Modern Healthcare

Study finds more spending doesn’t improve heart attack patients’ outcomes

More Medicare dollars spent on treatment of a heart attack patient doesn't lead to better health outcomes, according to a new study.

A JAMA study published Wednesday found that mortality rates stayed constant for heart attack patients up to 180 days after discharge even as spending on cardiac procedures and post-acute care rose. But the study did find mortality dropped among patients who received early percutaneous coronary intervention, also known as angioplasty with a stent.