Articles tagged with Health Care Costs
The Medicare program is expected to spend over $510 billion on 47 million individuals by 2010, with costs projected to skyrocket. Solutions proposed include preventing hospital readmissions, enhancing communication among healthcare providers and patients, and realigning the physician payment system.
Researchers found significant cost increases in Medicare claims between 2003 and 2006, with DES contributing $3.32 billion to growth and ICDs contributing $774 million. Average costs for coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure patients increased substantially, driven by the use of these devices.
A nationwide smoking ban would lead to a significant reduction in heart attack hospitalizations, with 18,596 fewer admissions expected. The ban could also save over $92 million in direct healthcare costs.
A new study found that improved treatment of severe epilepsy could significantly reduce the overall cost of the condition. The study analyzed data from 9,163 epilepsy patients and found that non-AED related costs increased disproportionately with disease severity, while AED-related costs remained stable.
A new study by RAND Corporation found that physician cost profiles can vary widely depending on the attribution rules used by insurance companies. This variability has important implications for both patients and physicians, highlighting the need for transparency and consistency in cost profiling methods.
A new study by researchers found that measuring bone density before starting ADT can help prevent fractures and reduce costs. Another study suggests that CTCA can identify patients who need more invasive testing for heart disease.
A recent study by Brandeis researchers found that medicalizing human problems has led to substantial economic costs, with $77.1 billion spent on conditions like menopause and ADHD in 2005.
A new study reveals that population health plays a significant role in explaining geographic differences in Medicare spending, accounting for nearly one-third of the variation. The study's findings suggest that policies based on misperceptions of unexplained geographic differences may be flawed.
A new study from the Regenstrief Institute provides a framework for evaluating the costs, effort, and value of health information exchange services. The framework will help track the development and utilization of these services, crucial for understanding their impact on quality of care and patient safety.
The cost of cancer treatment in the US has nearly doubled over the past two decades, with private insurance and Medicaid bearing a growing burden. Inpatient hospital admissions account for a smaller share of costs, while outpatient expenditures increase.
Researchers found over 2,000 genes reprogrammed in peripheral nervous system of rodent models, leading to potential 'transcription therapy' for chronic pain. The study's high-throughput sequencing revealed novel exons and gene candidates, offering a new approach for neuroscientific research.
A new study by RAND Corporation suggests that pay-for-performance programs could worsen medical disparities, particularly in communities with lower-income and minority populations. The study found that practices serving these communities would receive lower payments under typical pay-for-performance programs.
Research found that 5% of low-income caregivers reported making trade-offs to pay for medical care, often at the expense of basic necessities like food and utilities. Children in these families were at increased risk of poor health, hospitalization, and developmental delays.
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers warns that pay-for-performance policies may create financial incentives for discriminating against obese patients. Obese patients are at significantly greater risk of complications and cost more to treat than non-obese patients after surgery.
A study by Duke University Medical Center found that imaging costs rose faster than overall cancer care for Medicare patients. The use of PET scans increased significantly, with a mean annual growth rate of 36-53% across six cancer types.
The use and costs of diagnostic imaging for Medicare patients with cancer increased substantially between 1999 and 2006. PET scans saw the largest increase, accompanied by a reduction in conventional nuclear medicine tests and stabilized CT scans.
A new study found that domestic violence victims have significantly higher health costs than non-abused women, with average costs of over $1,200 for the first two years after abuse ends. The study suggests that prolonged impact of abuse on healthcare costs is consistent with chronic health conditions.
A new CU-Boulder study finds that material possessions don't provide enduring happiness and often make individuals less popular among their peers. Investing in life experiences instead can lead to better social relationships and increased happiness.
A new Europe-wide strategy for preventing type 2 diabetes has been developed, recommending lifestyle changes such as weight loss and increased physical activity to prevent the disease. The guidelines aim to halve the incidence of type 2 diabetes by implementing evidence-based prevention programs across European countries.
A study by Tufts University researchers found that employees who were more informed about their copayments for office visits and emergency room visits were more likely to have more office visits and fewer emergency room visits. This suggests that transparency about healthcare costs could help contain expenditures on health services.
A study found that Ontario's universal flu vaccine campaign reduces influenza illness attack rates, morbidity, and mortality at a reasonable cost to taxpayers. The campaign prevented an estimated 34,541 cases, 111 deaths, and $7.8 million in healthcare costs per season.
