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Featured Research

Urgent Care Utilization Has Returned to Pre-Pandemic Levels Despite Continued Investment and Increased Access

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Studies

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

Studies

September 17, 2026

Urgent Care Utilization Has Returned to Pre-Pandemic Levels Despite Continued Investment and Increased Access

Urgent care utilization has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels despite heavy PE investment. It isn’t replacing primary or emergency care, and patients show strong loyalty to a single location or brand.

Allison Roberts, Ph.D.Katie PattonAllison Oakes, Ph.D.

Studies

September 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 PattonAustin MillerClara PetrucelliAllison Oakes, Ph.D.

Studies

September 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 PattonAllison Oakes, Ph.D.

Studies

August 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 PattonDavid TaylorJim BrowneMaura EshlemanAllison Oakes, Ph.D.

Studies

August 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 PattonAllison Oakes, Ph.D.

Studies

August 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 PattonAllison Oakes, Ph.D.

Studies

August 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 PattonAllison Oakes, Ph.D.

Studies

July 30, 2026

With Blood-Based Test Approval, Alzheimer’s Biomarker Testing Has Grown 37.5x, and Dementia Diagnosing Has Shifted Toward Earlier, Milder Stages

Biomarker tests for Alzheimer’s increased 37.5x between 2023 and 2025, diagnoses trended milder, but specialist shortages may leave the health system unprepared for surging dementia care demand.

Jessica BrantezAllison Roberts, Ph.D.Katie PattonAllison Oakes, Ph.D.

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