Articles tagged with Health Care Costs
Researchers found that cardiologists who received payments from LVAD manufacturers were more likely to use those devices during percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. The study highlights the need to reevaluate industry gifts and their potential impact on clinical decision-making.
A new study found that extending Medicaid eligibility for birthing people increases treatment for perinatal mood and anxiety disorder by 20.5 percentage points, compared to those with commercial insurance. Retaining postpartum Medicaid coverage also significantly lowers patients' out-of-pocket spending for mental healthcare.
A quasi-experimental study of 35 health care facilities found chlorhexidine bathing and nasal decolonization to be effective in reducing multidrug-resistant organism prevalence. The interventions also led to decreased infection-related hospitalizations, costs, and deaths among nursing home residents.
A recent USC Schaeffer Center study found that fewer than one-in-ten hospitals promote interest-bearing medical payment products, with those promoting them being disproportionately non-profit hospitals. The study suggests regulators take a closer look at hospital financial conditions before enacting regulations.
State policies on insulin copayment caps showed no increase in insulin use but reduced OOP costs, particularly for high-deductible health plans with HSAs. Insulin users benefited from cost savings, but higher-income users experienced larger decreases in OOP costs.
A study found that an annual vaccination campaign with a second dose for children under 2 years old and individuals aged 50 and over can significantly reduce hospitalizations, deaths, and healthcare spending. The optimal timing for the second vaccination is delivering it 5 months after initial vaccination.
Researchers have identified a combination of medications that may improve blood flow within granulomas, benefiting drug delivery and reducing bacterial burden in tuberculosis-infected rabbits. The study leverages decades of cancer research to study tuberculosis-affected lung tissue and improves treatment.
Researchers at WVU are developing an AI tool to reduce medication errors that lead to hospital readmissions, aiming to improve patient safety and reduce healthcare costs. The tool will analyze patient records and identify high-risk patients, alerting pharmacists to potential issues.
A study published in Nature Metabolism reveals that the diabetes drug metformin and solid foods increase a hunger-reducing factor called Lac-Phe, while sugary drinks have minimal effect. This discovery could lead to new anti-obesity treatments and help explain why liquid calories drive obesity.
Research from Amsterdam UMC found that social activities like interactions and organised events prevent cognitive decline in long-term care residents. Participation in these activities offers a protective effect, particularly for those with little or no cognitive impairment.
A new study shows that eliminating disparities in physical activity levels between low and higher socioeconomic groups could save over $6.93 billion in direct medical costs and $8.67 billion in productivity losses. The study suggests tailoring physical activity interventions towards lower income groups to maximize cost savings.
A Phase III clinical trial showed that cancer patients who received specialized mental health support experienced lasting improvements in quality of life, reduced pain, depression, and fatigue. The intervention also led to lower risk of cardiovascular disease in family caregivers and substantial cost savings for the healthcare system.
A new analysis found that nearly all involuntary care home closures in England since 2011 were run for-profit. This raises questions about the role of private providers in exacerbating the sector's crisis. The study suggests that systematic reasons may exist for why enforcement occurs mainly in private for-profit provision.
A Canadian Medical Association Journal study finds that financial distress affects up to 33% of cancer patients in Canada, causing direct, indirect, and emotional costs. The authors suggest supporting home care, improved benefit plans, and pharmacare to alleviate the financial burden on patients and their families.
A study of 2,943 US counties found that medical debt is associated with poorer health status, increased premature deaths, and higher mortality rates. Expanding affordable healthcare coverage may improve population health in these areas.
New research estimates the economic toll of youth violence in the US, revealing that homicides and nonfatal assaults among young people cost $122 billion. The study highlights the importance of developing programs to address risk factors and prevent youth violence.
A study by University of Pittsburgh researchers found that reinsurance programs increased minimum cost coverage for middle-class enrollees in Georgia, leading to lower enrollment rates. The programs, intended to reduce premiums, ultimately made coverage less affordable for those with incomes between 251% and 400% of federal poverty level.
A comprehensive study found pulse oximeters significantly overestimated oxygen saturation readings in individuals with darker skin tones. This could lead to missed treatments and incorrect diagnoses, as devices may not accurately reflect critical oxygen levels.
A new review of 13 studies found that hospitals privatised deliver worse quality care after conversion from public ownership. This challenges the theory that privatisation improves healthcare quality through increased market competition.
