Advancing the Economics of Palliative Care: The Value to Individuals and Families, Organizations, and Society
A palliative care research agenda can help lay the foundation for building a strong evidence base to guide public policies meant to advance affordable, equitable, high-quality, patient-centered care.
Reducing Racial Disparities in Early Cancer Diagnosis With Blood-Based Tests
A new white paper published by the USC Schaeffer Center focuses on multi-cancer, early detection, (MCED) blood-based tests as one solution to reduce disparities in late-stage cancer diagnosis among minority populations.
COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates for School and Work Are Sound Public Policy
A new Schaeffer Center white paper finds that vaccine mandates for employees and students is an effective policy solution to ensure the U.S. reaches herd immunity and avoids future outbreaks.
Using a Digital Neuro Signature to Measure Longitudinal Individual-Level Change in Alzheimer’s Disease: The Altoida Large cohort Study
Conventional neuropsychological assessments for Alzheimer’s disease are burdensome and inaccurate at detecting mild cognitive impairment and predicting Alzheimer’s disease risk.
Experts at Schaeffer-Aspen Webinar Discuss Modernizing Health Technology Assessment in the U.S.
The U.S. does not have a coordinated process to evaluate the effectiveness and value of new devices, medicines or procedures. Schaeffer Center and the Aspen Institute hosted a panel discussion on the viability of an Institute of Health Technology Assessment.
Disparate Aging: The Role of Education and Socioeconomic Gradients in Future Health and Disability in an International Context
If on one side ageing is driven by biological changes, on the other side the ageing itself reflects the accumulated effects of one’s exposure to a history of external risks, and can further be influenced by social changes, such as isolation and loss of loved ones.
Palliative Care Works, So Why Is It Rarely Used? Follow the Money
Schaeffer Center expert Mireille Jacobson co-authored an op-ed in STAT examining why hospitals and health systems are not investing in palliative care despite research showing this type of therapy substantially improves outcomes for patients with serious illness.
The Economics of Alternative Payment Models for Pharmaceuticals
Schaeffer Center experts show how specific market inefficiencies create a role for different value-based pricing structures for pharmaceuticals.
2020 Schaeffer Center Annual Report
Every aspect of the Schaeffer Center’s work drives innovation. Our scholars ceaselessly explore cutting-edge ways to maximize the value of healthcare while also enhancing affordability to expand its reach. The spread of COVID-19 over this past year served as a reminder of how vital this research truly is, as we developed viable strategies for testing…
Blood-Based Multicancer Tests Could Help Reduce Racial and Socioeconomic Cancer Health Disparities
Out of the 1.3 million individuals between the ages of 50-79 who are diagnosed with cancer, only 15% of those cases will be caught early. Aspen Institute and USC Schaeffer Center partnered for an expert discussion on early detection technologies.
Election Polls Are More Accurate if They ask Participants How Others Will Vote
Traditional polls ask people whom they would vote for if the election were today, or for the percent chance that they might vote for particular candidates. But asking people about the political preferences of social circles and communities might yield more accurate results.
Understanding The Latest ACO “Savings”: Curb Your Enthusiasm And Sharpen Your Pencils—Part 2
In this post, the authors lay out key considerations for improving the MSSP over the long haul with the objective of helping get a repeatedly derailed conversation back on track.
Understanding The Latest ACO “Savings”: Curb Your Enthusiasm And Sharpen Your Pencils—Part 1
Did the MSSP save Medicare $1.2 billion in 2019? No—not even close. Might the true net savings be close to zero? Quite possibly.
Kimberly Narain, MD, PhD, MPH, DABOM
Dr. Kimberly Narain is a primary care/internal medicine physician and obesity medicine specialist with expertise in health disparities, health policy and health services research. She uses advanced quantitative methods to identify structural factors (health insurance benefit, healthcare delivery system, socioeconomic policy and work structure design) underlying racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence and treatment…
Surprise Medical Bills Increase Costs for Everyone, Not Just for the People Who Get Them
About 12% of insurers’ U.S. spending on in- and out-of-network medical care goes to six types of providers that commonly submit surprise bills.
Sharing Drug Rebates With Medicare Part D Patients: Why And How
The percentage of total Medicare Part D drug spending offset by rebates on branded drugs increased from 11% in 2010 to 25% in 2018.
After Decades of Disappointment, a Turning Point Is Visible in Alzheimer’s Treatment
The USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy hosted a webinar featuring national thought leaders to examine hopeful signs in clinical development and policy that will ensure access to treatments and diagnostics.
Key Barriers for Clinical Trials for Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) clinical trials are more complicated, costly, and slower than trials for other diseases. Addressing barriers would accelerate the approval of innovative therapies.
How Can We Leverage Healthcare AI While Ensuring Data Privacy and Security?
AI will not resolve existing challenges, but once regulators and innovators address them, it may provide suitable tools to deliver high-quality care at a lower cost.
The Value of Treatment for COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed significant and far-reaching health and economic costs. This white paper models and monetizes the health-related benefits of two hypothetical treatments administered either before or after hospitalization; both generate substantial value.