According to a survey from Vitals, belonging to their health plan's network is far and away the primary factor in selecting a doctor and only 30% are fully satisfied with their current physician.
Continuing a trend of provider systems looking to become insurers, Ascension Health is buying a Michigan Health insurer, U.S. Health and Life Ins. Co., for $50 million.
According to research in the British Medical Journal, primary care doctors who dress more formally are often more trusted by and develop better rapport with patients, although the results may vary by age, specialty and other demographic factors.
The latest Mark Farrah Associates report indicates that from the 3rd quarter of 2013 to the 3rd quarter of 2014 the seven largest health plan companies added 5.7 million members but had mixed profitability gains.
A study in the Journal of Political Economy suggests that ERs that spend more get better quality outcomes, further confusing the relationship between health spending and quality outcomes.
VirMedica, which provides sales and marketing assistance to specialty pharma, has acquired TransEngen, which verifies authorization for payment for such drugs, for $15 million.
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.