New Drug Could Cost the Government as Much as It Spends on NASA
The Alzheimer’s treatment will cost $56,000 per patient, and millions may use it. The result: “crazy numbers” for Medicare. More
A Trauma Survivor Explains the Harms of Screening
After choosing to disclose past trauma or sexual abuse on screening forms, patients are often left wondering if it was a mistake to disclose. More
We need health care models that pay for equity, not just “pay for performance”
Value-based payment models may exacerbate racial health disparities. To change this, we need to make equity a part of value -- and reward hospitals for advancing equity. More
New Alzheimer’s drug may burden state budgets
State budgets are already being squeezed by rising health care costs, leaving less for public health and social spending. How will the cost of new Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm impact Medicaid costs and state budgets? More
FDA approval of new Alzheimer’s drug sets a dangerous precedent
The FDA's approval of a new Alzheimer's treatment has significant implications for future drug trials, health system costs, patient safety, and conflicts of interest. More
The past 2 decades have seen dramatic rise in elderly taking drugs that can lead to falls
A study also found the rate of death caused by falls in older adults more than doubled during the same time period. But more research is needed to understand why. More
Evidence for statins in people over 70
Statins have not been proven to increase survival in the combined primary and secondary prevention population of people over 70. More
Can a Subscription Model Fix Primary Care in the US?
Medical subscriptions, a $199 million CEO payday and the race to fix primary care in the U.S. One Medical is betting big that a subscription model can fix primary care. More
Looking to Tackle Prescription Overload
Older adults often take more medications than they need, or than is safe. Increasingly, geriatric experts and their patients are exploring the benefits of “deprescribing.” More
Association of New Perioperative Benzodiazepine Use With Persistent Benzodiazepine Use
This cohort study examines the frequency of use and persistent use of benzodiazepines among patients undergoing major and minor surgical procedures. More
Reducing overuse of c-sections and cervical cancer screening
Overuse is ubiquitous across medical specialties, and obstetrics and gynecology are no exceptions. Two recent studies shine a light on the problem of overuse in women's health. More
Hospitals overuse medical tests and procedures that don’t help patients, analysis finds
“Overuse is ubiquitous,” said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute. “Nearly every hospital is doing at least some things that patients don’t really need.”
“There is improvement,” he added, “but it is very slow and it is very uneven.”
Saini, of the Lown Institute, said he hopes more attention on overuse will push hospitals to do better. “We’re trying to create new norms for what it means to be a good hospital,” he said.
Overdiagnosis and overtreatment – the experts aren’t immune either
The US health system pushes treatment over prevention. This approach has many flaws, one of the most unfortunate and costly being overdiagnosis and overtreatment. More
Enough to Wreck Their Rest: $10,322 for a Sleep Study
According to Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute, a think tank that analyzes low-value health care, sleep studies fall into a gray zone.
“They are incredibly useful and necessary in certain clinical circumstances,” he said. “But it’s known to be one that can be overused.”
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“Do I need to be knocked out for this procedure?” And other questions about anesthesia overuse
General anesthesia is necessary for some medical procedures, but can put children and older adults at risk of harm. In this guest blog, a medical student shares what they're learning about avoiding anesthesia overuse. More
The Vaccine Rollout Is Changing How We Think about Prescription Meds
A new survey reveals that, for the first time, many Americans see pharmaceutical companies as brand names, just like Nike or Amazon More
Pandemic Leads Doctors to Rethink Unnecessary Treatment
Covid-caused delays in medical treatments and surgeries are producing data for health care providers to take another look at what’s needed and what isn’t. More
Colorado Will Pay Hospitals to Close Expensive Free-Standing ERs
Colorado health officials so abhor the high costs associated with free-standing emergency rooms they’re offering to pay hospitals to shut the facilities down. The state wants hospitals to convert them to other purposes, such as providing primary care or mental health services. More
Time To Set Aside The Term ‘Low-Value Care’—Focus On Achieving High-Value Care For All
Let us begin anew with language that reinforces equitable access to care and treatment of African American and Latinx patients, their families, communities, clinicians, and care teams. More
Patterns and Determinants of Low-Value Preoperative Testing in Michigan
This cohort study examines use of preoperative testing before 3 low-risk ambulatory surgical procedures across diverse practice settings in Michigan. More