Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
What with the HealthWonkReview Tenth Anniversary celebration at HWR HQ last week and finishing up a client project, I neglected my posting duties. Here’s what I shoulda been writing about. Work comp Working with Harbor Health, the State Fund of … Continue reading Monday catch up
Read More...at long last. Here’s a quick review of what happened this week. Health care costs Predictions for health care costs indicate a decrease in the rate of increase for those with private insurance, with PwC calling for a 6.5% increase … Continue reading Friday’s here…
Read More...The capstone to an excellent NCCI AIS was provided by WCRI Exec Dir Dr. Rick Victor and his counterpart at CWCI, Alex Swedlow. Rick led off with my LEAST favorite topic – physician dispensing of drugs to work comp claimants. … Continue reading Controlling work comp medical – Swedlow and Victor weigh in
Read More...Despite overwhelming evidence that physician dispensing in workers’ comp leads to extended disability, higher medical costs, and higher indemnity expense, doc dispensing continues to expand. Here’s why this is such a tough nut. Back in the day, almost all physician-dispensed drugs … Continue reading The latest “innovations’ in physician dispensing
Read More...What a %^&*$#$* week! Like many, I spent far too much time this week dealing with the fallout from the ProPublica/NPR series on workers’ comp. I really need to devote more time to real work, and less to educating folks … Continue reading It’s Friday…and none too soon
Read More...Yesterday ProPublica published the first in what is apparently a series of articles on the workers comp systems around the country. This first effort focused on ‘reforms’ and generally indicated these are driven by big employers seeking to cut workers … Continue reading ProPublica’s demolition of workers’ comp
Read More...Once again I’ll head out on a limb with saw firmly in hand… 1. Aetna will NOT be able to sell the Coventry work comp services division. I’ll double down on last year’s prediction: even if the giant health plan … Continue reading Predictions for work comp in 2015
Read More...Before jumping into my predictions for 2015, I thought it would be helpful to review my previous prognostications. Here’s how I did, color-coded for your grading ease: 1. Overall, the work comp insurance market will be steady. Yep; rates were … Continue reading 2014’s predictions; how’d I do?
Read More...Today’s catch-up is pretty workers’ comp-centric. Lots going on, so here we go. The ACOG (APAX-Coventry-OneCall-Genex) conglomeration continues. A couple of items of note; APAX is out recruiting several execs to add depth and experience to the senior management ranks. … Continue reading Friday catch-up
Read More...Summer is in full swing, which means the A/C is running at full blast in Florida and Texas, while those of us in upstate NY are gloating…I know, you will be soon when we’re subzero and you’re at 70… Things … Continue reading Monday catch-up
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