Articles tagged with Health Care Costs
A study found that 11% of ICU patients received treatments perceived by physicians as 'futile', with high costs and poor outcomes. The majority of patients received appropriate care, but many were given aggressive therapies without expected benefits.
A study published in Health Affairs found that over 85,000 minimally injured patients were sent to major trauma hospitals despite not needing them, resulting in excessive costs. The study suggests that early decisions in the healthcare process can lead to higher costs downstream.
A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that critically ill patients often receive futile treatment, with estimated costs of $2.6 million over three months. The most common reason for perceiving treatment as futile was the significant burden it placed on the patient's quality of life.
A national ad campaign by the CDC's Tips From Former Smokers program more than doubled its original quit goal of 500,000 attempts, with over 1.6 million smokers attempting to quit after seeing the ads. The campaign resulted in over 100,000 Americans quitting smoking permanently, saving millions of years of life for the US population.
A new study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that a proven drug effective for adults and children with sickle cell anemia reduced hospitalizations and medical costs for young children by 21% annually.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine estimated the total annual costs for five major health care-associated infections (HAIs) at $9.8 billion. Surgical site infections were found to be the most costly HAIs, with central line-associated bloodstream infections coming in second.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that adding a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block to surgical care reduced hospital stays by less than one day and postoperative narcotics use. The TAP block procedure, which poses no significant risks to patients, allows for quicker recovery and lower healt...
Researchers found that commercial Alternative Quality Contract programs reduce spending and improve quality for Medicare beneficiaries served by participating providers. Providers in these plans implement systemic changes that result in higher-value care for all patients, not just those covered by the plan.
A study published in the BMJ found that telephone health coaching did not reduce hospital admissions or related costs for patients with long-term conditions. In fact, the study suggests that it may even lead to increased hospital use and costs.
Researchers aim to develop innovative ways to enhance smokers' ability to abstain from nicotine cravings. The study will recruit hundreds of smokers and use behavioral exercises to build resistance to tobacco withdrawal cues.
A study by the American Society of Nephrology found that moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) costs Medicare tens of billions of dollars each year. The study estimated that Medicare spending attributable to CKD stages 2 through 4 is likely to exceed $48 billion per year, with costs ranging from $1700 to $12,700 per person per year.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University's George Loewenstein found that Americans struggle to comprehend traditional health insurance concepts like deductibles and co-insurance. A simplified insurance plan with copays appealed more to consumers, who were better able to compute costs and make informed decisions.
A study found that strong doctor-patient relationships facilitate conversations about healthcare costs, particularly when patients feel trust their physician. Patients are more willing to discuss personal out-of-pocket costs than insurer costs, and older and sicker individuals are more receptive to discussing costs.
A new study reveals that US physicians believe they have a responsibility to address healthcare costs, but their primary concern is always the well-being of their patients. Most (85%) agree that containing costs is their responsibility, while nearly 80% prioritize patients' best interests over cost concerns.
A survey of US physicians found that they generally agree on quality initiatives to reduce costs but express less enthusiasm for payment model changes. Most believed trial lawyers and patients have a significant role in reducing costs, while practicing physicians reported having limited responsibility. Physicians were enthusiastic abou...
A recent study led by Loyola University Medical Center physician Matthew Kircher identified a simple way to reduce healthcare costs without compromising care. The researchers found that in 178 cases, there was virtually perfect agreement between otologists' findings and official diagnoses from the pathology lab, suggesting that these e...
A study from the University of Michigan found that electronic health records can slow the rise of healthcare costs, with a 3% savings in outpatient care compared to traditional paper records. The study examined data from nine communities and estimated $5.14 in savings per patient per month.
Long-term aspirin use has been linked to reduced colorectal cancer risk, but alternate-day dosing shows increased gastrointestinal bleeding. Electronic health records adoption led to ambulatory cost savings of 3% per member per month and reductions in radiology costs in experimental pilot communities.
A study comparing Medicare Advantage and fee-for-service beneficiaries found significantly lower rates of angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions among Medicare Advantage patients. The researchers also identified substantial geographic variation in procedure rates for both payment types.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that low-income patients prioritize hospital care over primary care due to concerns about cost, quality, and accessibility. The study suggests that efforts to reduce hospital readmissions may inadvertently attract more low-SES patients.
