Healthgrades report ranks hospitals for specialty care
More than 200,000 lives could potentially have been saved if all hospitals had performed at a five-star level, according to new data from Healthgrades, an online resource for individuals looking for a doctor or hospital.
The organization recently ranked hospitals on their specialty care and announced the hospitals awarded for their clinical excellence.
“Our specialty awards highlight top-performing hospitals across medical specialties, empowering consumers to find high quality care for their unique needs," said Brad Bowman, M.D., chief medical officer and head of data science at Healthgrades, in a statement. “Doing your research ahead of time and understanding where you can find high quality care can positively impact your health care journey and overall experience.”
Evaluating and ranking hospital performance is critical to close the gap between the top performing hospitals and the one-star rated hospitals, noted Healthgrades.
This year’s findings especially underscore this growing gap, with Healthgrades’ data revealing that 224,958 lives could potentially have been saved between 2021 and 2023 if all hospitals had performed at a five-star level. Further, 141,692 complications could potentially have been avoided.
For the rankings, the company measured hospitals’ performance across 18 specialty areas and determined the highest-ranking hospitals across 31 eligible states. Click here for a complete list of the rankings as well as Healthgrades’ Specialty Excellence Awards.
CDC data shows drop in youth tobacco use yet persistent disparities
Tobacco use among U.S. middle and high school students has dropped to the lowest level in 25 years, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
From 2023 to 2024, an estimated 550,000 fewer middle school and high school students are using tobacco products. In 2024, 2.25 million middle and high school students reported current tobacco use (of any tobacco product), compared to 2.80 million in 2023. The CDC says the drop is largely driven by the decline in e-cigarette use (which has dropped from 1.56 million to 1.21 million). This is the lowest measure ever measured by the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS).
While the significant decline is encouraging, the data showed persistent disparities are still at play, with the data showing American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) students reported the highest prevalence of current use of any tobacco products, of e-cigarettes, and of multiple tobacco products. Additionally, while tobacco use declined for Hispanic students and remained stable for all other racial and ethnic groups from 2023 to 2024, it increased among AI/AN students.
"Reaching a 25-year low for youth tobacco product use is an extraordinary milestone for public health. However, with more than 2 million youth using tobacco products and certain groups not experiencing declines in use, our mission is far from complete," said Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, in a statement. "We must remain committed to public health efforts to ensure all youth can live healthy, tobacco-free lives."
Better Medicare Alliance launches supplemental benefits database
Better Medicare Alliance announced this week its new database of research on Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI).
The Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Database serves as an interactive online tool for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and stakeholders to access an extensive database of articles and evidence related to core SSBCI. The database aims to support the MA research community in identifying gaps in literature and broaden the base of evidence on the impact of non-medical interventions on overall health and wellbeing, explained the alliance.
Users can search the database from a range of categories, such as food and produce, meals, indoor air quality equipment and services, pest control, structural home modifications, social needs benefits, transportation for non-medical needs, complementary therapies, and more.
“As Medicare Advantage increasingly serves more diverse, medically complex, and at-risk beneficiaries, Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill play a crucial role in supporting these high-need populations,” said Mary Beth Donahue, president and CEO of Better Medicare Alliance, in a statement. “This tool will help fill research gaps and ensure that these innovative benefits continue to improve the lives of chronically ill beneficiaries.”