A new study has found that oral naltrexone can reduce both alcohol- and non-alcohol-related healthcare costs for patients with alcohol-use disorders. The medication was found to be effective in reducing healthcare expenditures, particularly among those with an alcohol-related diagnosis.
A wireless healthcare system for diabetes management enables patients to monitor their blood glucose levels and receive timely feedback from healthcare workers. The system has been successfully tested in a pilot study with twenty patients, demonstrating its potential to reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes.
Advanced imaging techniques like CT scans and MRI can shorten hospital stays and decrease costs. Studies found that early imaging on the day before or day of admission resulted in a one-day shorter length of stay for certain patients.
The US health care reform bill aims to extend access to healthcare and narrow the gap between expenditure and health outcomes. The bill will provide coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans by 2014 and 95% of the population by 2019, while also promoting preventive care through measures such as calorie labelling.
Research shows that initiating type 2 diabetes screening in the US population at ages 30-45 and repeating it every 3-5 years is cost-effective. This approach can prevent heart attacks, diabetes-related microvascular complications, and improve quality of life while keeping costs below $10,500 per quality-adjusted life-year.
A new study identifies women and patients with diabetes and dementia as most likely to fall into Medicare's 'donut hole', a gap in coverage where beneficiaries face unsubsidized medication costs. Researchers recommend doctor-patient counseling to manage drug regimens and prevent adverse effects on patients' health.
Experiments in China have shown that changing the incentive system for healthcare providers can lead to improved basic primary health care and reduced costs. Primary-care providers are incentivized to cover more citizens with vaccinations and health education, improving access to cost-effective care.
A new study found that women and patients with dementia and diabetes are most likely to enter the Medicare Part D coverage gap, facing significant out-of-pocket drug expenses. The researchers suggest medication cost-counseling interventions for these clinically vulnerable subpopulations may be warranted.
Research from the University of Sheffield shows that increasing alcohol prices can reduce consumption, deaths, and healthcare costs across all population subgroups. For a minimum unit price of £0.50 per unit, there could be around 2,900 fewer premature deaths per year and 92,000 fewer hospital admissions.
A multinational study found that cystic fibrosis patients from EU countries live longer than those in neighboring non-EU countries. The data suggest a higher proportion of patients surviving to age 40 and a larger CF population if demographic profiles were comparable to EU countries.
A new study by RAND Corporation found that about one-fourth of physicians would be misclassified under cost ranking systems, raising questions about their utility for high-stakes activities like tiered health plans. Only about 40% of physicians had cost profile scores at least 70% reliable, and fewer than 10% were at least 90% reliable.
A study found that new chemotherapy agents for metastatic colorectal cancer improve life expectancy by 6.8 months and increase lifetime medical costs by $37,100, equating to a cost of $66,200 per year of life gained.
A recent study found that new chemotherapy drugs for metastatic colorectal cancer can increase life expectancy by 6.8 months, but at a cost of $37,100 per patient. The cost-effectiveness of these treatments is disputed, with the study estimating a cost of $99,100 per quality-adjusted life year gained.
A recent study found that prenatal screening for spinal muscular atrophy is not cost-effective due to high costs and limited benefits. The authors estimated that only 12,500 women need to be screened to prevent one case of the disease, which would require a significant investment.
A study found that most non-ICU patients receiving intravenous proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) had inappropriate indications or routes of administration. The researchers highlighted the need for restrictions on IV PPI use to improve both clinical and cost impacts.
Only 25 US states have enacted legislation covering cancer clinical trial costs, with varying requirements for scientific and ethical review. The study highlights the need for closer communication between lawmakers and oncology experts to improve research and patient care.
A new RAND Corporation study finds California's failure to meet air pollution standards costs over $193 million in hospital-based medical care from 2005-2007. Exposure to ozone and particulate pollution causes nearly 30,000 emergency room visits and hospital admissions.
A new study by Stanford cardiologists suggests that routine electrocardiogram (ECG) testing of young American athletes can save lives while being reasonable in cost. The research challenges conventional wisdom that ECGs are too expensive to be required prior to competitive exercise.
A new study published in Archives of Internal Medicine estimates that sepsis and pneumonia caused by hospital-acquired infections kill nearly 50,000 people each year, with healthcare costs totaling $8.1 billion in 2006. The conditions can be prevented with better infection control measures, reducing both deaths and healthcare expenses.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that hospitals with lower costs did not necessarily compromise on the quality of care, but rather focused on improving efficiency. The researchers found that low-cost hospitals had comparable or slightly higher readmission rates compared to high-cost hospitals, while patients ini...
