This edition of our data-packed Potpourri focuses on hospital readmissions, use of computer physician order entry systems, what employers will do after 2014 when all of the health law kicks…
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Pay-for-performance programs have enough problems demonstrating that they actually work to improve outcomes and now the Government Accounting Office has identified another potential problem for these initiatives--the federal fraud and…
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A new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research examines whether greater use of health information technology has added to hospital productivity. The authors find that while the investment…
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The only way to know if something really works is to have credible experimental research. A review of clinical decision support research suggests that they can improve health care processes…
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Articles posted online in the journal Health Affairs provide a glimpse into the status of electronic medical record penetration in physician practices and hospitals. Progress is generally slow, especially among…
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Another tremendous edition of our Potpourri, featuring accountable care organization results, waste in our health system, self-referral costs, calculating hospital readmission rates and the benefits, if any, of telemonitoring frail…
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An article in Health Affairs examines imaging rates for prostate cancer patients, adding a new viewpoint to the geographic variation in care debate by finding that low imaging areas have…
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PMSI has released its 2012 Drug Trend Report for workers' compensation business. Medical costs are an increasing portion of workers' compensation payouts and drug spending, particularly for pain medications, has…
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A report from the Government Accounting Office trashes the Administration's Medicare Advantage bonus "demonstration", suggesting it was a thinly-veiled subterfuge, wasn't likely saving money and wasn't likely to improve quality.
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PriceWaterhouseCooper has issued a report on health care and social media. While there appears to be a fair amount of activity by health care providers and companies on social media…
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More delightful health facts for your edification in our most recent Potpourri, including the cost of obesity, an employer survey on wellness programs, opportunities for hospitals to reduce costs, an…
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Improving primary care is viewed as a method to lower health spending while maintaining or even improving quality. A Health Affairs article reports on a Virginia program that appears to…
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The segment of the population which is elderly and poor, thus often eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage, is often not in good health and has very high expenses.…
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All the focus on quality and the effect of spending on quality of care has led to some creative research approaches to understanding what that relationship may be. A new…
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A Medicare Payment Advisory Commission report summarizes the federal incentive program for adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records and reports on progress, which appears to be very slow.
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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.
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