High-priced cancer drugs are driving pharma revenue
Has pharma cracked the secret code to profit through cancer drugs? A recent study takes a closer look at the impact of cancer drug prices on pharma revenues. More
How we achieve equal access to pharmaceutical treatment
Research shows that people of color are more likely to experience underuse of needed medications. How do we achieve equity in access to affordable, high-quality medications? More
Why are dentists still overprescribing opioids?
Despite the known risks, dentists still prescribe too many opioids to young adults and teens. How can we reverse this pattern? More
Overdiagnosis of schizophrenia in nursing homes is rampant, especially for Black residents.
Overuse of antipsychotic medications is a long-standing problem among nursing home residents with dementia. However, a 2012 policy to address the problem may have unintentionally created a new problem of overdiagnosis. More
Digital redlining: How telehealth can exacerbate inequalities
The rapid switch to telehealth has many potential advantages for expanding access of care. However, if not done with an intentional eye toward equity, telehealth can leave many behind. More
Stop taking aspirin for primary prevention, task force says
Does an aspirin a day keep the doctor away? It used to be the conventional wisdom that taking low-dose aspirin helped prevent a first heart attack or stroke. However, the evidence isn't there to back up this practice. More
Overcoming Covid-19 disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native communities
For Indigenous People's Day, we're sharing how American Indian and Alaska Native communities' experiences with Covid-19 highlight both the struggles and the accomplishments toward reducing health disparities. More
Can clinical guidelines fix racial health disparities?
Racial disparities in the incidence and outcomes of chronic kidney disease create significant public health problems. A new study shows that we have to tackle both the medical and the social factors to close this health gap. More
Measuring low-value care throughout the health system
The Lown Hospitals Index evaluates more than 3,000 hospitals on 12 low-value services. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School and Dartmouth Institute have released a new tool, expanding the measurement of 41 low-value services across hospital and non-hospital settings. More
Yelp reviews reveal patients’ experiences of racism at hospitals
Consumer reviews provide insight into patients' experiences of racism not captured in hospital surveys. More
Most Medicare patients with dementia wouldn’t have been eligible for Aduhelm trials
The FDA approved Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm for all people with mild dementia -- but most of this population is at an increased risk of side effects from the drug. More
PRESS RELEASE: Equity is the missing piece for elite hospitals to be truly socially responsible
The full results of the Lown Hospitals Index reveals which hospitals achieve on equity, outcomes, and value... and which hospitals fall short. More
Where is the evidence for common orthopedic procedures?
As orthopedic surgeries have become more prevalent, researchers are taking a closer look at the evidence behind them...or lack thereof. More
Racist redlining policies still have an impact on health
Can a policy that was outlawed more than 50 years ago still have an impact today? A recent study on health disparities among residents of formerly "redlined" communities shows the importance of taking a historical view of health equity issues. More
How a better health record system could reduce medication overload
A quirk in the electronic health record system means that it's much harder for clinicians to discontinue medications than prescribe them. More
Infant health disparities won’t be fixed with genetic sequencing
Should we even be investing in genetic sequencing for newborns when there is are crises in infant and maternal health that need our attention? More
How to stop hospitals suing patients
When researchers, media, and advocates teamed up to bring attention to hospital lawsuits, it led to a dramatic decrease in lawsuits filed. What can we learn from this initiative? More
Many racial health disparities haven’t budged, new research shows
Over the past 20 years, closing these racial health gaps has become a high priority. What kind of progress have we made? A series of articles in JAMA on health equity paints a sobering picture. More
Hospitals that advertise aren’t necessarily better
What do hospitals that advertise their services have in common? Lown Intern Neil Trivedi explains in a guest blog post. More
Why physician performance metrics don’t match up with hospital quality
Physicians spend at least 15 hours a week on administrative work for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). But more evidence is showing that MIPS performance doesn't line up with meaningful clinical outcomes. More