UnitedHealth Group released results of a study in which oncology practices were paid a flat sum for treatment of cancer. While performance on quality of care measures remained the same, total medical costs declined 34%, even though there was greater cost for chemotherapy drugs.
The HHS Office of Inspector General found a high rate of data "inconsistencies" in federal exchange enrollments, over 2.9 million, most related to citizenship or eligibility, and that almost all of these, 2.6 million could not be resolved. Similar problems appear to exist on the state exchanges.
Research in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatology finds that about a third of total knee replacement procedures were inappropriate or unnecessary, at a very large cost to the system and significant risks to the patients undergoing these procedures.
According to KPMG, many providers expect to have worse financial results from value-based contracts, but hope a focus on chronic care management and HIT may lessen the sting.
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.
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.