Which brings me to my final tip:
Beware of the "study says" story frame. When it comes to healthcare costs, there are oodles of studies out there. If you're going to report on one of them, be clear with readers that it is but one study among many with varying conclusions, and note who authored the study and who funded it. In early May, The Hill picked up a study from consulting firm Avalere Health--no word on funding--that concluded premiums in some states might see double digit increases this year because of the "increasing costs of medical care" (rather than because too many old people signed up and skewed the risk pool). As I noted above, increasing medical costs are only one factor driving premiums. The Hill shortchanged its readers who deserved a fuller explanation of the reasons why premiums might be in the double digits for some. In evaluating studies, reporters must separate spin and speculation from what we really know now, which will require more scrutiny of the study, how it was done and where it fits into the larger universe of work on this topic.
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