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Dear John,

Every month, we will highlight articles, papers, podcasts, and more that were the most read and listened to with our readership.

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Hospital- And Private Equity–Affiliated Specialty Physicians Negotiate Higher Prices Than Independent Physicians ([link removed] )

Alexander P. Philips et al.

As hospitals and private equity firms employ more specialists, commercial prices for key services have risen, adding billions to health care costs.

Private Equity–Owned Hospices Report Highest Profits, Lowest Patient Care Spending Compared With Other Ownership Models ([link removed] )

Alexander Soltoff et al.

PE-owned hospices show lower direct care spending and higher profits, highlighting potential impacts on quality and costs.

Commercial Insurers Paid More For Procedures At Hospital Outpatient Departments Than At Ambulatory Surgical Centers ([link removed] )

Matthew P. Maughan et al.

Site-neutral payment differences between hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers suggest policy action or selective contracting could help contain commercial health care spending.

Read the October Issue
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President Trump’s Executive Orders On Prescription Drug Prices: What The Evidence Says ([link removed] )

Jeromie Ballreich

President Trump’s executive orders on drug pricing highlight opportunities to translate evidence into policies, reducing costs for U.S. patients and programs.

The Unintended Consequences Of The ACA’s Medical Loss Ratio Requirement ([link removed] )

Randolph W. Pate et al.

The medical loss ratio can raise premiums and spending—here’s why and how policy can help.

Damage From Inaction On ACA Tax Credits Has Begun And Will Grow With Further Delays ([link removed] )

Jason Levitis et al.

The expiration of enhanced premium tax credits is already reflected in 2026 premiums and enrollment projections.

Health Benefits In 2025: Family Premiums Rise 6 Percent, Large Employers Increase Coverage Of GLP-1s For Weight Loss ([link removed] )

In an ahead-of-print paper published this month, Gary Claxton and coauthors explore the findings of the twenty-seventh annual KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey.

Among their findings, they identified an increase of 6 percent for family health coverage premiums which resulted in workers paying more towards premiums and deductibles.

The Influence Of Private Equity In Health Care ([link removed] )

Nearly $5 trillion dollars flow through the health care system each year, representing more than 17 percent of the American economy. The figures are only expected to grow.

Rising health care spending may bring challenges for consumers, but ongoing growth also invites entrepreneurs, such as private equity firms, to capitalize on health care’s unique financial opportunities.

Exclusive to Health Affairs Insiders, this new trend report examines the key factors surrounding private equity ownership of hospitals and physician practices.

Become an Insider today ([link removed] ) to get exclusive access to our new trend report.

Read the Report
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Health Affairs This Week: Future of Primary Care: Bright or Broken? w/ Troyen Brennan ([link removed] )

A Health Podyssey: Profits vs. Patient Care: Alexander Soltoff on Private Equity in Hospice Care ([link removed] )

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About Health Affairs

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