An NCCI report indicates that increasing time-off benefits in workers’ compensation insurance results in employees staying off the job for a longer period of time, incurring higher work comp costs for employers.
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One of the supposed sources for cost reduction is eliminating inappropriate geographic variation in medical care; variation that is unassociated with better outcomes. A MedPac report suggests variation, while significant, may be less of an issue than other analyses have found.
Researchers looked at patients’ decision-making when they were hearing a very strong physician recommendation versus when they were solely responsible for a medical decision. The patients were more risk-avoiding than the physicians.
The CBO estimates that the Senate reform bill will raise individual premiums by ten percent, although that will be offset by subsidies for many individuals. Overall the CBO finds group premiums would likely decline very slightly.
The Senate takes up its version of the health reform bill, creating an opportune moment to revisit what the goals of reform are and whether this bill will actually widen access, lower cost or improve quality. The answer is likely not.
A Pittsburgh study indicates that a telephone-based depression intervention following CABG surgery improves quality outcomes. Another example of relatively inexpensive method to improve care quality.
No turkeys here, just stuffing you will relish. Don’t cramvery much into your brain at once!
Researchers from Harvard University find that hospitals with more extensive use of electronic records have neither lower costs or better quality, but caution should be used as these researchers have a specific reform viewpoint.
The CBO released a brief report looking at the potential impact of various changes in federal policies on research and development spending for drugs. Current and future policies are not likely to encourage more R & D.
AHRQ issues a statistical brief examining the costs of end-of-life care. About one-third of American’s who die do so in a hospital, at an average cost two-and-a-half times greater than that for patients discharged alive.
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 [email protected].
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