Economics
Health Care and the Broader Economic Crisis
10/02/08
I used to worry that the economic turmoil resulting from health care's relentless cost explosion would cascade into all other economic sectors. Now it appears that the credit crisis could push health care over the edge. The silver lining is that a sudden spike in the pressure on health care organizations could facilitate a transition to the meaningful reforms that are necessary to resolve the crisis.
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Health Care and the Gathering Storm
02/28/08
Developments in the larger US economy don't look good for health care, its largest sector.
What Obesity Really Costs
10/16/07
New data confirm what we already know: that the societal costs of the obesity epidemic are enormous. This is a problem that can only be solved by the nation's largest, most influential firms who do not profit from vectors that drive obesity.
The Hot Seat: GM & UAW
10/03/07
The new deal struck between UAW and GM effectively transfers the onus of employee health plan management responsibilities away from the employer and onto the union. This puts the union directly in the hot seat that GM has occupied for decades, and that they've been so effective in exploiting. Now that they're responsible for providing care with defined resources, they may be more receptive to more progressive approaches to managing the care process. Read More...Bogle on the Financial Sector's Threat to Democracy
10/02/07
John Bogle, founder of the Vanguard Group, has written a clear-eyed, worrisome description of how America's financial sector threatens our democratic foundations. Required reading.
Taking Obesity Seriously
09/15/07
America's obesity epidemic is setting America up to be an unproductive, uncompetitive country with enormous health care maintenance costs.
Managed Care Redux
08/15/07
Despite the pop health care economics views of David Leonhardt, the New York Times Economics writer, there are some important market-based trends afoot in health care that have gotten traction and that have tremendous promise for ameliorating the cost crisis. Health care isn't all rainbow, but its not all tornado either.
Why Brokers Feel Their Commissions Are Justified
08/14/07
Yesterday I pointed out that many brokers act in utter disregard of their clients best interests, instead steering them toward deals that land them the best commissions. Today I present the other side, that many brokers spend an inordinate amount of energy mopping up the health plans' failures.
Brokers and Financial Conflict
08/13/07
While most business' seek objective advice about their health plans, in fact their brokers often steer them to deals that provide the biggest commissions.
Transparency and Health Care Power Shifts
08/09/07
The Transparency Genie is out of the bottle and we won't get it back in. It's impossible to succeed in the change by stonewalling or whining. The best strategy is to demonstrably prepare and perform better.
Don't Invite Anyone From Health Care
07/27/07
In October 2006, the Northern Nevada Health Care Coalition decided to hold a health care conference. They made sure their community's health care leaders knew about it, but pointedly told them they weren't invited. And the attendees unanimously agreed to contribute their data into a common data repository, so that it could be mined to identify problems and opportunities. Now they're focused on addressing each problem and opportunity they've found.
Employers, as the purchasers, can drive real solutions when they decide to be decisive.
Employers, as the purchasers, can drive real solutions when they decide to be decisive.
Mr. Bush's Health Care Reform Proposall
07/24/07
The Wall Street Journal ran an article on Mr. Bush's health care reform proposal. In terms of ameliorating the crisis, its functionally meaningless.
The Distribution of the Uninsured and the Total Population By Income Level, 2004
Source: US Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Tabulations of the Current Population Survey
Read More...
The Distribution of the Uninsured and the Total Population By Income Level, 2004
Source: US Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Tabulations of the Current Population Survey
Read More...
The Explosion of Large Physician Practices
07/21/07
Market economics will drive physicians into larger and larger practices that can afford the infrastructure needed to perform in the changed marketplace.
Mr. Orszag's Surprise
07/05/07
A report by Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag provides a refreshing, non-partisan, data-driven perspective on the seriousness of the health care crisis.
