ScienceDaily: Funding Policy News

Saving money on medical costs: Slowdown in health care spending growth could save Americans $770 billion

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:16:16 EDT

A slowdown in the growth of US health care costs could mean that Americans could save as much as $770 billion on Medicare spending over the next decade, economists say. The slowdown, researchers say, is the result of a decline in the development of new drugs and technologies and increased efficiency in the health care system. If those trends continue, government estimates of health care spending could be off by hundreds of billions.

Economic downturn affecting wellbeing of 'asset rich, cash poor' older people

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:24:24 EDT

The economic downturn is having a marked impact on the wellbeing of ‘asset rich, cash poor’ older people, researchers have found.

Study reveals alcohol industry tactics to influence alcohol policy reform in Scotland

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:27:27 EDT

The alcohol industry misrepresented international evidence on effective alcohol control measures in an attempt to influence the Scottish Government's public health policy to its advantage, according to new research.

Patients with surgical complications provide greater hospital profit-margins

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:18:18 EDT

Privately insured surgical patients with a complication provided hospitals with a 330 percent higher profit margin than those without a complication, report researchers. Medicare patients with a complication produced a 190 percent higher margin. For hospitals, reducing surgical complications may mean reduced financial performance.

Escalating cost of forest conservation

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

In the face of unprecedented deforestation and biodiversity loss, policy makers are increasingly using financial incentives to encourage conservation.

National study of scientist-educators reveals surprises in training, funding

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:23:23 EDT

The first large-scale study of US science faculty with education specialties concludes that their training and funding vary considerably depending on their college or university.

Individual donation amounts drop when givers are in groups

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:17:17 EDT

An anthropologist recently found that even when multiple individuals can contribute to a common cause, the presence of others reduces an individual's likelihood of helping.

Seemingly small research funding cuts could hinder progress in nanotechnology

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:20:20 EDT

Cuts in federal funding of nanotechnology research threaten to slow progress toward some of the field’s greatest promises, including commercialization of sustainable new energy sources that do not contribute to global warming, an international authority in the field cautioned here today.

Vermont's health care reform has lessons for other states

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EDT

Vermont’s aggressive health care reform initiatives can serve as a roadmap for other states, according to new research.

Rewarding groups for losing weight more effective than rewarding individuals

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:13:13 EDT

A multi-institution study has found that tying financial incentives to group weight loss led to significantly greater weight loss than cash awards based on an individual's success in losing weight on his or her own.

Cash for weight loss? Works better when employees compete for pots of money

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:13:13 EDT

Do cash rewards for healthier habits work? Maybe, says a new study, if you add on one more condition -- peer pressure. A growing number of companies are offering employees an opportunity to boost earning power at work via cash incentives to stay healthy. Under the Affordable Care Act, employers will soon be able to offer even larger financial incentives to prod healthy lifestyle behaviors among their workforce, such as quitting smoking and losing weight. But people who are offered money for weight loss may be much more successful when awards are based on a group's performance -- rather than just their own -- according to the new research.

Conservationists call for radical change to ‘war on poaching’

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:50:50 EDT

Widespread extinction of highly endangered and valued species will occur without a radical change to the way the wildlife trade is being handled across the world, according to conservation scientists.

'Marshall Plan' for African wildlife?

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:34:34 EST

African lions and villagers would benefit from fences to protect them from each other, according to a new study.

Heart attack rates rise with plunging GDP in Greece's financial crisis

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:44:44 EST

Heart attack rates have spiked in Greece since the start of the country's financial crisis, especially among women and residents older than 45, according to a new study.

Money talks when it comes to losing weight

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:29:29 EST

Weight loss study participants who received financial incentives were more likely to stick with a weight loss program and lost more weight than study participants who received no incentives, according to new research.

When we have a low opinion of someone, we tend to reject their money, study finds

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:03:03 EST

Research done in Spain, Germany and the UK has demonstrated that when we have a low opinion of somebody, we are more likely to reject their money, even though the offer is attractive, because the social information we have on that person influences our decision. Furthermore, people are prepared to even lose money rather than accept it from those they do not hold in high consideration.

'Prevent death' message more effective than 'save life' in blood donation campaigns

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:11:11 EST

Subtle changes in messaging can have a profound impact on the effectiveness of charitable messages such as calls for blood donations, according to new research.

Intrusive advising boosts student persistence, class performance

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:40:40 EST

Researcher found that getting intrusive could increase student support at universities. The researcher examined intrusive advising -- working with at-risk students to identify challenges and solutions to overcome them -- in residence halls.

Saving money by using electric vehicles

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:30:30 EST

High battery costs still prevent many people from buying an electric vehicle. Is it possible to save money by using an electric vehicle instead of a conventional reference car? This question is studied by the companies of Michelin and Siemens in cooperation with research partners at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI.

How a fall in duck hunting is shooting a financial hole into conservation efforts

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:41:41 EST

The annual duck hunting season in the United States is traditionally big business, but while bird numbers are rising faster than they have for decades, the number of hunters continues to fall. Far from being good news for ducks a new study shows how the loss of revenue from ‘duck stamps’ could result in millions of lost dollars for vital conservation work.

