More hospitals are being penalized, and penalized more on average, under Medicare's value-based purchasing program. Some hospitals are also getting bonuses. It is unclear what the consequences of the program are or will be on hospital behavior and patient care.
A survey from Humana indicates that on average Medicare beneficiaries spend 22 hours making a decision on Medicare choices, including selection of a Medicare Advantage plan. About 64% said that quality and keeping their current physician were the most important factors in their decisions.
A report from Evaluate finds that around 30 new drugs will be approved by the FDA this year, down from 43 last year. Many of these drugs, as with the ones approved last year, will be very expensive specialty drugs.
Validic has raised about $750,000 to create a product to gather and analyze data from various personal health activity devices, such as FitBit and Withings.
A survey from the Chamber of Commerce and the International Franchise Association indicates that many small businesses have already reduced hiring or hours in response to the reform law and that most believe their health care costs either already have or will go up as a result of the law.
A Harris Interactive poll finds that many Americans would allow their insurer to engage in fairly intrusive health behavior monitoring and even biometrics collection in exchange for lower premiums.
Scanadu has raised $10.5 million to continue to develop and sell its device that records various biometrics and uses software to help store, analyze and communicate the results. More frenzied app hype.
In a new report, the Government Accounting Office examines a number of federal information technology projects, including several for health purposes, and finds that the sponsoring agencies were not conducting adequate operational assessments for the projects. This probably was at least part of the problem with the insurance exchange website.
http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/658794.pdf
Nov142013
A report from the HHS Office of Inspector General suggests that hospital "list" prices do have an effect on some Medicare reimbursements, specifically those for "outlier" cases, which involve lengthy and expensive stays. The report suggests some hospitals are manipulating coding and charges, potentially costing the government an extra few billion a year.
RightCare Solutions has raised $5 million in a series B financing to facilitate the further development and marketing of its software to help providers manage care.
http://www.rightcaresolutions.com/news/
Nov122013
Health Care Service Corporation, a large Blues plan, announced an agreement to acquire Lovelace Health Plan of New Mexico. HCSC already owns the Blues plan in New Mexico so this action will reduce competition in the state.
The Advisory Board has acquired Care Team Connect, which offers software helping to connect providers caring for the same patient. The acquisition furthers The Advisory Board's offerings for care management by providers.
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.