Health Care Cost

Health updates cover abortion pill access, lung care research, pregnancy-linked heart risks, US longevity gaps, and flawed drug adherence metrics.

Patients with IPF hospitalized for CDI had higher mortality, longer stays, and greater costs.

The Supreme Court’s temporary action on mifepristone telehealth access raises new questions about reproductive health policy, autonomy, and care access in the US.

Preoperative acute care costs significantly predicted postoperative costs in Bundled Payments for Care Improvement model year 3 surgeries, suggesting that accounting for preoperative factors may improve bundled payment outcomes.

Fears that the telemedicine boom would send health care costs soaring haven’t been borne out, a major new study finds, and the timing couldn’t be more critical for federal policy makers.

From psychedelics to abortion pills, drug pricing, crisis lines, and cancer care, new policies reshape access—and expose gaps patients still face.

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was most likely to be cost-effective among adults aged 18 to 64 years with comorbidities, particularly those with lung disease or immune disorders.

Here is a policy briefing for chief medical officers and managed care leaders on key pressure points about the Medicaid funding cuts.

Their study found cost nudges had minimal effect on clinic selection, as 85% already chose lower-cost tiers, suggesting tiered benefit design works.

Chris Johnson, MBA, discusses how Medicaid incentives and higher primary-care pay can boost preventive pediatric care.

White House projects $600B in savings from MFN drug pricing plan, with major implications for GLP-1 access, Medicaid, and biologics.

Hospitals increasingly pursue integration strategies to contain costs, yet evidence remains limited. This study examines the effects of 3 forms of integration on hospital costs.

Katie Eyes, MSW, reflects on 25 years of the BCBSNC Foundation and, over her 18 years with the organization, its shift toward upstream, systems-level health solutions.

Most surveyed individuals with obesity support lower-cost options for weight maintenance, which would allow better coverage for injectable incretin mimetics for weight management during active weight loss.

Hospital at home is linked to lower mortality and ED use vs inpatient care in Medicare patients.

988 crisis centers face staffing and funding challenges despite rising demand, raising concerns about long-term sustainability.

This study found high out-of-pocket costs for branded diabetes medications in employer-sponsored health plans.

The authors assessed charitable care spending for a 1-month supply of medications at discharge. One-third of the cost was spent on medications for which a more sustainable coverage method exists.

Experts dismantled the assumption that direct-to-patient is a universal affordability solution, offering manufacturers a practical framework for deciding which model is actually right.

Philadelphia oncology leaders tackle gaps in biomarker testing, breast cancer advances, myeloma innovation, and clinical trial equity.

This week, a Capitol hearing spotlights Medicare fraud gaps, reports warn of equity setbacks, community oncology boosts survival, and Medicaid work rules loom.

Experts at AXS26 laid out why advanced therapies are underutilized and what payers, providers, and manufacturers must do together to change that.

Adopting more automated services could potentially reduce costs across the country as adoption remains stable nationwide.

Chris Johnson, MBA, explains how retail-based pediatric clinics and smart tech can expand Medicaid access and streamline visits.

Experts discussed value-based oncology care, CAR T-cell therapy access gaps, myeloma advances, and bispecific therapy challenges.