TRILLIANT HEALTH RESEARCH
Studies
Timely trend analysis. Free in your inbox.
Receive weekly studies from Trilliant Health.
September 24, 2026
Urgent Care Utilization Is an Inconsistent Predictor of Downstream Health System Loyalty
While patient loyalty to a health system urgent care was high (73.6% to 93.3%), loyalty to emergency, inpatient and primary care was varied. Urgent care loyalty is not as strong of a loyalty predictor as primary care.
Katie Patton • Allison Roberts, Ph.D. • Allison Oakes, Ph.D.
StudiesSeptember 10, 2026
Liver Disease Utilization and Mortality Increased Among U.S. Adults, Even as Alcohol Misuse Screening Decreased
Between 2019 and 2025, chronic liver disease mortality increased 12.1% and liver disease patient volume increased by 48.3% – increasing fastest among women, but higher among men. In contrast, alcohol misuse screening has decreased by 21.0%.
Katie Patton • Austin Miller • Clara Petrucelli • Allison Oakes, Ph.D.
StudiesSeptember 03, 2026
By January 1, 2028, Nearly Every Hospital Will Be Subject to Episode-Based Risk for Lower-Extremity Joint Replacement
CMS’s finalized CJR-X rule makes nearly every U.S. hospital financially responsible for 90 days of joint replacement costs, starting January 1, 2028, extending mandatory bundled payment nationwide.
Katie Patton • Allison Oakes, Ph.D.
StudiesAugust 27, 2026
The Majority of U.S. Physicians Are Employed, and Their Commercial Negotiated Rates Exceed Those of Independent Physicians
In the U.S., 59.4% of physicians are hospital-employed, varying widely by state and specialty. Employed physicians’ Chicago commercial E/M rates average $92 more than independent peers.
Katie Patton • David Taylor • Jim Browne • Maura Eshleman • Allison Oakes, Ph.D.
StudiesAugust 20, 2026
Healthcare Is Local, and So Is Physician Supply – Characteristics of Physicians at the National, State and Local Level and by Specialty
The U.S. primary care and specialist supply are evenly split, but an aging cardiologist shortage – especially in rural countries – threatens future care access.
Katie Patton • Allison Oakes, Ph.D.
StudiesAugust 13, 2026
Biopharmaceutical Research and Development Is Increasingly Focused on Complex, High-Cost Oncology Treatments
Biopharma R&D is shifting toward complex, costly oncology modalities – CGTs, ADCs and bispecifics. On-market CGTs average $563,313/course, yet pricing often shows no clear link to survival or QALY benefit.
Katie Patton • Allison Oakes, Ph.D.
StudiesAugust 06, 2026
Medicare Drug Spending Is Increasing While Service-Based Utilization Holds Flat, As the Medicare Trust Fund Nears Insolvency
Traditional Medicare per-beneficiary utilization is flat to declining, but Part B drug spending grew 7.8% annually between 2015 and 2023, driving cost growth and Trust Fund insolvency risk.
Katie Patton • Allison Oakes, Ph.D.
StudiesJuly 23, 2026
Commercial Negotiated Rates for Cancer-Related Procedures Are Increasing Faster than CPI in the Majority of U.S. Markets
Commercial rates for cancer procedures outpaced national CPI in more than half of U.S. markets between 2024 and 2026 – exposing risks for self-funded employer benefit planning.
Katie Patton • Maura Eshleman • Jim Browne • Allison Oakes, Ph.D.
StudiesJuly 16, 2026
Pharmacy Utilization Management Expands as Nearly Half of Initially Rejected Prescriptions Go Unfilled
Only 54% of branded prescriptions initially rejected by prior authorization were ultimately approved in 2024, with Medicaid beneficiaries facing lower approval rates.
Katie Patton
Interested in citing our research? Please follow this guide.
