health care costs

A VUMC study found that following up with patients within the week after their hospital discharge as a stand-alone intervention has no impact on readmissions, mortality or patient satisfaction.
April 12, 2022

Financial impact of prior authorization

Prior authorization — health insurer approval of a medical intervention prior to treatment — costs more than $40 million for U.S. academic radiation oncology practices, with questionable value added to patient care.

By Leigh MacMillan
January 6, 2022

Study finds sexual minority communities disproportionately engage in behaviors to reduce medication costs

Vanderbilt research finds that individuals from sexual minority populations, including members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer communities, are more likely than heterosexual individuals to engage in behaviors to reduce medication costs.

By Jill Clendening
December 16, 2021

VUMC prepared to comply with No Surprises Act

Vanderbilt University Medical Center will soon deliver treatment cost estimates to all patients who do not provide insurance information when scheduling services three or more days in advance.

By Paul Govern
August 4, 2020

VanderbiltHealth.com launches out-of-pocket cost estimator

The Vanderbilt Health website now features an out-of-pocket cost estimator for many hospital and professional services offered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

By Paul Govern
March 4, 2020

Analysis finds Affordable Care Act has dented health care cost curve

A decade after the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, there is evidence that the landmark health care legislation has contributed to slower growth of U.S. health care spending.

By Jake Lowary
April 25, 2019

Health collaborative helps rural hospitals curb operating costs

Alomere Health, a 99-bed hospital in rural Alexandria, Minnesota, is bucking a trend — thanks in large measure to its participation in the Vanderbilt Health Purchasing Collaborative (VHPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

By Bill Snyder
November 16, 2017

Rounds: A message from the President and CEO of VUMC

Over the year, Congress has repeatedly attempted to “fix” healthcare by altering the funding streams between states and the federal government, as well as to commercial insurers. All of this might lead one to think that Congress is focused on the most important problems facing healthcare.
By VUMC News and Communications
September 21, 2017

New lab formulary improves quality, cuts cost

An effort at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) to enhance clinical decision making through cross-departmental collaboration and effective use of diagnostics has improved patient care and saved the institution more than $1 million in 2016, VUMC officials reported this week.
By Bill Snyder
January 5, 2017

Heart failure “dashboard”

A new computer algorithm developed at Vanderbilt could save billions of dollars in health care costs by identifying patients at risk for readmission after being hospitalized for heart failure.
By Sanjay Mishra
November 2, 2016

Tennessee Poison Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center saved an estimated $8 million in taxpayer Emergency Department costs, study says

By VUMC News and Communications
September 17, 2015

Discovery Lecture explores health care cost controls

“There’s no magic bullet” to control rising health care costs in the United States, health law expert Timothy Jost, J.D., said during last week’s Flexner Discovery Lecture.
By Leigh MacMillan