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 study analyzed cost-effectiveness of strategies to treat infant tear duct obstruction, finding that immediate office-based probing surgery is more expensive than waiting but slightly less effective. The optimal approach depends on the spontaneous resolution rate, with varying costs and outcomes depending on the setting of intervention.
New policy proposals aim to reduce toxic chemical exposure and subsequent burden of disease on children, with estimated annual costs of $76.6 billion. The studies also found a statistically significant association between air pollution and infectious respiratory illness in children.
A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that even families with insurance face financial burdens that lead them to delay or forgo medical care. Excessive costs relative to family income and having a child with a limitation increase the likelihood of delayed care.
A new report by the Commonwealth Fund finds that 90% of American families living above the federal poverty level will be able to afford health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. However, high out-of-pocket costs will still be a challenge for some families, particularly those with incomes between 100-300% of poverty.
Experts warn that Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) could be designed to exclude minorities and widen health care disparities. Hospitals and practices may 'cherry-pick' wealthy institutions to form ACOs, leaving poor and minority-heavy patient populations behind.
A quick, inexpensive, and easy-to-administer physiological measure of pupil dilation in response to emotional words can predict which patients are likely to respond to cognitive therapy. This technology has the potential to improve treatment response rates in mental health clinics.
Implementing ACOs effectively has the potential to achieve better care, population health, and lower costs. The Commission's recommendations for ACOs include strong primary care foundation, accountability for quality, informed patients, commitment to serving the community, and innovative payment methods.
A collaborative quality improvement program between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the University of Michigan Health System has improved safety and quality in several clinical areas, resulting in significant cost savings. The program achieved measurable drops in surgical complications, with a reduction of $20 million annually.
A survey by the Commonwealth Fund found that seven in ten adults think the US healthcare system needs to be fundamentally changed. The concerns include access barriers, poorly coordinated care, and growing costs. Strong support was also shown for patient-centered care systems and innovative use of teams and information systems.
Cardiac device infections lead to significant increases in hospital stay, hospitalization costs, and mortality rates, including up to double the mortality after one year. The study found that more than one-third of excess mortality occurred after hospital discharge.
A new RAND Corporation study found that high-deductible health plans reduce healthcare spending, but also lead to cuts in preventive care such as childhood vaccinations and cancer screenings. Costs only decrease significantly when deductibles reach $1,000 per person.
The Commonwealth Fund survey reveals a bleak picture for working-age adults who lost their jobs and health insurance, with 57% of those who were insured through a job that was lost becoming uninsured. The survey also finds that health care costs are preventing people from getting the healthcare they need, with 75 million adults skippin...
A new evidence-based model of geriatric care management, GRACE, optimizes the health and functional status of community-dwelling lower-income older adults. GRACE improves health and quality of life, decreases emergency department visits and hospital admission rates.
A study by Ohio State University found that passive news reporting can lead readers to doubt their ability to find the truth in politics. The researchers suggest that journalists should resolve factual disputes to avoid misleading audiences.
A new study by St. Michael's Hospital found that homeless patients cost an additional $2,559 per hospital stay compared to housed patients, after adjusting for age and illness severity. This excess cost is largely due to the severity of psychiatric illnesses among homeless individuals.
Research at University of Missouri finds Aging in Place model provides better care for seniors, reducing relocation and hospitalization costs; improves mental and physical health outcomes, enabling most older adults to remain independent
Researchers found that carotid artery stenting (CAS) with embolic protection is a cost-effective alternative to endarterectomy (END), offering reduced post-procedure hospital stay costs. The study results showed lower rates of death, heart attack, major stroke, and repeat carotid revascularization for CAS compared to END.
Researchers propose collaborative clinical trials to revitalize the US research engine, cutting time and costs while increasing approved treatments. The approach involves companies sharing costs to test new therapies or devices, promising safer and more effective treatments sooner.
A study of 309 hospitals found that higher hospital spending is not associated with better short-term survival rates for sepsis patients. Hospitals that spent more on care had mortality rates similar to those that spent less.
A study published in the Annals of Surgery found that high-quality trauma hospitals have significantly lower death rates and spending compared to average-quality hospitals. The research suggests that achieving better quality may be less expensive in the long run, with fewer patient complications translating into cost savings.
Cost-effectiveness research is crucial in developing new medical technology to control healthcare costs while maximizing health outcomes. The effects of science and technology on healthcare costs depend on policy context, with current policies resisting the use of cost-effectiveness methods, leading to rising healthcare expenses.
