How Much Does a C-Section Cost? At One Hospital, Anywhere From $6,241 to $60,584
New federally mandated disclosures by California’s Sutter Health illustrate the wide disparity in healthcare rates negotiated by insurers. More
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Covid-19 vaccination rates follow the money in states with the biggest wealth gaps, analysis shows
The findings back up, with hard data, anecdotal reports that wealthy people have been able to gain access to vaccines ahead of poor people. More
Could AI tools for breast cancer worsen disparities? Patchy public data in FDA filings fuel concern
The FDA's decision to clear breast cancer AI tools without requiring publicly disclosure of demographic data threatens to worsen disparities. More
Assessment of Outpatient Dispensing of Products Proposed for Treatment or Prevention of COVID-19 by US Retail Pharmacies During the Pandemic
This cross-sectional study examines changes in the outpatient retail dispensing frequency of proposed treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 after the March 13, 2020, declaration of a national emergency due to the pandemic. More
‘A natural experiment’: Pandemic-driven drop in cancer screening may aid research on overdiagnosis
The government will fund reseach asking whether cancer patients "really do worse because of being diagnosed later" during the pandemic. More
Drug Prices by Committee: One Way Biden Could Lower Costs
Many countries use independent review boards to balance innovation and profit. More
Is the Sunshine Act reducing conflicts of interest?
A little over ten years after the Physician Payments Sunshine Act was passed, how have industry payments to physicians changed? A recent article in Medscape explores the impact of the legislation, obstacles to change, and potential solutions beyond just disclosure. More
Electronic Health Records May Be Delaying COVID-19 Vaccinations
The same electronic systems used to record when patients get a physical or go to the ER are also used to log data when coronavirus vaccines are given. But the systems don't share information easily. More
Vaccinated workers at Massachusetts hospital volunteer to sit with Covid-19 patients
When her husband was exposed to Covid-19 in early January, Kerri Hurley and their two children moved immediately into her mother's basement, leaving him alone to quarantine. More
‘These numbers are incredibly important’: Doctors and lawmakers call on FDA to address racial disparities in pulse oximeters
Research shows some pulse oximeters, which measure oxygen levels, aren’t as accurate in Black patients and other people of color. More
Factors Associated With Racial Differences in Deaths Among Nursing Home Residents With COVID-19 Infection in the US
This cross-sectional study uses data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to describe the racial differences in the number of COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents by the racial composition of the facility and to examine the factors associated with these differences. More
Back to ‘normal’ isn’t good enough
Normal was not equitable or just, so back to normal means that the societal vulnerabilities that fueled Covid-19 remain. More
Is a cancer crisis trailing the pandemic?
The way the pandemic has deferred some primary and preventive care is rekindling debate over whether the U.S. is spending too much on diagnostic tests. Lown Institute President Vikas Saini doesn’t think Covid will move the needle on how doctors and patients approach medical care, with demand for tests and services returning once the crisis lifts. “There's been chatter, and people speculating or saying it's a great opportunity because there's all this elective stuff that got stopped [so] when we resume, maybe we should be more thoughtful — yeah, we should," he says. "But what's actually going to happen? I don't see any reason to think it won't go back to business-as-usual." More
No Surprises Act Is a Step Toward Ending Unexpected Medical Bills
A new law will protect patients from unexpected charges — but more must be done to make it work. More
Lack of targeted outreach, translated materials leaves Latino community behind as Pa. struggles with vaccine rollout
Older Pennsylvanians, who are supposed to be among the first in line to get the vaccine, are also struggling with clunky and disjointed online signups. More
What’s behind the rising cost of insulin?
Insulin prices are way up. Why is this happening? What options are available for people who need insulin but can't afford it? Dr. Vikas Saini is the president of the Lown Institute and co-chair of the Right Care Alliance. He offers his perspective about this situation. More
NYC Nursing Home Gave Dozens of Veterans Experimental COVID-19 Treatments. Some Families Had No Idea
The New York State-run facility in St. Albans, Queens, administered a cocktail of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, despite safety warnings and doubts about efficacy. More
Community Health Workers, Often Overlooked, Bring Trust to the Pandemic Fight
As the pandemic brings long-standing health disparities into sharper view, community health workers are being asked to help the public health response. More
Pandemic Lessons in Improving the Medical System
The pandemic may prompt American medicine to become less expensive, more efficient and more effective at protecting people’s health. More
Covid-19: Why test and trace will fail without support for self-isolation
The spread of SARS-CoV-2 will only slow if people who test positive for the virus self-isolate. But expecting them to do so is a bigger ask than governments seem to realise. More