This month’s roundup focuses on articles and reports highlighting new research and insights relating to the high and rising costs of health care, which remain a major regulatory challenge for state and federal policymakers across the nation. First, we examine 1) research discussing potential strategies for price regulation and how it could support market competition, as well as 2) proposals for price growth caps via insurance rate review. Also highlighted in this month’s roundup are studies on healthcare costs, specifically 3) state-level trends in the overall cost of employer health …

This month’s Roundup focuses on articles highlighting market consolidation and healthcare affordability, which can both have important implications for patient outcomes. First, we examine articles and reports that study 1) the need for a robust administrative review process for all healthcare transactions, 2) post-merger outcomes for hospital system and patients, and 3) consolidation in the dialysis industry. Next, we highlight articles and reports focusing on growing healthcare costs and affordability that specifically examine 4) the impact of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, 5) changes in employer healthcare benefits …

As hospital consolidation continue to rise amidst the pandemic, there has been contentious debate over the impacts of provider consolidation. This month’s roundup begins with articles that discuss some of these issues, including studies that found both benefits and potential harms of certain hospital mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships. Also highlighted in this month’s roundup are studies on the implications of proposed payment reforms across specialties, increasing health care costs for individuals with employer-sponsored insurance, and the continuing lack of plan comparison among Medicare beneficiaries during open enrollment season.   Market …

This month in health policy research, surprise billing and changes in market structures fuel concerns about competition and consumer choice.  In addition, some studies on pharmaceutical costs produced hopeful reports.   Healthcare Market Competition and Consolidation Consolidation Trends In a Health Affairs study, Consolidation of Providers into Health Systems Increased Substantially, 2016-18, Michael Furukawa et al. analyzed provider consolidation trends.  The rate of physician affiliation with a health system increased by 11 to 51 percent in 2018.  Based on the 556 health systems the authors identified, the median number of …

  Health Policy Researcher Sammy Chang was quoted in the 1/13/2020 California Healthline article “Loopholes Limit New California Law To Guard Against Lofty Air Ambulance Bills”: “It’s a very big step in balance billing, but it’s not a definitive one,” said Samuel Chang, a health policy researcher at the Source on Healthcare Price and Competition, a project of the University of California-Hastings.

Happy December! The holiday season is upon us and it is time to cozy up with a warm cup of tea to the latest health policy news.  This edition of the Source Roundup looks at articles on 1) healthcare market consolidation and provider network access, 2) increases in insurance premium contributions and deductibles, and 3) lessons from healthcare system reforms abroad.   Healthcare Markets Accountable care organizations (ACOs) have been lauded for providing higher quality medical care at lower costs.  In a recent Health Affairs research article, Changes in Physician Consolidation …

By: Hayden Soria, Student Fellow Hello September! As we see cooler days slowly roll in, there are still many sizzling topics in this month’s health policy literature. In this Roundup, we take a dive into article and reports that discuss 1) the prevalence of surprise billing, 2) the effects of California’s AB 72 on provider networks, 3) increasing hospital prices, 4) hospital quality ratings, 4) increasing insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and 5) health plan profitability.   Surprise Billing and Provider Networks Eric C. Sun, Michelle Mello, and Jasmin Moshfegh explore …

By: Hayden Soria, Student Fellow Happy June! Summer is just around the corner and healthcare policy discussion is heating up. In this month’s Source Roundup, we highlight academic articles and studies that look at 1) the high costs of employer-sponsored insurance, 2) how much private insurers are paying hospitals compared to Medicare, and 3) implications of single payer system reform.   Increasing Employer-based Insurance Costs Present Difficulties to Many Americans In the last twelve years, annual deductibles in employer-based health plans have sky-rocketed and now average more than $1,300 annually. A …

It’s budget season, and this month kick-starts the discussion on whether California should re-implement the individual mandate, how much Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies should be increased, and whether Medi-Cal should be expanded to undocumented young adults and seniors. Back in January, Governor Newsom went quickly to work upon his inauguration, signing executive orders and sending a letter to Congress and President Trump. With his May Revise, we will examine, in three parts, the specifics of the Governor’s proposals, how the proposals have evolved, and the studies that evaluate those …

With the share of Gross Domestic Product spent on health care reaching crisis levels,[1] experts on both sides of the political spectrum are demanding better value for the dollars spent on health care. Programs that give patients incentive to choose better value health care get widespread support from both political parties. In the past few years, many states considered enabling or implementing right-to-shop or savings reward programs, in which an insurer creates an incentive program that gives patients financial rewards for choosing providers with lower than average costs.   How …