Health
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Hidden Costs of High-Deductible Plans
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A very large firm switched from completely subsidized insurance plans to high-deductible insurance plans, resulting in a reduction of 13 percent in total health spending. Evidence suggests that consumers are potentially reducing both wasteful and needed medical care, thus behaving counter to their financial and medical interests.
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Are Pregnancies Saving Lives Among Sex Workers in Sub-Saharan Africa?
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A new study suggests that pregnancy among female sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa could act as a crucial entry point into the healthcare system, yielding better outcomes for HIV testing and treatment.
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All Roads Lead to Health: Medicaid Expansion Could Be Valuable Regardless of Method
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A new study finds that expanding Medicaid has significant positive effects for patients, but whether it happens via traditional Medicaid or private Marketplaces does not make much of a difference.
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Antibiotic Breach: The Fall of Another Powerful Antibiotic Drug
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This study presents the first observed case of transmittable antibiotic resistance to colistin, one of the most potent antibiotics available. Colistin belongs to a class of antibiotics of “last resort,” called polymyxin. The study highlights the need for increased regulation of antimicrobial use to avoid a global health crisis.
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Paving the Way towards Healthier Consumption Habits to Tackle Obesity: The Mexican Soda Tax Case
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New evidence on the effects of the Mexican soda tax suggests successful intermediate effects of raising the real prices of sodas and avoiding shifts in consumption towards other caloric beverages.
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Including LGBT Data in Electronic Health Records
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Recently, the University of California Davis Health System became the first US academic health center to introduce sexual orientation and gender identity data into its electronic health records.
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Show Me the Calories? Calorie Counts on Menu Boards May Not Impact Consumer Choice in Restaurants
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A new study finds that posting calorie counts on menu boards in fast food restaurants increases awareness of information but does not impact long-term purchasing decisions.
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Using Value-Added Measures to Assess Healthcare
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At the core of healthcare reform is the goal to maximize value for patients at the lowest cost possible. As is shown in this study, value-added measures can give valuable insight into the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare providers.
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Medicare Beneficiaries More Likely to Switch Away from Managed Care
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A new study finds that high-cost Medicare beneficiaries are more likely to switch from private Medicare Advantage plans to original Medicare plans.
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If You Build It, They Won’t Come: Why Eliminating Food Deserts Won’t Close the Nutrition Gap
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A recent study finds that nutritional differences across socioeconomic groups are not well explained by access to healthy foods.
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Looking at Effects of Tennessee Medicaid Contraction on Adult Hospitalizations
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A new quasi-experimental study sheds light on the mechanism through which Medicaid expansion translates into mortality reduction among newly insured populations.