Hospitals may divert ambulances to avoid treating certain patients
6/14/19
Some hospitals may strategically divert ambulances to avoid treating low‐paying patients who are uninsured or who have Medicaid, according to a recent analysis.
Center for Health Care and Policy Research
Center for Health Care and Policy Research
Opioid epidemic may have cost U.S. governments $37.8 billion in tax revenue
4/15/19
The opioid epidemic may have cost U.S. state and federal governments up to $37.8 billion in lost tax revenue due to opioid-related employment loss, according to Penn State researchers.
Intersectoral collaboration: Addressing complex, health-related local issues
3/21/19
A new study points to the importance of thinking more comprehensively, across multiple levels of influence, when considering ways to foster or sustain intersectoral collaboration.
Housing is health: 'Ask the Experts' addresses social determinants of health
3/4/19
The latest episode of the “Ask the Experts” series features Ann Kunkel and Dianna Benaknin of WellSpan Health. In a discussion highlighting WellSpan's interest in addressing social determinants of health, Kunkel and Benaknin focus on the impact of housing on health and describe a number of programs created to address avoidable housing-related hospital admissions.
'Ask the Experts' addresses health care transparency
1/11/19
The latest episode in the “Ask the Experts” series features Jessica Altman, insurance commissioner for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, discussing the importance of transparency in health care and the Pennsylvania Shoppable Care Work Group, whose primary goal is to enhance consumers' ability to shop for health care.
Patient factors may only marginally improve readmission prevention programs
12/11/18
Researchers at Penn State, the University of Michigan, and UCLA studied Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) disproportionately penalizes safety net hospitals, leading to concerns that the program’s omission of patient social complexity may aggravate healthcare disparities by penalizing financially-challenged hospitals and reducing their resources to improve care. The researchers found that although adding patient functional and social factors improves the program’s ability to distinguish patients who are or are not readmitted, it does so only slightly.
'Ask the Experts' addresses the opioid epidemic on cesarean sections
11/29/18
This episode in the “Ask the Experts” series features Danielle Symons Downs, professor of kinesiology and obstetrics and gynecology, associate director of the Social Science Research Institute at Penn State discussing her research on the links between cesarean section deliveries and opioid prescribing after birth.
Bringing Americans together on the issue of affordable housing
10/19/18
A lack of affordable housing is linked with many health problems, including asthma, stress and alcoholism. Penn State researchers found that while some Americans may be less aware of this link, there may be ways to communicate this connection in a way that resonates with those groups.
Health reform, new payment models topic of 'Ask the Experts'
8/27/18
Anthony Agostini, interventional cardiologist at the Interventional Cardiology Center of Amarillo, discusses the impact of health reform and new payment models on practicing providers in the latest episode of "Ask the Experts."
Community-Engaged Research in the Penn State Context
8/14/18
This episode in the “Ask the Experts” series features Dr. Jen Kraschnewski from the Penn State College of Medicine in her role as co-chair of the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s Community-Engaged Research Core. Kraschnewski discusses community-engaged research, why it is important, where it is happening at Penn State, and how to learn more about it.
A new approach to treating mental health conditions
8/1/18
The latest episode in the “Ask the Experts” series features Thomas Hess, senior vice president and chief financial officer at biotechnology company Genomind, who discusses a new approach to treatment and therapy of mental health conditions using genome testing.
Health care’s response to sexual assault in underserved and rural communities
8/25/17
The latest episode in the “Ask the Experts” series features Sheridan Miyamoto, who discusses the problem of sexual assault and health care’s response in underserved and rural communities.
Prescription drug monitoring programs evaluated by Penn State researchers
8/17/17
Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) are being implemented in an increasing number of states to address their misuse, and a team of Penn State researchers, including Young Hee Nam, Yunfeng Shi, Dennis Shea and John Moran, have been investigating their impact.
Flipping the traditional medical school training model
6/14/17
The latest episode in the “Ask the Experts” series features Dr. Jeffrey Wong, associate dean for medical education at Penn State, and Morgan Decker, medical student design partner, who discuss an innovative approach to medical education at Penn State.
Penn State Cancer Institute director featured in 'Ask the Expert' series
5/1/17
The latest episode in the “Ask the Experts” series features Dr. Raymond J. Hohl, MD, director of the Penn State Cancer Institute, who discusses progress made in the field and the importance of making care “patient-centered.”