A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association describes changes in illness and health status in the United States from 1990 to 2010.
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A study published in Health Affairs finds that the California public employees health plan was able to reduce spending by using a reference pricing method for certain orthopedic surgeries.
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A Congressional Budget Office working paper examines the recent slowdown in Medicare spending growth and finds it may be somewhat attributable to a large influx of younger beneficiaries, who have…
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A comprehensive hypertension control program utilized by Kaiser Permanente showed good results in engaging patients and getting blood pressure lower, but may have raised costs.
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The annual Kaiser Family Foundation report on Employer Health Benefits has been released, showing continued moderate cost increases and ongoing growth in greater consumer cost-sharing.
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A Towers Watson survey finds that large and midsize companies continue to grapple with how to effectively manage the health benefits they wish to provide their employee population.
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality issues a report summarizing findings from research it has sponsored on use of health information technology for quality and safety improvement.
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Massachusetts has been the poster child for health care reform for several years and a recent report by the state reveals continued shortfalls of the outcomes to what was promised,…
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The discussion about regional variation in health spending seems like it may never end. A National Bureau of Economic Research paper explores the role of physician and patient attitudes.
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Another survey of doctors reveals their generally gloomy view of health care and medical practice.
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The latest in research into the impact of the rapidly growing high-deductible health plans finds that spending appears to be reduced and the reductions sustained for several years in most…
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The Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute issues a report summarizing findings regarding incentives to change physician and patient behavior.
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National health plan UnitedHealth Group has had success using incentives to create patient engagement with its own employee population, according to an article in Health Affairs.
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A new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research looks at trends in aging and burden of illness, finding some evidence for greater health during most of life, with…
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For the dog days of August we have an appropriate topic, actuarial work on health insurance reserving. The American Academy of Actuaries releases what is actually a very useful guide…
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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.