We continue our review of the 2015-16 drug benefit report, looking at utilization management, network design and other issues.
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Massachusetts has implemented reform after reform to supposedly lower health spending in the state while improving quality. While most residents of the state now have insurance, the state continues to experience rapid health spending growth, the most recent sign of which is strong increases in health insurance premiums, with most rising in the high single digits, with the largest rises found among plans for small groups and individuals.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/01/03/health-care-costs-rising-faster/WUfquz4gBEjncURDm20b6L/story.htmlOops, telemedicine kiosk vendor HealthSpot, after raising large sums from investors, is apparently out of business.
http://medcitynews.com/2016/01/telemedicine-kiosk-maker-healthspot-shuts-down/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=3e0cb8e762-MCN+Daily+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5092836c41-3e0cb8e762-408793005&rf=1Tabula Rasa, which owns CareKinesis, a pharmacy vendor focused on the aged, filed for an IPO which would value the company at as much as $115 million.
http://medcitynews.com/2016/01/tabula-rasa-files-ipo/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=3e0cb8e762-MCN+Daily+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5092836c41-3e0cb8e762-408793005&rf=1The 2015-2016 Prescription Benefit Management Institute report on drug benefits reveals useful information about design and cost trends.
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Hometeam is homing in on $27.5 million in new investment to expand its caregiver matching service for homebound patients.
http://medcitynews.com/2016/01/caregiver-service-for-seniors/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=eabb699822-MCN+Daily+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5092836c41-eabb699822-408793005Behavioral health provider Acadia is acquiring the Priory Group for $3.8 billion. Priory operates about 300 behavioral health facilities in Europe.
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160104/NEWS/160109986?utm_source=modernhealthcare&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20160104-NEWS-160109986&utm_campaign=financedailyToday we continue the evaluation of the NBER paper on Medicare and private health plan geographic spending variation, with the focus on hospitals role in that variation.
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Telemedicine vendor Zipnosis has added $17 million in capital to expand its private label online treatment service.
http://medcitynews.com/2016/01/zipnosis-raises-17m/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=d9727db2f6-MCN+Daily+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5092836c41-d9727db2f6-408793005&rf=1A new paper sponsored by the NBER comes through in its usual spectacular fashion with information showing little correlation between private insurance and Medicare spending per person and a strong…
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