One common quality improvement effort in recent years has been to speed up the time it takes to get heart attack victims to the hospital for interventions to increase survival. It appears those have little effect on mortality.
A study published in Health Affairs finds that high-deductible plans differentially affect low-socioeconomic persons use of emergency care.
The latest report from Mark Farrah Associates examines recent results for health plans, showing moderate overall growth.
An analysis by HealthPocket suggests that many consumers may benefit from looking for insurance outside the exchanges mandated by the reform law.
A report from the Center for Studying Health System Change looked at hospital prices in 13 markets finding that commercial rates vary widely and are tied to market power.
A Rand report examines the likely effect on health insurance premiums of full implementation of the reform law, finding that changes may not be as great, at least in some states, as opponents have feared.
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that it cost less and quality was as good for Medicare beneficiaries who were cared for in accountable care-type organizations with commercial, but not Medicare, contracts.
The National Business Group on Health annual survey finds that large companies are planning for around a 7% increase in health benefit costs in 2014.
A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association describes changes in illness and health status in the United States from 1990 to 2010.
A study published in Health Affairs finds that the California public employees health plan was able to reduce spending by using a reference pricing method for certain orthopedic surgeries.
A Congressional Budget Office working paper examines the recent slowdown in Medicare spending growth and finds it may be somewhat attributable to a large influx of younger beneficiaries, who have fewer health care needs, but is largely unexplained.
A comprehensive hypertension control program utilized by Kaiser Permanente showed good results in engaging patients and getting blood pressure lower, but may have raised costs.
The annual Kaiser Family Foundation report on Employer Health Benefits has been released, showing continued moderate cost increases and ongoing growth in greater consumer cost-sharing.
A Towers Watson survey finds that large and midsize companies continue to grapple with how to effectively manage the health benefits they wish to provide their employee population.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality issues a report summarizing findings from research it has sponsored on use of health information technology for quality and safety improvement.