Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Jim McGarry has moved on, and David Young has moved in. That’s the quick report on changes at the top of Coventry’s work comp unit – but more is coming. McGarry, who reportedly has a solid relationship with Allen Wise, … Continue reading Coventry work comp – the change has started
Read More...NCCI’s newly released report on fee schedules provides interesting reading. If you don’t have the time right now, here’s the key quote: “For comparable injuries, when WC pays higher prices than GH for specific services, those services tend to be … Continue reading Why comp hospital expenses are rising so fast
Read More...The Allen Wise II era has begun with today’s release of Coventry Health’s fourth quarter 2008 earnings. Wise, who occupied the CEO/Chairman’s office before the recently-departed Dale Wolf, resumed the position ten days ago after Wolf resigned. Here’s my key … Continue reading Coventry’s earnings call – facility costs are the problem
Read More...The current debate in Washington has more than a few complaining about the expanding role of government in health care. The question should be, can government do a better job than private industry? Heck yes. I’ve never been one to … Continue reading Can government deliver quality health care?
Read More...Back in September the good folks at the Texas Department of Insurance published a most interesting report (shows what a geek I am) – the 2008 Workers’ Compensation Network Report Card. Let’s start with the overall numbers. Medical costs were … Continue reading Networks in Texas – what are the results?
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...Many benefits professionals and risk managers evaluate networks based, at least to some degree, on the thickness of the directory and the depth of the discount. The logic is – hey, the more hospitals in there, and the better the … Continue reading Are Tenet hospitals in your network?
Read More...Last week’s post on Connecticut hospitals’ temper tantrum elicited no public comments but quite a few private ones. Several payers were rather upset that their bill repricing/network vendors have not been applying the laws correctly, resulting in higher payments than … Continue reading Update – Work comp hospital overpayments in Conn.
Read More...We took a look at Sen McCain’s health reform plan last week, aided by an analysis published on the web by the journal ‘Health Affairs. Today it’s Obama’s turn. Unlike Sen McCain’s plan, Sen Obama’s plan maintains employer-based coverage (something … Continue reading Obama’s health care blind spot
Read More...Some hospitals in Connecticut are throwing what amounts to a temper tantrum. They are outraged that workers comp payers are actually paying them according to state law. Strange, but true. Sources indicate that Yale-New Haven Hospital and their affiliates have … Continue reading Time for work comp insurers to Man Up
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