Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
This is more of a question than anything else. AWP (average wholesale price) as a pricing mechanism for drugs will eventually go away (due to a court order). There is an intense, if not very objective or helpful, debate re … Continue reading AWP and the pending changes to pharmacy pricing
Read More...Here’s the non-substantive view of the conference. Very well done. Lots – and I mean lots – of good data and information about trends, costs, cost drivers, potential impact of political and economic developments, broken up with entertaining and thought-provoking … Continue reading NCCI Impressions
Read More...Yesterday’s revelation of a compromise on health reform by two key Senators – a Republican and a Democrat – was the first public statement of the long-simmering plan to significantly change physician reimbursement. It wasn’t much to start – a … Continue reading Physician payment reform – the first (real) trial balloon
Read More...Argument two – Universal coverage would result in the government running the health care system making it worse than it is today – because the government can’t do anything right. There are two separate statements here – first that UC … Continue reading Universal coverage is bad – argument two
Read More...There’s little doubt hospital reimbursement methodology is going to change dramatically over the next few years. We’re going to see a shift from fee for service to global episodic reimbursement, a shift that has already begun. I’ll get into that … Continue reading Why your hospital costs are going up
Read More...Rumor is UHG is making a run at mid-tier managed care player Coventry Health. Forbes reported late today that Coventry’s share prices ticked up on the ‘news’. I’m not surprised; as I noted several months ago Coventry is likely to … Continue reading Coventry to be acquired by United HealthGroup?
Read More...One of the more successful reforms in work comp over the last decade was in Florida. But there are two major issues getting lots of attention that may well overturn much of the good achieved in the Sunshine State. Dennis … Continue reading Florida’s work comp business is heading south
Read More...There’s plenty for everyone to not like in President Obama’s health care reform plan – the one revealed late yesterday in a conference call with his advisers and media. (Almost) Everyone will find something to object to – higher taxes, … Continue reading Everyone but the docs – the Obama health reform strategy
Read More...President Obama will no longer play games with the budget – his administration will include the cost of the wars in the budget, will not count the fake ‘savings’ from the SGR process (the Sustainable Growth Rate is the process … Continue reading Finally, adults are in charge in Washington
Read More...NCCI’s newly released report on fee schedules provides interesting reading. If you don’t have the time right now, here’s the key quote: “For comparable injuries, when WC pays higher prices than GH for specific services, those services tend to be … Continue reading Why comp hospital expenses are rising so fast
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