The leaves fall but not the quality of our Potpourri, this week covering beneficiaries' use of Medicare Star ratings, quality of care guidelines and older patients, compassionate care, asthma care…
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The effect of telehealth tools on the health spending of Medicare beneficiaries with chronic disease has been controversial, with a number of studies finding no or very limited savings. New…
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End-of-life care is a significant contributor to overall health expenditures. New research in the Journal of the American Medical Association probes the effect of advance directives on end-of-life spending, with…
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Increasingly hospitals are being judged on their "quality" based on process and outcome measures and on their cost. New research examines the characteristics of hospitals which fall in various quartiles…
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A new paper discusses the state of shared decision-making, illuminating progress and barriers to use by patients and providers. This approach results in higher-quality care, because it is consistent with…
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The Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute releases its most recent survey on prescription drug benefit design and cost issues. While drug spending growth has moderated, the size of the category means…
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October already!! Our 39th Potpourri of the year has many autumnal pleasures including selections on CMS' Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative, a proposed guidance for FDA to use for mHealth regulation,…
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In another piece of research related to hospital readmissions, the Dartmouth Atlas project released a report on variations in readmission patterns across the country and among academic medical centers. Possible…
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The final look at the Kaiser employer health benefit survey examines findings on prescription drug coverage, wellness programs, retiree health plans, funding mechanisms and the effect of health care reform.
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The second part of our review of the Kaiser employer health benefits survey discusses employee contributions to premiums and employee cost-sharing trends, along with developments in high-deductible plans with savings…
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The annual Kaiser Foundation report on employment-based health coverage finds a rapid growth in per person and per family costs in 2009, but relative stability in the number of persons…
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We enter the year's home stretch with a great Potpourri, focusing on comparison friction in Part D plan shopping, a Harris poll on health-related internet use, the effect of aging…
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A new Rand report explores the use of health information technology to assist consumers in managing their health and making decisions about health care coverage. As health care coverage changes,…
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As Medicare pays more and more of the nation's total health bill, its decisions on what products and services it will reimburse for are more significant for vendors and for…
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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.