June 2021

In the news IHPI members making headlines

Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2021 could pay thousands of dollars, study suggests Most health insurance companies voluntarily waived co-pays, deductibles, and other cost-sharing for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in 2020, but many major insurers lifted those waivers in early 2021. Based on data from patients hospitalized for COVID-19 last year, a new study led by Kao-Ping Chua, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, suggests a lack of waivers in 2021 could mean bills of about $3,800 for people with job-related or self-purchased insurance, and $1,500 for people with Medicare Advantage plans.  Read More

Poll finds risky drinking patterns in older adults during pandemic While drinking alcohol is a source of enjoyment for many older adults, it can also pose health risks. The U-M National Poll on Healthy Aging asked older adults about their alcohol use and reasons for drinking. Two in three adults age 50–80 (67%) reported drinking alcohol at least occasionally in the past year.  Read the Report

POLL EXTRA One-third of older Americans delayed health care over COVID concerns

Many surgery patients get opioid prescriptions who don’t need to, study suggests

Treating post-surgery pain with non-opioid pain medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, didn’t lead to higher pain levels or more serious issues during recovery, and didn’t dampen patients’ satisfaction with their care, according to new results from a study of more than 22,000 patients who had one of seven common operations at 70 hospitals. Read More

CQIs in Motion: Smokers needed angioplasty and stenting a decade before non-smokers

Smokers needed their blocked arteries fixed nearly a decade earlier than non-smokers, and patients with obesity underwent these procedures four years earlier than non-obese patients, according to a new study. The research included patients without a history of heart attack who were treated at hospitals across Michigan participating in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium, a Collaborative Quality Initiative. Read More

1 in 6 families in new study spent more than $5,000 to have a baby Financial penalties not associated with improvements in quality of outpatient dialysis centers

Quality improvement project reduced excessive radiation treatments for bone metastases by 80% A better approach to caring for cirrhosis

Nearly half of COVID-19 patients left hospital in worse physical condition

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Experts answer common questions about COVID-19 vaccines Two IHPI experts, Payal Patel, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of internal medicine, and Diane Harper, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., professor of family medicine, answered commonly asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccines via a streamed video.

RELATED While millions of people have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine so far, U-M experts answer lingering questions for those who remain hesitant

COVID-19 hospital network led by Michigan Medicine shares key lessons to improve care Since April 2020, a 40-hospital network has made it possible to collect, analyze and share data from thousands of COVID patients, and apply the findings almost immediately in hospitals across the state. According to findings presented in a recent public webinar, the MiCOVID-19 Initiative, part of the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, has reduced variations in COVID-19 care in Michigan, thereby contributing to a lower risk of death for hospitalized patients. Read More

Intervention in the emergency room with Dr. Carter Patrick Carter, M.D., associate professor of emergency medicine and co-director of the new U-M Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, joined a special series of Michigan Minds focused on firearm injury prevention research. Carter discussed his work on using the emergency department as a venue for intervention, decreasing injury outcomes and preventing risky firearm behaviors among youth. Read More & Listen

About IHPI The Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation is committed to improving the quality, safety, equity, and affordability of healthcare services. To carry out our ambitious mission, our efforts are focused in four areas: Evaluating the impact of healthcare reforms Improving the health of communities Promoting greater value in healthcare Innovating in health IT and healthcare delivery Spread the Word! Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Please email [email protected] to be added to our mailing list. Follow IHPI ‌ ‌ ‌ Contact Us U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 16 Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Christina Camilli-Whisenhunt Communications Director [email protected] 734-764-9782   Kara Gavin Research and Policy Media Relations Manager [email protected]  734-764-2220 Meghan Petiprin  Communications Specialist [email protected]