Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Ok, I’m a geek. Anyone who rides his bike while listening to the Kaiser Network’s podcast on the public health plan option (all 102 minutes of it) is, if anything, over-qualified for the appellation. But boy, it sure was interesting. … Continue reading Intelligent debate on the public health plan option
Read More...There’s been much talk about the pros and cons of Medicare for All as one option in a national health reform plan. Think Progress addressed the major complaints opponents of a governmental option have; Merrill Goozner’s piece last week focused … Continue reading Health reform – Debunking the argument against the government plan option
Read More...I’ve gotten several queries about the future of work comp if/when health reform occurs. The real answer is – no one knows. But I’m happy to take an educated guess. I very much doubt comp will be directly impacted by … Continue reading National health reform – implications for workers comp
Read More...The comp conference ended (for me) last Thursday; the passage of time allows for the individual impressions to meld into an overall picture of the current, and near-term future, of the comp managed care industry. Here’s what it looks like. … Continue reading The (short term) future of workers comp managed care
Read More...Last week I posted on the perils of evaluating hospitals on the basis of ‘discounts’, noting that some hospitals’ charge to cost ratios are so high that it is relatively easy for them to offer large discounts – it’s the … Continue reading Why state reform initiatives won’t work
Read More...Pundits (myself included) are detecting a sea change on the Hill – the health plans’ power meter is just barely registering while physicians are pegging the needle. If you’re wondering why physicians were so adamantly opposed to the Medicare reimbursement … Continue reading Docs are fighting mad, ready for war, and they’ve got big guns
Read More...I received a few calls and emails yesterday from workers comp payers asking for clarification about my post on the potential (highly inflationary) changes to the Florida outpatient work comp fee schedule. Evidently there is some confusion out there about … Continue reading The confusion in Florida
Read More...Two timely topics are in the news; the likelihood of cuts in the additional payments for Medicare Advantage programs and reductions in Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians. The juxtaposition is just too…obvious to pass without comment.
Read More...Among the health reform plans likely to be considered is an expansion of Medicare, allowing non-seniors to “buy in” to Medicare. This is a bad idea.
Read More...Everyone’s losing in America’s health care mess. Premiums for family coverage are doubling every ten years, and will hit $20,000 per family per year before 2015. While insurance costs are going up, physicians are actually making less. Physician income decreased … Continue reading How does physician income drop while costs increase?
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