Studies Examine Impact of Federal and State Policies on Health Costs and Utilization

Lab leaders often read about national and state policies. But effects of them may be harder to discover. The Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) was motivated to find answers. Six recently released research reports—ranging from cancer treatment spending and nurse practitioners to opioid use and more—show impact of national and state policies on health care costs and utilization, an HCCI statement pointed out. For labs, the information is significant because it suggests the importance of developing testing services that are of the greatest value to payers, physicians and patients.

Studies were conducted by independent researchers using HCCI’s claims data for more than 50 million people insured by Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthCare. HCCI used the claims data to develop six studies about health insurance and impact of new policies. Of the six reports, the topics of consolidation effects on cancer costs and use of nurse practitioners in primary care may be of most interest to lab leaders. Consolidation among providers drives up cancer treatment spending, according to a University of Chicago analysis. Findings include: consolidation among outpatient oncology providers and hospitals intensified during 2010 and 2011; greater provider consolidation results in increased spending on outpatient prescription drug-based cancer treatment; driving the rise are facility fees hospital outpatient departments charge payers. For further discussion of the study reports, see the March 24, 2016 issue of National Intelligence Report.