The second annual report by the Massachusetts AG on health care spending trends continues to find that provider market power is a major factor and that using a risk-based payment methodology does not reduce payment variation or lower medical spending or utilization.
CMS has proposed a rule to implement a PPACA provision allowing access to extracts of provider-level Medicare data to evaluate performance, primarily on quality measures. This is a good first step, but just a first step in being able to completely profile physician practice patterns.
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 are being tested but their effect is uncertain.
McKinsey publishes an article on disease management, focusing on overseas experience and finding that properly designed and managed programs can lower costs, improve outcomes and increase patient satisfaction.
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 [email protected].
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