Achieving the Healthy People 2030 youth sports participation goal could save $80 billion by improving children's physical and mental health. The study found that increasing youth sports participation by 12.6% could decrease overweight and obesity prevalence by 3.37%, resulting in 1.71 million fewer cases of overweight/obesity.
A new study reveals that utilization of PCSK9 inhibitors is low among high-risk patients, despite extensive evidence documenting their role in LDL-C reduction and the prevention of heart attacks. The study found that insurance coverage rejection or abandonment leads to significantly more cardiovascular events within 12 months.
A new study found that lockdown-induced delays in diagnosing melanoma led to over 100,000 years of life lost across Europe and £6.1 billion in costs, mainly due to loss of productivity. The research emphasizes the importance of considering unintended side effects in pandemic planning.
A study conducted by Newcastle University found that using a smartphone application to monitor residents in care homes reduced A&E attendances by 11% and emergency admissions by 25%. The app, Health Call, provided real-time data to enable early identification of deterioration and better management of illnesses.
A new study has found that routinely changing surgical gloves and instruments is cost-effective and safer, reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) by 13% in seven low- and middle-income countries. The economic evaluation, funded by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research, compared the costs and SSIs associated with ro...
A BMJ survey shows that more than nine out of ten doctors have struggled to find suitable childcare for their work schedule, with many citing high costs as a major issue. The survey found that the lack of flexible and affordable childcare options is leading to stress, guilt, and even career change among doctor parents.
A new study suggests that including socioeconomic status in the calculation of Medicare readmission penalties would reduce penalty amounts for 38% of safety-net hospitals compared to 17% of non-safety net hospitals. This adjustment could help alleviate financial pressure on these hospitals, which often care for sicker patients with lim...
A new study found that reducing out-of-pocket costs for patients with diabetes can lead to improved health outcomes, particularly among those living in lower-income areas. The study showed a 10.2% decrease in preventable diabetes complications among PDL members from lower-income areas compared to the control group.
A new study found that healthcare provider perceptions of patient preferences are the biggest barrier to prescribing oral rehydration salts (ORS), which costs only a few cents. Patients expressing a preference for ORS increased prescribing by 27 percentage points, making it an effective intervention.
New findings from a study on ketamine's efficacy in treating severe depression reveal that 52% of participants achieved remission after just three infusions. The study also found that half of those who had thought often of suicide before receiving ketamine experienced a dramatic drop in suicidal impulses.
A new study finds that non-white victims of violence and suicide in the US lose more potential years of life due to lethal violence, with socioeconomic factors and access to firearms playing a role. The study suggests addressing these disparities through community resources and improving access to healthcare.
Rates of re-excision after initial breast-conserving surgery remain high across the US, leading to increased healthcare costs and a higher risk of postoperative complications. The study found that younger age and ductal carcinoma in situ are associated with a higher reoperation rate.
A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that patients with vitiligo incur significantly higher healthcare costs than those without the condition. The research analyzed direct and indirect healthcare costs associated with vitiligo, revealing an unmet need for cost-effective treatments.
A new study found that nearly half of older adults who considered elective surgery were deterred by financial concerns and the need for paid time off. In contrast, those worried about post-operative pain were more likely to proceed with surgery.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 45% increase in childhood obesity among 4-5-year-olds in England, persisting into 2022. The study found that this group will incur an additional £800 million in healthcare costs over their lifetimes.
A new study reveals that Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities are more efficient than private sector hospitals and clinics, with significantly lower administrative staff. By adopting the VHA's lean approach to care, nearly 900,000 fewer paperwork-filled jobs could be eliminated.
Researchers found that counties with higher uninsured rates and reduced access to mental health services have higher opioid prescriptions. Conversely, better healthcare quality was associated with a greater drop in opioid prescriptions over time.
A study by Tufts University found that employer-sponsored health insurance costs are holding back wage growth, with premiums eating up a growing proportion of workers' compensation. This has contributed to income inequality, particularly among Black and Hispanic families, as well as lower-wage workers.
A new peer-reviewed study suggests that cannabis is having no significant effect on people's use of opioids, taken outside of medical guidance. The findings have substantial implications for U.S. treatment programs, which still require patients to abstain from cannabis before qualifying for potentially life-saving treatment.
A study of U.S. families with employer-sponsored health insurance found a significant association between rising premiums and reduced annual earnings, as well as increased earnings inequality by race and ethnicity and wage level. The research suggests that this growth may have contributed to wage stagnation over the past three decades.
