$6.9 million. That’s the error tax “average US employer” pays for hospital errors, given 1,000 admissions in a year for all covered lives. The Leapfrog Group got that number from its new calculator. It’s designed to help employers figure out the hidden tax that comes from getting care from C, D or F hospitals. The […]
After years of big increases, the premium for my business’s HMO from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts flattened for our September 1, 2012 renewal. The premium actually declined 0.2 percent. We have just received the renewal proposal for the coming year and I’m excited to report that the premium has dropped again, this time […]
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics came out with its June jobs report last week and, consistent with usual trends, healthcare jobs are booming. In June 2013 there were approximately 20,000 new healthcare jobs in the U.S., ¾ of which were in the ambulatory care sector and ¼ of which were in hospitals. Healthcare jobs […]
At a recent conference about patient engagement, I found myself reflecting on the large share of voice that patients with severe, chronic and/or comorbid conditions receive and the very small share of voice attributed to the other 90% who seek only episodic care. I empathize with those who suffer from chronic conditions and wholeheartedly support […]
The forces of transparency in healthcare pricing got a boost today. PokitDok now has 4 million more dollars to make it easier for consumers to do comparison shopping among doctors. The company’s series A round was led by New Atlantic Ventures and syndicated with Rogers Venture Partners. Seed investors including Subtraction Capital, Zac Zeitlin and […]
Calculating the return on investment of expensive drugs and surgeries can mean good news for patients. A recent conversation among decision makers at big insurance companies also showed that payers aren’t the heartless bureaucrats they are often made out to be. Leaders from UnitedHealth Group, Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota and Aetna explained how they […]
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
When movie stars become unbankable, they’re no longer a slam dunk at the box office. When investments become unbankable, they’re relegated to the junk pile. For ordinary Americans deemed unbankable, those who don’t have a traditional ...
Hospitals hoping to attract patients and build their brands are teaming up with medical-screening companies to promote tests aimed at consumers worried about potentially deadly heart disease or strokes. What their promotions don't say is that an influ...
At Maxwell Health, innovation in healthcare means 360 degrees of service wrapped up in a beautiful user experience. The new company is helping employers and employees make health insurance decisions from the first step of buying the best policy through picking providers to becoming healthier. The company sells insurance and then sticks with the customer […]
The strongest advocate for expanding Medicaid—and the likely source of funding for the massive advertising campaign—is the hospital lobby. We hear that hospitals are going broke. They can’t make ends meet. The uninsured are breaking the hospitals’ backs from emergency room over-utilization. Hospitals won’t survive unless Medicaid is expanded. (This is the most interesting claim, […]
Gabby Everett, the site director for BioLabs Pegasus Park, offered a tour of the space and shared some examples of why early-stage life science companies should choose North Texas.
As I was writing about WellnessFX and their free blood test, I dug into LabCorp’s site. I wondered if there were laws about releasing lab results directly to patients. Obviously I haven’t been doing this long enough. Of course, there are laws, and of course, they vary from state to state (scroll down to see […]
Hospitals don't have to tell patients they are under "observation" care and Medicare will not cover the costs of that care if the patient is not admitted. Patients who are not admitted for at least three consecutive days do not qualify Medicare's nursing home coverage. Advocates have filed a lawsuit to change these rules.
A new article in the journal Blood shows that even doctors who have never worried about the price of drugs are starting to consider cost and effectiveness before prescribing.
Didn’t know you have to negotiate your hospital bills? Maybe you are a healthy person who rarely gets medical bills or deals with them when they do come. Two of my experiences have shown me that yes, negotiating is possible and has a significant ROI. But the bigger problem with that “solution” for lowering healthcare […]
In Alabama, if you get your health insurance through your employer and you lose your job, you quickly realize there aren't a lot options for purchasing coverage on your own. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has had a virtual monopoly in the state ...