Our Memorial Day Potpourri, celebrating health information such as the growth of high-deductible plans, physician starting salaries, benefit design for high-cost conditions, why emergency room physicians order tests, the use…
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As noted in yesterday's post, the Trustees of the Medicare Hospital and Supplementary Funds recognized the inadequacy of the official projections of Medicare's financial condition, and therefore had an alternative,…
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The Medicare Trustees have released the 2011 report on the status of the Medicare funds, indicating that they will be exhausted sooner than anticipated, due both to the recession and…
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An index that tracks medical spending shows that while per capita spending continues to rise, the rate of growth has slowed, particularly for Medicare. Hospital spending continues to be the…
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An article in JAMA discusses research on the use of remote monitoring teams in intensive care units, finding significant benefits in consistency and quality of care and likely lower costs.
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Once more into the world of health care to find nuggets of useful information, this week including the legality of wellness programs, the switch to ICD-10, pragmatic trials, the status…
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Notwithstanding clear research demonstrating the percutaneous coronary intervention has no significant outcomes advantages over medical therapy, almost no change in practice patterns has been observed, suggesting that doctors are seeking…
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A Health Affairs article discusses health care for elderly persons living in retirement communities and how various models might help improve care coordination and reduce spending.
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An editorial in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy illustrates common pitfalls in creating guidelines based on certain kinds of research and explains why cause and effect can often be…
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The 2011 Milliman Medical Index was released, showing a 7.3% increase for a family of four covered by an employer sponsored PPO plan. Premium share and other out-of-pocket payments continue…
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Another Potpourri, this week delivering factoids on drug companies' use of technology to reach physicians, waiting times in Massachusetts, use of atypical antipsychotics in nursing homes, unnecessary colonoscopies, EMRs and…
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Malpractice reform is stymied at the federal level and state efforts appear to have run out of steam, despite the likelihood that reform would significantly reduce wasteful spending. New approaches…
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CMS' proposed rule and explanations for hospital payments for 2012 are lengthy but as usual give a great background on the issues that go into the payment elements. Hospital payments…
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A new report surveyed physician practices on their experience with eprescribing systems, finding that while use was increasing some features were not often accessed because of system design and information…
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A brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality looks at hospital charges in the United States, which accounted for 31% of total health care expenditures. Spending by payer…
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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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