“We are up against an enormous financial juggernaut”: Experts discuss back surgery overuse at Lown event
Watch the video recording and see our key takeaways from the latest Lown Institute event on back surgery overuse. More
Blog
PRESS RELEASE: Older adults get unnecessary back surgeries at an alarming rate
Patients face serious risk of complications; billions in Medicare dollars wasted More
Vertebroplasty: The Myth of the Most Effective Medical Intervention
Spine surgeon Dr. Eugene Carragee reviews the evidence for vertebroplasty. More
Conflicts of interest: physicians, pharma, and overuse
Several recent studies show that conflicts of interest are deeply entrenched in modern medicine and existing regulations are doing little to rein in the problem. More
Why private equity growth matters for veterans’ health
How is the growth of private equity acquisitions in healthcare impacting veterans? At a roundtable event hosted by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, researchers and policy experts discussed the drivers and consequences of these acquisitions going unchecked. Watch the event recording! More
A Rising Tide of Harm: How Medication Overload May Be Fueling Falls In Older Americans
Death rates from fall injuries among older Americans more than tripled over the past 30 years. Medications that act on the central nervous system could be the culprit... More
Excess radiation increases the risk of cancer. Why is CMS loosening regulations?
CMS estimated that regulating the radiation dose of CT scans could prevent nearly 14,000 cancers and save $5 billion. So why is CMS considering loosening regulations? More
Guest Post: Hear from Lown’s data science intern, Maya
Hear from Lown's 2025 data science intern, Maya Balaban, about what she's been working on. More
Checking in on medical overuse in America
As we prepare for the launch of our 2025 report on unnecessary back surgery, let’s take a moment to check in on the current state of medical overuse in America. More
Which hospital is the most socially responsible in your state?
These are the #1 hospitals in each state, according to the 2025 Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility. More
How did the 2025 US News best hospitals perform on the Lown Index?
US News & World Report just released their list of “best hospitals” for 2025-26, which is based primarily on patient outcomes for complex specialty care and common procedures. The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility takes a different approach to hospital ranking, evaluating hospitals on metrics of equity and value as well as outcomes. Here's how the 2025 US News best hospitals perform on the Lown Index. More
These top critical access hospitals are at risk of closure
See which critical access hospitals made our list of most socially responsible hospitals…and which ones are at risk of shutting down services or closure. More
CFPB rule to remove medical debt from credit reports blocked in court
A federal judge recently struck down a rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) seeking to remove medical debt from credit reports. How will this affect medical debt in the future? More
Overuse costs Medicare billions. Will WISeR be the fix we need?
Can we reduce healthcare waste while making Americans healthier? A new Medicare pilot program that uses AI is trying to do just that. Here’s what’s promising about the program, and which elements could use rethinking. More
When hospitals exclude elective care from financial assistance
Hospitals have a lot of leeway to decide who is eligible for financial assistance. In some cases, hospitals don't allow any elective care to be eligible. What impact could that have on health or medical debt? More
“Meeting people where they are”: A conversation with America’s most socially responsible hospitals
Hospital leaders explained how their institutional culture, policies, and workforce help them deliver high-quality and high-value care while still prioritizing equity. More
PRESS RELEASE: Top hospitals in American named by the Lown Institute
125 “socially responsible” hospitals earn Honor Roll status for outcomes, value, and equity BOSTON—More than 100 U.S. hospitals achieved top performance across measures of equity, value, and outcomes, according to the 2025 Lown Hospitals Index. Despite workforce shortages, rising costs, looming Medicaid cuts, and other challenges, Lown Institute analysts say this year’s Honor Roll demonstrates […] More
REGISTER: America’s Most Socially Responsible Hospitals, 2025
Register now for the webinar "America's Most Socially Responsible Hospitals" on June 25, 2025. More
“Only a movement will get us to a better future.”: Dr. Reshma Ramachandran accepts the 2025 Bernard Lown Award
Dr. Reshma Ramachandran received the 2025 Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility for her exceptional work promoting equitable access to medicines, mobilizing physicians nationwide to challenge pharmaceutical industry influence, and advancing legislative reforms that prioritize the public’s health over corporate profit. More
PRESS RELEASE: Inconsistent Hospital Policies Put Patients at Greater Risk of Medical Debt
Analysis of 2,500 charity care policies finds patients with identical income and medical needs could receive free care at one hospital, yet face collections or lawsuits at another. More