Articles tagged with Health Care Costs
Cancer drugs are administered sequentially or in combination, creating a virtual monopoly for each drug. Value-based pricing is a potential solution to address the high cost of cancer therapy.
The first-ever estimate of cancer's economic burden in Europe reveals that cancers cost the European Union €124 billion each year, with lung cancer responsible for the highest overall burden. Caring for cancer patients also takes a toll on caregivers, who experience impairments in physical and mental health.
Researchers estimate that maximizing observation unit potential can result in significant cost savings, with an average annual saving of $4.6 million per hospital and up to $3.1 billion nationwide. This could be achieved by avoiding 2.4 million unnecessary inpatient admissions.
The study found that the number of total knee replacements increased by over two and a half times from 1991 to 2010, driven by an aging population and increased demand among older adults. The procedure is highly effective, allowing patients to remain active as they age, but also represents a major healthcare expense for Medicare.
Researchers found a short (7-day) course of amphotericin along with high-dose fluconazole for at least 2 weeks is the most cost-effective and least toxic treatment for cryptococcal meningitis. This regimen is significantly cheaper and less toxic than the current WHO-recommended treatment, which results in more deaths.
A new study reveals that young cancer survivors frequently forego routine medical care because of financial constraints. Despite having health insurance, they face significant cost burdens, which can lead to unmet health needs.
A study of 48 German families found that treatment for alcoholism significantly reduced family costs directly related to a family member's alcoholism. After twelve months of treatment, average costs attributable to alcoholism decreased from 20.2% to 4.3% of the total pre-tax family income.
A new study published in The Lancet suggests that replacing intravenous catheters only when clinically necessary is safe and could save millions. This policy change would prevent up to 6 million unnecessary catheter insertions and save about $60 million annually in health costs, according to the research.
A small subset of patients with open-angle glaucoma account for a large proportion of all glaucoma-related charges in the US. The costliest 5% of patients are responsible for 24% of total charges, with younger age and cataract surgery being significant risk factors.
The ACA's Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) is providing a temporary coverage option for people with pre-existing health conditions until the new state exchanges are implemented in 2014. State-run high-risk pools, while helpful as a stop-gap measure, are expensive to run and often unaffordable for those who need them.
A new study found that people with mild asthma who take inhaled steroids only when symptoms occur have similar outcomes as those who use them daily. This could lead to reduced medication costs and more flexible treatment options.
The Great Recession has brought severe challenges to city and county governments, with budget shortfalls cited as a top problem by nearly half of surveyed local governments. Local government managers have responded by freezing positions, trimming benefits, and reducing service delivery levels.
Researchers found modest estimates of overall savings associated with the PGPD, but larger savings among dually eligible patients through reductions in hospitalizations. The study also revealed lower medical 30-day readmissions and significant variation in savings across participating organizations.
A computer model developed by researchers can help healthcare clinics manage no-shows and last-minute cancellations by incorporating overbooking into the system. This approach has been shown to increase efficiency, bringing it back up to around 73% in some cases.
A study found that 25% of Medicare recipients spent more on out-of-pocket healthcare expenses than their total assets during the last five years of life. The average spending was $38,688, with the top quarter of participants spending $101,791.
A Lancet series examines the social, political, and economic issues surrounding universal health coverage. The evidence suggests that progress towards UHC leads to substantial improvements in population health, particularly for the poorest people. However, countries relying predominantly on out-of-pocket payments have not achieved UHC....
A new study finds that out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in the last five years of life can account for a significant proportion of an individual's household assets. More than three-quarters of households spent at least $10,000 on healthcare costs, with some individuals contributing as much as their total household assets.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found that non-invasive diagnostic imaging costs to Medicare Part B dropped significantly between 2006 and 2010. The decline was attributed to reimbursement cuts and increased education on scan utilization.
A new strategy for managing Medicare's costly dialysis program has been implemented, bundling total costs and discouraging lapses in quality. The changes aim to rein in health care costs, but concerns remain about the potential impact on patient treatment and overall healthcare expenditure.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation's Patient Care Program aims to improve healthcare by engaging patients and their families, reducing costs, and increasing patient safety. The program focuses on eliminating all preventable harms to adult patients in acute-care settings and reconfiguring clinical processes, care teams, and technolog...
