An article in Health Affairs summarizes the latest from the Office of the Actuary on national health spending in 2011, demonstrating that while spending growth remained relatively quiescent, it appears poised to grow more rapidly.
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How much can you trust research? Not a lot sometimes, as an article in Health Affairs demonstrates, using the issue of salt reduction as an example. It turns out that salt is probably not nearly as bad for people’s health as has been postulated.
Many states and local governments have enacted prohibitions on smoking in certain public places, including restaurants and bars. These bans are founded on public health concerns due to inhalation of second-hand smoke. A new study in Health Affairs finds that the smoking bans are associated with fewer hospitalizations for certain conditions.
One of the biggest problems with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ hospital readmissions program is that it likely unfairly and disproportionately hurts hospitals which treat larger numbers of poor patients. A brief from the Commonwealth Fund explores this issue and potential solutions.
A study published in Health Affairs examined consumers’ awareness of preventive care benefits in their high-deductible insurance plans, finding that many were unaware that these services were available without charge.
A new paper from the National Bureau of Health Economics suggests that not allowing insurers to vary rates based on health status reduces incentives to be healthy, leading to an overall decline in population health, and, guess what, that leads to an increase in health spending.
Our last Potpourri for 2012 is the ultimate in health information, containing not lumps of coal but tasty nuggets of holiday goodies, including transition care from hospital to primary care, how to control health spending growth, use of market incentives to improve the health system, building a good health insurance exchange and Massachusetts’ experience with the uninsured after reform.
Patient-centered medical homes, accountable care organizations, who can keep all the delivery innovations straight! Research summarized in an Annals of Internal Medicine article reviews the state of the evidence on the use of medical homes. So far, not great, small gains in quality and no showing of overall cost savings.
A Kaiser Family Foundation snapshot examines cost-sharing between employers and employees based on data from the KFF 2012 health benefit survey. In general public employees are getting a much better health benefit deal than are employees at private firms.
2012 has been another tumultuous year for all of us involved with health care in the United States. The holidays may offer a welcome respite, an opportunity to enjoy friends and family. We hope that for each of you this is truly a very relaxing and joyous time. Merry Christmas, and happy holidays for those of other or no religious preference.
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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