane Review found a lack of conclusive evidence on how to care for patients with dementia who suffer from hip fractures. The review highlights the need for better research into post-operative care strategies, particularly in hospital settings and the community.
A systematic review of 15 randomized controlled trials found that biologics significantly reduce accumulated missed workdays and improve work productivity among patients with rheumatic diseases. This suggests a potential economic benefit to treating these conditions.
Harvard researchers argue that mobile devices could revolutionize healthcare by linking app data to electronic health records. This integration could reduce costs and advance precision medicine, but current electronic health record systems lack standardized interfaces for accessing genomic data.
A new program at Johns Hopkins Hospital implemented consistent use of experienced medical teams, preemptive antibiotics, and early patient mobilization to reduce complications and accelerate recovery in colorectal surgery. The approach resulted in a significant reduction in hospital stays, surgical infections, blood clots, and costs.
A new NYU study finds that healthcare workers' wages are only slightly higher than those in other sectors, and professional staff like doctors and nurses earn more due to their education and experience. To contain healthcare costs, the study suggests improving productivity through using fewer or less-skilled employees to produce services
A new study found that millions of seniors with Medicare Advantage plans face large out-of-pocket costs for hospital and skilled nursing care, including those with low incomes. The study highlights the need for policymakers to protect Medicare Advantage consumers from high copays, particularly for unpredictable catastrophic illnesses.
A new study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology finds that early palliative care consultation within six days of hospitalization reduces hospital costs by $1,312 compared to traditional care. Early provision also leads to a 14% reduction in hospital stay cost.
A study published in the June issue of Health Affairs found that PEPFAR funding was associated with a 13% increase in male employment in ten sub-Saharan African countries. The authors suggest that these findings could inform future aid allocation decisions, potentially generating significant economic benefits.
A recent study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that 50 US hospitals are charging out-of-network patients and the uninsured up to 1,000% more than their actual costs. This price gouging is leading to financial burdens on vulnerable populations and driving up overall health spending.
The Person-Event Data Environment (PDE) database captures financial, health, medical and other data for every soldier from entry to separation. The database includes information on soldiers' military experience, contractors and dependents, representing a heterogeneous population with various socioeconomic backgrounds.
A new study predicts that British military amputees will require medical care and rehabilitation for more than 25 years, with estimated costs of up to £288 million over 40 years. The study suggests that long-term financial commitment is necessary to provide sustained support and resources.
ER revisit rates exceed expectations, with one in five patients returning within 30 days and one in 12 after three days. Total cost of revisits is higher than initial visits, highlighting the need to understand what leads to these repeated visits.
Research suggests that implementing a full seven day service in the NHS would cost up to £831m, exceeding initial estimates. The study found that removing weekend risks would eliminate some deaths, but not all, and may move problems to other days of the week.
A psychiatrist advocates for the reclassification of psychedelic drugs as Schedule 2 compounds, citing their potential benefits in treating various psychiatric disorders. He notes that these substances were extensively used and researched before prohibition in 1967, but are now subject to strict regulations that hinder further research.
Researchers at UC Davis found that pediatric telemedicine consultations with rural emergency departments save an average of $4,662 compared to telephone consults. The study also revealed significant savings from reduced transfers between hospitals and lower costs for urban hospitals.
The cost of treating babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has increased dramatically, with costs rising from $1.1 million in the first year to $1.8 million in the third year, a 15-16 fold increase compared to healthy infants. Proactive screening and treatment are recommended to address this growing public health concern.
Research finds that family physicians with a broader scope of practice have patients with 10-15% lower costs and fewer hospitalizations. The study suggests comprehensiveness in family medicine is both measurable and important for bending the cost curve and achieving the nation's Triple Aim.
A new study finds that combining an evidence-based enhanced recovery program with infection prevention significantly reduces hospital stay time and costs for patients undergoing colorectal operations. The program also decreases surgical site infections and sepsis rates.
A new study found that expanded hospice care improved indicators of care quality, including reduced reliance on intensive care and feeding tubes. However, it also led to increased costs to Medicare of $6,761 per patient on average due to longer stays and increased provider numbers.
