A study on colorectal screening for women compared the effect of a web-based intervention and a print intervention. The most interesting finding, however, relates to how often people signed on…
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The Wall Street Journal published a special section devoted to big health care issues, with a pro and con format on questions ranging from should there be a health insurance…
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Another zinger of a Potpourri, with nuggets on a GAO audit of NQF work, use of web tools for diabetes management, the Healthways well-being index, the problem with federal health…
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Venture capital is critical to the formation and growth of small businesses and this is as true or more true for health care than it is for other industries. The…
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The American Hospital Association releases its Principles and Guidelines for Changes in Hospital Ownership, which recognize and attempt to ameliorate the public concerns about the effects of hospital consolidation or…
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has engaged in a number of care management demonstrations over the years. The Congressional Budget Office adds its assessment to the body of…
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A noted health economist discusses the recent release of national health spending and spending growth for 2010, finding that while expenditures appear to have slowed, we are a long way…
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Winter is getting long and tedious by now, but our Potpourri offers a welcome respite, with refreshing tidbits on hospital uncompensated care, teledermatology, Medicaid controls of antipsychotic use, Medicare cuts…
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Researchers have published a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association which examines hospital readmission rates for heart attack patients in multiple countries. The United States has higher…
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An astoundingly small number of patients account for a very high percentage of overall national health expenditures and an equally astounding large number of patients account for a very small…
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When money starts getting attached to calculations, the nitty-gritty of how the data for the calculations is collected and how the calculation is defined become very important. An article in…
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The Employee Benefit Research Institute provides a quick look at two interesting topics. The new reform law requires that employer health plans provide coverage for adult children up to the…
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Our latest Potpourri reveals details about causes of workplace injuries, the effect of raising the Medicare eligibility age, benefit levels in existing health policies, false claims prosecutions and off-label drug…
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The official report on national health spending for 2010 has been finalized by the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The increase over 2009…
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Research in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that Medicare Advantage health plans use offering of certain non-required benefits, like fitness club memberships, to attract and retain healthier beneficiaries,…
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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.