A Canadian Medical Association Journal article calls for legislative measures to address the growing epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The authors propose taxes on high-calorie foods, physical activity incentives, and advertising restrictions to encourage healthier habits among children.
Researchers found that value-based insurance design (VBID) can increase benefits from healthcare without increasing costs. By waiving consumer payments for highly effective treatments and raising them for less effective ones, VBID could provide a substantial improvement in health outcomes and reduce the number of uninsured individuals.
A Johns Hopkins researcher warns that medical safety checklists are no magic wand and require a culture change to be effective. Checklists can work in certain situations, such as central-line infection prevention, but over-reliance on them can lead to distractions and errors.
A new study found that increased Medicare payments for outpatient bladder cancer surgeries led to a significant rise in procedure numbers and overall healthcare costs. The study suggests that some Medicare policies may actually contribute to an increase in healthcare expenditures rather than reducing costs.
Researchers found that universal screening of pregnant women is cost-effective and improves pregnancy outcomes, reducing the number of premature births. The study also showed that routine care costs more than screening for short cervix, resulting in cost savings.
A study found that intensive health behavior counseling is effective, but cost can be a significant barrier. When free services were offered, more patients participated, while charges led to a decrease in referrals. Policymakers are advised to eliminate cost as a barrier to support clinical-community partnerships.
The study found that videoconferencing enabled successful completion of education programs for radiology trainees in remote locations, removing the need for travel and increasing participation rates. Satisfaction with course content and delivery was high among participants.
A University of Kentucky researcher is studying respiratory weakness as a factor in ICU morbidity, which can lead to prolonged stays and lengthy recovery times. The study aims to develop new treatments that could slow down muscle wasting and reduce reliance on mechanical ventilation.
A Spanish study found that mental illnesses are the second leading cause of temporary and permanent sick leave in Spain. The research estimated a total social cost of at least €7.019 billion, with direct non-medical costs accounting for nearly half of this amount.
A new study by Brown University researchers suggests that increasing insurance co-payments for routine doctor visits may actually make care more expensive. Patients with higher co-payments cut back on their doctor visits but ultimately require more expensive hospital care due to worsening illnesses.
A new Rwandan study finds that circumcising newborn males is more cost-effective than adult male circumcision for HIV prevention. The operation costs just $15 per child, compared to $59 for adults, and can save millions in treatment costs.
The cost of psoriasis treatments has increased faster than inflation, with newer biologic therapies being significantly more expensive. Costs for systemic therapy range from $1,197 to $27,577, with phototherapy and biologics having varying price ranges.
Research from North Carolina State University identifies trends among states with the biggest funding problems, offering insights into addressing unfunded liabilities. States with larger workforces per capita tend to have higher unfunded liabilities, while poor pension management also contributes to the issue.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that a small group of physicians, accounting for 3.7% of claims, drove 72% of workers' compensation costs. These 'cost-intensive providers' were found to have a significant impact on system health care costs independent of injury severity.
Researchers found that higher antiretroviral therapy adherence was associated with lower direct health care costs for HIV-infected adults in South Africa. This decrease in costs is largely attributed to reduced hospital use, saving a median monthly health care cost of $85 per patient.
Research reveals that quitting smoking can increase type 2 diabetes risk in the short term due to weight gain. Additionally, spoon size affects dosing accuracy with liquid medicine, leading to errors. The latest adult immunization schedule emphasizes HPV and influenza vaccinations, while antiretroviral adherence is linked to lower heal...
Pharmacists at the University at Buffalo improved diabetes care for patients with Type 2 diabetes, reducing their A1C levels by an average of 1.1% over six months. This improvement came with significant cost savings, with monthly costs per patient decreasing by approximately $212.
Two studies find that routine self-monitoring of blood glucose levels by people with type 2 diabetes who are not taking insulin is an ineffective use of health-care resources due to significant cost of test strips. Expenditures associated with blood glucose self-monitoring in Canada are projected to exceed $1 billion.
A study led by researchers at the University of Toronto and UC Berkeley found a 9% increase in disability rates among non-institutionalized adults 65 and over between 2000 and 2005. The trend is attributed to increasing obesity rates and lack of preventive services, which could lead to rising costs for Medicare and Medicaid.