Articles tagged with Health Care Costs
By 2030, heart failure costs are projected to exceed $70 billion, with 8 million people affected, up from 5 million in 2012. Improved prevention and treatment strategies are needed to address this growing burden.
While computer-based decision support systems can help reduce testing costs by 9%, they are unlikely to overcome the root causes of unnecessary medical testing and cultural issues within the healthcare system.
A study of nearly 35,000 surgical discharges found that occurrence of postsurgical complications was associated with higher per-encounter hospital contribution margin for Medicare and private insurance patients, but lower one for Medicaid and self-pay patients. This suggests that hospitals may need to adjust their financial strategies ...
A study at Johns Hopkins Hospital found that providing physicians with upfront price transparency for laboratory tests resulted in a 9% decrease in test orders and significant cost savings. The practice decreased overall use of tests, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars over six months.
Researchers at Medstar Health and Georgetown University School of Medicine found that implementing a value-based analysis approach to preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in surgical patients resulted in significant cost savings, with an estimated overall system-wide savings opportunity of $4 million. The study identified limiting the...
A new study suggests that medical therapy is a viable alternative to angioplasty in treating stable coronary artery disease, reducing the risk of complications and hospitalizations. The study proposes a targeted approach to shared decision-making, considering treatment options, risks, and outcomes for patients.
A new study estimates that dementia care costs are comparable to those of heart disease and cancer, with annual costs ranging from $159-$215 billion. The majority of these costs are due to long-term daily care and supervision provided by families and nursing homes.
Vermont's aggressive health care reform initiatives offer valuable lessons for other states, including engaging stakeholders, coordinating implementation efforts, and capitalizing on federal financing opportunities. The state's centralized administrative board has resulted in lower costs by eliminating duplication of efforts.
The monetary cost of dementia in the US is estimated to range from $157 billion to $215 billion annually, surpassing both heart disease and cancer. The majority of costs are associated with institutional and home-based long-term care, rather than medical services.
A new study by the USC Schaeffer Center and RAND Corporation found that patients with high deductibles pay roughly the same amount as traditionally insured patients for most outpatient services. The study suggests that lack of transparency about medical costs and patient loyalty to primary care physicians hinder price comparison, leadi...
A UCLA study found that heart failure medications recommended by national guidelines are highly cost-effective in saving lives and may also provide savings to the healthcare system. The combination of these medical therapies demonstrated the greatest gains in quality-adjusted life years for heart failure patients.
A new study by RAND Corporation finds that expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania would increase federal revenue by more than $2 billion annually and provide health insurance to 340,000 residents. The expansion would also sustain over 35,000 jobs and boost economic activity by $3 billion.
Research from Brigham and Women's Hospital finds that states with restrictive Medicaid eligibility criteria have higher rates of patients delaying needed medical care. Regions with the highest rates of delayed medical care are primarily in the southeast, including Florida and Texas, where Hispanics are at a higher risk for delaying care.
A new model developed at Brigham and Women's Hospital helps clinicians identify high-risk patients for potentially avoidable hospital readmissions. The model uses seven independent factors, including hemoglobin level and length of stay, to predict the risk of readmission.
A study at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found significant variations in spinal component costs, with pedicle screws, anterior cervical plates, and posterior interbody cages costing $400 to $7,200 per patient. Greater transparency and coordinated implant selection and purchase processes could reduce these costs by up to ...
A new UK-based study published in The BMJ found that telehealth for patients with long-term conditions does not seem to be a cost-effective addition to standard support and treatment. Despite promises of reduced healthcare costs, the study revealed that total costs for those using telehealth were higher than usual care.
Research studies found that obesity is associated with longer hospital stays and higher related costs in total knee replacement patients, but not with an overall increase in complication risk. Patients with a BMI of 25-30kg/m2 had the lowest length of hospital stay and direct medical costs.
A new study at Henry Ford Hospital finds that catheter-based treatments are more cost-effective than traditional vein-stripping surgery. The treatment uses heat energy to seal diseased veins, restoring normal blood flow with minimal scarring and no hospitalization required.
A new study proposes converting New York's all-purpose energy infrastructure to renewable energy sources like wind, water, and sunlight. The plan aims to reduce pollution-related costs, create local jobs, and save the state billions of dollars annually.
