Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Hospitals in Ohio are complaining that proposed cuts in reimbursement by the Bureau of Workers Compensation are unfair, even though the proposed reimbursement level is Medicare +15%. According to one spokeswoman for the hospitals, “There is a misconception that a … Continue reading Ohio hospitals’ misguided complaints
Read More...To much fanfare, CMS released several data files containing hospital charge and payment data by state, county, (but not by individual facility) for the 30 most common DRGs and elective procedures. National, state and county financial ranges are included, and … Continue reading CMS data release – and their point is…?
Read More...National health care will be reality within five years. All the theory, intellectual debate, politicking, lobbying, trips to Scottish golf resorts and campaign contributions funded by lobbyists, insurers, providers, and big pharma will come up against two overwhelming forces – … Continue reading National health care is coming.
Read More...Part D’s enrollment deadline came and went, and along with it the orgy of claims, counter claims, blames and counter blames. So now that at least a bit of the dust has settled, where are we? Confused. Depending on whom … Continue reading Part D results are…
Read More...CMS’ head Mark McClellan believes that over 90% of Medicare beneficiaries will have drug coverage after Monday’s deadline for Part D enrollment. That may be true, but that does NOT mean Part D enrollment is at 90%. As has been … Continue reading 90% < 72%
Read More...Marketplace, public radio’s daily business show, ran a short piece on Medicare Part D enrollment today, with comment by Bob Laszewski and I. Not sure how we ended up disagreeing; or if we were…
Read More...A new study released by Part D advocacy group Medicare Today makes a compelling case for seniors’ enrollment in Part D. Authored by the Lewin Group (an excellent and unbiased health care reseach and analysis firm) the study makes a … Continue reading Part D financials make no sense
Read More...Coventry continues to deliver strong financial results across the board, with medical trend rates appearing to stabilize at about 8% and premium increases for Q1 somewhat above that rate. Overall membership growth is projected to be in the 1% – … Continue reading Coventry Q1 2006 earnings report
Read More...If consumerism is going to help reduce health care cost inflation, we’ll need two things – information and appropriate financial incentives. Actually, we’ll need another ‘thing’ – consumers will need the intelligence and expertise to be able to make the … Continue reading The two reasons consumerism won’t solve the health care cost problem
Read More...Rather than do the ‘reinvent the wheel’ thing, I’ll just refer you to other folks who have been “fact checking” the Administration’s claims about the 30 million who have “signed up for” Medicare Part D. The net is this – … Continue reading Part D enrollment myths
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