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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.

Dec 16 2013

Startup Doctor on Demand has raised $3 million to grow its telehealth product to deal with non-emergency health issues, adding one more company to a crowded field.

http://medcitynews.com/2013/12/telehealth-startup-doctors-demand-raises-3m-seed-funding/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=f14c3fc367-RSS_Daily+Top+Stories&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-f14c3fc367-67648197
Dec 16 2013

According to a survey from Duke University and CFO Magazine, 20% of companies say they are likely to hire fewer workers, 10% may lay off employees and 40% will shift to more part-time personnel due to the reform law.

http://medcitynews.com/2013/12/obamacare-news-healthcare-reform-curbs-full-time-hiring/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=f14c3fc367-RSS_Daily+Top+Stories&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-f14c3fc367-67648197
Dec 16 2013

Carrick Capital Partners has made an additional investment in Accolade, a firm which provides software to assist in patient engagement and care management plans.

http://www.pehub.com/2013/12/carrick-capital-partners-backs-accolade/
Dec 13 2013

A Press Ganey analysis suggests that 15% of patients are at high risk of switching physicians, largely because they would not recommend the physician to others.  The analysis highlights the need to focus on patient satisfaction and loyalty and basics such as listening well and being courteous can be key.

http://www.pressganey.com/researchResources/white-papers/white-papers-for-hospitals/patient-loyalty-affordable-care-act.aspx
Dec 13 2013

The Administration says more than 100,000 people enrolled through the exchanges in November, far, far short of projection and far, far short of anything approaching full enrollment of everyone who is supposed to enroll under the individual mandate.  Better than October though!!

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20131211/NEWS/312119965?AllowView=VDl3UXpKSzdDL1dCbkJiYkY0M3hla0dvamtVZERPTT0=&utm_source=link-20131211-NEWS-312119965&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mpdaily&utm_name=top
Dec 13 2013

A recent Gallup poll suggests that 30% of adult Americans deferred health care services due to cost concerns, with the uninsured and younger people being the most likely to do so.  Interestingly more say they put off care for a serious condition than a less significant one, but it is unclear how much necessary care is actually being delayed.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/166178/costs-keep-americans-getting-treatment.aspx
Dec 13 2013

ZocDoc, which facilitates online health care appointments, released a report summarizing utilization of its services, finding that most physicians are highly rated after the visit and listing differences by gender and trends in appointments.
Dec 13 2013

A survey from Purdue Healthcare Advisors suggests that most hospitals and health systems have no interest in being involved in an accountable care organization, perceiving them to be unstable and financially risky.

http://pha.purdue.edu/news/survey
Dec 13 2013

Although it will be affected by aspects of the reform law, Aetna issued new earnings guidance for 2014 slightly above prior expectations.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2013-12-11/aetna-forecasts-2014-profit-above-analysts-estimates.html
Dec 13 2013

America's Health Rankings, which lists states by their scores on issues like obesity, exercise, smoking at care for common conditions, finds some overall improvement across the country and lists Hawaii as the healthiest state and Mississippi as the unhealthiest.

http://www.americashealthrankings.org
Dec 12 2013

According to a survey from Capgemini and QuantiaMD most physicians prefer to get drug information from digital sources as opposed to print material or visits from drug reps.  This actually can result in significant savings to manufacturers as drug reps are costly resources.

http://www.mmm-online.com/researchers-find-reps-increasingly-losing-out/article/324344/
Dec 12 2013

A study in Health Affairs suggests that giving emergency medical services more flexibility in transporting to places other than ERs could save Medicare several hundred million dollars a year.

http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/32/12/2142.abstract?=right
Dec 12 2013

Centene Corp. is paying about $200 million to gain a 68% interest in U.S. Medical Management, which provides management services for complex patients, typically in post-acute settings.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=130443&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=1884196&highlight=
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