Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
The malpractice insurance crisis does not exist. Actually, it does, but only in the popular press and in the minds of the AMA, a few politicians and alarmists. In the real world, the cost of malpractice insurance as a percentage … Continue reading The myth of the med mal crisis
Read More...Contrary to popular belief, most of the patients in emergency rooms have insurance, but are there because they can’t get in to see their regular physician or are waiting for an inpatient bed. A new study released today by the … Continue reading Most ER patients have insurance
Read More...I am no economist. Some will likely howl in agreement, others knowingly nod their heads while tapping out their pipes so as to not get ash on their tweeds (them are the economists). I do know a good bit about … Continue reading What does Baumol’s cost disease have to do with medical inflation?
Read More...I have been on the west coast at a series of meetings with employers and insurers as well as managed care firms. A meeting earlier this week with a very large self-insured employer group highlghted some of the significant problems … Continue reading Managed care costs in workers comp
Read More...Several industry sources have provided additional insights into third party billers, their billing practices and the fallout from same. One apparently well-informed source provided additional detail on the billing practices relative to U&C, noting: “…As far as the U&C discussion … Continue reading Third Party billers’ practices
Read More...There continues to be an ongoing discussion in this country regarding who or what entity should be responsible for providing health insurance. The ends of the spectrum are the strong conservatives/libertarians who are in favor of total individual responsibility for … Continue reading Employer-based health insurance
Read More...Peter Barth presented an interesting overview of China’s occupational insurance situation at WCRI’s annual meeting yesterday. According to Dr. Barth, China passed a comprehensive workers comp law that took effect January 2004. WC is voluntary in the world’s most populous … Continue reading China’s workers compensation
Read More...Two consulting firms are indicating health plan rate increases will be between 8.4% and 9.9% in 2006. While this is somewhat lower than increases in recent years, the impact will be felt by both employers and employees, who can expect … Continue reading Health plan rate increases in 2006
Read More...I have been engaged in an email debate with a libertarian about the value of “freedom of choice”, impact of payment sources on health care expenditures and inflation thereof, and potential impact of consumerism on health care costs. He is … Continue reading The myth of consumerism in health care
Read More...The cost of workplace injuries in the US topped $50 billion in 2003, despite a 6.3% drop in the injury rate. These results continue a long-running trend of declining frequency that is more than offset by medical inflation. The often-asked … Continue reading Medical cost inflation in workers comp
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