Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Managed care firm CorVel recently announced its results for the most recent quarter; revenues are down 7% and EPS dropped 12.5%. The company attributed its poor returns to soft claims volume in the workers comp sector (the source of most … Continue reading CorVel earnings report
Read More...For a real world view of consumer-directed health care, we can turn to the recent report by the Kaiser Family Foundation which indicates “Twenty-seven percent of women under age 65 delayed or went without needed medical care in the last … Continue reading Consumer-directed rationing
Read More...An article in today’s New York Times discusses some of the issues inherent in the introduction of new medical devices and the quest for insurance reimbursement for same. Predictably, a spine surgeon accuses insurers of refusing to reimburse just to … Continue reading New devices and reimbursement
Read More...In yet another sign that the group health world is consolidating, Aetna has purchased PPOM, the dominant non-Blues network in Michigan, along with parent company HMS Health. PPOM looks to be the prize of the deal, as it adds a … Continue reading Aetna’s HMS purchase
Read More...The two competing economic models of health care are greatly influencing the debate on the future of health care in the US. One, hewing closely to the free-market standard, calls for consumer-driven decisions, free markets open to all investors in … Continue reading Competing models of health care
Read More...CalPERS has managed to hold HMO rate increases for 2006 to 8.7%, while PPO increases are up 9.5%. CalPERS is widely recognized as one of, if not the most, effective negotiators with managed care plans, so their achievement will set … Continue reading California HMO costs
Read More...There are several signs that indicate a growing awareness of the importance of the physician in managing workers comp injuries. While many in the industry have paid lip service to the treating physician, their actions have been louder than words. … Continue reading Physicians in workers compensation
Read More...Texas Governor Rick Perry signed a Workers Comp reform bill into law yesterday, authorizing the use of networks for treatment of injured workers. To quote the Dallas Star Telegram; “The revised law will create physician networks like those in commercial … Continue reading Texas workers comp reform bill signed
Read More...Jon Coppelman at Workers’ Comp Insider has an intriguing post about the problems at the Ohio Bureau of Workers Comp. Kudos to Jon as he appears to have scooped the New York Times, who published their article a couple days … Continue reading Ohio Bureau of Workers Comp’s latest problem
Read More...Why isn’t workers comp a good business for group health plans? Several clients and industry types have asked for my take on the recent move by Aetna, Coventry, Wellpoint, and possibly UnitedHealth into workers comp. Without giving away too much … Continue reading HMOs and Workers Comp
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