A new study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society estimates that chemicals in plastics contribute to various diseases and disabilities in the US, resulting in significant healthcare costs. The study found that $67 billion is attributed to phthalate exposure, while PFAS exposure leads to $22 billion in health costs.
Scooter-related injuries in the US nearly tripled from 2016 to 2020, resulting in more severe injuries and higher healthcare costs. The study found that scooter riders were more likely to experience long bone fractures and paralysis than bicycle riders.
A new study found that paying doctors to visit rural areas is a cost-effective way to provide reasonable access and effective care. The study estimates the financial costs of mitigating cardiologist shortages by studying outreach patterns over 30 years in Iowa.
UC Davis Health has developed a holistic outreach and local recruitment plan that has proven effective in increasing workforce diversity. The institution's Anchor Institution Mission (AIM) initiative targets outreach to local Sacramento neighborhoods of concern to reduce disparities in the long term.
A recent study reveals that two-thirds of babies born with sickle cell disease are born in areas scoring high or very high on the scale of social vulnerability. This highlights the need for targeted efforts to support families affected by this genetic blood disease.
The average cost of treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients rose from $10,094 to $13,072 between March 2020 and March 2022, with significant increases for patients with obesity or coagulation deficiencies. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and mechanical ventilation also drove up costs.
Making antivenom more widely available across hospitals and community health centers in the Brazilian Amazon region would significantly reduce death and disability from venomous snakebites. The study found that expanding access to both hospitals and community health centers would produce the largest benefits, averting up to 3,922 death...
Researchers estimated average national medical resource use for COVID-19 patients at $11,275 per stay. Hospital costs rose due to increased ECMO use despite evolving care practices and vaccination rates.
A study published in Blood Advances found liso-cel to be a cost-effective treatment for r/r DLBCL, with a lower societal ICER of $68,212 per QALY. The treatment offered improved quality-adjusted life years and reduced lost productivity costs.
Researchers found that nurse practitioner placement in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, resulted in reduced emergency visits and optimized care for residents with higher care needs. The study suggests a paradigm shift in elder care, highlighting the pivotal role of NPs in delivering quality healthcare.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University found that increasing walking by over 70% reduces medical costs for lifestyle-related diseases, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public transit use also decreases medical costs, with a higher effect in metropolitan prefectures.
A study by the University of Gothenburg found that maintaining aerobic fitness is linked to a 7-14% lower risk of hospitalizations for any reason. Increased fitness also reduces hospital admissions due to cardiovascular disease. The findings suggest potential benefits for individual health and healthcare costs.
The study found that people who are only slightly overweight, with a BMI of 25-30, and those with mild obesity, have the highest costs for healthcare services. This is because these individuals represent a larger proportion of the population than obese individuals, who have a higher risk of disease but lower costs.
A new poll found that 83% of older adults believe health insurers should cover medications to help people with obesity manage their weight. Nearly as many, 76%, also believe Medicare should cover these drugs, which are currently not covered under law.
This study reveals racial and ethnic differences in hospice use, with Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black individuals having lower odds of receiving hospice care. Hispanic individuals had the highest odds of a short hospice stay, highlighting potential barriers to access and acceptance among low-income populations.
A new study by researchers at University College London found that reducing oxygen levels for critically ill children on mechanical ventilators can lead to better outcomes, including reduced days spent on machines supporting organs. This approach has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs globally.
Chronic wounds in Singapore result in a significant economic burden of SGD$350 million each year. The study found that hospital admissions and decline in quality of life contribute to these costs.
A study of 1.1 million patients found lower healthcare costs when treated by female surgeons compared to male surgeons. This analysis highlights the importance of creating inclusive policies and environments supportive of women in surgery to improve workforce diversity.
Despite its cost-effective prevention for recurrent events, cardiac rehabilitation remains inaccessible to many due to lack of social support, particularly in poorer countries. Home-based rehabilitation and comprehensive lifelong healthy behavioral programs may help address these barriers.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that individuals with higher wealth levels had greater hospital care and medication costs before diagnosis. However, after diagnosis, wealth was associated with lower healthcare costs due to differences in comorbidities among different wealth groups.
New research found a 16% increase in economic burden of US firearm injuries and deaths in 2020 compared to 2019. Non-fatal costs are largely attributed to hospitalization, while fatal costs are mainly due to value of lives lost.