Tag: Healthcare Policy

Hospitals vary widely in ICU admissions

Hospitals vary widely in ICU admissions

Study of Washington State and Maryland hospitals finds that the actions of hospitals – not the kinds of patients they attract – appear to be responsible for part of the difference in admissions to ICUs, which some experts believe are overused, costly and potentially dangerous.

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March 31, 2012 | By | Reply More
ERs demanding  payment upfront from patients with routine problems

ERs demanding payment upfront from patients with routine problems

Next time you go to an emergency room, be prepared for this: If your problem isn’t urgent, you may have to pay upfront.

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February 19, 2012 | By | Reply More
Florida doctors block effort to have them post prices

Florida doctors block effort to have them post prices

Imagine if finding out the cost of a particular treatment or procedure at a doctors’ office was as easy as locating the prices of entrees at a restaurant. The menu might read: school physicals – $40; office visit for a cold – $80; diabetes screening – $200.

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January 30, 2012 | By | Reply More
U.S. outspends other countries for health care but gets dismal return

U.S. outspends other countries for health care but gets dismal return

The U.S. spends more than twice as much as the average developed country but ranks 27th in life expectancy, 31st in premature mortality, and 25th in the rate of cardiovascular mortality.

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November 24, 2011 | By | Reply More
Few Americans think health is improving in the U.S.

Few Americans think health is improving in the U.S.

A majority, 52 percent, of those polled favor bigger government that provides more services for health — 37 percent favor smaller government that provides fewer health services.

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November 7, 2011 | By | Reply More
Growing size and wealth of children’s hospitals fuels questions about spending

Growing size and wealth of children’s hospitals fuels questions about spending

Childrens’ hospitals across the country are adding towers and beds. The multibillion dollar building boom offers a case study of the expansive ambitions of hospital leaders and the faltering efforts of government to control spiraling costs.

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September 26, 2011 | By | Reply More
The Specifics: How Obama plans to cut health programs by $320 billion

The Specifics: How Obama plans to cut health programs by $320 billion

Plan cuts $320 billion from Medicare and Medicaid, by changing how the government pays providers, slashing payments to drug companies, and changing the way it splits the Medicaid costs with the states.

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September 19, 2011 | By | Reply More
Health care’s elusive big idea: Less is more

Health care’s elusive big idea: Less is more

So here it is, under our noses—the elusive big idea that might fix American health care—if only our society can embrace it: Less is more.

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September 8, 2011 | By | Reply More
Survey: Consumers to face higher health care costs

Survey: Consumers to face higher health care costs

Employees will be experiencing higher co-pays and deductibles in their health insurance next year as employers continue to reduce their overall coverage to deal with rapidly rising costs.

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May 18, 2011 | By | 1 Reply More
Why your stitches cost $1,500 — Part One

Why your stitches cost $1,500 — Part One

Americans spend $477 billion a year MORE on health care than other advanced countries. So why do we pay so much compared to other wealthy nations? This infographic shows where your money goes.

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May 11, 2011 | By | Reply More
Why your stitches cost $1,500 — Part Two

Why your stitches cost $1,500 — Part Two

Americans spend $477 billion a year MORE on health care than other advanced countries. So why do we pay so much compared to other wealthy nations? This, the second of two infographics, shows where your money goes.

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May 11, 2011 | By | Reply More
Breast Cancer: How politics is driving up costs

Breast Cancer: How politics is driving up costs

FDA shouldn’t cave to pressure and allow Genentech to keep advanced metastatic breast cancer on the Avastin label, argues Merrill Goozner.

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August 17, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More