Headlines – Page 349 – Healthy Skeptic

Jun 11 2013

poll

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

A survey of about 1000 Americans reveals that most are satisfied with both the care they receive and their health plan, but view costs as a big concern, which they mostly, and wrongly, blame on health insurers.

Jun 11 2013

mc

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

A study of use of diabetes drugs by Medicare beneficiaries and people covered by the VA shows much higher brand drug use in Medicare, which could save $1.4 billion on diabetes drugs alone if its rate of generic use matched the VA’s.

Jun 11 2013

pbm

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

Cigna has signed a ten year agreement with pharmacy benefit manager Catamaran to provide technology for its pharmacy services.

Jun 10 2013

hr

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

An astounding 64% of the uninsured say they don’t know if they will buy insurance when the exchanges open next year, according to a survey by InsuranceQuotes. An additional 10% say they will just pay the penalty and stay uninsured. Fiasco in the making.

Jun 09 2013

mh

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

According to health plan Carefirst, the second year of its medical home program saved $98 million against projections for health costs for the members in the plan. Quality was better as well, but details of savings calculations or quality savings are unclear.

Jun 07 2013

hie

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

According to a study published in JAMIA on a health information exchange in Colorado, use of the exchange did not lower costs by eliminating redundant or unnecessary diagnostic testing.

Jun 06 2013

hr

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

A study in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases finds that the variables related to readmissions for pneumonia are not in the control of hospitals, validating the inappropriateness of penalizing them for supposed excessive readmissions.

Jun 05 2013

calex

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

California misled the public when it initially described rate filings for plans sold on its health insurance exchange, in fact, premiums for individual policies will go up dramatically, in some cases more than doubling, and networks will often be quite restricted.

Jun 05 2013

hie

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

According to a new survey from AFLAC, most Americans don’t want to have to make more choices regarding their health insurance and health care and feel like they don’t have the time or information to do so. Not good news for exchanges.

Jun 05 2013

nyt

By Kevin Roche Headlines No Comments

A New York Times story details cost comparisons that support the notion that unit pricing is the primary source of spending growth and high spending in the United States.