Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Central to Sen McCain’s health reform initiative is his plan to eliminate the tax deduction for employer-paid health insurance, replacing it with a $5000/family $2500/individual tax credit to help individuals buy health insurance. There’s nothing in McCain’s plan that would … Continue reading Employers’ views of McCain’s health reform plan
Read More...At risk of being accused (and justifiably so) of being Johnny One-Note, this is the third consecutive post on Coventry. While the other two were focused on their recent moves to enhance customer relations, this one is specific to the … Continue reading Coventry – the financial picture
Read More...I’ve been conversing with a few old industry hands about Coventry work comp’s recent decision to become kinder and friendlier. As I reported, the motivation stemmed from a customer survey done this summer by an outside consultant/now employee, Pat Sullivan. … Continue reading Can Coventry change?
Read More...Editor’s note – this is perhaps the most serious, thought-provoking edition of HWR I’ve had the honor of hosting. There’s a lot of meat here, so don’t expect to multi-task your way through. These are momentous times. Not only will … Continue reading The pre-election health policy debate
Read More...Last week I posted on the perils of evaluating hospitals on the basis of ‘discounts’, noting that some hospitals’ charge to cost ratios are so high that it is relatively easy for them to offer large discounts – it’s the … Continue reading Why state reform initiatives won’t work
Read More...Comprehensive health reform will not happen in the near future. There is no money. There are lots of other priorities – financial stability, huge and growing deficits, energy, wars in two countries, nuclear proliferation and tax policy. There’s just no … Continue reading Reforming health care without busting the budget
Read More...Many benefits professionals and risk managers evaluate networks based, at least to some degree, on the thickness of the directory and the depth of the discount. The logic is – hey, the more hospitals in there, and the better the … Continue reading Are Tenet hospitals in your network?
Read More...Most pollsters have Obama well ahead nationally and in the swing states, with Gallup reporting he has almost reached a double-digit lead.. And after last night’s debate, which Obama ‘won‘ handily more independents look to be behind his campaign (although … Continue reading Obama wins. Now what?
Read More...Last night Gov Palin convincingly demonstrated her total ignorance of the health insurance market. The woman who, according to her, once went without health insurance (fact check please) said once again that eliminating state regulation of health insurers (the real … Continue reading Palin doesn’t understand health insurance
Read More...I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, or (more likely) become violently ill after reading this. Here’s an excerpt from Katie Couric’s interview of Gov. Sarah Palin. COURIC: Why isn’t it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping … Continue reading Palin on health care and the bailout
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