Here is how not to do good research. In a study in Health Services Research the authors talked to executives at physician practices to determine if a switch to being owned by a health system lessened patient responsiveness and concluded from the interviews that it did not. What do you expect them to say? Maybe you should talk to patients or use some objective measures.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29143325
Jan152018
New-fangled PBM SmithRx, gets a fresh dose of capital in $9 million Series A raise.
Pager dials up another round of capital, led by Horizon Blue Cross, for its mobile solution that helps patients find the most convenient and cost-effective care.
More news of provider consolidation, which we really need more of to help control spending (not), as Radiology Partners, the largest radiology practice in the country, buys Renaissance Imaging.
A fascinating piece of research from JP MorganChase Institute finds that consumers, especially low-income ones, have higher out-of-pocket health care spending immediately after receiving a tax refund. It appears that consumers delay receipt of care or payment of previous bills until they get a tax refund they believe is coming.
Jan092018
InTouch Health, a telemedicine vendor, is acquiring TruClinc, which offers telehealth software.
Trilliant Health, which apparently is beyond brilliant health, has raised an additional, undisclosed (meaning small) round of financing for its service to help hospitals and other providers acquire patients.
City Block has raised an additional $21 million in funding to support its work to partner with providers and payers to improve primary care for Medicare and Medicaid patients. The funding was announced in the most hype-laden press release I have seen in a while. Never a good sign.
Lets all share a moment of silence to honor hospitals, which, according to the American Hospital Association, saw uncompensated care costs rise to $38.3 billion in 2016, up about 8% from 2015, but still just a fraction of the excessive profits garnered by health systems from overpricing and the excessive costs they incur due to overpaying management.
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.