Posts Tagged “Health Care Reform”
ShowHide 3rd Party PapersCommonwealth Fund: Analysis shows that up to 16.6 million workers are in firms that would be eligible for the tax credit in 2010 to 2013.
Commonwealth Fund: The Affordable Care Act is likely to stabilize and reverse women’s growing exposure to health care costs
Urban Institute: How will hospitals be affected by health care reform?
Urban Institute: How will physicians be affected by health care reform?
CBO Presentation: In CBO’s judgment, the health legislation enacted earlier this year does not substantially diminish that pressure.
National Institute for Health Care Reform: Health Coverage for the High-Risk Uninsured: Policy Options for Design of the Temporary High-Risk Pool
CommonwealthFund: Young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 represent one of the largest segments of the uninsured; approximately 13.7 million were uninsured in 2008.
CMS ONC: Estimated Financial Effects of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” as Amended
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Accountable Care Organizations
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, August 11, 2010
A Health Affairs/Robert Wood Johnson Issue Brief examines the accountable care organization concept, particularly as embodied in the recent federal health legislation. While there may be potential, as ACOs are structured for Medicare there will be many challenges on the road to meeting expectations.
Tags: Accountable Care Organization, Health Care Reform, Medical Care, Physicians
Massachusetts Reports
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Although its reform effort appears to have gone amok, largely for cost reasons, the state of Massachusetts is producing a lot of useful data and research on medical service delivery, including three recent ones on avoidable emergency room and hospital use and the state of primary care services.
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Hospital, Physicians
More Misleading Tripe on Health Insurance Profits
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, July 29, 2010
Trashing insurance companies is popular and one of the most frequent complaints is about their premium increases and profits. A NEJM perspective uses misleading information to continue dumping on health plans.
Tags: Health Care Reform, HIT
2010 Potpourri XXVI
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, July 24, 2010
More midsummer musings, covering possible replacements for AWP, the effect of Part D on heart failure drug use, the VA’s telehealth programs, venture capital activity, self-management of high blood pressure, and of course, more problems with health insurance costs in Massachusetts.
Tags: Drugs, Financings, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Telemedicine
2010 Potpourri XXIV
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, July 10, 2010
Sitting indoors seeking relief from the summer heat? Here’s a montage of cool and refreshing health care items, including CPOE systems, accountable care organizations, Massachusetts’ reform experience, reducing imaging, and medical management trends.
Tags: Care Management, Government, Health Care Reform, HIT, Hospital, Medical Care
Fireworks Potpourri
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, July 3, 2010
We light up the sky with a scintillating selection of health care bombshells. Okay, maybe not that great, but some hopefully useful info on the VA’s health information system, MRIs and emergency cardiac care, business method and process patents, end-of-life care, actuaries’ views on how to control costs and, of course, more issues in Massachusetts.
Tags: Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Medical Care
The US Health System Stinks…Or Does It?
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Commonwealth Fund issues one of its regular reports designed to demonstrate how bad the US health system is compared to those of other developed countries. Unfortunately, the report is based almost exclusively on subjective survey data and fails to provide any adjustments to create a truer picture of the status of our system vis-a-vis others.
Tags: Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Quality, Health Care Reform
2010 Potpourri XXIII
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, June 26, 2010
Once more into the breach with the Saturday health care roundup, including medication adherence, monitoring patients’ health status in their homes, Massachusetts’ reform update and insurance costs, hospitals’ economic contribution, hospital cost shifting and consumers’ views on use of health IT.
Tags: Drugs, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, HIT, HomeCare, Hospital, Monitoring, Telemedicine
Reform Law Will Force Most Employers To Change Their Health Plan
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Administration has been caught again in how misleading its arguments in favor of the “reform” law were; this time in regard to how many employer-sponsored health plans will have to change as a result of the bill.
