A J.D. Powers survey asks Medicare Advantage enrollees about their satisfaction with MA plans.
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A survey from the American College of Emergency Physicians claims that more patients are using the ER due to narrow networks and high deductibles. This is a blatantly flawed survey (just read the question composition) designed solely for the purpose of pressuring health plans to pay ER doctors more. It is simply disgraceful for a profession like medicine to corrupt science in this way and it ignores the fact that larger networks and richer benefits raise premiums, which also hurts patients.
http://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=2466532An analysis of a Colorado medical home demonstration finds mixed results, at best.
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In a somewhat complex transaction, MedAssets, the GPO and health system consulting firm, which had run into trouble by overpaying in acquisitions, is being bought by a PE firm, with its supply chain and data analytics business largely resold and combined with those of Novation, and the PE firm retaining its revenue cycle management services and combining them with Precyse.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151102005902/en/VHA-UHC-Alliance-NewCo-Acquire-MedAssets’-Spend-Clinical#.VjeHE6St4q8.mailtoIn a somewhat alarming report, research in the journal Anesthesiology finds a high rate of medication problems in connection with surgeries. In 277 operations there were 3671 medication administrations and 193 medication errors or adverse drug events, of which 70 were judged to have the potential for harm. 153 were preventable and 99 were considered serious.
http://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/article.aspx?articleid=2466532The Health Care Cost Initiative releases its 2014 commercial health plan spending report.
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A Government Accounting Office report finds, surprise, surprise, that we are likely wasting billions of dollars in the reform law's Medicaid expansion.
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According to an Advisory Board survey, providers are requiring more upfront payment of cost-sharing amounts by patients, largely as a result of the growth of high-deductible plans.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/high-deductible-health-plans-propel-sweeping-change-in-how-providers-collect-for-care-300167851.htmlCMS released findings for the latest year of hospital value-based purchasing, indicating that based on 2014 performance, for 2016 payments 1800 hospitals will get some "bonus" reimbursement. Note, however, that the bonus is after everyone had their payment docked 1.75% to fund the program. Only a few hospitals will see an actual increase in payment from what the baseline would otherwise be. For the vast majority of hospitals, the net effect is very minor.
https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2015-Fact-sheets-items/2015-10-26.htmlOverall and health care venture activity appears to be slowing, based on third quarter 2015 statistics.
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About 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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