The Quick search: ACA lawsuit primer; ACA strategies in 4 states; competitive plans for those eligible for Medicare and Medicaid -
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of studies and health policy papers recently published .
National Health Act Health Advocate: Program: ACA continues Litigation: A Primer major cases
In 2012, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the constitutionality of the ACA, but it did not end attacks against the law. Since the decision of the National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius opposing parties filed more than 100 cases in federal courts nationwide. With few exceptions, most of these cases, seek to strike specific provisions of the ACA. This question of cases Health Lawyer highlights filed in federal courts across the country since 2012 (Perkins and Singh, 7/14)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Differences in the state in the cost of employment-related health insurance in 2013
This brief statistics show changes in the state of the national average cost of health insurance linked to employment and how these costs are shared by employers and employees. The memory specifically examines average premiums and employee contributions to private sector institutions in the 10 most populous states in 2013, using the most recent data available from the insurance component of the Panel Survey medical expense. ... Among the 10 largest states, the percentage of employees opting for single coverage ranged from 44.6 percent in Michigan to 56.4 percent in North Carolina, for the employee plus-one coverage 18.1 percent in California to 21.0 percent in Michigan, and 23.9 percent for family coverage in North Carolina at 34.4 percent in Michigan. Nationwide, average premiums were $ 5,571 for single coverage, $ 10,90 for the employee plus-one coverage and $ 16,029 for family coverage (Karen E. Davis, 7/14)
The Kaiser Family Foundation. What worked and what Next? Leading strategies in four states ACA registration efforts
This brief highlights the experiences of four Favourite, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Washington-which established a base-state market (SBM), implemented the 'Medicaid expansion of the ACA, and achieved successful registration of persons eligible coverage. Based on interviews with key stakeholders in each state, it identifies effective strategies that contributed to enrollment and current priorities forward. The main topics are summarized ... general marketing campaigns by spontaneous defecation in the four States has raised public awareness of new coverage options. ... Awareness locally and enrollment efforts have played a key role in consumer education and encourage them to enroll in coverage. ... One of the most important elements of the registration of persons in coverage is one-on-one assistance from trusted people in the community (Artiga, Stephens, Rudowitz and Perry, 7/16).
Heritage Foundation: How competitive private plans can improve care for dual-eligible Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid
competitive health plans offer high quality care for some of the poorest and most patients challenging America. the real Medicare reform based on greater choice and competition can mean that achieving better care for 9 million patients known as dual eligible beneficiaries. "Eligible double" for low-income patients covered by both Medicare and Medicaid, are expensive and patient population complex. These patients already benefit greatly from private health plans in Medicare Part D, on competitive prescription drug program and Medicare Advantage, competitive private insurance program of the competing insurance. Policymakers can leverage these successes including these patients in a Medicare flexible defined contribution ( "premium support") financing system where dual eligibles, with the help of their family and advisors can leverage coordination of care provided by competing health plans (Jonathan Crowe, 7/10)
Annals of Internal Medicine :. changes in office visits associated with using e-mail and by phone Encounters Of patients with diabetes in the PCMH [Patient Centered Medical Home]
communication based on Internet Phone- and are increasingly common in primary care, but there is uncertainty about how these forms of communication influence the demand for in-person office visits. We assessed whether the use of secure messaging and phone free dating copay has been associated with the use of office visit in a population with diabetes. ... Before and after a medical home redesign, a proportional increase in secure messaging and telephony events were associated with additional visits primary care offices for people with diabetes (Liss, July-August 2014).
American Journal of Preventive Medicine: The Impact of the National Breast and early screening program for cervical cancer mortality of cervical cancer among uninsured low-income women in the United States, 1991-07
previous studies have shown that poor women, uninsured and underinsured receive less than the easy screening women. To reduce disparities in the incidence of cervical cancer and mortality, Congress of the United States [passed a law which] authorized the creation of the National Breast and Programme of early detection of cervical cancer (NBCCEDP) to reach underserved women. ... The program's impact on life expectancy in the uninsured low-income women was estimated using a previously published and validated model ... These estimates suggest that cervical cancer screening NBCCEDP reduced mortality in the medically underserved low-income women who participated (Ekwueme et al., 07.07).
This is a selection of news coverage of other recent research:
Minnesota Public Radio: Study: Collaboration between Docs, insurers Lowers the cost of cancer care
A study UnitedHealth Group found the cancer care costs decreased when doctors were paid a lump sum basis and showed how they compared with other treating the same cancers. The company based in Minnetonka said even with increased drug costs, total costs have decreased by a third. The study followed not only the costs but also 60 care quality measures. lead author of the study, UnitedHealth Senior Vice President Lee Newcomer, said the collaboration between physicians and the insurer has made a big difference (Stawicki, 7/12)
Reuters :. Doctors characteristics may influence the treatment of prostate cancer
whether at low risk of a man's prostate cancer is treated with surveillance, surgery or other method may have more to do with his doctor that his health, according to a new study. Urologists who had practiced for more years and those who have treated more advanced cases of the disease were less likely to use a wait and see approach for managing prostate cancer at low risk, the researchers found (Seaman, 7/14).
The New York Times: Discounts study of testosterone therapy for early prostate cancer
For decades, millions of men with early prostate cancer were placed on treatment medication to suppress their testosterone production, despite these significant side effects as impotence, diabetes and bone loss. Now a large new analysis concluded the so-called androgen deprivation therapy does not prolong the life of these patients. "There are so many side effects associated with this therapy, and very little evidence to support its use," said Dr. Grace L. Lu-Yao, a researcher at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and lead author of the report, published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. "I would say that for the majority of cancer patients with localized prostate, it is not a good option" (O'Connor, 7 / 14)
Modern Healthcare :. more expensive digital Mammography shows no detection-Rate Advantages: study
Despite an increase of almost $ 300 million in Medicare expenditures related to high increased use of new technologies, more sensitive for breast cancer screening, no change was observed in the early detection rates, a study in the Journal of the National cancer Institute found. dollars of health care can be wasted, some experts say, when the widespread adoption of a new test above demonstrate its sense clinical benefit (Rice, 7/16).
Medscape: Telehealth Intervention Improves chronic pain for VA patients
Intervention telecare using the basic telephone technology and collaborative care management resulted in significant clinical improvements in musculoskeletal pain chronic compared with usual care, according to an article published online July 15 in JAMA. Kurt Kroenke, MD, of the Veterans Administration (VA) Center for Roudebush VA Medical Center Health Information and Communication, Indianapolis, Indiana, and colleagues conducted a randomized trial of 250 patients from five primary care clinics in the center between June 2010 and May 2012 (hand, 7/15)
Reuters :. Some kidney donors struggle to buy life insurance: study
Although people who donated a kidney have passed a rigorous testing and tend to be healthier than the average person, report great difficulty getting or modifying health policies or life insurance after surgery, according to a new study. "These are the healthiest people in the nation, they have undergone more scrutiny of health screening anyone for any process," said lead author Dr. Dorry L. Segev. "We only allow those most healthy to do that." Segev is an abdominal transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, where the study took place (Doyle, 7/16).
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