2010 Potpourri XXI
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, June 12, 2010
Another potpourri of health care items, including telemedicine, mergers and acquisitions, unnecessary medical care, Massachusetts struggle with health insurance rates and health costs, e-visits, and a different suggestion for reforming the system.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, HIT, M&A, Telemedicine
Will Reform Act Slow Health Costs?
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, June 10, 2010
Two federal budget experts examine CBO’s final analysis of the deficit effect of the health reform bill as passed and find that it is very likely that instead of a small amount of deficit reduction over the next decade, it will likely to add to an already desperate federal fiscal crisis.
2010 Potpourri XX
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, June 5, 2010
More health care nuggets for the weekend, including personalized medicine, health reform, health insurance premiums, telemedicine, and community health centers.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, HIT, Medicaid, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine, Telemedicine
2010 Potpourri XIX
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, May 29, 2010
Summer is starting and you are just laying around at the beach or the lake, eager to get a few missed health care tidbits. Here they are! Telemedicine, health reform, employer provided health insurance, computers providing health care and a nice merger.
Tags: aquisitions, Health Care Quality, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, HIT, Telemedicine
2010 Potpourri XVIII
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, May 22, 2010
Yet another in our long series of weekend catchup on miscellaneous health care items that we missed in earlier commentaries, including telemedicine, smoking bans, engagement in wellness efforts, the cost of high-risk pools, telemedicine and getting results in health improvement programs.
Tags: Consumers, Health Care Reform, HIT, Telemedicine, Wellness and Prevention
Drug Price Increases
by Kevin Roche on Friday, May 21, 2010
AARP publishes one of its regular updates on drug price increases, this one examining changes in pricing for brand name, generic and specialty drugs commonly used by Medicare beneficiaries in the first quarter of 2010.
Tags: Drugs, Health Care Reform
2010 Potpourri XVII
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, May 15, 2010
Here we go again. The CBO now estimates that the health bill has a number of discretionary spending items in it which will likely add over $100 billion to the costs of the act. (CBO Letter) It is really interesting how a few weeks after the law is enacted, the government suddenly finds several new [...]
Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Medical Care, Telemedicine
2010 Potpourri XVI
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, May 8, 2010
No mother’s day would be complete without some health care news to ruminate on. This week’s include psychiatric drugs, the cost of the SGR fix, home health care costs, telemedicine and using computers to aid in diagnosis.
Tags: Drugs, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, HIT, Medicare, Telemedicine
The “Reform” Truth Will Out
by Kevin Roche on Monday, May 3, 2010
The Office of the Actuary in CMS, which is a highly credible group, paints a far less optimistic picture of the recent health law’s effect than the Administration or Congressional leaders do. And the CBO gives us an estimate of just how many middle-class Americans are likely to pay a penalty rather than buy insurance.
Tags: Health Care Reform
PWC’s Take on Health Reform Effects
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Price Waterhouse Cooper has published a number of interesting reports on aspects of health care. They are one of the first large service companies to forecast changes to the health system that might result for the recently passed health law.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Medical Care
Employer Reactions to Health Reform
by Kevin Roche on Monday, April 26, 2010
The new national health law poses a number of challenges for employers in regard to the health benefits they offer to their employees. A poll published in Business of Insurance gives some early insight into companies’ initial reaction to the new law.
Health Care, the Federal Deficit and Federal Debt
by Kevin Roche on Monday, April 12, 2010
A commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine reminds us that health care has been a major contributor to the federal deficit and consequently the national debt and that it is likely to continue to add to our financial woes, notwithstanding the recent health act.
What! Massachusetts Again? Yep, With a Side of Maine and New York
by Kevin Roche on Friday, April 9, 2010
States that supposedly led the way on health care reform are finding out it was the bleeding edge that they were on. Insurers are always the easy target, but bashing them won’t solve the underlying cost problem. If the federal bill actually is implemented, the experience of these states will likely be replicated nationally.