A study found that primary care management of obstructive sleep apnea was not clinically inferior to specialist care, with significant improvements in daytime sleepiness scores. Primary care management also resulted in lower costs, estimated at $1,819 per patient, compared to specialist care at $3,068.
A study published in Spine found that patients with neck injuries incur significantly higher health and social costs, which also affect their spouses. The increases in costs began to occur well before the initial injury, up to eleven years earlier.
A clinical trial found that a centralized, patient-preference program decreased depressive symptoms and may be cost-neutral over time. Active treatment for post-ACS depression was associated with significant improvements in symptoms and potentially lower healthcare costs.
A new study suggests that pneumococcal disease may be shifting its burden from infants to adults in Latin America, with significant economic implications. The research highlights the need for increased monitoring and surveillance to understand the full extent of the disease in the region.
Friedreich's Ataxia, a rare genetic disorder, imposes significant annual costs of £11,000 to £19,000 on individuals. The study emphasizes the need for tailored resource allocation to maximize quality of life while minimizing its impact.
A new study suggests that consumers select health insurance plans based on both their overall wellness level and anticipated response to having insurance. The research indicates that people with lower behavioral responses to the contract are more likely to opt for high-deductible plans.
A new UCSF study reveals large price swings in patient charges for the 10 most common outpatient conditions in emergency rooms across the country. The median charge for total outpatient conditions was $1,233, with some patients facing bills of $4 to $24,110.
A new Pitt study found that generic drug coverage is cost-effective compared to no coverage for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Generic coverage improved health outcomes and reduced medical costs, with savings of $570-$1,312 per year.
A recent study found that bariatric surgery does not lower overall healthcare costs in the long term. Instead, it results in higher inpatient costs and lower prescription and office-visit costs. The research analyzed data from over 29,000 patients who underwent bariatric surgery between 2002 and 2008.
A new Northwestern University study found that US veterans diagnosed with GERD are frequently prescribed high doses of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and kept on the drug for too long. The researchers evaluated over 1,600 patients and found that nearly 25% were given high total daily dose prescriptions.
Professor Barbara Sahakian emphasizes the importance of prioritizing mental health, citing one in four adults suffering from a mental disorder. She advocates for regular monitoring and early detection through innovation and technology to promote prevention and effective treatment.
State Medicaid programs offering coverage for birth doulas may capture cost savings associated with reduced cesarean rates, benefiting diverse, low-income women. Doula support improves birth outcomes and enhances the mother's birth experience.
A new study by UCSF found that California's tobacco control program cost $2.4 billion and reduced health care costs by $134 billion over nearly 20 years. The program also led to a significant decrease in smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption, contributing to the overall healthcare cost savings.
A new system using Kinect technology and Azure connectivity can replace expensive telemedicine systems, reducing hospital-acquired infections and patient transport costs. The system uses low-bandwidth connections and can be used in areas with unreliable internet, making it a powerful tool for remote communities.
A study found that 40% of top-ranked and 36% of non-top-ranked hospitals struggled to provide a price estimate for total hip replacement, with costs ranging from $11,100 to $125,798. The researchers suggest consumers should ask for cost information and be persistent in obtaining it.
A new AI framework using Markov Decision Processes and Dynamic Decision Networks has been developed to simulate treatment paths, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. The approach outperforms traditional models in both cost reduction and quality improvement.
The study found that increased breast milk intake by 10 milliliters per kilogram per day reduced the odds of sepsis by almost 20%. Breast milk also lowered NICU costs by $20,000 to $32,000 per day. This research is significant for its economic impact on risk of infection and related hospital care costs.
A University of Oregon study finds that patients with higher levels of motivation, knowledge, and confidence in managing their health have substantially lower healthcare costs. The researchers recommend assessing patient activation scores to support more engaged patients and improve outcomes.
Researchers at UCLA's Pediatric Medical Home will study ways to reduce preventable hospital admissions and emergency room use among children with medically complex illness, aiming to decrease healthcare expenditures. The study will analyze root causes of preventable hospitalizations and design cost-saving strategies.
A new study by Cornell University researchers offers a spatial solution to boost nurses' efficiency through better design. The research analyzed floor plans and work patterns in five medical-surgical units at US hospitals and found opportunities to improve caregiver workflow.
A study published in JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that median out-of-pocket costs for Canadian breast cancer patients were $1,002, with higher costs among more educated women and those living far from hospitals. Wage losses had a greater impact on family finances than out-of-pocket costs.
