In recent studies, Commonwealth Fund–supported researchers explored:
- The current state of health policy education for medical students (New England Journal of Medicine, March 10). Based on a national survey of U.S. medical school deans, the authors found significant variation among educational approaches, with an average of just 14 hours of instruction over four years. "Health policy literacy," they conclude, "should no longer be considered an ancillary skill, but rather a core competency of a 21st-century physician."
- Communication about health care cost reduction strategies among health plans, employers, and physicians (Annals of Internal Medicine, March 15). As payers discuss the need to reduce health care costs, physicians may hear an indiscriminate call for cutting services and prioritizing dollars over patients. Focusing instead on identifying overuse and underuse of services can raise practitioners' comfort level, the author says.
