Financial Impact of Telehealth: Rural Chief Financial Officer Perspectives
Interviews with chief financial officers of rural hospitals revealed that they perceived telehealth to have some financial advantages; however, they did not believe that telehealth improved their hospitals’ financial situations.
What Are the Potential Savings From Steering Patients to Lower-Priced Providers? A Static Analysis
Steering patients who visit providers with above-median prices to their market’s median-priced provider would save 42%, 45%, and 15% of laboratory, imaging, and durable medical equipment spending, respectively.
Does Comparing Cesarean Delivery Rates Influence Women’s Choice of Obstetric Hospital?
This randomized controlled trial finds that a hospital cesarean delivery rate comparison tool affects women’s perceptions but not where they choose to deliver.
Patients' Views on Price Shopping and Price Transparency
The authors interviewed patients with access to a price transparency website. Despite a positive opinion of price shopping in theory, respondents reported barriers to doing so in reality.
Provider Type and Management of Common Visits in Primary Care
In primary care, nurse practitioners and physician assistants do not necessarily order more ancillary services, or more costly services among alternatives, than physicians.
Opportunity Costs of Ambulatory Medical Care in the United States
An analysis of the opportunity cost associated with ambulatory medical care in the United States demonstrates substantial time costs for individuals and society.
How Will Provider-Focused Payment Reform Impact Geographic Variation in Medicare Spending?
Unlike ACOs or P4P, implementation of bundled payment for inpatient and post acute care in Medicare would modestly reduce geographic variation in spending.
There are concerns that retail clinics provide inferior quality of care. The authors found no difference in quality among retail clinics, physician offices, and emergency departments.
Trends in Retail Clinic Use Among the Commercially Insured
Retail clinic use increased dramatically over 3 years, especially among young, healthy, higher income enrollees living close to retail clinics.