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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.

Nov 18 2013

On-site clinic company QuadMed is acquiring NoviaCare, which also operates clinics at companies.  The combined entity will have more than 90 locations.

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20131009-908471.html
Nov 18 2013

Validic has raised about $750,000 to create a product to gather and analyze data from various personal health activity devices, such as FitBit and Withings.

http://www.fiercebiotechit.com/story/validic-raises-cash-turn-mhealth-app-output-data-hose/2013-11-18?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal
Nov 15 2013

A survey from the Chamber of Commerce and the International Franchise Association indicates that many small businesses have already reduced hiring or hours in response to the reform law and that most believe their health care costs either already have or will go up as a result of the law.

http://www.franchise.org/Franchise-News-Detail.aspx?id=61271
Nov 15 2013

A Harris Interactive poll finds that many Americans would allow their insurer to engage in fairly intrusive health behavior monitoring and even biometrics collection in exchange for lower premiums.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/HealthDay_Insurance_Questions_11.13.pdf
Nov 14 2013

Scanadu has raised $10.5 million to continue to develop and sell its device that records various biometrics and uses software to help store, analyze and communicate the results.  More frenzied app hype.

http://allthingsd.com/20131112/scanadu-raises-10-5-million-to-help-make-its-medical-tricorder-a-reality/
Nov 14 2013

CBO Report on Reducing Deficit

https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/44715-OptionsForReducingDeficit.pdf
Nov 14 2013

In a new report, the Government Accounting Office examines a number of federal information technology projects, including several for health purposes, and finds that the sponsoring agencies were not conducting adequate operational assessments for the projects.  This probably was at least part of the problem with the insurance exchange website.

http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/658794.pdf
Nov 14 2013

A report from the HHS Office of Inspector General suggests that hospital "list" prices do have an effect on some Medicare reimbursements, specifically those for "outlier" cases, which involve lengthy and expensive stays.  The report suggests some hospitals are manipulating coding and charges, potentially costing the government an extra few billion a year.

http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-06-10-00520.pdf
Nov 14 2013

RightCare Solutions has raised $5 million in a series B financing to facilitate the further development and marketing of its software to help providers manage care.

http://www.rightcaresolutions.com/news/
Nov 12 2013

Health Care Service Corporation, a large Blues plan, announced an agreement to acquire Lovelace Health Plan of New Mexico.  HCSC already owns the Blues plan in New Mexico so this action will reduce competition in the state.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131111006050/en/Health-Care-Service-Corporation-Acquire-Lovelace-Health
Nov 12 2013

The Advisory Board has acquired Care Team Connect, which offers software helping to connect providers caring for the same patient.  The acquisition furthers The Advisory Board's offerings for care management by providers.

http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/news-item/advisory-board-acquires-care-team-connect
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