Commonwealth Fund News and Research

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First Edition: October 29, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about how the presidential election's outcome could impact the insurance industry as well as the fate of people who are sick or uninsured.

29 Oct 2012

Research roundup: Addressing disparities in cancer diagnosis time, Medicare open season awareness

Researchers tested the effectiveness of using patient navigation programs with women who have abnormal breast or cervical cancer screenings. These programs aim to facilitate treatment by such things as arranging financial support, transportation to appointments, child care or interpreter services.

13 Oct 2012

UK and USA healthcare systems can learn from each other

The healthcare systems of the USA and the UK are often thought of as polar opposites, yet the two countries may have much to learn from each other as they both embark upon significant health reforms, according to the authors of a Health Policy paper, published in The Lancet.

12 Oct 2012

EHRs enhance quality of patient care in community-based settings

A new study by Weill Cornell Medical College researchers, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, provides compelling evidence that electronic health records (EHRs) enhance the quality of patient care in a community-based setting with multiple payers, which is representative of how medicine is generally practiced across the United States.

10 Oct 2012

HealthPartners receives 2012 AMGA Acclaim Award

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) today presented the 2012 AMGA Acclaim Award to HealthPartners for "Triple Aim 2.0: Designing Culture to Support Better Health, Better Experience at a Lower Cost," an inventive and patient-centered approach to align the Institute of Medicine's Aims to identify and drive performance improvement, innovation, and culture throughout the organization.

5 Oct 2012

AMGA’s IQL conference examines successful accountable care models

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) is convening more than 600 participants, representing the leaders of the nation's preeminent healthcare provider organizations, at the IQL 2012 Annual Conference, October 3 - 5 at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort & Conference Center in National Harbor, MD.

5 Oct 2012

Parsing health and Medicare plans amid campaign promises

News outlets analyze the presidential candidates' proposals for tackling Medicare and Medicaid costs, as well as how these differing ideas are playing among voters.

4 Oct 2012

Debate primer: 'A mere 15 minutes' set aside to cover lots of differences on health policies

News outlets set the scene for some of the tough health policy questions the two presidential candidates might face during tomorrow night's debate. And new ads about the health law and women's health issues have been unleashed.

3 Oct 2012

Research roundup: Saving money with hospital observation units, total knee replacement rates skyrocketing, Medicare patients and antibiotic overuse

The authors write: Using observation units in hospitals to provide care to certain patients can be more efficient than admitting them to the hospital and can result in shorter lengths-of-stay and lower costs. However, such units are present in only about one-third of US hospitals.

29 Sep 2012

Many public safety-net hospitals are likely to face financial and competitive pressures

Many public safety-net hospitals are likely to face increasing financial and competitive pressures stemming in part from the recent Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, according to researchers at Penn State and the Harvard School of Public Health.

24 Sep 2012

Research roundup: Patients' experiences at safety-net hospitals

Each week KHN reporter Ankita Rao compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.

15 Sep 2012

Report: Risk pools extend insurance coverage now, but are 'unsustainable' as alternative to health law

The health reform law's high-risk insurance pools, one of the first pieces of the law to be enacted, are operating at a loss and prohibitively expensive -; but they also provide needed coverage to a small group of people, according to a new report out Thursday.

14 Sep 2012

Researchers analyze cost-savings achieved by Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration

In an analysis of the cost-savings achieved by an earlier pilot program, the Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration (PGPD), researchers found modest estimates of overall savings associated with the PGPD, but larger savings among the dually eligible patients (Medicare and Medicaid), with savings achieved in large part through reductions in hospitalizations, according to a study in the September 12 issue of JAMA.

12 Sep 2012

Romney's shifting stance on health law makes policy, political waves

The GOP presidential nominee's comments Sunday that he would keep parts of the health law triggered questions about how he would cover those with pre-existing conditions, and reinforced doubts within his own party about his commitment to repealing the overhaul. Campaign aides attempted to clarify the comments.

12 Sep 2012

Research roundup: Readmission risks after surgery; Assessing Medicaid applicants' eligibility; Satisfaction among health plan types

General Surgeons Identify Postoperative Complications Posing Strongest Readmission Risks -- Researchers found that about 11 percent of patients in a study of 1,442 individuals who underwent general surgery were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days.

31 Aug 2012

U.S. behind France, Germany, U.K. in stopping preventable deaths

The study, published in Health Affairs, pointed the finger at the lack of health insurance -- as well as conditions such as hypertension and medical errors -- in the U.S. as part of the problem.

31 Aug 2012

U.S. lags three other industrialized nations in potentially preventable death rates

The United States lags three other industrialized nations-France, Germany, and the United Kingdom-in its potentially preventable death rate, and in the pace of improvement in preventing deaths that could have been avoided with timely and effective health care, according to a Commonwealth Fund-supported study published as a web first online today in Health Affairs.

31 Aug 2012

HealthPartners receives Acclaim Award from American Medical Group Association

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) today announced that the recipient of the 2012 AMGA Acclaim Award is HealthPartners for "Triple Aim 2.0: Designing Culture to Support Better Health, Better Experience at a Lower Cost," an inventive and patient-centered approach to align the Institute of Medicine's Aims to identify and drive performance improvement, innovation, and culture throughout the organization.

29 Aug 2012

Hospitals tackle variety of health law issues

News outlets report on a variety of issues including the slow acceptance of ACOs and a legal set-back for doctor-owned facilities.

23 Aug 2012

For hospitals, the rush is not on to become an ACO

According to a Commonwealth Fund report, only about 13 percent of hospitals surveyed are participating or planning to participate in an accountable care organizations.

18 Aug 2012

Commonwealth Fund News and Research

First Edition: October 29, 2012

Research roundup: Addressing disparities in cancer diagnosis time, Medicare open season awareness

UK and USA healthcare systems can learn from each other

EHRs enhance quality of patient care in community-based settings

HealthPartners receives 2012 AMGA Acclaim Award

AMGA’s IQL conference examines successful accountable care models

Parsing health and Medicare plans amid campaign promises

Debate primer: 'A mere 15 minutes' set aside to cover lots of differences on health policies

Research roundup: Saving money with hospital observation units, total knee replacement rates skyrocketing, Medicare patients and antibiotic overuse

Many public safety-net hospitals are likely to face financial and competitive pressures

Research roundup: Patients' experiences at safety-net hospitals

Report: Risk pools extend insurance coverage now, but are 'unsustainable' as alternative to health law

Researchers analyze cost-savings achieved by Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration

Romney's shifting stance on health law makes policy, political waves

Research roundup: Readmission risks after surgery; Assessing Medicaid applicants' eligibility; Satisfaction among health plan types

U.S. behind France, Germany, U.K. in stopping preventable deaths

U.S. lags three other industrialized nations in potentially preventable death rates

HealthPartners receives Acclaim Award from American Medical Group Association

Hospitals tackle variety of health law issues

For hospitals, the rush is not on to become an ACO

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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