Medicare's coverage of disabled adults under age 65 is explored in a new Kaiser Family Foundation brief.
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A survey released by Xerox finds that patients are much more likely than providers or health plans to believe that they (the patients) can manage their health and health care, but providers and payers are more likely to assume that patients are actively shopping for health care than patients are to actually shop. In addition, while almost all providers and payers say patients aren't delaying care for financial reasons, over 40% of consumers say they do.
https://www.news.xerox.com/news/Xerox-research-shows-health-professionals-patients-dividedWe are sure you will be happy, pleased, perhaps even ecstatic, to learn that Happify has raised $5 million to help employers provide an emotional well-being app for their employees. (Upchuck sound to follow)
http://medcitynews.com/2016/08/happiness-assessment/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=32972710&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8_YhE__YIlHao1aLw9TYX7uvOKhEhwDf10hO6S8jCx86rbCUmCc8C_NRWwuh_0cDWVclo71ucG0Vm0PhR_hMf7_MsEydd8b9ThkwYcMBQxJzs9ImQ&_hsmi=32972710&rf=1Not only is insurance on the reform law's exchanges costing a lot more than projected, but the Mediciaid expansion also is more expensive.
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Consulting firm Avalere analyzes the service categories behind premium increases for 2017 in the small group and individual markets.
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Medicare's Independence at Home demonstration is designed to provide better care for chronically ill beneficiaries and CMS claims that in the second year the 15 participating practices saved Medicare $10 million, or over $1000 per beneficiary, with seven practices earning $5.7 million in bonuses, and quality improving.
https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Press-releases/2016-Press-releases-items/2016-08-09.htmlYet another paper on geographic health spending variation; this one examining the role of regional physician practice patterns.
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Accolade deserves plaudits after landing $70 million in funding for its health care navigator service.
http://medcitynews.com/2016/08/accolade-and-healthcare-navigation/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=32798674&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9WTcxMyAssCt6tWJtXhkXrLkSvRL2pjGEzurc93VxSEYyPO3k_sXfPlZWd9oJFfjGW_OS0aGfDKZqwU4W4vSA-MlFUb5JAimdXVP6FM2UjFHavx3U&_hsmi=32798674&rf=1A vendor helping providers deal with bundled payments, MDsave, garners $5 million in new capital.
http://medcitynews.com/2016/08/mdsave-and-bundled-payments/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=32854742&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-89oU8nq0RZICijt76G0GZL98iqCx5Dh1DZb00N3NGA3E_7U6m4FC_Vd7AaSq-V1amnjP0N0oYpaVf4CPITCpWBKCd6PeXDV2bVt7iJOQp0hyUYCdc&_hsmi=32854742&rf=1Two new surveys indicate that employers' health plan costs will continue to rise at a significant clip in 2017.
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Physician IT costs, driven by government regulations, continue to rise rapidly, pressuring profitability, according to an MGMA survey. In 2025, IT costs averaged $32,500 per physician, up 40% since 2009.
http://www.mgma.com/about/mgma-press-room/press-releases/2016/healthcare-technology-costs-top-32-500-dollars-per-physicianAbout this Blog
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.
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