A new study suggests that Medicare's lower payments to hospitals, contrary to prevailing beliefs, don't lead to cost-shifting and actually lower private insurer payment rates. The reality or mechanism of…
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A study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research finds that greater penetration by Medicare Advantage plans leads to lower rates of hospitalization and mortality for beneficiaries.
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The annual report from the Trustees of the Medicare Trust Funds finds that they are in a little better shape than projected last year because Medicare spending has been below…
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released its annual report on quality of health care in the United States, covering the year 2012, finding both improvement and room…
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Quality measurement and incentive programs have become the norm but a new Report from the Urban Institute points out serious defects and issues with the design and execution of most…
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Medicare Advantage plans have been a source of controversy, but a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that they have beneficial spillover effects across the health…
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Once more into the breach on geographic variation is spending, with the latest analysis examining case mix or patient health adjustments and finding that patient health accounts for 75-85% of…
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The best way to understand health spending and its growth may be to examine the arc of spending over a typical life and to test the effect of better health…
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Overuse of certain medical services is believed to be widespread and to contribute to excessive health spending growth. A review of the literature suggests that no particular organized system of…
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A survey from the International Federation of Employee Benefit Plans examines employer attitudes toward their health plans and changes they may be making in light of the continuing implementation of…
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Several articles in Health Affairs discuss what can be done to ensure that Medicare spending stays in control, including benefit design changes and greater cost-sharing by beneficiaries.
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Self care and self-management of health have the potential to save costs, increase patient engagement and potentially improve outcomes. A study published in the British Journal of Medicine suggests that…
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A brief from the Employee Benefit Research Institute explores the extent to which companies appear to be switching employees to part-time status and what is happening with the health insurance…
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An analysis in Health Affairs examines factors behind the rise in health spending from 1987 to 2009, finding that a rise in treated disease prevalence and spending per treated case…
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A survey by Accenture looks at use of health information technology in several countries, finding increased use by physicians, especially for clinical purposes.
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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.