Tags: Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
Volume and Quality in Hospital Procedures
by Kevin Roche on Monday, April 5, 2010
For some years researchers have examined the link, if any, between the volume of a certain type of procedure or service at a hospital and outcomes. A new study published in NEJM extends that research, finding that at a certain level volume is associated with lower mortality.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Hospital
2010 Potpourri XI
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, April 3, 2010
This week’s collection includes obesity, clinical trials results, how hospitals make money from physicians, strategic implications of reform, what reform is likely to do to young people’s insurance premiums and patents on genes. Enjoy!
Tags: Consumers, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Hospital, Physicians
The Massachusetts Debacle
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s final report on what is driving health care cost increases in Massachusetts confirms the preliminary version’s finding that most of the spending rise is due to nothing more than application of raw provider market power to extract high prices from private payers. Another report also examines hospitals’ pricing practices.
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Hospital, Physicians
Health Care Reform Special
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, March 27, 2010
To the delight of some and the dismay of many, the health “reform” bill has passed and been signed. Very few Americans, or Congresspeople, understand what is in the bill and they are going to be very unpleasantly surprised by the taxes, the continued rapid growth in both health costs and insurance premiums and the severe negative consequences for our national finances.
Tags: Health Care Reform
Health Care Reform Status
by Kevin Roche on Monday, March 15, 2010
We may or may not be nearing the end game of health care reform, at least as currently proposed by the Administration. Whether it passes or not, the problems of cost, access and quality will remain and private, not government, action is most likely to be the source of solutions to those problems.
Tags: Health Care Reform
2010 Potpourri VIII
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, March 6, 2010
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 [...]
Tags: Drugs, Health Care Reform, Malpractice, Retail Clinics, Workplace
Maybe It’s the Providers that Are the Cause of Spending Increases.
by Kevin Roche on Monday, March 1, 2010
Two more studies suggest that provider price increases, particularly those of hospitals, are the cause for overall spending rises and notes that there is little competitive check on providers’ ability to raise prices. When are policy-makers going to start paying attention?
2010 Potpourri VII
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, February 27, 2010
The latest in our regular amalgamation of health care news items, including telehealth, how many people really die from not having health insurance, silent PPOs, progress in automating claims processing and more on individual insurance policy price hikes.
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Telemedicine
What Reforms Should Be Considered If Comprehensive Changes Fail?
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, February 16, 2010
If there is no systemic federal health reform legislation, what are the most important individual bills that could be considered to limit cost increases, improve access and improve quality? In honor of Presidents’ Day, we have a few suggestions for President Obama.
Tags: Health Care Reform
What If There Is No Major Health Reform?
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Right now the prospects for passage of comprehensive health reform appear dim. If nothing is passed, what are the implications for various participants in the health system? Is it more of the same, or will there be significant program, provider and payer initiated changes?
Tags: Health Care Reform
CBO Looks at Republican Budget Proposal
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, February 2, 2010
CBO analyzes a Republican proposal on federal spending, finding that the health care-related provisions would significantly reduce federal spending and national health expenditures, while increasing covered persons by an unspecified number.
Quality Reporting Programs Impose Costs on Physician Practices
by Kevin Roche on Monday, January 25, 2010
Quality measurement and pay-for-performance programs continue to spread, in the belief that they will improve health care quality. A new study looks at the costs these programs impose on physician practices, finding that any financial incentives are usually lower than the costs.
Tags: Health Care Reform, HIT, Pay For Performance, Physicians
2010 Potpourri 2
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, January 16, 2010
Another collection of health care tidbits, a little telemedicine, a little reform, a little on medical care, a little personalized medicine and a smidgen of physician happiness.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Personalized Medicine, Physicians, Telemedicine
Here We Go Again With the Office of the Actuary
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Once more the CMS Office of the Actuary looks at the current Senate reform bill–as passed this time. Findings include a coverage of a few million more persons, slightly higher cost, very slight change in the rate of increase in total health spending.