A study found that revealing the costs of expensive medical tests like MRIs up front had no impact on the number of tests doctors ordered. Doctors have already decided they need to know the information, regardless of the cost.
A study at Johns Hopkins found that early rehabilitation programs in ICUs generate significant cost savings for hospitals. By reducing length of stay and improving patient strength, these programs can save hospitals up to $818,000 per year.
Researchers estimate naloxone distribution could prevent 6.5% of all overdose deaths by providing a cost-effective way to reverse opioid overdoses. Quadruple doses of seasonal flu vaccine may better protect HIV-infected patients from serious illness or death, but evidence for quality impact is limited.
Experts recommend developing and implementing evidence-based appropriateness criteria to prioritize patients most in need of elective procedures, such as joint replacement surgery. This could help combat increasing healthcare costs while enhancing access and quality, according to Weill Cornell researchers.
Researchers found that telestroke networks can increase patient recovery, improve function, and reduce disability. With a network, hospitals can make nearly $360,000 annually, with each spoke hospital generating over $100,000 in revenue.
Socrates Analytics provides a cloud-based software program that collects, standardizes, analyzes, and reports on disparate hospital billing, administrative, and operating room data. This enables hospitals to interpret complex administrative data, view trends, outliers, and variability in care processes, ultimately improving efficiency ...
A new study suggests that the University of Michigan Health System's (UMHS) approach to medical errors, known as the "Michigan Model," has helped reduce malpractice claims and costs. The model focuses on compensating patients quickly and fairly, supporting clinical staff, and reducing patient injuries by learning from experiences.
Average employer-sponsored family health insurance plan premiums increased by 62% between 2003 and 2011, rising to $15,022 per year. Employee payments for their share of health insurance premiums also rose by 74%, with deductibles more than doubling.
Consumers with individual insurance policies received $394 million in rebates, while insurers reduced overhead by $560 million. The Affordable Care Act's medical loss ratio provision led to improvements in administrative costs and medical loss ratios in the individual market.
The American College of Physicians recommends limiting upper endoscopy to patients with heartburn only when accompanied by serious symptoms or specific risk factors. The guideline aims to reduce unnecessary procedures and associated costs, while ensuring effective care for GERD patients.
The American College of Cardiology and European Society of Cardiology disagree on mandatory ECG screenings. The ACC suggests $69 billion over 20 years to save 4,813 lives, while experts like Antonio Pelliccia argue cultural and policy obstacles hinder widespread adoption.
A new study at the University of Cincinnati uses computer-based simulation modeling to estimate the operational disruption and lost opportunity costs of introducing HIV testing into emergency departments. The research aims to provide valuable guidance for hospitals and policymakers on implementing HIV screening programs.
The new system-on-a-chip enables integration of large components onto a single microchip, achieving significant improvements in power consumption. It cuts the size, weight, power consumption, and cost by about 10 times compared to conventional body data monitoring technologies.
A study suggests that limiting non-medically indicated caesareans and induced labor can reduce preterm births in high-income countries. Implementing evidence-based interventions could avert around 58,000 preterm births annually, saving $3 billion in economic costs.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine finds that per capita Medicare spending on the elderly has grown nearly three times faster in the US than in Canada since 1980. The authors attribute this difference to Canada's single-payer system, which includes fewer administrative costs and a greater emphasis on primary care.
A recent study proposes redirecting $750 billion in wasteful healthcare spending towards various initiatives, including businesses, education, infrastructure, and job retraining. The potential outcomes include reducing deficit, funding preschool programs, improving transportation projects, and promoting rural development.
A simple-to-use risk score identifies low-risk STEMI patients, allowing early discharge and reducing hospital length of stay by a day. This strategy results in estimated savings of nearly $7,000 in total hospital costs.
A new report by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute suggests that declining medical imaging use may be driving up hospital stays and medical costs in the US. This trend could have negative consequences on patient safety and access to care if not addressed through policy changes.
A study by Rice University researchers found that states without Certificate of Need regulations for open-heart surgery experienced a 4% decrease in average patient care costs. The deregulation led to increased competition among hospitals, driving up the quality of care and resulting in cost savings.
Governor Romney's plan would increase uninsured in every state to 72 million, while the Affordable Care Act reduces it to 27 million; children and low- and middle-income Americans particularly affected