Grantees in the News

Findings from a study led by Donald Taylor, Ph.D., assistant professor at Duke University, were highlighted in the November 11 Yahoo! News article, “Few American’s Make End-of-Life Wishes Known.” [2] The article discusses hospice care and health reform legislation. Taylor and colleagues examined whether hospice care saves money for the Medicare program and affects out-of-pocket expenses of families of terminally ill Medicare beneficiaries.

Findings from a HCFO study led by Glenn Melnick, Ph.D., professor at the University of Southern California and formerly of RAND, were highlighted in the September 4 New York Times column, “Ending Hospital Price Discrimination Against the Uninsured.” [7] Melnick examined trends in hospital charges and net revenues to determine whether hospital prices paid by uninsured individuals systematically differ from those paid by insured individual

Jill Horwitz, Ph.D., J.D., professor at the University of Michigan , was quoted in the September 19 Florida Today article, “Wuesthoff May Seek Regional Partnership.” [12] The article discusses the recent trend for hospitals to form partnerships. Horwitz stated, “Lots of community hospitals are facing financial pressure,” and noted that the number of hospitals in the United States is declining.

Findings from a HCFO study led by Michael Chernew, Ph.D., professor at Harvard Medical School, were featured in the October 7 Huffington Post blog, "Are More Primary Care Docs the Answer?" [15] Chernew and colleagues are examining the factors related to variation in cost growth in Medicare.

Stephen Zuckerman, Ph.D., senior fellow at the Urban Institute, was quoted in the August 15 Wall Street Journal article, “Illegal Immigration Enters the Health-Care Debate.” [17] Dr. Zuckerman received a HCFO grant to study the impact of undocumented immigration on the U.S. health care system.

Findings from a HCFO study led by Lawrence P. Casalino, M.D., Ph.D., formerly of the University of Chicago and currently at Weill Cornell Medical College, were highlighted in the June 2, 2009 AAFP News Now article, “Physicians Pay Steep Price to Contract with Health Plans.” [20] The researchers conducted a national survey of physician practices across the United States on time spent by practice staff on administrative activities.

Findings from a study led by Jack Hadley, Ph.D., professor at George Mason University, were highlighted in the June 8, 2009 New York Times article, “Health Care Spending Disparities Stir a Fight.” [23] The article discusses variations in Medicare spending and debates whether policies should be implemented to reduce this variation.

Findings from a HCFO study led by Donald H. Taylor, Ph.D., assistant professor at Duke University, were highlighted in the June 25, 2009 The Island Packet Opinion Column, “Federal Government Has to Get With—and Behind—the Hospice Program.” [25] The article discusses the importance of hospice care and reimbursement.

The July 8, 2009 Washington Post article, “In Retooled Health-Care System, Who Will Say No?" [28]   highlighted the book, Can We Say No? by Henry J. Aaron, Ph.D., senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, and colleagues. This book was supported by a HCFO grant that updated prior RWJF-funded research and compared health care in the United States and Great Britain as well as examined the potential for rationing in this country.

Lawrence Casalino, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Chicago, was quoted in the July 7, 2008, AMNews [30] article, "AMA Meeting: AMA grades health plans on how they handle claims." [31] This article discusses findings from an American Medical Association report card that compares Medicare and commercial payers' administrative precision and efficiency.