Business Intelligence
Economic boost also included more than 160,000 jobs, with average worker drawing roughly $82,000 in salary, benefits.
Numerous Kaiser plans score high marks, while Tenet and Health Care Services plans among low scorers.
Forty-three percent of returning consumers to the federal government's online exchange, healthcare.gov, switched policies last year.
Health Affairs authors stress the importance of looking beyond ideological divides, seizing opportunities to work with existing laws, draft new ones.
2014 legislation was successful in requiring hospitals to set up antibiotic stewardship programs to prevent overuse, but no tracking.
The new providers will initially get $5.5 million for recruitment and infrastructure, with potential for additional first-year funds, NIH says.
Industry watchdog is calling on CMS to allow insurers even more flexibility and to expand the pilot program to all states.
30 percent of all health spending, $750 billion, is wasted on fraud, administration and needless procedures, estimate says.
The accidental health app bested other tools in engaging patients who stand to benefit most.
Specific excise taxes based on a percentage of retail price reduce the incentive to switch down to cheaper options, WHO says.