Not only do healthcare markets across the country vary, but there are stark differences between healthcare markets within the same state, according to the Healthy Marketplace Index Report from the Health Care Cost Institute.
Not only do healthcare markets across the country vary, but there are stark differences between healthcare markets within the same state, according to the Healthy Marketplace Index Report from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI).
The report, created with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, shows economic performance of more than 40 healthcare markets using local-level measures of healthcare findncing and delivery avaliable for the privately insured population.
“No single measure can predict the health of a local market. However, the Healthy Marketplace Index gives us a much clearer picture of how health care systems are performing,” Eric Barrette, director of research at HCCI, said in a statement. “We hope that this information will help researchers, employers, health plans, and providers better understand the markets they operate in and develop meaningful policies that improve the value of health care services.”
The report identified high-price areas as Boulder, CO; El Paso, TX; Bridgeport, CT; Dallas TX; Milwaukee, WI; Philadelphia, PA; Denver, CO; and Fort Collins, CO. The prices for inpatient care in Fort Collins was, on average, 43% higher than prices in Colorado Springs, just 2 hours south. Low-price areas were Tucson, AZ; St. Louis, MO; New Orleans, LA; Peoria, IL; and Louisville, KY.
The HCCI analysis found that prices are not tied to healthcare use. For example, even though Denver has high prices, it also had high use. In addition, the report found that price patterns are not consistent and there was an association between inpatient services and health.
“The Healthy Marketplace Index succinctly characterizes some of the most important attributes of health care marketplaces that influence not only health outcomes, but also public and private spending on health care,” says Katherine Hempstead, director of health insurance coverage at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “We hope the information is valuable to local stakeholders, such as consumers, employers, and policymakers, who are trying to improve the health care delivered in their communities.”
Exploring Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Variations
March 26th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the March 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on variations in prior authorization use across Medicare Advantage plans.
Listen
Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
Listen
Homelessness Compounds Hospital Stay Challenges: Study Reveals Prolonged Discharge Struggles
March 28th 2024In this investigation, outcomes of interest were morbidity rate and length of hospital stay or a traumatic injury among a homeless population, and whether age and/or injury severity had an influence on that relationship—with implications for improving the discharge process for these patients.
Read More
FDA Approves Vadadustat for Anemia in Patients With CKD Undergoing Dialysis
March 28th 2024The FDA approved vadadustat (Vafseo), an oral medication, to treat anemia in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis for at least 3 months. This fills a need for a new treatment option as anemia is common in these patients and can significantly impact their quality of life.
Read More