Private equity ownership is killing people at nursing homes
A new study describes the human toll of private equity firms buying up nursing homes. More
Medicare Cuts Payment to 774 Hospitals Over Patient Complications
The federal government has penalized 774 hospitals for having the highest rates of patient infections or other potentially avoidable medical complications. More
Overcoming the Market Dominance of Hospitals
This Viewpoint reviews the conditions which incentivize consolidation of health systems, hospitals, and physician practices into entities that decrease health care quality and increase prices. More
Health insurance execs’ salaries grew faster than company revenue in 2020
A new report found that average executive pay among health insurers outpaced revenue growth by up to 10 percentage points in 2020. More
EP310: The 2020 Shkreli Awards for the Worst Examples of Profiteering and Dysfunction in Health Care
"Covid was like a blinding flash, a glare of x-ray that revealed the flaws, fragmentation, and dysfunction going on the health care system," said Dr. Vikas Saini. "Most of this behavior is not illegal, it's merely unethical. That's why it's not enough to prosecute, we have to change the cultural norms in health care," said Shannon Brownlee. More
Opinion: To really lower health-care costs, look beyond prescription drugs
All health-care services must be scrutinized for waste. More
Lack of Covid Data on People with Intellectual Disabilities ‘Comes With a Body Count’
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more likely to have medical conditions that make covid especially dangerous. More
VIDEO: Hospital price transparency
On January 1, a new CMS rule on hospital price transparency went into effect. What does the new regulation do? How could it affect the cost of care? And are hospitals complying? Shannon and Vikas answer these questions on this week’s Lown Hospitals Q&A. 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
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
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
Where Do Vaccine Doses Go, and Who Gets Them? The Algorithms Decide
Health agencies and hospitals are using different formulas to allocate the coronavirus shots, exacerbating disparities in vaccine access. More
COVID vaccine appointment canceled due to medical debt
A 72-year old Longmont man was ready to get his vaccine until a phone call put those plans on hold. By asking questions, he got back in line. More
Oregon sets first hospital-specific community benefit spending floor
Oregon is one of several states that have ratcheted up regulations on hospitals' community benefit spending as officials aim to hold them more accountable and increase transparency. More
How Rich Hospitals Profit From Patients in Car Crashes
Hospitals use century-old lien laws to bypass insurers and charge patients, especially poorer ones, the full amount. More
Why the new pharma business model can be bad for research and development
A new report from Rep. Katie Porter has an illuminating case study on the value of antitrust in health care. More
Addressing Consolidation in Health Care Markets
The Biden administration will have 2 distinct consolidation-oriented challenges: preventing new consolidation likely to have deleterious effects without stalling mergers and acquisitions that could be beneficial and heightening competition in markets that are already consolidated. More
VIDEO: The Promise of Hospital Cooperation
Is a competitive hospital system the best way to deliver the care we all need? On January 27, the Lown Institute brought together health policy experts to discuss how Covid-19 has changed the way hospitals work (or don't work) together. Watch the full recording of the event! More