New research from the New England Healthcare Institute examines use of telemonitoring of ICU patients and finds that it produces good outcomes and could create substantial cost savings in the state of Massachusetts alone.
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An article in Telemedicine and eHealth reviewed a number of technology based or assisted weight management programs to determine if they appeared effective and what the characteristics were of successful programs.
A new survey of prices for common health care services in developed countries shows once again that unit prices in the United States are much higher than in other countries. Another report shows that there is significant variability in prices within the US as well.
Doubt continues to exist about whether wellness and prevention have net short or long-term cost savings. A new study indicates that a well-designed, comprehensive health program can save money, at least in the near term, and may lower longer term cost trajectories.
Retainer-based medicine, in which patients pay physicians a flat periodic fee to cover a package of basic medical services, often referred to as a “concierge” practice, is reviewed in a MedPac report, to ascertain if has or might have a deleterious effect on access or costs for Medicare patients.
There you are, relaxing on a holiday and holiday weekend and for some reason you feel compelled to browse the internet and come across our Thanksgiving potpourri, hopefully not a turkey, but stuffed with edible data, including HHS’ final rule on MLRs; the AMAs survey on prior authorization; principles for ACOs, how to use research studies, Humana’s acquisition of Concentra and an explanation of why health care costs keep going up. Happy Thanksgiving!
The Dartmouth Atlas project has issued numerous reports on variation in health spending across the United States. The most recent report focuses on cancer care for terminal patients and once again finds substantial difference in resource use both across and within geographic regions.
The Government Accounting Office interviewed representatives of a number of integrated provider systems to ascertain features, purported benefits in assisting underserved populations and challenges to the success of the organizations.
New research reported in the NEJM finds that telemonitoring of recently discharged heart failure patients did not result in better outcomes than did usual care, but characteristics of the study and analysis mean that the results should not be over-interpreted.
Thanksgiving approaches and we are thankful for the continuing stream of news to fill our Potpourri, including the effect of malpractice liability on Illinois’ ability to retain physicians; the role of prices in health spending increases; comparative health and death rates in the US and England; employer health insurance costs; CBO review of a plan to reshape to Medicare; and end-of-life decision making.
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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