Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Pre-existing conditions, drug development, COVID-related GI problems, and marketing screwups… First up, pre-existing conditions Yesterday President Trump issued an executive order affirming “it is the official policy of the United States government to protect patients with pre-existing conditions.” Well, yeah. … Continue reading Friday catch up
Read More...Apologies for the dearth of posts; vacation and slammed with client work. Went bike-packing last week in the wilds of Pennsylvania and Maryland – had a great time off the grid, camping out, solving world problems around the fire at … Continue reading COVID catch-up
Read More...First, a clarification. Last week’s post re NCCI’s virtual Annual Issues Symposium needs clarification. Before I published the post I asked NCCI to comment on the lack of any reference to COVID claims counts in the presentation, saying “Any early … Continue reading Clarification, chronic pain treatment, COVID’s impact, and camel pee
Read More...After weeks of speculation – most of it pretty accurate – it’s official. In one of the more impactful transactions we’re likely to see this year, CVS/Aetna has agreed to sell Coventry Workers’ Comp Services to Mitchell/Genex. Terms haven’t been … Continue reading The Coventry deal is done.
Read More...Paradigm is evolving rapidly – and none too soon. A data-driven firm known for taking risk on catastrophic claims, Paradigm has strengthened its behavioral health offerings, and added case management, specialty and network services, all intended to make the company … Continue reading What’s up with Paradigm?
Read More...The inbox has been stuffed with important new research and news; here’s what most interested me. Work Comp Perhaps the best annual summary of the state of the workers’ comp world is just off the press. The National Academy of … Continue reading What’s up?
Read More...Here’s what happened last week… People who enroll in exchange programs in red states pay 3.2 percent more for their health insurance than folks in purple or blue states. Research indicates it is because fewer folks in red states sign … Continue reading Monday update – healthcare costs, guidelines, what docs want, and market consolidation
Read More...Work comp and auto payers in many southeastern states have seen a sharp rise in facility costs over the last five years. While ineffective fee schedules are partially to blame, the real driver may well be politicians’ refusal to expand … Continue reading High hospital costs? This may be why.
Read More...Happy Friday! It’s Research Roundup time. Here’s my quick takeaways on new research – and how it affects you. WCRI on the interaction of health insurance and workers’ comp Bogdan Savych PhD of WCRI has provided an excellent review of … Continue reading Worker outcomes, opioid reductions, and prices for drugs and hospitals
Read More...I don’t see how BernieCare makes it to the serious consideration stage – much less becomes reality. Not because it isn’t a way better healthcare answer than the mess we have today. It just isn’t do-able. When we do finally … Continue reading BernieCare – No; Single Payer 2.0 – Yes.
Read More...