Unbiased Analysis of Today's Healthcare Issues
Key findings from a CHCF issue brief on Health Care in the San Francisco Bay Area include: Although two hospital systems account for half of inpatient discharges, as a result of geographic barriers, much of health care delivery occurs within local submarkets. Health care providers weathered the economic downturn comparatively well, with hospital systems showing…
“I am the person…who irreversibly founded democracy in Haiti”. Signed: “Jean-Claude Duvalier, President for Life” From the insightful book, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson
Here is some reading to take you into the weekend, including a number of articles indicating that premium’s in Obamacare’s health insurance exchanges is going to be much more expensive than anticipated. ‘Get Ready for Some Startling Rate Increases’ Exchage user fees. Majority of Americans Now Oppose Universal Coverage Mmme Secretary Shecantbeserious. History of the…
Hank Stern has posted a Chanukah-inspired Health Wonk Review: Festival of Lights edition at InsureBlog. Check it out!
One of my favorite health economists and bloggers is Austin Frakt of the Incidental Economist. In a recent paper, he examines whether new Health Reform provisions have learned from the mistakes in the 1990s from shifting provider reimbursement to a capitation based-system. To find the answer, you’ll need to read his commentary (with Rick Mayes)…
Geisinger Health System is a physician-led, not-for-profit, integrated delivery system serving an area with approximately 2.6 million people in northeastern and central Pennsylvania with innovative products and services designed to drive higher performance. Geisinger is known for providing high quality care at low cost. How do they do it? Is it how they incentivize physicians?…
Some background: Created in March 2007, the PQRI established a financial incentive for eligible healthcare professionals to participate in a voluntary quality reporting program. By reporting on a minimum of 3 measures on a specified group of patients, a physician can earn a bonus payment of 0.5% on all of their Medicare billing for 2012.…
It was approved not only to improve the health of elderly Americans, but also protect them from financial ruin. No longer will illness crush and destroy the savings that [older Americans] have so carefully put away over a lifetime so that they might enjoy dignity in their later years. President Lyndon Johnson, when signing Medicare…