An interesting think piece from L.E.K Consulting suggests that consumerism is not the solution to rising health spending.
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Yet another extensive physician survey reveals deep dissatisfaction.
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Telemedicine vendor Avizia has wrapped up a $17 million capital raise.
http://medcitynews.com/2016/10/avizia-ny-presbyterian-investment/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=36803463&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_TM5kCGT5kX-FQx27IQSbLHQ5mH4z-PCHaTWogOQh3j73AOYNPLUYpfzcpxtB_SGRMfI0IfP7nmYkaKucV80ccYMX0NKDy_bUTDPltp3tEdPfP-bw&_hsmi=36803463The second part of our review of the 2016 Kaiser employer health benefits survey focuses on cost-sharing and other plan attributes.
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The annual Kaiser Family Foundation survey of employment-based health benefits reveals continued cost stress.
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Research in Health Affairs finds that Medicare hospice spending rose to almost $16 billion in 2015, up from $10.4 billion in 2007, and that this spending has significant geographic variation, suggesting an opportunity to ensure appropriate use of the setting.
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/35/10/1902.abstractA paper from PWC's Health Research Institute focuses on new primary care models.
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Research published in Health Affairs suggests that shorter measuring periods may more accurately identify problematic hospital readmissions.
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A study in Health Affairs confirms that using a limited provider network results in lower premiums, around 7% less on average, for plans on the health insurance exchanges, but many consumers are unaware of the consequences of a limited network, which may not include their usual providers, and that 7% doesn't seem like much in light of the horrendous premium rises expected for 2017.
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/35/10/1842.abstractAs many would suspect, a study regarding prostate cancer in the journal Medical Care finds that compliance with process quality measures has no relationship to true outcomes such as complications and patient satisfaction and quality of life.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Impact+of+Adherence+to+Quality+Measures+for+Localized%0D%0AProstate+Cancer+on+Patient-reported+Health-related%0D%0AQuality+of+Life+Outcomes%2C+Patient+Satisfaction%2C+and%0D%0ATreatment-related+ComplicationsAbout 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.