A study found that policies with higher premiums for overweight individuals are perceived as stigmatizing, while 'carrot' plans with premium reductions for healthy-weight people are seen as more effective. Participants also evaluated plans on moral grounds, deciding that punishing someone for being overweight was wrong regardless of po...
A study from the University of York found that antimicrobial copper touch surfaces in intensive care units reduce bioburden by >90% and associated with a 58% reduction in healthcare-associated infections. The cost-effectiveness analysis predicts rapid return on investment, saving hospitals millions over five years.
A study analyzing high-cost Medicare patients' spending found that only a small percentage of their costs were related to preventable emergency department visits and hospitalizations, limiting the ability to lower costs through better outpatient care. The majority of inpatient costs were attributed to catastrophic events such as sepsis...
The Massachusetts public health experience provides valuable insights into the role of public health in healthcare reform. Public health officials learned to fight for a decision-making role, analyze data, and defend traditional services while contributing to cost reduction and quality improvement efforts.
Outpatient treatment significantly reduces arrest rates for people with mental health problems, saving the government $95,000 per individual. Providing mental health care not only benefits individuals but also society as a whole.
A new study found that school-located vaccination clinics increased flu vaccination rates among children by 13.2 percentage points, despite higher initial costs. The program may be a cost-effective way to broaden access to flu vaccines for children, particularly in primary-care settings.
Scaling up these interventions would save 900,000 children's lives per year and reduce stunting prevalence by 20% worldwide. The interventions include supplements and treatment strategies for malnutrition.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that evergreening strategies, which extend patent life of brand drugs, increased healthcare costs in Geneva, Switzerland. The researchers analyzed the cost of eight follow-on drugs and found that replacing them with generics could have saved €15.9 million to €14.4 million.
A recent study published in Tobacco Control found that employers in the US pay an average of $5,816 (£3,865) extra per year for employees who smoke compared to non-smokers. The main factors contributing to these increased costs are absenteeism, smoking breaks, and healthcare expenditures.
A new RAND Corporation study suggests that states choosing not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act will face significant financial costs, including $1 billion more in uncompensated care spending and foregone federal payments of $8.4 billion annually. This would leave an additional 3.6 million people without health insurance.
A new study estimates that employers pay an average of $5,816 annually above the cost of a person who never smoked for each employee who smokes. The highest costs are due to lost productivity and health-care expenses exceeding insurance costs for nonsmokers.
Wearable sensors and digital communication systems offer fast, inexpensive and efficient mobile health information, reducing extended hospitalization and in-patient costs. Big data and preventive healthcare are also being developed to enable personalized medicine practice and early therapeutic intervention.
Researchers found that using the oral glucose challenge test (OGCT) with a glucose threshold of 7.2 mmol/L had a sensitivity of 99 percent and specificity of 77 percent for diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM screening may also reduce complications such as preeclampsia, shoulder dystocia, and high birth weight.
A survey of 22,000 patients found that those who preferred to participate in medical decisions had a 0.26-day longer length of stay and $865 higher total hospitalization costs. Patient preference increased with educational level and private health insurance.
A hospital-based study found that patients who want to participate in their medical decisions end up spending more time in the hospital and raising costs of their hospital stay by an average of $865. The study suggests that encouraging patients to be more involved may not reduce costs, but rather increase length of stay and costs. Prov...
The American College of Physicians recommends targeting a blood glucose level of 140-200 mg/dL for surgical and medical intensive care unit patients when using intensive insulin therapy. The guidelines aim to balance the benefits and harms of hyperglycemia management in hospitalized patients.
A study of 80 patients found that 42.5% had no obstruction, 23% had reversible obstruction, and only 35% had non-reversible obstruction, suggesting widespread misdiagnosis of COPD. The study highlights the importance of spirometry in confirming diagnosis and reducing unnecessary medical expenses.
Research on practice transformation, cost estimates for primary care facilitation, and alternative payment reform options are presented. The median cost of practice facilitation to improve chronic illness care is estimated at $9,670 per year, with lower costs expected in subsequent years.
The RAND Corporation report highlights emergency physicians' critical role in evaluating, managing, and preventing hospital admissions. The study found that ERs account for nearly half of all hospital admissions, with non-elective admissions increasing 3.8 times the rate of population growth.
A new study suggests that more objective testing can substantially reduce the cost and risk of managing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with potential cost savings of up to $7,300 per patient over 10 years. Additionally, researchers identified risk factors associated with surgical readmissions in major gastrointestinal resections.
