Abdominal pain represents the most common complaint for older people who come to the emergency department, bringing in 1.4 million individuals every year. Previous research found racial differences in imaging utilization for abdominal pain in one hospital emergency department. A new study confirmed racial differences across the country in what was the first nationwide analysis […]| Penn LDI
Medicare will launch a new – and mandatory – bundled payment model, the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), in 2026. The model will randomly select hospitals to participate, with episode-based payments for five surgical conditions: lower extremity joint replacement, spinal fusion, hip fracture, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and major bowel procedures. Given that Medicare […]| Penn LDI
More older people are being diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) even as the treatment system often fails to help them. That’s the view of two LDI Senior Fellows who see these patients turning up…| Penn LDI
This op-ed was posted on August 13, 2025 by Philadelphia Citizen. The legalization of recreational marijuana remains unapproved in Pennsylvania even as various leaders up to the Governor circulate proposals to change that. But make no mistake. De facto legalization has already begun, and we need a better mental health system to treat the health problems that are already […]| Penn LDI
Every fall, a new bevy of TV ads hits the airwaves, using celebrities to hawk Medicare Advantage plans. Those ads have helped make MA plans the top choice for most seniors, surpassing traditional Medicare. MA’s market share – 26 percent in 2010 — more than doubled to 54 percent of beneficiaries by 2024. Yet MA […]| Penn LDI
Safety net hospital funding from federal, state, and local governments relies on definitions that yield highly variable results.| Penn LDI
Improving health and reducing health disparities through a more equitable health care system.| Penn LDI
Hoag Levins is a journalist, photographer, and digital content producer who joined Penn LDI in 2011.| Penn LDI
Chris Tachibana is a Staff Writer for Penn LDI. She is also Senior Managing Editor of the journal Health Services Research.| Penn LDI