Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
The fierce battle over the public plan option is much ado about very little, an epic battle over a useless piece of political ground. It is the health care debate’s version of the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest – a … Continue reading Why the fight over the public plan option is pointless
Read More...It’s here. Almost. At long last, health reform is no longer just an idea, a glimmer in the distance, a subject of interest only to those writing doctoral theses, policy papers, and other intellectually interesting but practically useless missives. Dare … Continue reading Health Reform – what’s happening and why
Read More...Perhaps the biggest battle brewing in Congress in the health reform war is that of the public option. As I said back in January, “Opponents claim that the Feds would have an unfair advantage due in part to their sheer … Continue reading Why a public health plan option isn’t anti-competitive
Read More...There’s been much talk about the pros and cons of Medicare for All as one option in a national health reform plan. Think Progress addressed the major complaints opponents of a governmental option have; Merrill Goozner’s piece last week focused … Continue reading Health reform – Debunking the argument against the government plan option
Read More...This is one tough year to be putting on the swami hat and dusting off the crystal ball. There are so many moving pieces affecting the group health/individual/Medicare/ Medicaid world that it will be hard enough to analyze what happened … Continue reading The future of health plans – predictions for 2009
Read More...As the options on the table become somewhat more clear, it appears all but inevitable that any national health reform program will include a public insurance option, sometimes labled as “Medicare for All”. The plans offered by Pres. Elect Obama … Continue reading What are health insurers afraid of?
Read More...In all the commentary and discussion about the source of AIG’s problems I’ve yet to read or hear what may be the most important contributor – the company’s culture. There’s no question AIG was long considered one of the world’s … Continue reading AIG’s troubles – the cultural roots
Read More...The private equity and venture capital folks have been prowling around the WC managed care world for a couple of years now, looking for opportunities to invest their hard-solicited cash. Firms have invested in PBMs (MSC and Cypress Care), bill … Continue reading So, you want to invest in workers comp managed care?
Read More...Managed care execs at WC payers are getting increasingly nervous, and well they should be. There are major changes afoot in the WC managed care market. The consolidation at the top means that changes in policy and practice by the … Continue reading Is the WC PPO marketplace becoming a monopoly?
Read More...Timing is everything; Coventry’s fourth quarter financials release came on the heels of the Concentra acquisition announcement, allowing the observer to compare results to prognostications.
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