September 2014

A technology-based, pharmacist-run home blood pressure monitoring program improves health outcomes by investing $20.50 per mm Hg systolic blood pressure lowered and $3300 per life-year gained.

Patients utilizing Medisave for a diabetes management program in Singapore were more compliant with care processes, but reductions in hospitalization and costs were not sustained.

Self-reported health measures embedded in a Medicaid application can comprise a predictive model identifying new and returning enrollees at risk of high healthcare utilization.

Diabetes-related hospital charges are driven by complications, hospital misadventures, procedures, and other patient and discharge characteristics. Readmission charges are not different from initial admission charges.

The authors evaluate long-term glycemic control in a 5-year follow-up period after patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus with severe hyperglycemia were treated with 6 months of basal insulin therapy in a randomized controlled trial.

The authors quantify the potential reduction in hospital costs from adopting best local practices in supply chain management and discharge planning within a major metropolitan market.

Due to existing payment structures and practice patterns for colonoscopy, reducing endoscopist reimbursement may diminish access to and quality of colorectal cancer screening.

The authors comment on the growth of drug plans with tiers for "non-preferred" generics, and argue that most are inconsistent with established principles of formulary design.

Out-of-plan medication use accounted for a small share of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia prescriptions filled by Medicare Part D beneficiaries.

This is the first empirical evidence to demonstrate increased competition and innovation in the EHR industry as a result of the HITECH program.

Targeting cardiovascular risk reduction interventions to high-risk patients has the potential to reduce cardiovascular racial disparities, improve health, and reduce costs.

The authors describe 5 basic requirements for planning, implementing, and proving clinical utility for diagnostic tests, drawing on recent reimbursement decisions.

A retrospective study of the treatment patterns and economic outcomes associated with off-label atypical antipsychotic use in the treatment of adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Factors most important for successful implementation of collaborative care for depression differ for patient activation versus achieving remission; both are critical to program success.