A paper from the National Bureau of Economics explores the role of patient and physician preferences in geographic variation in health spending.
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ShapeUp, another of the plethora of companies operating in the health and wellness space, has raised an additional $7.5 million to expand its mobile capabilities in wellness program engagement and operation.
http://www.pehub.com/2013/11/06/cue-ball-capital-excel-venture-management-lead-7-5-mln-investment-round-shapeup/The Food and Drug Administration released its final guidance on mobile medical applications, a subject of intense concern for software developers and health technology companies.
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From the we told you so department, early enrollments at the health exchange suggest young people aren't buying, which means an adverse selection shock for the health plans. Now we know why the large insurers very wisely largely stayed out of the exchanges.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303661404579178231174626314In a truly baffling decision, HHS has decided to allow drug manufacturers to offer copay assistance to purchasers of commercial health plans on the health exchanges. The practice raises costs for everyone by encouraging inappropriate use of very expensive drugs.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303843104579172090415391168A Wall Street Journal article notes the difficulties medical device startups are having in finding funding, largely due to more extensive regulation and reimbursement pressures. Innovative treatment development will suffer, as will patients.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304470504579164122110690860A Pew report relating to medical care in prisons finds that states are increasingly burdened by these expenses and are searching for ways to better control this rapidly growing spending.
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Medseek, a provider of software to hospitals and other provider organizations, has acquired SymphonyCare, which offers population health management tools for providers. This acquisition is part of the ongoing trend for HIT vendors to offer broader wellness and care management solutions to providers, particularly those at risk for care costs.
http://medseek.com/news/medseek-acquires-symphonycareInventiv has acquired medication adherence firm Catalina Health and will combine it with its Adheris unit to improve patient specific messaging around drug use.
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20131101/NEWS/311019949?AllowView=VW8xUmo5Q21TcWJOb1gzb0tNN3RLZ0h0MWg5SVgra3NZRzROR3l0WWRMWGFWZjBBRWxiNUtpQzMyWmFxNTMwWUpiaW8=&utm_source=link-20131101-NEWS-311019949&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hits&utm_name=topA report from the Optum Institute provides another look at data related to geographic variation in important health outcomes, especially quality and spending.
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According to the National Federation for Independent Business, 64% of small businesses are continuing to see higher premiums in the wake of the reform law, even after benefit changes, and the increases affect investment and hiring.
http://www.nfib.com/research-foundation/studies/aca-2013?utm_campaign=ACAStudy&utm_source=Research&utm_medium=Release&utm_content=aca2013According to Levin Associates health care M & A activity was up 16% in the third quarter of 2013 over the second quarter and 20% over the comparable period in 2012. The 267 transactions, however, had a 35% greater value than the prior year third quarter deals. Biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, long-term care and hospitals were very active sub-sectors.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131023005141/en/Health-Care-MA-Spending-Softens-Q3-2013A new CBO report finds that raising the Medicare eligibility age to 67 would only save around $2 billion a year for the next ten years, but that is because it assumes that Medicaid and subsidies under the reform law would have to pick up much of the cost for the 65 and 66 year olds who couldn't enroll. The real savings is actually over $60 billion in that period. Raising both the social security and Medicare eligibility age is inevitable and the right thing to do, as life expectancies and ability to work have both grown significantly since enactment of the laws.
http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44661About 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.