Articles tagged with Insurance
A new study found that Medicaid expansion is associated with increased insurance coverage and improvements in asthma treatment, BMI screening, pap testing, and blood pressure control. Care quality also improved on seven measures, including care for asthma, pap testing, and hypertension, particularly among Hispanics.
A systematic review of authoritative guidelines on sugar intake found that many recommendations are based on low-quality evidence. The review suggests that public health officials and consumers should be aware of these limitations when considering dietary sugar guidelines.
A recent study has found that the frequency of US tornado outbreaks is increasing, but the trend does not resemble those expected under global warming. Instead, researchers attribute the rise to trends in storm relative helicity, a factor not previously linked to climate change.
A study found that patients who checked procedure prices were more likely to choose lower-priced facilities, especially for imaging services and sleep studies. Searching for price information was also associated with lower adjusted total spending for these procedures.
A multidisciplinary team will study how motor and linguistic speech information is encoded in the brain to develop specific treatments for speech disorders. The researchers aim to understand which neuronal activity in the subthalamic nucleus is responsible for different aspects of speech.
Economist Christopher Smallwood argues that private top-up insurance could prevent declining healthcare standards in the NHS. He proposes a French-style scheme where treatment costs are covered by the state and individuals make contributions for minor treatments.
Former USPSTF chairs, Virginia A. Moyer, Michael LeFevre, and Ned Calonge, suggest that guidelines should only inform, not dictate, insurance coverage decisions. They cite Mylan's attempt to influence the panel as a flawed example of this issue.
A pair of experts, Mark Fendrick and Michael Chernew, propose altering consumer cost-sharing in health insurance plans to make services more affordable based on individual patient and provider factors. They suggest changes to IRS rules, Medicare plan design, and encouraging value-based cost-sharing to promote high-value clinical services.
A RAND Corporation study found that people who gained health coverage under the Affordable Care Act's expansion increased their prescription drug use by 28% and had lower out-of-pocket spending. Those with chronic conditions saw even larger increases in prescriptions filled and reductions in costs.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that people are more likely to inflate insurance claims if their original submissions are rejected. The researchers used a mock insurance claim scenario and found that rejection leads to increased feelings of unhappiness and dishonest behavior.
A new study by Yale University researchers found that high tobacco surcharges under the Affordable Care Act reduced smokers' insurance enrollment rates, contrary to the ACA's goal of universal coverage. The study also showed no increase in smoking cessation among smokers facing these surcharges.
Researchers found that customers with insurance are less critical of costs, leading to overcharging and higher prices. The study showed a significant difference in repair prices, with customers with insurance paying up to €128.68 compared to €70.17 without insurance.
A study by Matthew M. Davis and colleagues found a significant decrease in uninsured hospital patients from 5.8% to 2% and an increase in Medicaid coverage from 23% to 30% among non-elderly adults after Michigan's Medicaid expansion in 2014.
A new study reveals that the Healthy Michigan Plan has led to a significant shift in insurance coverage for hospital patients in Michigan. The proportion of uninsured patients dropped by nearly 4 percentage points, while the proportion of Medicaid-covered patients rose more than 6 points within three months of the plan's launch.
A new University of British Columbia study finds that ships flagged for illegal fishing can obtain insurance; researchers propose using vessel list checks to block such vessels from securing coverage. This approach is cheaper and more effective than traditional methods to combat illegal fishing.
Insilico Medicine scientists will present advances in deep learning for biomarker development and drug discovery at the ISFA-Columbia University Actuarial Science Workshop. The workshop aims to integrate deep learning with actuarial science to assess risk in finance, insurance, and other industries.
Cardiac arrhythmia is a significant complication following lung transplantation, affecting long-term patient survival. Researchers found that about 30% of patients developed arrhythmia, mostly during the first week post-surgery, with older patients and previous heart surgery being risk factors.
A new study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that at least 85% of intrauterine devices (IUDs) placed immediately after delivery remain in place six weeks later. This is promising news for reducing unintended pregnancies and associated maternal and infant outcomes.
Researchers found that financing treatment of hepatitis C would not only save lives but ease future costs for Medicare. Expanding screenings and treatment to all patients could generate more than $800 billion in benefits over 20 years. Policymakers must determine how to encourage private insurers to invest in the latest treatments.