A new study found that nearly 35% of orthopedic patient encounters in Pennsylvania were ordered for defensive purposes, resulting in $113,369 of total imaging charges. The study also revealed that surgeons are more likely to practice defensively if they have been in practice for over 15 years.
A study found that Medicare costs in the last six months of life are driven more by patient characteristics such as ability to function and family support than regional factors. Patient impairment or decline was a strong predictor of higher Medicare costs, accounting for ten percent of variation.
The myVitali system enables healthcare professionals to monitor and communicate with larger numbers of people, maintaining independence and quality of life for seniors. It also reduces doctor visits and provides personalized health records.
Doctors argue that current hospital quality-improvement programs have little evidence to show improved patient outcomes, despite high administrator buy-in. A formalized 'physician management infrastructure' is proposed to encourage doctors to take leadership roles in quality improvement.
The American College of Physicians recommends limiting routine imaging for low back pain due to lack of evidence on its health benefits, recommending only in higher-risk patients. ACP aims to preserve high-value, high-quality care by controlling unsustainable healthcare costs.
A study published in CMAJ found that restricting angiotensin-receptor blockers could save Canada $77.1 million without negative effects on health. The policy would benefit from the cheaper and effective alternative, ACE inhibitors.
African American patients with hypertension who viewed stories about real patients experienced better blood pressure control compared to usual care. High-volume hospitals for congestive heart failure showed improved patient outcomes but higher costs, contradicting previous studies that only focused on cost-effectiveness.
New research reveals that high-end hospital design features like private rooms and natural light can reduce healthcare-acquired infections and costs. Two case studies demonstrate the benefits of evidence-based design in hospitals and community health centers.
People with sleep apnoea or obesity-related respiratory difficulties incur twice as high medicine and hospital costs as healthy control subjects, with unemployment rates 30% higher. Violent snoring costs €705 per person, while sleep apnoea costs €3860 and obesity-related respiratory difficulties cost €11,320.
The estimated total cost of cancer care in the US is expected to reach $158 billion in 2020, driven by an aging population and increasing prevalence of cancer. Breast and prostate cancers are projected to experience significant increases in costs, with breast cancer projected to be the highest-cost cancer at $20.5 billion.
A new NIH study projects that cancer costs will increase to at least $158 billion in 2020 due to the growing US population and cancer trends. The projected costs are based on an aging population and the introduction of new, expensive cancer treatments.
A recent study by McGill University Health Centre demonstrates that single-patient rooms in Intensive Care Units (ICU) significantly reduce the acquisition of infections such as C-difficile, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus. The results show a 50% reduction in infection rates and a 10% decrease in length of stay.
The PRIMA study found that rituximab-maintenance therapy significantly improved progression-free survival and response rates compared to no treatment in patients with follicular lymphoma. After 2 years, 71.5% of patients in the rituximab group achieved complete or unconfirmed complete response compared to 52.2% in the observation group.
The study found that individuals with untreated hypersomnia incur significant economic costs, including increased medication use, hospital admissions, and unemployment. The researchers estimate that each person with violent snoring or narcolepsy costs society approximately €10,223 per year.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that neonatal intensive care provides substantial population health benefits in Mexico relative to its costs, even for very premature babies. The study suggests that including neonatal intensive care in Mexico's Seguro Popular program is highly efficient in terms of overall benefits provided com...
A retrospective study found that 31% of adult acute care visits in Massachusetts involved patients visiting two or more hospitals, resulting in higher costs and increased hospitalizations. The study highlights the need for health information technology to address fragmentation and improve patient safety.
Researchers found that private insurance paid for healthcare costs in the under-65 population significantly reduced disparities in per-capita Medicare healthcare spending between McAllen and El Paso. For this age group, inpatient admissions were 89% higher in McAllen than El Paso, but outpatient medical service spending was 22% lower.
The report found that employer-sponsored family health insurance premiums rose 41% across states from 2003 to 2009, outpacing median incomes. By 2020, average annual premiums would increase by 79%, reaching $23,342 for families. ACA reforms aim to slow cost growth and improve coverage.
Health care costs in Canada are expected to increase due to rising expenditures. Governments have options to deal with this, including increasing revenue through taxes or social insurance.
