Finance

Medical Practice Analysis: An Indispensable Prelude to Retirement

Physicians planning to retire need to establish their practice’s value and review factors affecting it.

ACO Investment Model Participation Associated With Lower Medicare Spending

Participation in Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Investment Model during the first performance year by providers serving rural/underserved areas was associated with lower spending in the Medicare program than that among non-ACO providers serving the same areas.

Medicare Shared Savings Not Associated With Spending or Quality Improvements

Results indicated that savings by Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable care organizations may be driven by nonrandom exit of high-cost clinicians and their patient panels from this voluntary program.

Costs of Brand-Name Drugs Have Risen Substantially in the United States

The growth of drug spending in the United States associated with government-protected market exclusivity is likely to continue.

Global Health Spending Shows Large and Persistent Inequalities by GDP

Sustained growth in health spending is expected to continue, with global spending projected to reach $10.6 trillion in 2030 and $15.0 trillion in 2050, but at a slower rate of growth in the majority of countries.

More Than a Third of Nonelderly Americans With ASCVD Have Financial Hardship

Researchers evaluated the national burden of financial hardship from medical bills among persons with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, as well as the fallout from such a problem, including financial distress, food insecurity, and cost-related medication nonadherence.

National Health Spending Set to Increase 5.5% Annually

Economic and demographic factors will be the main driver of an increase in healthcare spending.

Patients Using GoFundMe Platform to Raise Funds for Scientifically Unsupported Medical Treatments

GoFundMe, one of the largest crowdfunding sites, reported that medical campaign funding has increased $2 billion from 2015 to 2016.

Majority of Internists Still Have Financial Ties to Industry

A majority of internists still report financial ties to industry.

Addressing the Uncertainties of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for Medical School Graduates

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program promises to forgive any remaining federal loan debt for employees at governmental or nonprofit institutions following 10 years of loan repayments.

No Meaningful Increase in Physician Compensation in 2017

There was no meaningful increase in physician compensation in 2017, and a decline in productivity was noted.

2017 Financial Preparedness Report Highlights Top Concerns From Resident Physicians

An annual survey of resident physicians conducted by AMA Insurance found that the top financial concern of current residents is paying off medical school loans.

Most Surgical Residents Want Financial Education

Surgical residents feel strongly that personal financial education should be offered during medical training.

Government and Industry Lead the Way in Funding USPSTF Systematic Reviews

Researchers sought to assess the frequency of specific government agencies and organizations in their funding for the review studies.

Standardized Funder Policies Will Improve Transparency, Publication Bias in Clinical Trials

Research findings suggest the need for greater adherence to a standardized set of policies aimed at improving transparency among clinical trial funders.

Countdown to Retirement With Saving Strategies for Physicians

Even young, fresh-out-of-residency physicians need to think about retirement.

Rates of Major Depression Up Among US Insured, Especially Youth

Diagnoses of major depression have increased since 2013, particularly among adolescents and millennials.

Opioid-Related Payments Linked to Increase in Opioid Rx

Findings suggest that opioid manufacturers should stop marketing to physicians in an effort to reduce opioid prescription rates.

ACP: Position Paper Recommends Solutions to Close Gender Equity Gap

While overall gender diversity has improved in the healthcare profession, female physicians are still paid significantly less than their male counterparts.

Nonoptimized Drug Therapy Costs More Than $500 Billion Annually

The estimated annual cost of prescription drug-related morbidity and mortality resulting from nonoptimized medication therapy was $528.4 billion in 2016.