Study finds incentive price for reducing HIV risk in Mexico

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST

With a goal to reduce HIV risk behaviors, researchers investigated whether gay men and male sex workers in Mexico City would participate in a conditional cash transfer program that encourages HIV prevention education and regular testing. A new study reports the price that would get more than 75 percent participation: $288 a year.

New model to determine lifetime spending

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:40:40 EST

New research shows new, more effective ways to plan for retirement.

Researchers in U.S. may have received millions in duplicate funding, analysis suggests

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:22:22 EST

Funding agencies may be paying out duplicate grants, according to a new analysis. The study points to the possibility millions of dollars in funding may have been used inappropriately.

Lessons of the 1953 East Coast of England flood disaster

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:13:13 EST

Sixty years ago, on 31 January and 1 February 1953, over 300 people died in flooding on the East Coast of England. Recent research has found that the Cabinet partly funded the response to avoid blame and further requests for funding.

Safeguards needed for tissue donors

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:39:39 EST

Donors to biobanks -- vast collections of human tissue samples that scientists hope will lead to new treatments for diseases -- have a right to basic information about how their donations may be used, an ethicist argues in a new article.

Parents' financial help linked to lower college GPAs, higher graduation rates

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 19:01:01 EST

A new study found that college students' GPAs decreased with increased financial support from their parents. The study also found that students with financial aid from their parents were more likely to complete college and earn a degree.

Ways to improve quality of care measurement from electronic health records identified

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:35:35 EST

Health care providers and hospitals are being offered up to $27 billion in federal financial incentives to use electronic health records (EHRs) in ways that demonstrably improve the quality of care. The incentives are based, in part, on the ability to electronically report clinical quality measures. By 2014, providers nationwide in the U.S. will be expected to document and report care electronically, and by 2015, they will face financial penalties if they don't meaningfully use EHRs.

Physical therapy in the intensive care unit is better for patients and the hospital's bottom line

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:38:38 EST

In a study evaluating the financial impact of providing early physical therapy for intensive care patients, researchers found that the up-front costs are outweighed by the financial savings generated by earlier discharges from the intensive care unit and shorter hospital stays overall.

New report: The reach and impact of mathematical sciences

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:17:17 EST

The Mathematical Sciences in 2025, a new report from the U.S. National Research Council, finds that the mathematical sciences are an increasingly integral component of many disciplines -- including biology, medicine, the social sciences, business, advanced design, and climate studies.

Black and Hispanic patients less likely to complete substance abuse treatment than white patients, study finds

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:14:14 EST

Roughly half of all black and Hispanic patients who enter publicly funded alcohol treatment programs do not complete treatment, compared to 62 percent of white patients, according to a new study from a team of researchers including the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Comparable disparities were also identified for drug treatment program completion rates.

Affordable Care Act's impact on uncompensated care

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 13:02:02 EST

The decision by several states not to expand Medicaid health insurance for the poor may create unintended cuts for hospitals that provide uncompensated care, according to a new study.

Data on financial crime is not credible, UK research finds

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:31:31 EST

The UK Government and police efforts to tackle financial crime -- from business fraud to tax evasion -- are hampered by a lack of accurate data about the nature and extent of offending, according to new research.

Long-term public health support needed to tackle infectious disease outbreaks

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:32:32 EST

Outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as swine flu (H1N1) threaten global health and should be considered by funding agencies and humanitarian organizations as development issues rather than emergency situations, requiring long-term support and investment, according to U.S. experts.

Breakthrough medical research relies heavily on NIH funding

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:16:16 EST

A new survey, representing responses from 1,040 abstract presenters at a recent conference from the US and abroad, demonstrates how critical NIH funding has been to the success of science and medicine.

National disagreement over NASA's goals and objectives detrimental to agency planning

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:24:24 EST

Without a national consensus on strategic goals and objectives for NASA, the agency cannot be expected to establish or work toward achieving long-term priorities, says a new report.

From rabbits in Congo, a jump in kids' health

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:17:17 EST

For children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rabbits are more than furry pets. They are symbol of resilience as the basis of a microfinance program aimed at improving youth health and social outcomes.

Federal government and Big Pharma seen as increasingly diminished source of research funding

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:09:09 EST

In a new commentary, experts predict an ever-diminishing role for government and drug company funding of basic biomedical research and suggest scientists look to "innovative" kinds of private investment for future resources. Current negotiations in Washington over sequestration and the so-called "fiscal cliff" provide an opportunity to fundamentally rethink the funding of biomedical research, they say.

Exploring the financial costs of sadness

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:32:32 EST

Your emotions can certainly impact your decisions, but you might be surprised by the extent to which your emotions affect your pocketbook. New research explores how impatience brought on by sadness can in turn produce substantial financial loss.

'Dirty money' affects spending habits, new study finds

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:38:38 EST

Looks matter -- even when it comes to money. A new study has found that currency's physical appearance dramatically affects consumer behavior.

'Coca-Cola' model for delivering malaria meds is a success, should be continued, say public health experts

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:22:22 EST

A private-market approach to bringing affordable malaria treatments to people in Africa has increased access to care.