Tags: Health Care Reform
Better Reform Ideas
by Kevin Roche on Monday, January 4, 2010
It may be too late to stop the current health reform express, but there clearly are better ideas to consider if Congress would merely take a deep breath, pause and think. Alain Enthoven articuates some of those better ideas in a Health Affairs blog post.
Tags: Health Care Reform
New Year Potpourri
by Kevin Roche on Friday, January 1, 2010
Many thanks for your readership of the last year and here are a few health care predictions and observations about likely trends for 2010.
West Virginia Health Report Identifies Possible Savings
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, December 31, 2009
States have often been leaders in experimenting with different methods of delivering and financing health care. West Virginia commissioned a report to identify methods by which it might reduce costs, while increasing coverage and not harming quality.
Report Suggests Reform Bills Will Cost Less Than CBO Projects
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, December 24, 2009
A report suggests that the reforms proposed in the Senate and House bills will lower costs far more than CBO or others project, but the reasoning seems shaky, particularly in estimating lower health costs resulting from coverage.
Tags: Health Care Reform
CBO Looks Anew at the Now Likely to Pass Senate Bill
by Kevin Roche on Monday, December 21, 2009
CBO analyzes the final version of the Senate bill, finding the same effect on coverage and the federal deficit. Once again, the cost reduction which pays for coverage subsidies is vaporous and there is little true reform in this bill.
Tags: Health Care Reform
Money, Money, Money Makes the Health Reform World Go Round
by Kevin Roche on Monday, December 14, 2009
Health care organizations of all types have stepped up their lobbying and campaign contributions, obviously hoping to influence reform. The amount of money spent on these activities suggests the country is only going to get what interest groups paid to get in the bill; malpractice reform is a good example.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Malpractice
More From the Office of Actuary on Reform
by Kevin Roche on Monday, December 14, 2009
The Office of the Actuary strikes again, finding that the current Senate bill would likely increase total health spending over the next ten years and its costs savings are questionable.
Tags: Health Care Reform
Potpourri VII
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, December 12, 2009
Mercer surveyed employers to ascertain their reaction to the proposed tax on high value insurance coverage. The majority said they would reduce benefits to avoid the tax. Seven percent said they would outright terminate insurance coverage. Of those saying they would reduce benefits, most would do so by raising deductibles and copays. Employers also narrowly [...]
Tags: Drugs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Medical Care, Pay For Performance, Telemedicine
Reform Impact on Premiums
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, December 10, 2009
Two groups have put out statements suggesting that the CBO is underestimating the effect of the Senate reform bill on private health insurance premiums, probably by quite a bit. The relatively weak penalty for not having health insurance is likely to cause significant adverse selection among those who choose to buy rather than pay the penalty.
CBO Discusses Senate Bill Effect on Premiums
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The CBO estimates that the Senate reform bill will raise individual premiums by ten percent, although that will be offset by subsidies for many individuals. Overall the CBO finds group premiums would likely decline very slightly.
Senate Begins Health Reform Debate
by Kevin Roche on Monday, November 30, 2009
The Senate takes up its version of the health reform bill, creating an opportune moment to revisit what the goals of reform are and whether this bill will actually widen access, lower cost or improve quality. The answer is likely not.
CBO Report on Senate Bill
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, November 19, 2009
The CBO analyzes the most recent Senate health reform bill, finding it would increase coverage to 94% of Americans and reduce the deficit over the next ten years, but the deficit reduction is based on unsustainable assumptions.
Tags: Health Care Reform
Office of the Actuary Strikes Again
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The CMS Office of the Actuary zings the House bill, finding it will likely increase total national health care spending, its proposed savings from cuts in payments to Medicare institutional providers are unlikely to be sustainable and may reduce beneficiaries’ access to services.
Weekend Potpourri III
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, November 7, 2009
Yet another installment of the weekend health care miscellany that you are undoubtedly growing fond of.
