Kevin Roche

Jul 12 2015

The reform law established and provided funding for community-based non-profit health plans. A GAO report finds that these plans tend to have lower premiums but have had mixed enrollment success. Some have already gone bust.

http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/669945.pdf

Jul 10 2015

Comparative Disease Burden and Trends in the United States

By Kevin Roche Commentary No Comments

One explanation for higher health spending in the US is its higher disease burden, demonstrated in a recent KFF blog post.

Jul 10 2015

CMS 2016 Proposed Home Health Rule

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-10/pdf/2015-16790.pdf

Jul 10 2015

CMS Bundled Payment Rules

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/assets/pdf/CH10040879.PDF

Jul 10 2015

The Medical Memory offers technology for providers to video patient visits and share the videos with patients and has raised $2.1 million to support growth.

https://www.pehub.com/2015/07/the-medical-memory-grabs-2-1-mln-seed/

Jul 10 2015

According to the Medical Group Management Association, primary care doctors earned an average of around $241,000 in 2014, while specialists averaged $412,000; but primary care pay is rising more rapidly than that of specialists.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2015/07/07/doctor-pay-eclipses-240000-as-value-based-model-boosts-primary-care/

Jul 10 2015

Medicare is planning on requiring certain hospitals to accept a bundled payment for knee and hip replacements.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150709/NEWS/150709916?utm_source=modernhealthcare&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20150709-NEWS-150709916&utm_campaign=mh-alert

Jul 10 2015

PipelineRx gathered in $9.1 million in fresh capital for its telepharmacy business, primarily sold to hospitals.

http://medcitynews.com/2015/07/pipelinerx-scores-9-1m-in-new-vc-as-telepharmacy-heats-up/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=f0e0056950-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-f0e0056950-67677117

Jul 09 2015

Do New Exchange Enrollees Have Lower Health Costs?

By Kevin Roche Commentary No Comments

A new Express Scripts analysis of drug claims from exchange enrollees provides a ray of hope for health plans that this years set of members may be healthier and have…

Jul 08 2015

Physicians’ Influence on Patient Use of Hospice

By Kevin Roche Commentary No Comments

A study carried in Health Affairs finds that physicians exert a significant influence of patient decisions to use or not to use hospice.

Jul 07 2015

Veridicus Health, which provides PBM and other drug services, has been recapitalized by Gauge Capital.

https://www.pehub.com/2015/07/gauge-invests-in-veridicus-health/

Jul 07 2015

Emdeon, the health IT company, has acquired Altegra Health, which offers care management and consumer engagement services, for around $910 million.

http://emdeon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=198

Jul 07 2015

Medicare Drug Coverage’s Effects on Care Quality

By Kevin Roche Commentary No Comments

A study finds that having drug coverage through Part D did not appear to improve Medicare beneficiaries' health, at least by some measures.

Jul 06 2015

Your.md has raised $5 million in financing for an app that helps patients understand their disease and alternative treatments.

https://www.pehub.com/2015/07/smedvig-capital-leads-5-mln-round-for-your-md/

Jul 06 2015

23andme, the personal genome testing firm that ran afoul of the FDA, has raised $79.1 million, so someone believes in the company's model. Maybe its in the their DNA.

https://www.genomeweb.com/business-news/23andme-raises-791m-private-financing?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20News:%2023andMe%20Raises%20$79.1M%20in%20Private%20Financing%20-%2007/06/2015%2003:45:00%20PM