Loser-pays-all rule in criminal cases could work for wealthy defendants

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:04:04 EST

Adopting a loser-pays-all rule for criminal litigation would likely be feasible only if the rule applied to defendants who are wealthy, says a study.

Long-term sea level rise in Washington, D.C. could have significant impact

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:49:49 EDT

The U.S. capital is likely to face flooding and infrastructure damage in both the short- and long-term brought about by sea level rise (SLR), current trends and predicted increases suggest. The rise is linked to thermal expansion of the oceans and melting of global ice sheets as a result of global warming, researchers say in a new study focused on real-estate property and government infrastructure impacts in Washington, D.C.

Seniors particularly vulnerable in Hurricane Sandy's aftermath

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:55:55 EDT

Older adults left in the wake of Hurricane Sandy will likely suffer disproportionately in the days ahead, based on data from other recent natural disasters.

Transforming America by redirecting wasted health care dollars

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 14:32:32 EDT

It's estimated that $750 billion is lost each year to wasteful or excessive health care spending. If those wasteful costs could be corralled without sacrificing health care quality, say researchers, how could that money be better spent?

Scientists seek national wildlife conservation network

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:31:31 EDT

Wildlife conservation efforts in the United States are facing habitat loss, climate change and major reductions in funding. To address these threats, a group of prominent wildlife biologists and policy experts is recommending the formation of a state-based national conservation-support network.

NASA must reinvest in nanotechnology research, according to new paper

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:17:17 EDT

The United States may lose its leadership role in space to other countries unless it makes research and development funding and processes a renewed and urgent priority, according to a new paper.

Evidence does not support three-strikes law as crime deterrent, California study finds

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:24:24 EDT

Contrary to what police, politicians and the public believe, research by a University of California, Riverside criminologist has found that the state's three-strikes law has done nothing to reduce the crime rate.

Men's views of abortion depend more on social class and circumstances than on fixed beliefs, interviews reveal

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:23:23 EDT

Interviews of unmarried men living with female partners revealed that their opinions on whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy were more dependent on financial and personal circumstances than on moral views about abortion.

Electronic health records shown to improve the quality of patient care

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:12:12 EDT

A new study provides compelling evidence that commercially available electronic health records are associated with better physician performance.

Economic abuse affects maternal mental health, parenting

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:13:13 EDT

Mothers who experience economic and psychological abuse during the first year of a relationship with their child's father are more likely to become depressed and spank the child in year five, researchers have found.

New analysis of U.S. presidential candidates' health care plans estimates uninsured by 2022

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:28:28 EDT

The number of uninsured individuals is estimated to increase in every state and to 72 million nationwide -- with children and low- and middle-income Americans particularly hard hit -- under Governor Mitt Romney's plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with block grants to states for Medicaid and new tax incentives, according to a new report.

Restricting nuclear power has little effect on the cost of climate policies

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:19:19 EDT

By applying a global energy-economy computer simulation that fully captures the competition between alternative power supply technologies, a team of scientists analyzed trade-offs between nuclear and climate policies. Strong greenhouse-gas emissions reduction to mitigate global warming shows to have much larger impact on economics than nuclear policy, according to the study.

Patient-led advocacy has changed how U.S. Government funds medical research

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 08:33:33 EDT

Patient-led advocacy has created a shift in the way the U.S. government has prioritized funding for medical research, and significantly changed the way policymakers think about who benefits the most from these dollars, according to a new study.

Dollars for donors: Many support financial incentives to encourage organ donation

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:43:43 EDT

Most Canadians view financial incentives for deceased kidney donation to be acceptable, according to a new study. Nearly half of the general public in Canada also find it acceptable for living kidney donation. Studies are now needed to determine whether acceptability of financial incentives translates to more available organs to patients in critical need of a transplant.

Large donors are forcing the World Health Organization to reform, expert says

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:14:14 EDT

The current practice of large donors is forcing the World Health Organization and the World Bank to reflect on how to reform to remain more appealing to the wider set of stakeholders and interests at play, according to a new article.

Population aging will have long-term implications for economy

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:39:39 EDT

The aging of the US population will have broad economic consequences for the country, particularly for federal programs that support the elderly, and its long-term effects on all generations will be mediated by how -- and how quickly -- the nation responds, says a new congressionally mandated report.

Survival of safety-net hospitals at risk

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:56:56 EDT

Many public safety-net hospitals are likely to face increasing financial and competitive pressures stemming in part from the recent Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, according to researchers.

U.S. cities still cutting jobs and infrastructure, expert finds

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:43:43 EDT

For the sixth straight year, city revenues around the United States dropped in 2011, as costs of health care, pensions and infrastructure rose, says a public administration and infrastructure expert.

With food insecurity rising in US, SNAP benefits should be left alone

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:59:59 EDT

In a time of record-high food insecurity rates in the US, cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (the former Food Stamp Program) is the wrong approach to fighting hunger, says a professor of agricultural and consumer economics.

Under the influence: Reminders of money impact consumer decision-making

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:53:53 EDT

When reminded of money (not cost), consumers are more likely to evaluate a new product based on its primary features or brand name, according to a new study.