Tags: Comparative Effectiveness, Health Care Reform, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine
CBO Scores House Health Reform Bill
by Kevin Roche on Monday, November 2, 2009
The Congressional Budget Office releases its preliminary analysis of the House health care reform bill, finding it will expand coverage to most legal citizens and reduce the deficit.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform
Office of Actuary Says House Bill Bends Cost Curve–Up!
by Kevin Roche on Monday, October 26, 2009
An analysis from the CMS Office of Actuary examines the effects of the current House of Representatives health care reform bill and finds that while it would substantially reduce the number of uninsured persons, it would also likely significantly increase not only the federal deficit, but total health spending.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform
Weekend Potpourri
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, October 24, 2009
A miscellany of interesting items for your weekend browsing pleasure.
Tags: Care Management, Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Telemedicine
Another Massachusetts Update
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The latest survey on the impact of reform in Massachusetts indicates that employers are continuing to offer good coverage, but costs, especially to small firms and their employees, are going up.
AHIP-Sponsored Report on Baucus Bill Impact on Premiums
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, October 15, 2009
AHIP commissioned PriceWaterhouseCoopers to do an analysis of the Baucus bill’s impact on insurance premiums. The report, which has been strongly attacked by reform proponents, concludes that the weak individual mandate and light penalties will drive costs higher; costs which will be borne by consumers and employers through higher insurance premiums.
Physician Group’s Health Reform Ideas
by Kevin Roche on Friday, October 9, 2009
The American College of Physicians presents its reform ideas.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform, Physicians, Providers
Don’t Get Too Giddy About Baucus Bill
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, October 8, 2009
The CBOs initial score of the Baucus bill suggests it will reduce the deficit, but there are many caveats, especially on physician payments.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform
Not Everyone Is Happy With Canadian Health Care Either
by Kevin Roche on Monday, September 28, 2009
While the United States is often portrayed as having the most troubled health system among developed nations, every country has serious issues, including Canada.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform
The Advantage of Medicare Advantage
by Kevin Roche on Friday, September 25, 2009
AHIP presents evidence on the value of Medicare Advantage plans in delivering more efficient and effective care.
Tags: Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Hospital
Are Our Health Costs High?
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, September 24, 2009
Researchers associated with the Dartmouth Atlas project reinforce their viewsg on high health costs in a NEJM Perspective.
Counting the Uninsured
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Whoops! We may not be counting the uninsured correctly.
The Health Care Version of NIMBY
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, September 17, 2009
Everybody says we need cost control and expanded access, but nobody wants to pony up.
Geographic Variation in Health Spending
by Kevin Roche on Monday, September 14, 2009
Geographic variation in health spending is hot, but the reasons for it are still murky.
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Medical Care, Providers
Another State Reform Example
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, August 18, 2009
While Massachusetts is the state health care reform example most often referred to in the discussion over federal reform efforts, Tennessee’s earlier program to extend coverage may also offer lessons.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform
An Interesting Pay-for-Performance Evaluation
by Kevin Roche on Friday, July 24, 2009
An analysis of England’s pay-for-performance system finds improvement but some interesting trends and concerns as well.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Medical Care, Pay For Performance, Physicians
Drug Manufacturers Up to Old Tricks
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Between lobbying and price increases, drug manufacturers are doing a good job of protecting their economic interests.
Tags: Drugs, Health Care Reform, Pharmaceutical
Politicians’ Health Misstatements
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, July 21, 2009
As health reform heats up, the public needs to be careful about what politicians say; they seldom are completely accurate.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform
CBO and the House Bill
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, July 16, 2009
The CBO examines the House Tri-Committee health reform bill.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform, Legislation
Comparative Effectiveness Updates
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, July 9, 2009
A number of reports and commentaries have recently been issued on comparative effectiveness research.
