A new report from the Government Accounting Office gives details on the spread of Medicaid spending across all its beneficiaries, finding that, as for other payers, a relatively small set…
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Apparently many people are still astounded that basic economic principles apply to health care. A study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine finds that ER use increased in Massachusetts after the implementation of reform. If something costs less, people will buy or use more of it. Simple as that.
http://www.annemergmed.com/webfiles/images/journals/ymem/YMEM5832_proof.pdfA systematic review of research on home care visits designed to keep older adults from being institutionalized finds little evidence that these interventions reduce mortality or increase independent living.
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An article in the Medicare & Medicaid Research Review examines correlates of state-level per capita health spending, finding that income, capacity and share of the elderly are important factors.
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One of the first rigorous studies of the medical home concept, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, finds little effect on quality or cost.
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According to a survey, 69% of doctors say defensive medicine is a leading cause of excessive health spending, 65% say the aging population is one, 60% blame rising drug costs and 51% say increasing use of technology. Apparently high provider incomes and charges was not on the list.
http://www.beckersasc.com/asc-turnarounds-ideas-to-improve-performance/physicians-top-10-major-drivers-of-healthcare-costs.htmlOnce more into the breach of why there is variability in the cost of care, this time with a report from the National Institute for Health Care Reform, which finds…
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A paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research takes an interesting look at the effect of cost-sharing on utilization of health services.
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Health Affairs published yet another piece of research showing wide variation in hospital pricing, probably related to market power and little relation between high prices and high quality.
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A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care looks at rates of self-referral to specialists.
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A recent study in Health Affairs indicates that value-based insurance designs, at least in regard to drugs, may improve adherence but not save money.
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Research in the journal Palliative Medicine surveys the research on whether palliative care is less expensive than usual care, and whether it is cost-effective.
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A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care examines the correlation between Medicare and commercial insurance in particular geographies.
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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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