In a paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, health economists attempt to understand what the effect of the health reform law and health exchanges was on individual health insurance premiums, finding that large increases likely resulted from reform implementation.
A new study reported in Health Affairs examines the role patients’ preferences for care plays in geographic health spending variation.
In the we are being told what we already know, but when are we going to do something about it department, a report from NIHCR finds that hospital outpatient departments charge much more for the same service than do physician offices.
A review of interventions to prevent hospital readmissions for heart failure diagnoses finds that certain types may be effective.
PriceWaterhouseCooper’s Health Research institute release a projection on medical trend projections for employer-based health plans for 2015, showing a continued significant cost rise, which likely will translate to higher premiums for companies and workers.
A survey of physicians finds deep concern about their economic circumstances and increase burdens on the practice of medicine.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality releases a Statistical Brief on attitudes toward health insurance that goes a long way toward explaining the failure of many Americans to sign up during the recent open enrollment.
HHS has released an analysis of plans selected by enrollees through the federal health insurance exchange, including premiums and subsidies.
AdvaMed, a trade association for the medical device industry, put out a paper claiming that medical devices have played no role in the increase in health care spending.
An Avalere analysis of premium filings to date for 2015 insurance exchange rates finds an average 8% increase.
A number of positive news stories have been published recently regarding the increased participation by employers in the public health insurance exchanges for 2015. As usual, caution is warranted.
Willis, the large insurance broker, has released a survey of employers relating to health reform.
Two articles in Health Affairs analyze components of the spending trend in health care.
For the last fifty years the most fundamental tension in health care has been between the providers of health care and third-party payers. None of the reforms so popular today are likely to change that.
The 12th Annual MetLife U.S. Employee Benefits Trends Study highlights employees’ attitudes toward their benefits and employers’ challenges in delivering benefits that satisfy workers but keep costs controlled.