Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Amidst about a dozen meetings yesterday there was precious little time to catch up on the latest and greatest vendor offerings, greet old friends and colleagues, and sit down and learn from experts. But I did pick up on a … Continue reading Report from Vegas, day two
Read More...It’s August. Things are supposed to be slowing down, as record heat waves hit the south central part of the nation, vacations thin out offices and shorten commuting times, and parents rejoice that their beloved offspring – and their detritus … Continue reading The Health Policy Heat Wave
Read More...There’s good news and bad news in the latest projections on health care costs; last year, US health spending increased a mere 3.9 percent, due largely to the recently ended recession (people lost health insurance, and those who still had … Continue reading Medical cost trends – good news, and bad
Read More...The Medicare drug program – Part D – was the largest expansion of entitlement programs since the Great Society. And it was – and is – a Republican program. A political masterstroke, Part D undoubtedly helped George W Bush get … Continue reading Who passed Part D and why you should care.
Read More...The expansion of Medicare to include coverage for prescription drugs was a political masterstroke. In a single move, the GOP won the hearts and votes of seniors. The result was significant – larger Republican majorities in Congress, and re-election for … Continue reading Politicians’ amazingly poor memory
Read More...Bob Hartwig of the Insurance Information Institute talked about his optimistic views of the economy, a somewhat different perspective than he shared with the audience at last year’s NCCI Issues Symposium. Hartwig does not expect a ‘double-dip’ recession, and believes … Continue reading NCCI – Insurance in the Obama ‘Era’
Read More...Many readers are undoubtedly getting ready for next week’s annual Risk Insurance and Management Society annual meeting, held this year (conveniently enough) in Boston. For most, ‘preparing’ means buying gel insoles, making sure the extra-think padding has been ordered for … Continue reading RIMS – what’s in store in Boston
Read More...I’ve commented at length on the impact of health reform on workers comp, and will dive deeper into this topic in the coming months. There are several others who also are looking into reform, and their different opinions are well … Continue reading Health reform impact on work comp – another opinion
Read More...I’ve been avoiding posting on health reform of late, mostly because I’m so dismayed by what’s happened, and what’s happening. The Republican Congress passed and then-President Bush signed into law Medicare Part D which added about $8 trillion to our … Continue reading Unsustainable, irrational, unaffordable health reform
Read More...As presently conceived, health reform will fail. I’m talking not about the chances of a bill being signed into law but rather what happens when that happy day arrives. I say this with deep regret, as I am an ardent … Continue reading Health reform will fail
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