A national survey of IVF cycles found that elective single-embryo transfer results in fewer adverse outcomes and ideal pregnancy outcomes, including single, full-term babies of normal birth weight. The study also shows that insurance coverage for infertility treatment is associated with increased use of elective single-embryo transfer.
A value-based insurance plan in Connecticut boosted employee use of targeted preventive services by 13.5 percentage points and reduced emergency room visits, leading to potential cost savings over time.
Experts warn that poorly designed insurance instruments could fail to reach poor communities, highlighting the need for tailored approaches and coupled with adaptation efforts. Policymakers must consider climate insurance as part of a wider strategy rather than in isolation.
A new study found that extreme tornado outbreaks have increased in frequency since 1954, with the average number of tornadoes per outbreak rising from 10 to 15. The variance around this mean has also risen four times faster, a phenomenon known as Taylor's power law of scaling.
A clinical study from Mayo Clinic found whole-exome sequencing to be a viable diagnostic approach for identifying rare genetic conditions, resolving diagnostic odysseys and improving patient management. The study reported a success rate of 29%, twice that of conventional genetic evaluations, with insurance coverage existing for the test.
Two Georgetown professors argue that a section of the FY 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act undermines science and women's health by requiring private insurers to follow outdated scientific guidance for breast cancer screening coverage. This action strikes at the credibility of the US Preventive Services Task Force and may discourage...
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a way to train smartphone activity trackers to spot fake activity, increasing accuracy from 38% to 84%. The system learns to recognize patterns of cheating, such as shaking the phone while lounging on the couch, and can generalize it across individuals.
A new study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that both traditional Medicaid expansion and the 'private option' approach significantly reduced uninsured rates and improved access to affordable healthcare for low-income adults. In Kentucky and Arkansas, which expanded coverage through these approaches, the uninsured rat...
The research aims to develop an efficient computational fluid dynamics code for fire suppression, including heat transfer, material flammability, and water spray dynamics. FM Global's FireFOAM simulation tool is available as open-source software to researchers studying fires and fire suppression.
Researchers found that including patient decisions about life-sustaining treatments in hospital mortality rankings resulted in substantial changes to hospital rankings. Hospitals admitting more patients who chose a 'DNR' status tended to have greater patient satisfaction and high performance on pneumonia care measures.
A recent study has found that mastectomy and reconstruction have higher complication rates and costs compared to lumpectomy and radiation. For younger women with private insurance, the risk of complications from mast+recon was two times higher than lump+WBI after adjusting for other differences in patients and treatment.
A University of Michigan Medical School team compared the cost-effectiveness of two anticoagulant drugs, dabigatran and warfarin, for preventing stroke in patients over age 65 with atrial fibrillation. They found that new drugs are more cost-effective for those with prescription coverage, but may not be worth it for those without cover...
A recent study found nearly 15% of ACA marketplace plans lack in-network specialists for at least one specialty. This inadequate coverage can lead to high out-of-pocket costs and adverse selection. The study highlights the need to enhance enforcement or update insurance regulations to improve patient access to affordable care.
A study of federal marketplace insurance plans found nearly 15% lacking in-network specialists for at least one specialty, affecting patient access to specialized care. This issue raises concerns about network adequacy and high out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries.
A Penn bioethicist recommends increasing randomized trials, using better measures to quantify intervention effectiveness, and developing interventions that accurately reflect decision-making processes.
A growing number of state Medicaid agencies cover contraceptive devices immediately after delivery, improving maternal and child health outcomes. IUDs inserted postpartum have a slightly higher risk of falling out than delayed placement, but the risk of complications is low.
A new study by UK scientists found that geographically widespread animals are not immune to extinction during global mass extinction events. In contrast, they discovered that widely distributed animals are just as likely to suffer extinction as those with smaller geographic ranges.
A study found significant improvements in insurance coverage, access to a personal physician and medications, affordability, and health after the ACA's first two open enrollment periods. The largest gains were among racial/ethnic minorities, suggesting reduced disparities in access to care.
A new study found that young cancer patients often have limited knowledge about fertility preservation options, which can impact their treatment plans. Males are more likely to discuss fertility preservation with clinicians than females, but both sexes face barriers such as lack of insurance coverage and education.
