Nursing Homes in California Confront Pharmacists’ Errors – NYTimes.com

Pharmacists responsible for reviewing the medication of patients in California nursing homes routinely allowed inappropriate and potentially lethal prescriptions of antipsychotic medications, and failed to correct other potentially dangerous drug irregularities, according to recent state investigations.

via Nursing Homes in California Confront Pharmacists’ Errors – NYTimes.com.

If we knew then what we know now about healthcare reform « The Enterprise Blog

Now, following a review of experimental demonstration projects on disease management, care coordination, and value-based payment in Medicare, the Congressional Budget Office reports: “CBO reviewed the outcomes of 10 major demonstrations that have been evaluated by independent researchers. The evaluations show that most programs have not reduced Medicare spending.” Some demonstration projects fared better than others. For instance, programs promoting stronger patient–doctor interaction were more likely to generate savings, but even most projects of this type didn’t break even.

If we knew then what we know now—that the long-term care programs added to healthcare reform to sweeten the budget numbers were unsustainable, and that so-called game changers such as disease management didn’t change the game much at all—it is almost certain that the Affordable Care Act would not have passed through Congress.

via If we knew then what we know now about healthcare reform « The Enterprise Blog.

Family Health Insurance Costs Doubled in 7 Years, Study Finds – NYTimes.com

If you’ve seen your health insurance premiums increase along with your deductible, you’re not alone. A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund shows just how much more consumers are paying for employer-provided health insurance.

Total premiums — the amount paid by both employers and workers combined — for family coverage rose 50 percent from 2003 to 2010, to nearly $14,000 a year, the study found. (The fund is a private foundation that researches health policy issues. The report includes an interactive map showing premium increases by state).

via Family Health Insurance Costs Doubled in 7 Years, Study Finds – NYTimes.com.

State of the Union address barely mentions health care reform law – Jennifer Haberkorn – POLITICO.com

President Barack Obama used his State of the Union speech to remind voters that his administration killed Osama bin Laden and rescued General Motors. But that big health care law he spent a year pushing through Congress didn’t get much play.

The health care reform law, which has gotten support from about 42 percent of Americans in recent polls, is Obama’s most significant domestic policy accomplishment. But it only got a fleeting mention Tuesday in his third State of the Union speech.

via State of the Union address barely mentions health care reform law – Jennifer Haberkorn – POLITICO.com.

Arch Intern Med — Abstract: Overuse of Health Care Services in the United States: An Understudied Problem, January 23, 2012, Korenstein et al. 172 (2): 171

Background  Overuse, the provision of health care services for which harms outweigh benefits, represents poor quality and contributes to high costs. A better understanding of overuse in US health care could inform efforts to reduce inappropriate care. We performed an extensive search for studies of overuse of therapeutic procedures, diagnostic tests, and medications in the United States and describe the state of the literature.

Methods  We searched MEDLINE (1978-2009) for studies measuring US rates of overuse of procedures, tests, and medications, augmented by author tracking, reference tracking, and expert consultation. Four reviewers screened titles; 2 reviewers screened abstracts and full articles and extracted data including overuse rate, type of service, clinical area, and publication year.

Results  We identified 172 articles measuring overuse: 53 concerned therapeutic procedures; 38, diagnostic tests; and 81, medications. Eighteen unique therapeutic procedures and 24 diagnostic services were evaluated, including 10 preventive diagnostic services. The most commonly studied services were antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (59 studies), coronary angiography (17 studies), carotid endarterectomy (13 studies), and coronary artery bypass grafting (10 studies). Overuse of carotid endarterectomy and antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections declined over time.

Conclusions  The robust evidence about overuse in the United States is limited to a few services. Reducing inappropriate care in the US health care system likely requires a more substantial investment in overuse research.

via Arch Intern Med — Abstract: Overuse of Health Care Services in the United States: An Understudied Problem, January 23, 2012, Korenstein et al. 172 (2): 171.

State Progress Toward Health Reform Implementation: Slower Moving States Have Much to Gain

We use the Health Insurance Policy Simulation Model to explore the correlations between a state’s progress toward implementing the Affordable Care Act and the anticipated benefits of the reform for state residents, as measured by the expected state gains in insurance coverage and federal subsidies. We group states in three categories based on the status of legislative action and the receipt of level 1 federal establishment grants. We find that states that have made the least progress in establishing health insurance exchanges are in general those that have the largest potential gains in coverage and federal subsidy dollars per capita.

via State Progress Toward Health Reform Implementation: Slower Moving States Have Much to Gain.

Independent Payment Advisory Board exists in law, resides in limbo – Joanne Kenen – POLITICO.com

Chances are the Republicans — and a not-insignificant number of House Democratic allies — won’t be able to kill the Independent Payment Advisory Board this year.

But for another year or two, at least, politicians don’t have to lift a finger to block the Medicare cost-control agency from doing anything. For another year or two, it doesn’t have much to do. Or anyone to do it.

via Independent Payment Advisory Board exists in law, resides in limbo – Joanne Kenen – POLITICO.com.

Report: Many states lag in implementing healthcare law – The Hill’s Healthwatch

A new report from independent researchers could undercut the Obama administration’s claims that most states are implementing the new healthcare reform law.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute said Monday that 15 states have made “little or no progress” implementing a key piece of the new law — an insurance exchange where individuals and small businesses can buy private insurance.

The White House released its own report last week saying 28 states are working toward a state-based exchange. Along with states accepting grants for programs like the review of insurance rates, the figures show that “all States have taken some action to implement health reform,” the White House said.

But the Urban Institute analysis released Monday isn’t as upbeat. It says there are major discrepancies in how much progress states have made, and that the most resistant states have the most to lose.

via Report: Many states lag in implementing healthcare law – The Hill’s Healthwatch.

Healthcare reform board seeks comment on research agenda – The Hill’s Healthwatch

A panel of experts created by President Obama’s healthcare reform law is seeking public input on its draft research agenda released Monday.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) aims to fund research that compares medical procedures to see which are more effective.

The 2010 health law set aside $500 million in the first five years for what it called “comparative effectiveness research,” which is controversial because some worry that it could limit medical professionals’ ability to order expensive care that could be effective for specific patients but not the general population.

via Healthcare reform board seeks comment on research agenda – The Hill’s Healthwatch.

Health Plans Launch Own Exchanges Ahead Of Public Versions – Kaiser Health News

Commercial health insurers are scrambling for position as a key part of the federal health law threatens to upend their marketplace in two years.

Health plans are trying to lock in business before government-sponsored health insurance exchanges go online in 2014. Several large insurers are launching private insurance exchanges to protect themselves against competition from the public exchanges.

Not since the advent of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s has there been such big changes looming on the horizon for health insurers. In less than two years, the federal health care law will usher in more restrictions on premium increases, tens of millions of new customers, and a way for consumers to comparison shop online for their health insurance.

via Health Plans Launch Own Exchanges Ahead Of Public Versions – Kaiser Health News.