HEALTHCARE COSTS
The Source Roundup: June 2020 Edition
Kendall Kohlmeyer, Student Fellow June 1, 2020
The Source continues to extend wishes of safety and good health to you and your loved ones during this uniquely challenging time. Despite the reality that much of the healthcare industry suffers financial catastrophe due to the pandemic, experts note improvements in some areas. Authors this month expect some advancements to last and suggest how the U.S. should use them to diminish costs. Changes in Telehealth Will Likely Outlast the Pandemic In JAMA’s Implications for Telehealth in a Postpandemic Future, Carmel Shachar and co-authors affirm positive outcomes that the …
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The Source Roundup: May 2020 Edition
Source Fellow May 1, 2020
By: Swaja Khanna, Student Fellow With the coronavirus pandemic causing shelter-in-place restrictions around the world, we here at The Source hope you are staying safe and healthy as we catch you up on some of the articles and reports in health policy this month. In this edition of the Source Roundup, we cover articles and reports that discuss: (1) the cost of hospital care for COVID-19 for the uninsured, (2) how health costs may change in the pandemic, (3) surprise out-of-network billing from ambulance transportation, (4) in-network ASC episodes that …
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The Source Roundup: April 2020 Edition
Ada Shao, Student Fellow April 1, 2020
We hope that you and loved ones are staying well as we together persevere through the unprecedented circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current situation has brought to the forefront a number of issues our healthcare system currently faces, including the potential costs associated with treating those affected by COVID-19. In this month’s Source Roundup, we begin by looking at the expected treatment costs for patients affected by COVID-19 and examine how price capping may be a means to reduce healthcare costs. We also highlight articles that discuss …
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The Source Roundup: March 2020 Edition
Source Fellow March 1, 2020
By: Swaja Khanna, Student Fellow In this edition of the Source Roundup, we highlight articles and reports from February that discuss: (1) the prevalence of out-of-network billing during elective procedures with in-network services, (2) affordable care organizations’ potential to limit out-of-network spending, (3) findings from the new Health Care Cost and Utilization Report, (4) private health care spending growth varies by hospital referral regions, (5) U.S. has highest healthcare spending despite worst health outcome, and (6) how states policies encourage provider market competition and lower healthcare spending. The Prevalence …
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The Source Roundup: February 2020 Edition
Tiffany Wang, Student Fellow February 3, 2020
Happy February! Here at The Source, we are grateful for the extra day in February to give our readers time to catch up with the latest health policy analysis and literature. This edition of the Source Roundup looks at articles and reports on 1) how monopolies have hurt consumers and what states can do to combat hospital acquisitions and mergers, 2) how well states are doing to make health care affordable; 3) why a single-payer system is financially feasible; and 4) what the United States can learn from other countries’ …
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[In the Press] Interview Quoted in California Healthline Article “Loopholes Limit New California Law To Guard Against Lofty Air Ambulance Bills”
Sammy Chang, Health Policy Researcher January 13, 2020
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.
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The Source Roundup: January 2020 Edition
Source Fellow January 6, 2020
By: Swaja Khanna, Student Fellow Happy New Year! We hope you had an exciting start to the new decade! In this edition of the Source Roundup, we cover articles and reports from December that discuss: (1) increase in US health care spending in 2018, (2) health system affiliation and how it affects patient access, (3) out-of-network provider charges between 2012 and 2017, and (4) how billing in-network could save millions. U.S. Health Care Spending Increased 4.6 Percent to Reach $3.6 Trillion in 2018 In the Health Affairs article National …
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The Source Roundup: December 2019 Edition
Tiffany Wang, Student Fellow December 2, 2019
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 …
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Can AB 651 Survive Possible Legal Difficulties as California Strives to Protect Both Air Ambulances and Patients?
Sammy Chang, Health Policy Researcher September 30, 2019
Updated 10/14/2019: Governor Newsom has signed AB 651, which will take effect January 1, 2020. There are few bills in the 2019 California Legislative cycle more supported by the Legislature than AB 651, which would reauthorize the Emergency Medical Air Transportation Act (“Act”) and prohibit balance billing by air ambulances. To fully understand the impact and significance of AB 651, we will first examine the history and evolution of the Emergency Medical Air Transportation Act, starting in 2010, to better appreciate the original intent of the Act. Second, we …
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[Case Watch] Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. UPMC and Highmark: State AG Prevails with 10-Year Consent Decree After Long Bitter Court Battle
Amy Y. Gu, Managing Editor September 16, 2019
Pennsylvania’s efforts to restore competition to the provider and insurance markets in the long-standing battle between University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Highmark Health overcame mounting challenges and finally concluded with an unprecedented 10-year consent decree. The Source closely tracked the case as it unfolded over the past several months. In this post, we take a look back at the case’s long and winding road, which included three stops at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, leading up to the new truce. It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again It all began in …
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