All Posts By

Kevin Roche

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 through Roche Consulting, LLC. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.

Oct 10 2014

A survey in JAMA Internal Medicine finds that most hospitals agree that public reporting on performance measures stimulates quality improvement at their hospital, but quality officers and others are less like to agree with this than are CEOs.  Those most involved and most knowledgeable seem the least impressed by the value of quality reporting.

http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1910548&utm_source=Silverchair%20Information%20Systems&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ArchivesofInternalMedicine%3AOnlineFirst10%2F06%2F2014&utm_campaign=KHN%3A+Daily+Health+Policy+Report&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=14451240&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9fmQSRGEpFLBEW7qWx7YsFqlaxVv6WVDY-ztx1zYM40OKuBfkHOOoisYmKIW2Ng-DMDwxOHBWb43dDFekA9x73wZRlEw&_hsmi=14451240
Oct 10 2014

2014 Medicare Trustees Report

http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/ReportsTrustFunds/Downloads/TR2014.pdf
Oct 10 2014

Identity management and data security firm Exostar has received a $5 million investment from Merck Ventures as it expands its services for life sciences companies.
Oct 10 2014

TowersWatson says that users of its private health insurance exchange can expect total health spending growth of just 1.8% in 2015, but don't provide adjustments for benefit design changes or differences in the population using exchanges.

http://www.towerswatson.com/en/Press/2014/10/oneexchange-for-active-employees-holds-health-care-cost-increases-to-just-1-pt-8-percent-in-2015
Oct 10 2014

MyHealthDirect has nabbed $8 million in new investment for it patient scheduling solutions.

https://www.pehub.com/2014/10/myhealthdirect-nabs-8-mln/
Oct 10 2014

Medication packaging and adherence company has obtained $8.7 million in new financing.

https://www.pehub.com/2014/10/accel-partners-leads-8-75-mln-round-for-pillpack/
Oct 09 2014

Yet another study suggests that not only does robotic surgery cost more than other methods, it has more complications, in this case in regard to gynecologic surgery.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/robotic-surgery-brings-higher-costs-more-complications-study-shows-1412715786
Oct 09 2014

After a long and difficult courtship Kindred and Gentiva are merging to create a home care giant in a deal worth $1.8 billion.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20141009/NEWS/310099938?AllowView=VDl3UXk1SzVDdjJCbkJiYkY0M3hla09waGtVZENlND0=&utm_source=link-20141009-NEWS-310099938&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mpdaily&utm_name=top
Oct 09 2014

A survey from the Medical Group Management Association finds that practice staffing costs rose 4.6% last year, largely due to government requirements.

http://www.mgma.com/about/mgma-press-room/press-releases/2007-2012/medical-practices-report-increased-spending-on-total-business-operations-staff
Oct 09 2014

California's workers' comp costs could drop by over $120 million annually if it used a closed formulary for drugs, according to a California Workers' Compensation Institute study.

http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20141007/NEWS08/141009879?tags=%7C329%7C79%7C87%7C304%7C92
Oct 08 2014

MedBox, which is developing an automated dispensing machine for marijuana, has raised $2.5 million, hitting a high in financing, with individuals jointly putting in the money for this stone-cool product.

http://medcitynews.com/2014/10/biometrics-developer-cannabis-industry-medbox-raises-2-5m/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=520acf41e3-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-520acf41e3-67648197
Oct 08 2014

Physicians near the end of their work days are more likely to write inappropriate prescriptions, according to research in JAMA Internal Medicine, an example of what is referred to as "decision fatigue."

http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1910546
Oct 08 2014

Informatics in Context raised $1.65 million in financing to develop a product to help providers and payers automate prior authorizations.

http://medcitynews.com/2014/10/infomatics-context-raises-1-65m-automate-prior-authorization/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=520acf41e3-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-520acf41e3-67648197