Notwithstanding clear research demonstrating the percutaneous coronary intervention has no significant outcomes advantages over medical therapy, almost no change in practice patterns has been observed, suggesting that doctors are seeking to maintain their incomes.
A Health Affairs article discusses health care for elderly persons living in retirement communities and how various models might help improve care coordination and reduce spending.
An editorial in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy illustrates common pitfalls in creating guidelines based on certain kinds of research and explains why cause and effect can often be wrongly inferred in the absence of randomized trials.
The 2011 Milliman Medical Index was released, showing a 7.3% increase for a family of four covered by an employer sponsored PPO plan. Premium share and other out-of-pocket payments continue to rise faster than overall cost and unit prices, especially for hospital services, are the main source of the continued higher spending.
Another Potpourri, this week delivering factoids on drug companies’ use of technology to reach physicians, waiting times in Massachusetts, use of atypical antipsychotics in nursing homes, unnecessary colonoscopies, EMRs and productivity, and a stupid FDA ruling.
Malpractice reform is stymied at the federal level and state efforts appear to have run out of steam, despite the likelihood that reform would significantly reduce wasteful spending. New approaches are being tested but their effect is uncertain.
CMS’ proposed rule and explanations for hospital payments for 2012 are lengthy but as usual give a great background on the issues that go into the payment elements. Hospital payments are slated for at best a very modest increase.
A new report surveyed physician practices on their experience with eprescribing systems, finding that while use was increasing some features were not often accessed because of system design and information adequacy and accuracy concerns.
A brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality looks at hospital charges in the United States, which accounted for 31% of total health care expenditures. Spending by payer and condition are detailed.
Another edition of the Potpourri focuses on CMS and telemedicine, informal caregiver stress, wellness program results, emergency room visits, happiness and suicide, and sources for consumer health information.
New research examines the need to use care guidelines carefully, showing the danger of using generalized rules for all patients, and the benefit of tailoring those rules for individual circumstances.
A Kaiser Family Foundation report analyzes health care spending across a number of nations, confirming that we spend a lot more than most developed countries and that our growth rate for health expenses has been higher and continues to be higher than that of these other nations.
Research published in JAMA examines the extent to which patients’ health literacy is associated with heart failure outcomes, finding a connection in the case of all-cause mortality, but not with hospitalizations.
A WSJ article examines the likelihood that the myriad of health care cost control measures embedded in the reform law will actually reduce costs, concluding that it is unlikely they will, based on history here and in other countries.
This week’s Potpourri features highlights from some of the health companies’ which have reported earnings, focusing on earnings call revelations, which are few and far between!
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at [email protected].
© 2024 Healthy Skeptic.
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