Research published in Thorax estimates that UK workplace asthma costs the country at least £100 million a year, with potentially as high as £135 million. The study reveals that the condition is underdiagnosed and that the employer should bear more responsibility for reducing exposure to agents causing workplace asthma.
Fecal immunochemical testing is the best and most cost-effective method for screening for colorectal cancer, reducing deaths by 69% among average-risk patients. Annual screening with this test can lower healthcare costs compared to other methods.
A recent study found that lower-income families enrolled in high-deductible health plans are more likely to delay or forego medical care because of the costs. Despite this, they did not report any difficulties understanding their plans. The study suggests that physicians play a crucial role in helping patients navigate these challenges.
The US stands out for highest out-of-pocket costs and most complex health insurance among 11 industrialized nations. Adults with lower incomes face significant challenges in accessing healthcare and affording medical bills.
Prescription abandonment can undermine medical treatment and result in increased healthcare costs. Studies estimate that 20-30% of prescriptions are not filled or picked up due to cost concerns, with physicians often unaware of patient out-of-pocket costs.
A study of 1.9 million hospitalized children found that gynecologic surgical procedures had the highest likelihood of leaving a foreign body inside, resulting in longer hospital stays and higher costs. The risk was particularly high for ovarian cyst or cancer-related procedures.
A University of Michigan concept for value-based insurance design is featured in a thematic cluster of papers in the November issue of Health Affairs. The approach focuses on removing barriers to high-value services and aims to improve patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs.
A study from Rhode Island Hospital found that 33 individuals were responsible for 305 cases of medical intervention to remove intentionally swallowed foreign bodies, resulting in estimated hospital costs of over $2 million. The most common items ingested were pens, batteries, knives, and razor blades.
Most physicians believe Medicare reimbursement is inequitable, and a national survey found little consensus on proposed reforms. Financial incentives for quality care were the most popular proposal, with 49.1% support.
A study found that complications after endoscopy are more common than previously estimated, with a 1% incidence of related hospital visits within 14 days. The average cost per hospital visit was $6,355.71, and the total cost for hospitalizations among patients undergoing screening or surveillance was $355,489.76.
A collaborative approach to sharing patient safety data among Michigan hospitals has led to a nearly 10% reduction in surgical complications. The study, which examined general and vascular surgeries between 2005 and 2007, also found improvements in reducing blood infections, septic shock, prolonged ventilator use, and cardiac arrest.
A new study published in Pediatrics suggests that increasing Medicaid reimbursement for administering influenza shots may boost vaccination rates among poor children. The research analyzed state-by-state data and found a strong correlation between flu vaccination rates and Medicaid reimbursement rates.
A cost analysis of pediatric ondansetron administration found substantial economic benefits, including reduced financial costs and hospitalizations. The study suggests this treatment could be valuable in countries with limited resources, but oral rehydration therapy should remain the primary approach in less developed countries.
The new guidelines, published in CMAJ, focus on identifying and managing fractures and assessing risk. Current data indicate that many fracture patients are not appropriately assessed or treated, highlighting the need for improved management of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.
Patients with peripheral artery disease experience high rates of hospitalizations and associated costs, even after initial procedures to clear blockages in leg arteries. Preventive strategies, including healthy lifestyle adoption, may help arrest or stall the progression of the disease.
Spinal osteoporotic fractures often go undiagnosed and untreated, leading to severe repercussions such as stooped back, acute pain, loss of height, and premature death. The IOF campaign aims to raise awareness and promote prevention, diagnosis, and early treatment.
Patients admitted with malnutrition or bedridden have a prolonged hospital stay risk, according to a study. Those with lower BMI, nutritional risk and severe diseases face longer stays, with a 65% greater risk compared to non-malnourished patients.
Studies examine resource use and costs in the last six months of life for Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure and Canadian patients who died of heart failure, revealing increased hospice use but high hospitalization rates. Increasing availability of alternative care venues may help reduce hospitalizations and contain costs.
A new study by Duke University researchers estimates the total value of lost job productivity due to health problems among U.S. full-time employees with obesity, which exceeds medical expenditures. The per capita cost of obesity is as high as $16,900 for obese women and $15,500 for obese men.
Researchers estimate the true cost of smoking to be significantly higher than the retail price, with males facing a premium of €32 compared to the newsstand price. The study suggests that taxes and restrictions can strengthen smokers' self-control mechanisms and generate social benefits.