Why hospital price transparency is not enough
The 2021 hospital price transparency rule may not end the price confusion for patients, but it's still a valuable change-- here's why... More
Why can’t we reproduce so many scientific findings?
Being able to do an experiment over again and confirm the results is actually a crucial aspect of science, called reproducibility. Unfortunately, a shockingly large proportion of cancer biology studies we do may not be reproducible, a new study shows. More
Taking action on maternal health
The White House recently announced their first Maternal Health Day of Action. We take a look at what's in the plan, what's promising, and what's missing... More
Uncovering health disparities by race, ethnicity, and education
Recent research on racial and socioeconomic health disparities shows how far we still have to go to have better health for all. More
Which hospitals got the most CARES Act Funding?
Which hospitals got the largest slice of the federal relief pie? Two recent studies examine the impact of this massive funding influx on hospital finances. More
How much does low-value care cost cancer patients?
Many cancer patients experience financial toxicity due to the high cost of care -- and low-value services play a role, new study shows. More
How a pharma-led campaign to lower a diabetes treatment target put seniors at risk
A recent Reuters investigation found that a campaign to lower the A1c target for diabetes was driven largely by pharmaceutical companies, to create a bigger market for their new blood sugar-lowering drugs. More
“One person’s waste is another person’s profit margin”: Challenges and opportunities in hospital cost efficiency
How can we improve hospital cost efficiency to get better outcomes for a lower cost? Watch the video recording of our launch event to see the discussion. More
America’s “best” hospitals charge high drug price markups
A recent study examines insurer-negotiated prices for ten expensive drugs at the 20 top US News & World Report hospitals. More
How are hospitals measuring and reducing low-value care?
How can hospitals and policymakers better measure overuse and reduce overuse in hospitals, and what role can rankings play? On November 3, US News & World Report hosted an event on the topic featuring overuse experts. Watch the video recording to see the full discussion! More
PRESS RELEASE: The best bang for the buck: Where are America’s most cost-efficient hospitals
First-ever ranking examines costs at 3,000 hospitals, identifying $8 billion in potential Medicare savings BOSTON, MA — A new analysis identifies the most cost-efficient hospitals in America and highlights how potentially billions of dollars could be saved in the nation’s Medicare program. The analysis from the Lown Institute, a health care think tank, uncovered big […] More
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