Health Affairs DataWatch

Participation Of Academic Scientists In Relationships With Industry [DataWatch]

Zinner, D. E., Bjankovic, D., Clarridge, B., Blumenthal, D., Campbell, E. G. — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:03:47 PST

Relationships between academic researchers and industry have received considerable attention in the past twenty years. However, current data on the prevalence, magnitude, and trends in such relationships are rare. In a mailed survey of 3,080 academic life science researchers conducted in 2007, we found that 52.8 percent have some form of relationship with industry. Life science faculty with industry research support were more productive than faculty without such support on virtually every measure. However, we also found a significant decrease in industry support of university research, which could have major consequences for the academic life science research sector.

Adverse Selection In The Medicare Prescription Drug Program [DataWatch]

Riley, G. F., Levy, J. M., Montgomery, M. A. — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:03:47 PST

The Medicare Part D drug benefit created choices for beneficiaries among many prescription drug plans with varying levels of coverage. As a result, Medicare enrollees with high prescription drug costs have strong incentives to enroll in Part D, especially in plans with more comprehensive coverage. To measure this potential problem of "adverse selection," which could threaten plans’ finances, we compared baseline characteristics among groups of beneficiaries with various drug coverage arrangements in 2006. We found some significant differences. For example, enrollees in stand-alone prescription drug plans, especially in plans offering benefits in the coverage gap, or "doughnut hole," had higher baseline drug costs and worse health than enrollees in Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans. Although risk-adjusted payments and other measures have been put in place to account for selection, these patterns could adversely affect future Medicare costs and should be watched carefully.

Cancer Screening And Age In The United States And Europe [DataWatch]

Howard, D. H., Richardson, L. C., Thorpe, K. E. — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:03:47 PST

We compare cancer screening rates between the United States and Europe. Many European countries have organized screening programs, whereas the U.S. approach is relatively decentralized. Many European countries, unlike the United States, also impose upper age limits on screening. Overall, European screening rates were 22–88 percent of the corresponding U.S. rates. U.S. residents are more likely to be screened at younger ages, when the expected benefit from early detection is the greatest, but also at older ages, when the expected benefit is declining.

Reducing Racial Disparities In Coronary Angiography [DataWatch]

Cantor, J. C., DeLia, D., Tiedemann, A., Stanley, A., Kronebusch, K. — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:02:05 PDT

Racial disparities in cardiac services are well documented; however, policies to close these gaps have not been studied. This paper evaluates a New Jersey certificate-of-need reform to reduce disparities in diagnostic coronary angiography. The number of angiography facilities in New Jersey doubled following reform, and a large black-white disparity was eliminated—a trend not observed in nearby states. Surprisingly, increases in service to African American patients following reform were concentrated in hospitals licensed before reform, while the newly licensed facilities contributed relatively little to reducing disparities. We hypothesize that added hospital competition contributed to the reduction in disparities.

Health Risk Appraisals: How Much Do They Influence Employees' Health Behavior? [DataWatch]

Huskamp, H. A., Rosenthal, M. B. — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:02:05 PDT

Health plans often use health risk appraisals (HRAs) as a starting point in engaging members in behavioral change. We examine characteristics associated with the voluntary completion of HRAs among enrollees in employer-sponsored insurance plans. We compare health care use, costs, and participation in disease management programs for HRA completers and similar enrollees in plans that do not offer an HRA. Women, healthier people, and people in consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) are more likely than others to complete an HRA. Among those who complete an HRA, use of office visits, prescription drugs, and cervical cancer screening increases compared to those who are not offered an HRA.