A study found that Massachusetts' healthcare reform in 2006 led to a 3.6% increase in average quarterly hospital admissions, similar to neighboring states without reform. The total days of inpatient care increased by 0.94%, and hospital charges per quarter rose by 1.1% more than in comparison states.
A new study by Penn Medicine found that most cancer doctors, patients, and the general public support cutting healthcare costs by refusing to pay for drugs without improving survival or quality of life. The survey also revealed that large numbers favored not paying for more expensive drugs when cheaper alternatives are equally effective.
A study demonstrated that an antibiotic stewardship program using Bruker's MALDI Biotyper analyzer reduced average length of stay by two days and overall costs by almost $20,000 per patient. The program improved patient care through rapid pathogen identification and accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
A study by the University of Michigan found that African Americans are less likely to call 9-1-1 immediately after experiencing stroke symptoms due to concerns about medical costs and ambulance response time. The study aimed to address these barriers and improve prompt hospital care, as timely treatment can reduce permanent damage.
A study finds that private Medicare Advantage plans have cost Medicare an extra $282.6 billion since 1985, with $34.1 billion overpaid in 2012. The plans' strategies include cherry-picking healthier beneficiaries and recruiting patients from the Veteran's Administration to increase profits.
A new article by Johns Hopkins faculty highlights the importance of advance directives in managing end-of-life care issues and reducing medical costs. Completing an advance directive document can lower end-of-life expenses for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance.
A new study found that nearly 97% of obese enrollees met or exceeded the average goal of 5,000 steps a day via an Internet-tracked walking program. This suggests that incentivized wellness programs can encourage healthy behaviors and reduce health costs.
The Hastings Center has released a new set of guidelines for good care near the end of life, aiming to improve communication, pain management, and treatment decisions. The guidelines clarify what is ethically permissible in the US regarding life-sustaining technologies and provide practical guidance for healthcare professionals.
A new study proposes a 'Medicare Essential' plan that combines Medicare's hospital, physician, and prescription drug coverage with private supplemental coverage to simplify benefits and lower out-of-pocket costs. The plan aims to save $180 billion over 10 years while improving care for beneficiaries.
A slowdown in healthcare spending growth could result in Americans saving up to $770 billion on Medicare costs over the next decade. This decrease is attributed to a decline in new drug development and increased efficiency in the healthcare system.
A new study found that strategies to lower Medicare costs, such as increasing premiums and raising the eligibility age, could lead to some seniors losing coverage, prompting concerns about access to healthcare. The analysis suggests that premium support programs or voucher plans could cut spending by up to 24%.
The SCAMPs platform, developed at Boston Children's Hospital, helps healthcare providers continuously improve their medical practice by reducing costs and improving patient outcomes. Successful outcomes associated with the platform include lower costs, reduced practice variation, and improved outcomes for various pediatric conditions.
A new protocol using single, high-dose erythropoietin administered two days prior to surgery reduces transfusion requirements by one-third and improves patient outcomes.
A study by Henry Ford Health found that ER visits for urinary tract infections result in nearly $4 billion in unnecessary costs each year. The research analyzed data from 10.8 million patients with a primary diagnosis of UTI who visited emergency rooms from 2006 to 2009.
Two new studies from Henry Ford Hospital found that hematuria, or blood in the urine, contributes significantly to emergency room costs. Imaging procedures for hematuria result in an estimated $75 million annual increase in ED charges.
Neuraxial anesthesia reduces morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and costs in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement. It lowers rates of pulmonary compromise, pneumonia, infections, and acute renal failure compared to general anesthesia.
The Early Start Denver Model has been shown to improve social skills and brain responses in toddlers with ASD, while minimizing therapies required through the school years. The study found that ESDM-receiving children required significantly fewer hours of special education services and individual therapies.
A new review of malpractice claims suggests efforts needed to reduce errors leading to claims. The largest payouts were for diagnosis-related events, which showed twice the odds of a catastrophic payout compared to equipment- or product-related errors.
A recent analysis published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine found that emergency care cost estimates are too low, with costs ranging from 4.9-5.8% of total healthcare spending. The study suggests that an alternative accounting method, Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (ABC), could provide a more realistic measure of ED costs.
The increasing cost of leukemia treatments in the US is leaving many patients under- or untreated due to unaffordable care. CML experts call for a long-term solution to manage treatment costs, balancing investments from various parties.