VITA Advisors, LLC is a research-based strategic advisory firm serving the health care industry. The VITA founders have significant industry experience and relationships and have earned reputations for success with integrity.
Physician Work Hours
An JAMA article examines whether physicians are working less, and if so, whether the reduction is related to changes in fees. The results indicate physicians are putting in fewer hours, which appears correlated with fee reductions.
Pay-for-Performance Program Evaluation
Three recent articles provide some additional insight into pay-for-performance programs. Research has generally shown inconsistent results, so there is great benefit in understanding what features may make a program most successful in improving quality and outcomes.
2010 Potpourri VIII
The Food & Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health have announced an initiative to collaborate on speeding significant research findings into products and clinical use. (FDA/NIH Announcement) Among other things the collaboration will create a leadership council to facilitate reaching its objectives. They also will award $6.75 million for the study of new [...]
Refining Quality Measurement Programs
Increasingly physicians and hospitals are measured on compliance with process of care and outcomes, in some cases being incented or penalized depending on their performance. A new study suggests how to ensure exceptions to these guidelines are properly taken into account.
Medicare Fee Change Effect on Utilization
A new research article examines the link between Medicare fee changes and the volume of utilization, confirming standard economic theory that the volume, or supply, of physician services does appear to be subject to normal supply and demand curves.
EBRI Workshop on Employment-based Health Benefits
EBRI held a workshop on the future of employment-based health benefits, bringing together experts from disparate constituencies to discuss the topic. As expected, there was significant disagreement about reform possibilities and what might happen in the absence of reform.
Commentary