About: Source Fellow
So far Source Fellow has created 53 blog entries.
The Source Roundup: February 2019 Edition
Source Fellow February 1, 2019
By: Erin Sclar, Student Fellow Happy February! As we eagerly await this year’s health policy valentines on Twitter, we review recent academic articles that examine a variety of issues related to health care costs, including 1) the effect of vertical integration in health care, 2) health reform and theories of cost control, 3) why the US spends so much on health care, 4) how ACOs use population segmentation to care for high-cost patients, 5) characteristics and spending patterns of high-cost Medicare patients, and 6) an evaluation of bundled payments for joint …
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Crystal Ball Predictions for 2019 – Amazon Prime Healthcare is Going to Change Everything
Source Fellow January 24, 2019
By: Jake Winton, Student Fellow The times of healthcare, as Nobel laureate Bob Dylan would say – are a changin’.[1] With annual U.S. health spending quickly approaching $4 trillion[2] and on track to be 20% of GDP[3] by 2026, we are in desperate need of change. While most of the recent chatter around healthcare spending focused on regulatory reforms or reducing benefits offered by health plans, these discussions neglect one of the most effective levers of change – technology innovation. Enter Amazon, a customer-centric delivery system that conquers industries by cutting …
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The Source Roundup: January 2019 Edition
Source Fellow January 2, 2019
By: Megan O’Leary, Student Fellow Happy New Year! We hope this year is filled with good health (policy) and much happiness! In this roundup, we look at (1) proposals to address healthcare costs and competition, (2) changes to section 1332 waivers, (3) rising healthcare costs, premiums, and deductibles, and three articles specifically about telehealth from a special Health Affairs issue. Proposals to Address Rising Healthcare Costs and Lack of Competition On December 3, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Departments of the …
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The Source Roundup: December 2018 Edition
Source Fellow December 3, 2018
By: Leah S. Gray, Student Fellow Happy December! ‘Tis the season for curling up next to the fire and catching up with what’s happening in the world of health policy. In this December Roundup, we highlight (1) effect of disclosing prescription drug price in advertisements, (2) a systematic review of cost-saving literature, (3) employer alliances for health plans, (4) how to decrease the cost of care for Alzheimer’s patients, and finally, already gearing up for the next election, (5) what types of health policies the Democratic and Republican 2020 presidential nominees …
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How Safe Injection Facilities Could Save San Francisco Millions of Dollars in Healthcare Expenses
Source Fellow November 9, 2018
By: Katie Beyer, Student Fellow There are 22,500 estimated injecting drug users (“IDUs”) living in the city of San Francisco. In 2015, males accounted for 71.4% of IDUs[1] and in 2017, the city recorded 100 deaths due to injected drug overdose.[2] For those who live in San Francisco, this number may not be so alarming. The majority of San Francisco’s injecting drug users are homeless – meaning drug consumption often occurs in public spaces. The short walk from City Hall to the Civic Center Bart station is overwhelmed by people injecting …
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The Source Roundup: November 2018 Edition
Source Fellow November 1, 2018
By: Swaja Khanna, Student Fellow Happy November! We hope you are enjoying football season and preparing for turkey! In this edition of the Source Roundup, we cover five academic articles and reports from October. The topics this month include (1) the popularity of telemedicine for employers and employees, (2) an integrated health care system that combines ACO and bundled payment, (3) health spending growth in the coming years, (4) Maryland’s new initiative reduced hospital utilization and costs, and (5) how to remedy recent generic drug price hikes. Telemedicine Is …
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Surprise Balance Billing: The New Fight for Consumer Protection in Health Care
Source Fellow October 22, 2018
By: Leah S. Gray, Student Fellow A Texas high school teacher recently made headlines after getting a $108,951 bill when a heart attack sent him to an out-of-network hospital. The ambulance rushed Drew Calver to the nearest emergency center, which his insurance did not cover, leaving him with an astronomical surprise medical bill. Unfortunately, surprise medical bills are becoming a ubiquitous part of health care in America. The question is: why? Most people have insurance, but insurance doesn’t cover everything. So when Calver was treated at an out-of-network facility, his insurance …
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The Source Roundup: October 2018 Edition
Source Fellow October 1, 2018
By: Jake Winton, Student Fellow Welcome to October! We hope you are getting your costumes picked out and finding those deals to stock up on trick-or-treat candy. In this edition of The Source Roundup, we review five academic articles and reports from September that stood out to us. This month we look at (1) price inflation in the California fully-insured large group market, (2) forward motion in drug price transparency laws, (3) the future of pharmaceutical reference pricing in the U.S., (4) lessons learned from California’s competitive healthcare model, and (5) …
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The Source Roundup: July 2018 Edition
Source Fellow July 2, 2018
By: Megan O’Leary, Student Fellow Happy July! In this edition of the Source Roundup, we cover six academic articles and reports from May and June. The topics this month include: (1) the drug rebate system, (2) provider-payer integration as model for healthcare reform, (3) anticompetitive behaviors that delay generic drug competition, (4) short-term insurance plan expansion increases 2019 ACA marketplace premiums, and (5) competition concerns of healthcare consolidation. The Drug Rebate System is Not the Villain in Rising Health Care Costs There are plenty of reasons health care price …
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CVS-Aetna Merger: Competition and Patient Care Concerns Raised at CDI Hearing
Source Fellow June 26, 2018
By: Megan O’Leary, Student Fellow CVS Health and Aetna Insurance defended their proposed vertical merger to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) on June 19. The Source attended the hearing and brings this report regarding the prospects and impact of the planned merger. Pursuant to the California Insurance Code, Commissioner Dave Jones was able to call the public hearing as it involves an Aetna subsidiary based in California. While the commissioner does not have direct approval authority over the merger, his input could have an impact on how other states …
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