A first-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago discovered a significant decrease in coronary revascularization interventions following the implementation of AUC, resulting in potential cost savings of over $2.3 billion nationwide. The study suggests that informed decision-making among physicians can lead to decreased costs whi...
A study found that obese patients undergoing common cosmetic plastic surgery procedures had higher rates of complications, hospital visits, and emergency department visits. The findings link obesity to increased healthcare costs, with average cost differences ranging from $3,900 to $7,400.
The study found that reducing alcohol-fuelled car crashes in the US increased national income by $6.5 billion and created 215,000 jobs in 2010. The economic gains resulted from a substantial fall in road traffic collision since 1984-6.
A new study by King's College London found that up to 7% of households in 41 countries faced catastrophic dental health expenditure, often due to inability to pay. Wealthier households and those with better healthcare systems were less likely to struggle with costs.
A new Commission estimates that 5 billion people worldwide cannot afford proper surgical care, leading to millions of deaths from treatable conditions. Investing $420 billion in surgery by 2030 could scale up access to life-saving procedures, according to the report.
A recent UTMB study found that oxygen therapy is being prescribed more frequently among COPD patients, especially women over 75 with multiple health conditions. The study's results show an increase in oxygen use from 2001 to 2010, likely due to improved survival rates and decreased stigma around the treatment.
A bundled intervention at Johns Hopkins Medicine significantly reduced central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in seven Abu Dhabi hospitals. The program, which included evidence-based infection prevention practices and teamwork improvements, achieved a 30-40% reduction in CLABSI rates across all ICUs.
Research suggests heroin assisted treatment can improve outcomes, reduce harm, and lower societal costs for a subgroup of patients who do not benefit from conventional treatments. This approach could provide savings that could be redirected to addiction prevention programs.
Family physicians play a crucial role in advising young women about egg freezing, providing accurate information on its benefits and risks. The procedure can help preserve fertility, but costs are high, and evidence on success rates is limited.
Countries with higher cancer spending have consistently lower cancer mortality rates, with a 17% decrease in amenable mortality. Increased spending on breast cancer treatment also leads to improved survival rates without significant cost increases, but more research is needed to contain costs.
Researchers found a significant excess of obstetrics beds in NYC hospitals, resulting in wasted resources and estimated annual costs of $26.4 million. Reducing cesarean section rates by even a small percentage could lead to large savings and improved patient access to care.
A study published in BMC Health Services Research found that early physical therapy following an initial episode of acute low back pain resulted in lower healthcare costs and reduced use of resources. Patients who received physical therapy within 14 days had significantly lower costs for advanced imaging, injections, surgery, and opioids.
Osteoporosis-related fractures in China are expected to double by 2035, with costs rising to approximately US$25.58 billion by 2050. The study also found that women account for 73% of total costs, sustaining three times more fractures than men.
A new study estimates that using a diagnostic test for candidemia can reduce hospital costs by up to $5,858,448 per year. The T2Candida Panel provides species-specific Candida detection and identification directly from whole blood in 3-5 hours.
A national survey of US healthcare providers found that fewer than half were 'very likely' to prescribe PrEP to high-risk patients. Concerns included daily pill regimen, regular follow-up care, effectiveness, and side effects. Despite strong evidence supporting PrEP use, cost remains a significant issue.
A Yale University study found that higher breast cancer treatment costs are associated with better survival rates. Over a decade, Medicare costs increased from $18,100 to $32,600, while five-year survival improved from 38.5% to 51.9%. The cost increase was largely due to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
LUT researchers highlight the importance of understanding users' daily life needs when planning new healthcare service models. The study found that people's attitudes change slowly, but continuous changes in the operating environment can lead to exclusion from services.
A new study reveals UK hospital costs for hip fractures to be approximately £1.1 billion annually, highlighting the need for preventive measures. Fracture liaison services have been shown to reduce secondary fractures and improve quality of life.
A Swedish study shows that implementing Fracture Liaison Services can prevent a significant number of fractures, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs. The model predicts a reduction in fractures by 50% among patients identified with bone mineral testing, resulting in 19 quality-adjusted life years saved.