A Harris Interactive poll finds that many Americans would allow their insurer to engage in fairly intrusive health behavior monitoring and even biometrics collection in exchange for lower premiums.
Scanadu has raised $10.5 million to continue to develop and sell its device that records various biometrics and uses software to help store, analyze and communicate the results. More frenzied app hype.
In a new report, the Government Accounting Office examines a number of federal information technology projects, including several for health purposes, and finds that the sponsoring agencies were not conducting adequate operational assessments for the projects. This probably was at least part of the problem with the insurance exchange website.
http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/658794.pdf
Nov142013
A report from the HHS Office of Inspector General suggests that hospital "list" prices do have an effect on some Medicare reimbursements, specifically those for "outlier" cases, which involve lengthy and expensive stays. The report suggests some hospitals are manipulating coding and charges, potentially costing the government an extra few billion a year.
RightCare Solutions has raised $5 million in a series B financing to facilitate the further development and marketing of its software to help providers manage care.
http://www.rightcaresolutions.com/news/
Nov122013
Health Care Service Corporation, a large Blues plan, announced an agreement to acquire Lovelace Health Plan of New Mexico. HCSC already owns the Blues plan in New Mexico so this action will reduce competition in the state.
The Advisory Board has acquired Care Team Connect, which offers software helping to connect providers caring for the same patient. The acquisition furthers The Advisory Board's offerings for care management by providers.
A study at Vanderbilit University reveals that an easy way to improve patient satisfaction is to make a hospital patient knows their doctor's name and some information about him or her. Patient satisfaction is more important now as it factors into the value-based purchasing formula.
A study in Health Psychology finds that how order sets are presented in an EHR may affect how many tests are ordered. Using a default opt-out or recommended by experts option led to more appropriate tests being used, but also increased health spending.
Passport Health Communications is being acquired by Experian for $850 million. Passport helps health care providers manage their revenue cycles and obtain payment.
As government auditors begin to look at the billions of dollars in EHR incentive payments, firms are having to return some of them that were inappropriately received.
ShapeUp, another of the plethora of companies operating in the health and wellness space, has raised an additional $7.5 million to expand its mobile capabilities in wellness program engagement and operation.
From the we told you so department, early enrollments at the health exchange suggest young people aren't buying, which means an adverse selection shock for the health plans. Now we know why the large insurers very wisely largely stayed out of the exchanges.
In a truly baffling decision, HHS has decided to allow drug manufacturers to offer copay assistance to purchasers of commercial health plans on the health exchanges. The practice raises costs for everyone by encouraging inappropriate use of very expensive drugs.
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.