Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
We’re going to start off the discussion about universal healthcare with one of the more common concerns voiced by opponents – Universal ‘coverage’ does not mean universal care, as it will lead to rationing of care, either overt or via … Continue reading Universal healthcare will lead to rationing
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...In my last post I reported my findings that former North Dakota state fund boss Sandy Blunt’s conviction on charges of authorizing sick leave, failing to get moving expenses repaid, and authorization of payment for small gifts and meeting coffee … Continue reading Blunt’s performance as CEO of WSI
Read More...Small employers are increasingly dropping health insurance. Premiums are prohibitively expensive and dire economic times are forcing owners to cut costs. In an effort to control costs, some are resorting to what can only be characterized as fraud. I recently … Continue reading Fraud in Florida’s small group market
Read More...Coventry’s presentation at the JP Morgan investor day last week was puzzling for a couple reasons. As noted yesterday, there was almost no discussion of medical cost drivers, either by CFO Shawn Guertin or Dale Wolf (Chairman and CEO) or … Continue reading Coventry’s Medicare business
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...Think about what bill review and generalist network and specialty bill review and negotiation firms do. All have the same value proposition – discounted medical bills. (most networks don’t deliver value in the form of better docs or outcomes, their … Continue reading Bill review companies – will they be the solution?
Read More...While I and a few thousand other industry folks have been conferring in Las Vegas, the world (most inconveniently I would add) has been marching forward without us. In Florida, it looks their progress is headed right for the edge … Continue reading Florida – the end of the happy times
Read More...WCRI’s annual meeting concluded with a panel discussion reviewing the previous day and a half. Following up on Dr Mueller’s excellent presentation about the coming changes in the health care system, Keith Bateman noted that while guidelines may help increase … Continue reading WCRI wrapup
Read More...Tomorrow night’s Presidential debate will undoubtedly feature a spirited discussion of the candidates’ views on health reform. I’m not going to be sitting in front of the tube (rather, panel) blogging in real time as I’ll be on a plane. … Continue reading Debate questions for John McCain and Barack Obama
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