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Medical economics news

Medications

Researcher finds bias in funding of trials by drug manufacturers

Psychiatric drugs are reported to be about 50% more effective in clinical trials funded by the drug's manufacturer than when trials of the same drug are sponsored by other groups, new research shows.

Medications

Getting antivirals for COVID too often depends on where you live and how wealthy you are, says researcher

Medical experts recommend antivirals for people aged 70 and older who get COVID, and for other groups at risk of severe illness and hospitalization from COVID.

Health

The Medicare Advantage influence machine

Federal officials resolved more than a decade ago to crack down on whopping government overpayments to private Medicare Advantage health insurance plans, which were siphoning off billions of tax dollars every year.

Medical economics

Do MPH programs prepare graduates for employment in today's market?

Public health degree programs provide key competencies demanded by employers, but graduate employability could be improved by using more real-time data from employer job postings, according to a new study at Columbia University ...

Health

Big gaps seen in home medical test use by older adults

With a fresh wave of free COVID-19 rapid tests now shipping to households nationwide, and many other types of at-home medical tests now available on store shelves and websites, a new study looks at what older adults think ...

Pediatrics

Rural-urban differences seen in hospitals' pediatric services

Children with medical complexity (CMC) who reside in rural areas are significantly more likely to present to hospitals without dedicated pediatric services, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in JAMA Network Open.

Health

Medicare changes for 2025: What you need to know

Fall has arrived, and that means open enrollment for Medicare starts Oct. 15. There are several changes for 2024 that you should know before enrolling or updating your Medicare coverage. Even if you won't turn 65 for a few ...

Medical economics

What's at stake for health care reform in the US election?

While abortion and reproductive health care are in the spotlight during the 2024 United States presidential campaign, other health policy issues, including Medicare and Medicaid, have drawn less attention. Despite this low ...

Obstetrics & gynaecology

Childbirth now costs nearly $3,000 for insured Americans

Better have some savings stored up before you rush to the delivery room: A new analysis shows the average out-of-pocket expense for delivering a child in the United States is nearly $3,000, even if you're insured.

Pediatrics

Formula milk marketing disrupts breastfeeding goals

Formula milk companies continue to defy international regulations and target health centers to market their products, a WHO study on formula marketing and its impact on breastfeeding shows.

Medical economics

PCP gender wage gap varies by compensation model

The gender wage gap for primary care physicians (PCPs) varies by compensation model, with a small gap under capitation risk adjusted for patient age and sex, according to a study published online July 19 in the Annals of ...

Medical economics

IT in health care has produced modest changes, so far

It has never been hard to imagine how information technology (IT) might improve health care services. Fast messaging replacing faxes. Electronic health records that can be accessed more easily. Software that can inform doctors' ...

Pediatrics

Insurance type, maternal race impact odds of reporting to CPS

For children hospitalized with maltreatment, the likelihood of being reported to child protection services (CPS) is influenced by health insurance coverage and maternal race, according to a study published online July 18 ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

U.S. extends COVID public health emergency another 3 months

As the latest Omicron subvariant fuels climbing case counts in the United States, the Biden administration has extended the country's public health emergency status through mid-October.

Medical economics

The economic impact of rural hospital closures

When a rural hospital closes, it can disrupt both the health care and the economy of a community. The health care sector can supply as much as 10% of the jobs in a rural area. Moreover, hospital closures are a national concern: ...

Immunology

Costs for emergency allergy injectors still high for some?

People with severe allergies now have more choices for which epinephrine auto-injector to carry in case they suffer a life-threatening attack, and most pay less for it than they did when the EpiPen was the primary option, ...