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
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?
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Providers
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
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
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
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.
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform
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
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
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
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
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.
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform
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.
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
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.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
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.
Tags: Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform
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
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.
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform
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
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
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
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
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.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
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.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
by Kevin Roche on Friday, October 9, 2009
The American College of Physicians presents its reform ideas.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform, Physicians, Providers
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
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
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
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.
Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Medical Care
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Whoops! We may not be counting the uninsured correctly.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Uninsured
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, September 17, 2009
Everybody says we need cost control and expanded access, but nobody wants to pony up.
Tags: Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform
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
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
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
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
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
by Kevin Roche on Thursday, July 16, 2009
The CBO examines the House Tri-Committee health reform bill.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform, Legislation
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
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
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
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
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
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Massachusetts residents are not thrilled with their health care reform, according to a Rasmussen poll.
Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Tags: Government, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance
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