Researchers found that SSDI beneficiaries who enrolled in state vocational rehabilitation agency services achieved work milestones at a faster rate than those who did not. The study suggests that provision of these services may be a means of reducing the costs of SSDI and improving employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
A new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers found that immediate birth control implant insertion after childbirth is more cost-effective than delaying it to a 6-8 week postpartum visit. The study estimates that immediate contraception can avert 191 unintended pregnancies and save over $1 million in the first year.
A new study by Stanford researchers found that larger physician groups tend to drive up healthcare costs due to their increased market power. The nationwide average cost of knee replacements decreased, but fees in highly concentrated markets rose 7% compared to less concentrated areas.
A study in Colorado found a 55% increase in diabetic ketoacidosis among youth with type 1 diabetes between 1998 and 2012. Younger age, African American race, and private insurance were associated with higher risk of DKA, while family history and public insurance were protective factors.
A new study by the University of Michigan finds that religious women's opinions on reproductive health policies, such as contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act, are mixed. While some Protestant and Catholic women support employer-provided contraception coverage, others, including Baptists and other Christians, disagree.
A new study by University of Florida Health researchers found that brain tumor patients with private insurance have shorter hospital stays and fewer medical complications compared to those without insurance. They are also at lower risk of developing new conditions and dying during their stay.
A new study has found that brain tumor patients with private insurance have shorter hospital stays, fewer medical complications, and a lower risk of death compared to those without. In contrast, Medicaid patients are more likely to experience longer hospital stays, develop postoperative respiratory issues, and face higher risks of hosp...
A study found that graduated licensing can reduce crashes by 20-30% among young drivers. Experts urge the government to introduce a
A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that some health insurers are using drug coverage decisions to discourage people with HIV from selecting their plans, resulting in higher costs for those enrolled in these plans. This practice could undermine a central feature of the Affordable Care Act.
Researchers at UCSB show that changes in river channel boundaries directly impact flood hazard trends across the US. Channel capacity needs to be considered jointly with stream flow for accurate flood hazard calculation.
Researchers rely on imputation methods to estimate immigrant populations' legal status and insurance coverage, but these methods may deliver inaccurate results. Inaccurate estimates can lead to planning and implementation of policies with unintended consequences for local groups.
A study published in the Journal of Healthcare Risk Management found that anesthesia-related deaths have declined, but complications persist. The research highlights the importance of patient communication, thorough medical history, and preoperative assessments to prevent injuries.
A study of 574 low-income adults found that stigma while receiving medical care was associated with unmet health needs and poorer perceptions of quality. Experiencing stigma led to worsening self-reported health despite equal use of healthcare services.
New research provides estimates for probable maximum magnitude events in subduction zones for various time periods, including 250, 500 and 10,000 years. Most subduction zones can generate M 8.5 or greater over a 250-return period; M 8.8 or greater over 500 years; and M 9.0 or greater over 10,000 years.
A new study finds that home monitoring of implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) has a comparable cost to traditional in-office monitoring. However, significant variations in insurance reimbursement across European countries impact the adoption of this practice.
Researchers tracked spending and utilization in three states and one insurance group, finding that price increases drove growth, not use. The study provides a mechanism for promoting provider accountability on prices through transparency.
A team of Rutgers University computer engineers has shown that even without a GPS device or location-sensing technology, a driver can reveal their destination using only speed data and a starting point. The 'elastic pathing' technique analyzes speed patterns to match street layouts, allowing for approximate route and destination identi...
The US National Flood Insurance Program is facing affordability issues, particularly in flood-prone areas. A proposed voucher and mitigation loan program aims to address this by requiring homeowners to invest in flood loss reduction measures.
Research highlights significant barriers to driving evaluations for older adults, including high insurance costs and low awareness among healthcare providers. The study suggests improved referral systems and third-party reimbursement could increase participation.
Recent Medicare data release reveals high payments to a few doctors, but experts caution that this does not necessarily indicate poor care. The data only shows the amount of care provided, not its appropriateness, and may be influenced by factors such as specialty and geography.
A national survey found that many Americans are concerned about planning for long-term care, but few have made arrangements. The study highlights the need for improved support systems to meet aging and long-term care needs.
The report highlights the importance of sharing prescription monitoring data with third-party payers to detect inappropriate prescribing and dispensing, ultimately reducing opioid abuse and deaths. The recommendations aim to enhance insurer capabilities in monitoring prescribing patterns and improving patient safety.