Tags: Comparative Effectiveness, Government, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
UnitedHealth Proposes Administrative Cost Savings
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A new UnitedHealth Group report identifies $332 billion over ten years in administrative cost savings.
Tags: Administrative Costs, Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
Money Makes the World Go Round
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Common Cause has issued a report detailing the amounts health groups are spending on campaign contributions and lobbying.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform, Legislation, Politics
Poll Results on Paying for Health Reform
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, July 2, 2009
A recent Kaiser Foundation data note looks at attitudes on paying for health reform.
Tags: Consumers, Government, Health Care Reform
JAMA Commentary Gives Crux of Cost Control Issue
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, July 1, 2009
A recent JAMA commentary gives a concise summary of the cost control problems.
Tags: Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Medical Care
Another Massachusetts Warning
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Massachusetts residents are not thrilled with their health care reform, according to a Rasmussen poll.
Dumping on the CBO
by Kevin Roche on Friday, June 26, 2009
Unhappy with its projections, Democrats have beginning disparaging the CBO’s estimates on health reform.
Tags: CBO, Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform
Maybe We Should Focus on Cost Control First
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Reality appears to have hit the health reform train head-on in the form of the costs of expanding coverage. Maybe we should focus on getting costs under control and then coverage extensions would be affordable.
Tags: Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Legislation
More Required Reading from the CBO
by Kevin Roche on Monday, June 22, 2009
The CBO’s June 16th letter to Senator Conrad is an excellent summary of health reform and cost control ideas and implementation issues.
Tags: CBO, Comparative Effectiveness, Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
CBO Opines on Industry Cost-Saving Suggestions
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, June 18, 2009
Congressional Budget Office has responded briefly to the proposals by several health industry segments to create cost savings of up to two trillion dollars over ten years.
Tags: CBO, Government, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
CBO’s Initial Reaction To Kennedy Plan
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Congressional Budget Office’s initial assessment of Senator Kennedy’s Affordable health Choices Act is that it would increase deficits by about one trillion dollars over the next ten years, but only increase the number of covered citizens by about a net 16 million people.
Tags: CBO, Government, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Uninsured
Republicans Take on Comparative Effectiveness Research
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Republican Senators have now introduced a bill to essentially gut federal funding or use of comparative effectiveness research, continuing an attack on the proposed expansion of such research for the purpose of controlling costs
Tags: Comparative Effectiveness, Government, Health Care Reform, Medical Care
Public Plan Option Discussion Heats Up
by Kevin Roche on Friday, June 12, 2009
One of the controversial provisions in some health care reform proposals has been creation of a public plan, often analogized to Medicare, which would be an option offered alongside private insurance plans.
Tags: AMA, Government, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Payor
Another Massachusetts Update
by Kevin Roche on Monday, June 1, 2009
Massachusetts has become such a bellweather for health reform that every report analyzing the program’s outcomes is eagerly anticipated. Health Affairs, vol. 28, page w578 (May 2009), looks at some of the results as of the fall of 2008.
Large Health Plan Companies Weigh In on Health Reform
by Kevin Roche on Friday, May 29, 2009
Several of the country’s largest health plans have recently issued reports or statements relating to health care reform. While the source needs to be considered in reading any discussion of health reform, these plans do have a significant body of experience regarding coverage, cost and quality issues and they retain formidable lobbying weight.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Payor
ShowHide Headlines
President Barack Obama is pushing to speed up insurance coverage for young adults in their twenties
What, and when? The effective dates of major provisions of the health-care overhaul legislation
Health insurers are girding for a fight over who should regulate the new the health-care exchanges
House Democrats are increasingly concerned that they could be marginalized at the bargaining table
A Senate aide tells Washington Wire that the two chambers plan to skip the formal conference process
Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson says he doesn’t see how fellow Democrats can resolve all his objections
Atul Gawande: The health-care bill has no master plan for curbing costs. Is that a bad thing?
Unions pressure Democrats on health insurance tax