Category: The Commonwealth Fund
Premium Tax Credits Are the Individual Market’s Stabilizing Force
The latest data suggest the individual insurance market is weathering attempts by the Trump administration and Congress over the last year to weaken it. These actions include the repeal of the tax penalty for going without insurance; ending payments ow…
Annual Drug Review in Switzerland to Save CHF 190 Million Annually
In 2017, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reduced the prices of more than 400 prescription drugs, resulting in savings of approximately CHF 190 million in just 2017 alone. The average price reduction per drug was approximately 18 percen…
Website Launched for End-of-Life Care Planning in Australia
In April Australia launched the new End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) website to help health professionals access information and resources on palliative care and advanced care planning. It features five toolkits, on topics such as residenti…
Website Launched for End-of-Life Care Planning in Australia
In April 2018, the new End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) website was launched to help health professionals and care workers access information and resources for palliative care and advanced care planning. It features five toolkits, including…
Dutch Government to Start Reviewing Cost Component of Quality Guidelines
Until now, medical experts and the Dutch Care Institute have made decisions regarding national quality guidelines independent of the Dutch government. Health care ministers Bruins and de Jonge have added a new review step to analyze costs, and possibly…
Dutch Government to Start Reviewing Cost Component of Quality Guidelines
Until now, medical experts and the Dutch Care Institute have made decisions regarding national quality guidelines, independent of the Dutch government. Health care ministers Bruins and de Jonge have added a new review step to analyze costs and possibly…
NHS Boosts Role of Pharmacists in Reducing Overmedication and Improving Asthma and Dementia Care
England’s National Health Service (NHS) plans to recruit an additional 240 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in nursing and residential care homes in an effort to curb overmedication and hospital stays among elderly patients. Approximately 180,000 c…
Clinician-Led Price Matching and Bulk Buying Creates Savings for Commonly Used Hospital Products in Seven English Hospitals
Clinicians at seven hospitals in Sheffield joined up to create a unique “price-match” scheme that jointly evaluated commonplace items, such as surgical gloves and antiembolism socks, on quality and cost. The hospitals teamed up to buy 11 items in bulk,…
Ontario Invests CAD 1 Billion to Support Seniors and Caregivers
Ontario is investing CAD 1 billion over three years to support the Seniors’ Healthy Home Program. Starting in 2019, the program will provide up to CAD 750 per year to eligible households led by seniors 75 years and older to support caregivers and help …
