March 2017 (Volume 95)

Original Investigation

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  Featured Article

  Beyond Health Insurance: Remaining Disparities in US Health Care in the Post-ACA Era

  Benjamin D. Sommers, Caitlin L. McMurtry, Robert J. Blendon, John M. Benson, Justin M. Sayde

  While the Affordable Care Act reduced the number of uninsured Americans to historic lows and has particularly benefited lower-income families and minorities, insurance expansion on its own was not enough to bring about health care equity. Researchers found that lack of health insurance only explains a small to moderate portion of the disparities in health care access, affordability, and quality. Read more

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  Treating, Fast and Slow: Americans’ Understanding of and Responses to Low-Value Care

  Mark Schlesinger, Rachel Grob

  When it comes to medical care, patients and the public often think that more is better. Yet, it’s well-documented that as much as 30% of US health care may be unnecessary, including tests that are used too often and treatments that are prescribed too quickly. This study offers fresh insight into how Americans think about “value” in health care. Read more

• Information Blocking: Is It Occurring and What Policy Strategies Can Address It?

  Julia Adler-Milstein, Eric Pfeifer

• Measuring, Reporting, and Rewarding Quality of Care in 5 Nations: 5 Policy Levers to Enhance Hospital Quality Accountability

  Christoph Pross, Alexander Geissler, Reinhard Busse

• Value-Based Physician Payment in Oncology: Public and Private Insurer Initiatives

  James C. Robinson