CMS is extending hospital readmission penalties to surgeries. An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association examines reasons for such readmissions, which is kind of a core predicate to having a reduction initiative.
Two recent evaluations have examined the effects of using “medical homes” on various outcomes. Today we look at how the CMS version is faring.
The Government Accounting Office examines what causes variation in the pricing of certain high-cost procedures, finding it is largely attributable to hospital costs.
A Congressional Budget Office report examines the effects of competition among Part D plans in Medicare’s prescription drug benefit.
A brief from the Centers for Disease Control examines reasons that adults may not have used medications as prescribed, which largely relate to costs.
The Health Care Cost Institute takes its own look at consumer cost-sharing and price variation.
Research has generally not supported claims for quality and cost improvements from using telemonitoring, but a new study suggests it can have positive results, although cost control may not be one of them.
Oops, another study finds that a quality reporting program doesn’t seem to make a bit of difference in surgery outcomes and costs.
Out-of-pocket spending for health care has increased most rapidly for people with employment-related health insurance, according to a study in Health Affairs.
Medscape reports on a survey of physician “burnout”, which you have to imagine could affect quality.
The latest of the Altarum health spending reports suggests an acceleration in growth in the second half of 2014.
A survey from American Well reflects Americans attitudes toward telehealth.
A paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research challenges the contemporary view and finds that keeping patients in a hospital longer may reduce readmissions in some cases.
Research carried in Health Affairs finds little impact on costs from the use of medical homes in Louisiana’s Medicaid program.
The FDA has issued a crystal-clear guidance bearing on the immense proliferation of wellness devices and apps.