The Value Initiative
Hospitals are driving value in their communities. Affordable health care is one of the biggest concerns facing families, employers and government, and America’s hospitals are tackling the challenge head on. Through AHA’s The Value Initiative, we are leading the health care field on the issues of affordability and value.
National spending for hospital care grew just 1.9% over the 12 months that ended in September, the lowest rate since September 2011, according to the latest report from Altarum Institute's Center for Sustainable Health Spending. The report also notes a low rate of hospital employment growth for…
The rapidly rising costs of prescription drugs is causing significant financial challenges for patients and their care providers.
Many groups, including the AHA, are evaluating options for addressing this important issue. However, one recent proposal, which is seriously misguided, would reduce a…
A recent study that claims cancer care is more expensive because hospitals are employing more physicians is misleading and does not consider all of the facts.
Today’s New York Times provides arguments from drug companies justifying the excessive jump in pharmaceutical prices in recent years, saying the higher prices won’t impact patients.
A report released last month used commercial claims data from United Healthcare (United), Aetna and Humana to reach a number conclusions about hospital prices and concentration. The paper is badly flawed and the assertions made about hospital market structure and prices, in particular, should be…
A new study out today conflicts head on with an April 2015 study by a leading health care expert and antitrust economist that found “concentration or structure alone is not a meaningful or reliable predictor of price changes.” Both studies relied on commercial data, but the latter had authors who…
More than 20 years ago, Congress created the 340B Drug Pricing Program to allow eligible hospitals and health systems to stretch limited resources and expand access to care for vulnerable patients. But despite a proven track record of increasing patient access to vital medical services and…
Illness or injury is stressful for patients and families, and the added uncertainty around how much care will cost can be overwhelming—especially for patients without insurance. With all that today’s health care system has to offer, health care services can represent a major financial investment—…