Surgical ethics: Does money speak louder?
Although I am not a healthcare professional, working for OR Manager offers a peek behind the curtain. What I have learned so far has left me feeling a bit conflicted. When I took this job back in December, I assumed the hospital ecosystem was driven entirely by the Hippocratic Oath.…
Healthcare costs projected to reach new high in 2025
Editor's Note Healthcare costs are expected to rise between 7% and 8% in 2025, according to a report from PwC's Health Research Institute. As detailed in a July 17 article from Fierce Healthcare, PwC projections for an 8% increase in the group market and 7.5% in the individual market would…
Trump record, Republican National Convention hint at GOP healthcare policy priorities
Editor's Note As the Republican National Convention meets in Milwaukee to nominate Donald Trump, the party is not expected to unveil a detailed healthcare platform. However, a July 15 report in Modern Healthcare covers what plans and past records reveal about the potential direction of health policy under a GOP…
US healthcare spending growth expected to outpace overall economic growth
Editor's Note Expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.6%, US healthcare spending will outpace GDP growth—projected at 4.3%--and rise to $7.7 trillion by 2032, according to a June 28 report in ASC focus. The $7.7 trillion figure amounts to 19.7% of GDP. The report is sourced from…
US healthcare spending outpaces GDP, tracks toward $7.7 trillion by 2032
Editor's Note Growth in healthcare spending is outpacing nominal economic growth, Hospice News reported June 12. Citing a study from the Office of the Actuary (OACT) at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the outlet reports that healthcare spending’s share of GDP is projected to rise from 17.6%…
RAND study reveals private payers pay 250% more than Medicare for healthcare services
Editor's Note A recent analysis by the RAND Corporation, a research and analysis nonprofit, revealed a disparity between hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) prices paid by employers and private payers compared to Medicare prices, Revcycle Intelligence May 15 reports. The study, covering data from 2020 to 2022, showed private…
Per-person healthcare spending grows nearly 19% in 5 years
Editor's Note Average prices for healthcare services trended upward from 2018 to 2022 despite fluctuations in utilization of service, according to the annual Health Care Cost and Utilization Report (HCCUR) from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI). In the same timeframe, per-person spending increased nearly 19%. "Prices, in particular, pose a…
Medicare households have double the healthcare spending burden
Editor's Note The healthcare spending burden of Medicare households was double that of non-Medicare households in 2022, according to an analysis published by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) on March 14. Using data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey, KFF found that average health-related expenses made up 13.6% of Medicare households’ total…
Session: OR optimization driven by more than just data
Editor's Note For Northwell Health University System, a large hospital system in New York state, saving millions in OR expenses in just a few years’ time was possible not just through meticulous analytics, but also cultural transformation. This was among the chief conclusions of a session led by Adam Becker,…
Colorado-focused report shows wasteful spending, over $130M spent on low-value care
Editor's Note A new report by the Denver-based nonprofit Center for Improving Value in Health Care found that millions are being spent on tests and treatments that have limited value for patient health and well-being, KFF Health News November 13 reports. According to estimates, from 10% to 30% of the…
Free Daily News
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- New guidance: Preoperative GLP-1s safe for surgical patients
- Study: Beta-blockers could increase postoperative stroke risk
- Music therapy reduces opioid use, anxiety in surgical patients
- Study: Poor sleep before surgery boosts risk of postoperative delirium
- GOP-controlled Senate to prioritize drug pricing, health agency reform
- Study links nurse burnout to lower patient safety, care quality
- Private Equity fuels growth of hospital-owned ASCs amidst rising demand, regulatory loopholes
- Outpatient facilities dominate healthcare construction as demand for community-based care grows