HHS and CMS have extended the rules providing relief from anti-kickback and fraud provisions for helping providers obtain health information technology to meet the meaningful use requirements.
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/current
Dec302013
A study in the American Journal of Managed Care looked at specialty drug use in a commercial population from 2000 to 2009, finding that about 1.6% of patients were prescribed a specialty drug, and these drugs represented about 9.3% of overall pharmacy spending. Over the study period specialty drug costs went from about 1% of total health spending to 3.7%, a rate of growth that likely has accelerated, but that the authors view as relatively insignificant in cost control efforts.
A study published in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy finds that statin users who have a copay are less likely to be adherent to their prescription and that those who have no copay on other drugs are less likely to adhere to their statin prescription than to the non-copay drugs.
According to an article in Modern Physician, disenchantment with EHRs among physicians has reached the point where there is concern that many will drop out of the government's meaningful use program.
According to a survey from Buck Consultants, once consumers are enrolled in a plan with a health savings account, they engage in more health conscious behaviors.
And yet another mobile app patient engagement and care management tool company has raised some initial capital, this time it is 1EQ getting $1.1 million.
A report from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission strongly opposes further hospital and physician group practice consolidation on the grounds that it will raise prices.
A company called Health:ELT is seeking to raise an additional $2.5 million for its tools to aid Medicaid programs, plans and enrollees in managing care and health. The company says it already had $5 million invested from its founders.
Christmas present or lump of coal? The administration has announced it will allow persons whose insurance was cancelled because it didn't comply with standards under the reform law to not comply with the individual mandate next year or to comply by buying a bare-bones policy. Cold comfort for millions who were happy with the health insurance they had.
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.