Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation will recall that the most disturbing aliens encountered by the Federation were the Borg, a part-cyber, part human collective race that functioned as an integrated and cyber-connected whole that existed only for the good of the collective, rather than as distinct individuals with their own thoughts and personalities — much like honey bees work together as …
The media has feasted on the recent release of data by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that details payments made by the pharmaceutical and device companies to hospitals and physicians in 2013. This was part of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (PPSA) — also known as section 6002 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010.
As I finish my post-operative care routine for my 9-day-old patient, I notice that the cerebral oximetry machine is not picking up a strong signal. Despite troubleshooting, I am unable to figure out how to fix the problem, and I head to the Pixus to get a new sensor. Unfortunately, this one does not work either, and we must use a smaller sensor to pick up an adequate signal on …
Patients are being stuck with huge and unexpected medical care bills in circumstances where they have no say in selecting the physician who is billing them, and no way for them to know in advance which services the physicians would render or what it would cost them, says the New York Times.
Mr. Peter Drier received a “surprise $117,000 medical bill from …
Around the country, for every health system that is successfully navigating the early years of value-based health care, there are several others that are failing — even though many don’t yet realize it. These failing organizationscan’t or won’t restructure themselves to deliver effective, efficient and affordable care.
I’ve come to the conclusion, after observing struggling systems, that two basic characteristics are necessary for systems to transform themselves in response to external pressures: execution and motivation. Successful systems have …
Physicians, whether practicing medicine or not, should not be involved in clinical research. They should never be consulted on development of new drugs and medical devices. Doctors should not invent new treatments, and should never supervise clinical trials. They should not travel to or speak at conferences either, and they should banish all entrepreneurial notions out of their heads. If they insist on engaging in these activities, they should do …
Insurance is without a doubt the best business on earth. Every month, insurance companies from many industries collect premiums from thousands of clients, relying on the statistical likelihood the companies themselves will collect more than they pay out. If the company has a poor year, they raise the premiums for the next year. It is a beautiful business model and a way to guarantee consistent profits year after year. Even …
What happens when the federal government and the states have split responsibilities for caring for Medicaid beneficiaries?
Not much, other than casting blame on one another or on doctors for not providing the care.
Buried on page 26 of the front section of a recent New York Times is a story about Medicaid patients not finding doctors or having to traveling long distances to find one. It says a federal inquiry finds …
An advantage of being a foreigner, or a recent immigrant to be precise, is that it allows one to view events with a certain detachment. To analyze without the burden of love, hate or indifference for the Kennedys, the Clintons or the Bushes. To observe with both eyes open, rather than one eye looking at the events and the other looking …
The recent independence referendum in Scotland got me thinking. I must admit I was glued to the news over the last few days of campaigning. For those of you not following closely, it seemed as if the “no” camp had a comfortable lead right up until the last week when the opinion polls suddenly showed the “yes” camp pulling ahead. This rattled the establishment. The prospect of my country of …
Baseball fans like me take great joy in studying the way general managers assemble their rosters.
The variations are fascinating. Some teams focus on pitching strength. Others go for speed or power-hitting. Each approach carries distinct advantages and disadvantages on the field.
That same level of variation and strategic decision-making applies to health plans, as well.
With the health care marketplaces reopening for enrollment on Nov. 15, anyone evaluating their coverage options should take …
We recently had a readmission — a straightforward case, really. Mr. Jones, a 64-year-old homeless veteran, intermittently took his diabetes medications and would often run out. He had recently been discharged from our hospital (a VA hospital) after admission for hyperglycemia. The discharging team had been meticulous in their care. At the time of discharge, they had simplified his medication regimen, called him at his shelter to check in a few …
On September 28, 1864, the first meeting of the International Workingmen’s Association (IWA) was convened at St. Martin’s Hall, London. Among the attendees was a relatively obscure German journalist by the name of Karl Marx. Though Marx did not speak during the meeting, he soon began playing a crucial role in the life of the organization, in part because he was assigned the task of drafting its founding documents.
Primary care is essential to building a higher-performing health care system that promotes personal well-being and saves consumers and taxpayers money. Research shows that more primary care physicians in a community means lower rates of mortality, better preventive care, and fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits.
Unfortunately, too many Americans lack easy access to primary care. Approximately 50 million Americans live in areas, mostly rural, with too few primary care physicians. …
A colleague at a hospital-based health system recently told me about physician alignment initiatives his employer was introducing. These included co-management deals (where doctors get per patient incentives for on-time discharges, and high quality scores) and new salary models that adjusted based on various metrics. At the same time, he noted, his hospital was laying off clerks, leaving him spending hours on clerical tasks …
I have written a couple of pieces documenting the high percentage of physicians who refuse to take Medicaid patients, and some of the reasons for their refusal. One of my pieces prompted a physician to email me with his take on this matter. I am going to quote from that email, but take out identifying information to protect his anonymity.
Comprehensive primary care for employees means better employee health, greater productivity, less presenteesism and lower costs for both employee and employer. That is why some companies are making health care a strategic imperative rather than just a tactic as part of human resource cost management. Some are developing full service enhanced primary care clinics on site with excellent success as described in my Read more…
Every year, ambitious students from around the world flock to America’s leading business schools, hoping to learn how to create new ventures that can change the world.
On the West Coast, situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business attracts budding entrepreneurs with challenging and practical programs. Courses like “Entrepreneurship: Formation of New Ventures” and “Managing Growing Enterprises” encourage students to develop innovative business models that solve real …
When I was in high school, a national hardware retailer opened a new franchise down the street from the mom-and-pop hardware store that had served my neighborhood for many years. Since the new store had the advantage of larger volumes and lower costs, it seemed to be only a matter of time before it drove its smaller competitor out of business, the way that big bookstore chains and fast-food restaurants …
Around the country, doctors are leaving independent practice and joining large groups owned by health care systems. It’s a trend: the recruiting firm Merritt Hawkins predicts that if current growth continues, over 75% of newly hired physicians will be hospital employees within two years.
There seem to be a number of reasons for this consolidation of physicians and hospitals into islands of care. One is the desire for larger groups to …
