Search

Characteristics of vocabulary lists as well as study and test translation direction may affect the ease of learning second language (L2) vocabulary. We examined immediate and delayed test performance of first language (L1) English speakers learning a fixed set of L2 vocabulary placed on lists formed by crossing semantic relatedness (unrelated vs. related) with L2 orthographic form similarity (not similar vs. similar). During the study phase, half the participants translated from L2 to L1 and half from L1 to L2; tests were then taken in both directions. Semantic relatedness in the absence of form similarity improved accuracy when the first test taken translated from L2 to L1, and tended to hurt accuracy when the first test taken translated from L1 to L2; it sometimes increased confusion errors. Form similarity usually hurt accuracy and always increased confusion errors. The combination of the L1-to-L2 study direction with the optimal semantic and form conditions yielded the best long-term performance.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether elimination of co-pays for prescription drugs affects medication adherence and total health care spending. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective comparative study. METHODS: We conducted a difference-in-differences comparison in the year before and after expansion of a Zero Dollar Co-pay (ZDC) prescription drug benefit in commercially insured Louisiana residents. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana members with continuous disease management program enrollment were analyzed, of whom 6463 were enrolled in the ZDC program and 1821 were controls who were ineligible because their employers did not opt in. RESULTS: After ZDC expansion, medication adherence fell in the control group and rose in the ZDC group, with a relative increase of 2.1 percentage points (P = .002). Medical spending fell by $71 per member per month (PMPM) (P = .027) in the ZDC group relative to controls. Overall, there was no significant increase in the cost of drugs between treatment and controls. However, when drugs were further categorized, there was a significant increase of $8 PMPM for generic drugs and no significant difference for brand name drugs. Comparisons of medication adherence rates by household income showed the largest relative increase post ZDC expansion among low-income members. CONCLUSIONS: Elimination of co-pays for drugs indicated to treat chronic illnesses was associated with increases in medication adherence and reductions in overall spending of $63. Benefit designs that eliminate co-pays for patients with chronic illnesses may improve adherence and reduce the total cost of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Opportunities to minimize inequities in accessing treatments for tricuspid regurgitation disease should be considered., Objective: The objective of this study was to explore how access to new tricuspid regurgitation technologies change when heart centers are restricted by payer coverage requirements., Methods: This case series study identified U.S. hospitals with a record of performing transcatheter aortic valve replacement, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, and tricuspid and mitral valve procedures for the calendar year 2021. Population 65+ years of age and Area Deprivation Index (ADI), were identified by zip code. We created 10 scenarios based on low, medium, and high hospital volumes for combinations of transcatheter aortic valve replacement, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, tricuspid and mitral valve procedures. Distance from a zip code to scenario eligible hospitals was determined; the closest hospital to a zip code was identified as the distance someone with tricuspid regurgitation would have to travel for care. Each scenario was modeled with the dependent variable as the distance to the nearest scenario eligible hospital by ADI, controlling for population size 65+ years of age., Results: A total of 929 U.S. hospitals met our study inclusion. ADI was statistically significant in every scenario-when ADI goes up (more deprivation), distance to the nearest hospital increases. Patients in zip codes with low ADI travel an average of 15 to 52 miles, medium ADI 31 to 67 miles, and high ADI 47 to 95 miles., Conclusions: Patients in higher socioeconomic deprivation areas travel longer distances to hospitals meeting procedure volume requirements. Policymakers and patient advocacy groups should consider this to ensure equitable access to potentially life-saving technologies., Competing Interests: This research was sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Barker has reported personal fees from Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, Boston Scientific and Alleviant. Dr Kemp, Ms. Mancilla, and Ms. Mollenkopf are employees of Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Gunnarsson, Mr. Ryan, and Dr David have reported personal fees from Edwards Lifesciences., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Objectives: To determine whether elimination of co-pays for prescription drugs affects medication adherence and total health care spending., Study Design: Retrospective comparative study., Methods: We conducted a difference-in-differences comparison in the year before and after expansion of a Zero Dollar Co-pay (ZDC) prescription drug benefit in commercially insured Louisiana residents. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana members with continuous disease management program enrollment were analyzed, of whom 6463 were enrolled in the ZDC program and 1821 were controls who were ineligible because their employers did not opt in., Results: After ZDC expansion, medication adherence fell in the control group and rose in the ZDC group, with a relative increase of 2.1 percentage points (P = .002). Medical spending fell by $71 per member per month (PMPM) (P = .027) in the ZDC group relative to controls. Overall, there was no significant increase in the cost of drugs between treatment and controls. However, when drugs were further categorized, there was a significant increase of $8 PMPM for generic drugs and no significant difference for brand name drugs. Comparisons of medication adherence rates by household income showed the largest relative increase post ZDC expansion among low-income members., Conclusions: Elimination of co-pays for drugs indicated to treat chronic illnesses was associated with increases in medication adherence and reductions in overall spending of $63. Benefit designs that eliminate co-pays for patients with chronic illnesses may improve adherence and reduce the total cost of care.