Health Economics

Is Medicare Advantage still attracting the healthiest seniors? 🏥 New research shows a shift: Since 2017, MA enrollees actually have 5-6% higher predicted costs than Traditional Medicare. The driver? A growing share of dual-eligible enrollees. tinyurl.com/2ef6v8e8

Like father, like son? 🍺 New research shows alcohol habits are passed down—but primarily through same-sex lines. 📈 Mother-daughter & Father-son links are strongest. 🕒 Influence peaks at ages 15-17 & re-emerges at 28–37. tinyurl.com/ycxsuh3u

Is aging really what drives rising hospital spending? 🏥 New evidence shows a more nuanced story: the “steepening” effect explains ~60% of growth, while the time-to-death effect offsets ~19%. Demographics matter, but not in the way many assumed. tinyurl.com/5n85886e

A simple behavioral nudge can significantly improve opioid safety. In a randomized trial, reminder cards increased the return of unused opioids by 52% and reduced program cost per pill returned by ~25%. tinyurl.com/vvahcb9e

Legalizing online sports betting may carry hidden public health costs. New evidence shows a ~10% rise in binge drinking among young men after legalization—driven by more frequent episodes among existing binge drinkers, not new drinkers. tinyurl.com/5ykmw8fu

Does feedback improve health preference surveys? 🧪 A new study finds mixed effects: some respondents become more consistent, yet 71% stick with their original choices after feedback. Are surveys guiding respondents — or nudging them? tinyurl.com/ydr2htsb

How does the law change how your doctor treats you? 🏥⚖️ New research shows that when malpractice "duty of care" is judged by national standards, MDs are slower to adopt new medical innovations—until they become the national norm. tinyurl.com/3ehx259c

📘 Now out: Health Economics, Volume 35, Issue 4 (April 2026). This issue explores labor markets and health, insurance design, physician incentives, and the fiscal trade-offs shaping health systems worldwide. Browse the latest research: tinyurl.com/4kvxpekb

Why pay for more treatments when we should pay for better health? 🏥 New research proposes a model for rewarding actual health gains using Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). 📉➡️📈 Let's shift the focus to value, not just volume. tinyurl.com/kry3yvty

Stricter abortion clinic regulations were associated with a 6.6% decline in OB/GYN supply — about 2 fewer doctors per 100,000 women of reproductive age. New research in Health Economics. tinyurl.com/4v5xajtj

Do free prescription drugs change behavior? Evidence from Poland shows that removing out-of-pocket costs increased prescription use and reduced financial burden, with limited signs of offsetting overuse. tinyurl.com/yc4fdprc

The March 2026 issue of Health Economics explores how policy, institutions, and early-life conditions shape health over the life course—from primary care access and income gradients to pandemics, tax credits, and intergenerational effects. tinyurl.com/4kvxpekb

New research from Kenya: Giving a mother just 1 extra year of education reduces her child’s risk of stunting by 3.8% and underweight by 2.6%. 📚🇰🇪 It’s not just a correlation — it’s a causal "intergenerational lift." 📈 tinyurl.com/3bu4f825

Expanding prescription drug coverage can reduce severe antimicrobial resistance. New research shows Medicare Part D led to 42.4 fewer AMR-related hospitalizations per 100k people. 📉 Improved access = timely treatment = fewer severe infections. tinyurl.com/mrx9tmv8

Public investment in global health research can pay off — locally. New evidence shows that returning African scientists trained through @NIH programs boost HIV research, grants, trials, and policy impact at home. tinyurl.com/259rxc3t

New evidence from Japan shows that voluntary staying at home during COVID-19 was linked to increased suicide among young women. The effects appear driven by home confinement rather than infection risk. tinyurl.com/3d2d3hm4

How do insurers respond when patients face multiple health risks? Evidence from Chile’s private health system shows strong asymmetric information across risks, shaping premiums, plan design, and who gets covered. tinyurl.com/26s93chm

Is European health progress truly "fair"? 🌍 New data shows income-based health looks progressive, but when you factor in parental background and job status, the trend reverses. 📉 🏥 Italy leads in favorable dynamics. 🚻 Women lead in IT/DE; men in FI. tinyurl.com/yj8wh4vw

Countries spend billions subsidizing fossil fuels, often at health’s expense. New cross-country evidence shows higher fossil fuel subsidies are linked to lower health spending. Climate policy is health policy. tinyurl.com/36ec52z5

China’s Zero-Markup Drug Policy reshaped prescribing incentives. New evidence shows doctors’ choices respond far more to hospital profit margins than patient prices—cutting costs and improving patient welfare. tinyurl.com/5yxymscm