A University of Oregon team has developed a formula to refrigerate coal-plant emissions, reducing carbon dioxide by 90%, sulfur dioxide by 98%, mercury by 100% and other pollutants. The process would save society 38% through reduced health-care and climate-change costs.
A new study confirms ECG as a cost-effective method for detecting cardiac abnormalities in young athletes, preventing fatal events. The program's mean cost per athlete is €115, with most subsequent examinations being low-cost echocardiograms.
Researchers found clinically significant improvements in pain levels and functional capacity after acupuncture treatment for knee osteoarthritis. The service could save the NHS around £100,000 a year, with group acupuncture being popular among nurses and patients.
A study projects that declining male circumcision rates in the US may lead to increased healthcare costs and infection prevalence. Researchers found that reducing MC rates could result in higher estimated lifetime medical costs for men and women.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine warns that declining US infant male circumcision rates could lead to significant healthcare costs. The researchers estimate that each uncircumcised male would incur $313 more in illness-related expenses, totaling $4.4 billion over the next decade.
Researchers found that despite similar survival rates, trauma patients in the western United States face higher treatment costs than those in the northeastern region. Analysis of national patient records revealed significant regional differences in care costs, with the west spending up to 35% more on liver injury treatments.
Researchers analyzed medical group practices providing care for over 133,000 diabetic patients and found a significant reduction in healthcare costs with improved quality of care. The study suggests that investing in quality care can lead to cost savings without compromising patient outcomes.
A new legal analysis warns that some states may delay or refuse to participate in the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, leaving millions of impoverished children and adults at risk for lack of coverage. The expansion could create new jobs and provide a much-needed boost to thousands of communities affected by poverty.
A recent study published in Health Care Management Review found that mandatory individual insurance coverage in Massachusetts led to a significant near-term drop in hospital productivity. The results raise concerns about the potential impact of universal health insurance coverage on US hospital productivity and overall healthcare costs.
A study found that incorporating CT angiography into the initial evaluation of low-risk patients with chest pain reduced hospital stay time by half and decreased costs without increasing the risk of missed diagnosis. The use of CCTA also led to fewer adverse clinical events, but future studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness.
A Northwestern University study reveals that farmers and ranchers with major limb amputations struggle with durable, affordable, and adaptable prosthetics. These limitations hinder their ability to perform farm tasks, making traditional prosthetic solutions unsuitable for their unique needs.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch will study hospital readmissions for high-volume, high-cost patients receiving post-acute inpatient rehabilitation services. The goal is to identify factors associated with readmissions and improve discharge planning.
A survey of all 24 Scottish intensive care units found that a quarter of admissions were alcohol related, particularly among men and younger people. Patients with alcohol problems required longer ventilation times and had higher estimated annual costs.
Researchers at the University of Iowa found that police officers working evening or night shifts were more likely to get less restful sleep, leading to chronic fatigue and health issues. The study recommends practices to ensure proper sleep, such as adjusting court appearances and partnering with nurses.
The study analyzed over 1.5 million PCI procedures and found that drug-eluting stent use varies significantly among physicians, even among patients at low risk of restenosis. A reduction in DES use could lead to substantial cost savings while preserving clinical benefit.
A new study found that using drug-eluting stents has little relation to patients' predicted risk of restenosis. Reducing unnecessary usage could significantly cut US health costs and prevent complications. The authors suggest incorporating assessment of restenosis risk into regular practice for better-informed decisions.
A new study found that the federal government made $13 billion in duplicative payments to provide health-care services to veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. The researchers analyzed over 1 million veteran records and found that 61% used both VA and Medicare Advantage coverage.
A study of 1.2 million veterans found that the federal government spent an estimated $13 billion in six years on duplicate Medicare Advantage payments for care provided by both the VA and private health facilities. The study suggests policymakers consider measures to identify and eliminate redundant expenditures.
A study published in JAMA found that community health centers with higher patient-centered medical home ratings had higher operating costs. The study analyzed data from 1,009 federally funded health centers and found that a 10-point higher total PCMH score was associated with a $2.26 higher operating cost per patient per month.
A new study finds that patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) have higher per-patient operating costs, with additional expenses for personnel, technology, and quality improvement measures. The PCMH model aims to improve care quality and reduce wasteful spending, but its financial sustainability is threatened by these increased costs.
