Is it always better for providers of health care to have to fully disclose their actual charges to various payers? A NEJM Perspective suggests that it may not be and…
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Research published in Health Affairs examines the real-life costs of implementing an EHR system in a primary care practice setting, finding that while costs are significant, they may be largely…
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An AHRQ Statistical Brief examines where drug spending went in 2008, finding that spending was concentrated in five therapeutic categories which accounted for about two-thirds of total outlays.
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Another in our weekly series of health care nuggets, with this week's Potpourri featuring Medicare beneficiaries and physician supply, the FDA's position on certain device software, a wellness survey, the…
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End-of-life care accounts for a very substantial fraction of all health spending and appears to vary geographically, as does much other spending. Research looked at what may determine end-of-life spending…
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A study comparing French and British populations examines the link between socioeconomic status and mortality, finding that cultural differences may result in a different causative relationship in different countries.
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High-deductible plans often have health savings accounts associated with them. New research looks at the effect of HSA-linked plans on utilization and spending, finding significant reductions, but concerns about use…
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A new report looks at the out-of-pocket health spending in the last year of life for Medicare beneficiaries. The spending is not only large but highly variable and undoubtedly puts…
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Hopefully winter nears its end; it has been brutal where we are. This week's Potpourri may offer a little diversion, covering defensive medicine, a pediatric tele-consultation service, home stroke rehabilitation,…
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The latest Dartmouth Atlas work looks at variation in elective surgery rates in the context of patient involvement in decision-making. The report highlights differences in treatment for a number of…
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It is sometimes overlooked that one of the goals of a workers' compensation system should be to get employees back to work as soon as possible. A Rand brief looks…
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A new report from the Rand Corporation reviews various proposals for changing payment methods to providers. The researchers categorize payment reforms into 11 models and review appropriate performance measures for…
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The Medicare Advantage Stars program is reviewed in a Kaiser Family Foundation brief which discusses coming changes in the calculations and the current ratings and characteristics of a number of…
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A positively presidential set of health care data points for your edification in today's Potpourri, including examining correlations between hospital volume, quality and costs, improving quality program adherence, creating good…
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The leading reason advocates use for demanding universal coverage is that it will improve health and health outcomes for lower socioeconomic groups. New research from Canada indicates that this is…
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About this Blog
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 khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.
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