Chris Tachibana

Copenhagen, Seattle

Science Writer and Editor at Freelance

Even the best research gets better with a diligent editor. Grateful to work for @KPWaResearch, @HSR_HRET. A lot of tweets will be about #GOTV, though 😼 she/her

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Articles

Cardiologists May Hesitate to Treat Sicker Patients

1 week ago | ldi.upenn.edu | Chris Tachibana

For patients with heart attacks caused by blocked blood vessels to the heart, the recommended treatment is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This minimally invasive procedure opens obstructed arteries by inserting a balloon or stent. To support informed patient decision-making and promote quality improvement, death rates after PCI are reported to state and national registries.
Health Services Research | AcademyHealth & HRET Journal | Wiley Online Library

1 month ago | onlinelibrary.wiley.com | Austin Frakt |Chris Tachibana

Data Availability Statement The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
Chart of the Day: Health Care Profits Increasingly Support Shareholder Payouts

1 month ago | ldi.upenn.edu | Chris Tachibana |Miles Meline

Payouts to shareholders from large, for-profit, publicly traded health care companies totaled $2.6 trillion from 2001 through 2022, LDI Senior Fellow Victor Roy and colleagues report. Over this period, the number of corporations in the study sample in a given year doubled, from 30 to about 60, but payouts increased more than 300%, from $54 billion in 2001 to more than $170 billion in 2022 (Figure 1). “Only 19 companies—20% of our sample—were responsible for 80% of this activity,” Roy said.
Health Services Research | AcademyHealth & HRET Journal | Wiley Online Library

2 months ago | onlinelibrary.wiley.com | Austin Frakt |Chris Tachibana

Data Availability Statement The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
The Most Lucrative Heart Procedures for Hospitals

2 months ago | ldi.upenn.edu | Chris Tachibana

The U.S. public pays for most cardiovascular care through Medicare. In 2020, Medicare covered 48% of cardiovascular costs compared to 31% from commercial insurance. “Overall, it’s extremely expensive, nationally,” said LDI Senior Fellow Ashwin Nathan. From 2019-2020, cardiovascular disease cost more than $254 billion—an amount that will rise as the population ages. Nathan found in a study with LDI Senior Fellows Lauren Eberly, Sameed Ahmed M.
Text Messaging for Hypertension Gets High Ratings

2 months ago | ldi.upenn.edu | Chris Tachibana

Digital clinical interactions, including telehealth appointments and online patient portals, are now common. Digital health platforms can’t be one-size-fits-all though, LDI Senior Fellow Eric Bressman says. Sustained, effective engagement will require dynamic strategies that adapt to patients’ responses, preferences, and needs.
New Index Shows Unequal Access to Procedures

2 months ago | ldi.upenn.edu | Chris Tachibana

Living in a rural or urban area, high-income or low-income neighborhood, or politically red or blue state can affect health and access to care. Previously, LDI Senior Fellows Alon Bergman and Guy David demonstrated that people in areas with greater socioeconomic disadvantages have less access to newer, minimally invasive surgical procedures. Their new research supports this finding.
Wages Stagnate as Medicaid Home Care Spending Rises

Dec 10, 2024 | ldi.upenn.edu | Chris Tachibana

One of the most rapidly growing jobs in the U.S. is a home care worker. The population is aging, and most people who need support with daily activities such as bathing, eating, and taking medications prefer living in their home over a nursing facility. Through state programs, Medicaid pays for the largest share of long-term care.
A National Randomized Trial Seeks to Increase Kidney Transplants. Is it Working?

Dec 2, 2024 | ldi.upenn.edu | Chris Tachibana

The largest national randomized controlled trial of payment incentives to improve health and lengthen life for people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is underway. LDI Senior Fellows Vishnu Potluri, Yuvaram Reddy, and Amol Navathe say the 2021-2027 ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) model needs adjustments to meet its goals. More than 800,000 people in the U.S. live with ESRD or kidney failure and need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.
A Way to Raise Employment for People with Disabilities

Nov 15, 2024 | ldi.upenn.edu | Chris Tachibana

People with disabilities can be paid less than the federal minimum wage—sometimes as little as 25 cents an hour—under Section 14(c), part of a Depression-era law. The Biden administration and a bipartisan Congressional group, including U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-PA, are working to end this controversial practice, including through legislation, but effects on workers’ employment and health are unclear. A new LDI paper shows the potential impact of repealing Section 14(c).