Not that we really need any more evidence, but a Government Accounting Office report finds that physicians who own a physical therapy practice refer more Medicare beneficiaries to physical therapy than do doctors with no ownership interest, although less services per beneficiary are received. This suggests that those with an ownership interest are referring patients with less of a need.
http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/662860.pdfThe latest Mark Farrah Associates report on health plan enrollments reveals that most large insurers continue to show growth.
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According to a survey, one third of Americans say that the health reform law implementation will cause them to delay retirement because of higher health care costs.
http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2014/06/03/one-third-of-americans-say-obamacare-will-delay-re?eNL=538e3a92160ba062578b45cc&utm_source=LifeHealthProNewsFlash&utm_medium=eNL&utm_campaign=LifeHealthPro_eNLs&_LID=97699543Truven Health Analytics' report on employer health plan cost trends shows that in 2013 spending moderated due to lower hospital and drug costs.
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Health care staffing firm Cross Country Healthcare is buying rival Medical Staffing Network for around $50 million.
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140603/NEWS/306039959?AllowView=VDl3UXk1Ty9DdmVCbkJiYkY0M3hlMFdwakVVZEQrOD0=&utm_source=link-20140603-NEWS-306039959&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mpdaily&utm_name=topDecision Resources Manhattan Research Taking the Pulse 2014 report suggests that mobile communications usage continues to gain in popularity with physicians, who often engage with patients in this manner and that telemedicine is making slow but steady gains.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stethoscopes-and-smartphones-physicians-turn-to-digital-tools-to-boost-patient-outcomes-261089461.htmlAccording to Markets & Markets, the health care business intelligence market had about $2.4 billion in revenue in 2013 and will grow at a compounded rate of 15% annually for the next several years.
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/healthcare-business-intelligence-market-252368925.htmlSun Life and Aegis Medical issue surveys providing a picture of the current reinsurance environment, which is gaining in importance as more employers self-fund.
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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.