The High Value Healthcare Collaborative will use the grant to implement shared decision making for patients facing hip, knee or spine surgery and for those with diabetes or congestive heart failure. The project aims to reduce utilization and costs by $64 million over three years through patient engagement and activation.
RAND Corporation researchers suggest that existing administrative data may be unable to detect the effects of health IT. To accurately gauge impact, new measurement tools are needed. Health IT can lead to greater convenience, access and quality while lowering costs if it supports teamwork, care coordination and innovative approaches.
A cost-effectiveness analysis found that improving quality of care for sick children in district hospitals in Kenya is affordable and effective, with a significant increase in care quality and low additional costs. The intervention was estimated to be approximately $3.6 million annually, or 0.6% of the annual child health budget.
A new study has found that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) pay more for health care services than children with other conditions. They also use more services but have less access to coordinated care. The researchers highlight the need for better policies and medical home models to address these disparities.
The study analyzed Massachusetts General Hospital records to examine the value of healthcare over time. The analysis revealed four distinct eras: low costs and high mortality from 1821 to 1910, rising costs with declining mortality during the mid-20th century, and increasing costs with minimal changes in mortality since 2001.
A new study found that hospitals are increasingly holding elderly Medicare recipients for observation instead of inpatient care, leading to higher out-of-pocket costs. The shift may be driven by hospitals and physicians seeking to avoid unfavorable Medicare audits targeting hospital admissions.
Efforts to green operating rooms can result in significant cost savings for hospitals while reducing their environmental impact. Implementing greening initiatives such as separating waste streams, using closed collection systems and reprocessing single-use devices can generate substantial cost savings.
Patients with incomes under $50,000 were 27% less likely to participate than those earning more, with lower-income individuals expressing greater concerns about costs. The study highlights the need for better education and support for these patients.
A new study found that caring for patients with fecal incontinence costs over $4,000 per person each year, making it a significant economic burden. The condition affects 8.3% of adults and can lead to depression and social isolation.
Researchers found that smoking contributes to higher hospital costs for surgical patients, with an estimated $900 added cost per patient. The study suggests the need for preoperative behavioral interventions targeting smoking cessation to improve surgical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
A study found that early physical therapist treatment for low back pain was associated with reduced risk of subsequent healthcare utilization and lower overall healthcare costs. Patients who received early care from a physical therapist had lower rates of surgery, injections, and opioid use, as well as reduced medical costs.
Workers' compensation insurance is not used enough to cover workplace illnesses and injuries. Nearly 80% of these costs are paid by employer-provided health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and other disability funds. The resulting low premiums provide little incentive for companies to promote workplace safety.
A recent study published in the journal Urology found that robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) is significantly more costly than traditional open surgery. The study, conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), analyzed data from 473 consecutive patients treated between 2009 and 2010. Research...
The report shows facility prices outpaced general inflation, driving health spending growth among the privately insured. Per capita spending on healthcare services averaged $4,255 in 2010, with hospital and ambulatory care facility prices rising 5.1% and 10.1%, respectively.
A new Yale study found that hospitals performing expensive cardiovascular procedures are more costly for all heart failure patients. The median cost per hospitalization was $5,259 at low-procedure hospitals and $6,965 at high-procedure hospitals, with similar length of stay.
A study of nearly 11,000 total knee replacements across five top health systems revealed significant variations in length of stay, operating room time, and in-hospital complications. The data showed that surgeons with higher volumes tend to have shorter procedures, while older and sicker patients had longer hospital stays.
A recent OHSU study found that multiple sclerosis specialists have seen over 600 patients misdiagnosed with MS, resulting in unnecessary treatment costing $11 million per year. The study highlights the importance of clinical expertise in recognizing and correcting diagnostic errors.
A recent study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that hand and wrist injuries account for a significant number of annual emergency department visits in the US. The study estimated that the total cost of these injuries is substantial, with over $2 billion spent on healthcare costs and lost productivity each year.
The 'From Clinic to Community' project aims to improve health outcomes for at-risk populations in Southeastern US counties. It combines modern technology with community-based healthcare professionals to address the triple aim of better outcomes, better care, and lower cost.
The US healthcare system could face a surge in medical expenditures due to rising obesity rates. By 2030, up to 42% of the U.S. population may be obese, with severe obesity rates reaching 11%. To mitigate these costs, experts emphasize the need for effective strategies to prevent obesity.