Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Trying something new in this fortnight’s edition of Health Wonk Review – instead of grouping contributions by topic, we’ll take them as they come – just like we encounter them on the web – and at the end, I’ll try … Continue reading Streaming Health Wonk Review
Read More...My post yesterday about the impact of health reform on employment generated an email from NFIB’s Bob Graboyes correcting an error in attribution (thanks Bob). It also got me to dig deeper into the issue of employment and reform – … Continue reading Health reform, jobs lost and jobs gained
Read More...I received an email from an individual who attended a “hearing” on a workers comp bill in Hawai’i. It’s compelling for two reasons – it clearly illustrates the comp system’s vulnerability to manipulation by those seeking ever-greater profits and ever-lesser … Continue reading The Hawaiian political charade
Read More...After posting last week on the politicization of the physician dispensing issue in Hawai’i, I heard from a number of stakeholders alarmed by that – and other issues. Chris Brigham, MD, has been following what can only be described as … Continue reading Hawaii’s (likely) evisceration of the workers’ comp system
Read More...Now that Rick Santorum has grabbed the hot potato known as the ‘GOP presidential race front-runner‘, it’s time to learn about his stance on health care, his platform, and his history. Let’s start with past history; while platforms and political … Continue reading Santorum on health care – fiscally conservative or not?
Read More...Florida appears poised to restrict overcharging for physician dispensing of repackaged drugs to workers comp patients, so dispensing companies are looking for greener pastures. One that looks promising indeed is Hawai’i, where physician dispensing exploded onto the scene last year, … Continue reading Money buying bad policy – the Hawai’ian version
Read More...While many workers comp insurers and TPAs are lamenting the problems of overuse and abuse of opioids, some are actually implementing solutions. While no one can claim they’ve got this solved, there are some promising approaches. One of the more … Continue reading Opioids – one insurer’s (successful) approach
Read More...Coventry Health announced their full-year 2011 results this morning; I’d have to sum it up as quite positive, driven primarily by big Medicaid and Medicare revenue increases. There’s no question where management is focused – with CMS programs accounting for … Continue reading Coventry’s 2011 financial results
Read More...Word is the recent flurry of acquisitions and mergers in the work comp services industry isn’t likely to taper off any time soon. Genex is reportedly up for sale, Injured Workers Pharmacy has seemingly been in play for months, a … Continue reading Acquisitions in the offing?
Read More...UPDATE – In response to a query, MedRisk informed me that my savings figure was misstated. MedRisk reduced SWIF’s medical payout by $28.9 million below fee schedule from January 2009 to December 2012; the earlier post (below) indicated the reduction … Continue reading UPDATE – SWIF, MedRisk, and the PA Auditor General’s report
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