People cutouts with stethoscopeThe new study backs up the skepticism of other researchers that,when it comes to saving money at least, some approachesdon't work well. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Improving health and lowering costs for the sickest and mostexpensive patients in America is a dream harder to realize thanmany health care leaders had hoped, according to a studypublished Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers tested whether pairing frequently hospitalizedpatients in Camden, New Jersey, with nurses and social workerscould stop that costly cycle of readmissions. The study found noeffect: Patients receiving extra support were just as likely toreturn to the hospital within 180 days as those not receiving thathelp.

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