Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Okay, deep breath here folks. There’s no question the Federal Exchange is a mess. And that’s the polite characterization. But let’s not get too carried away, because the Federal Exchange is just a small part of PPACA/Obamacare. In fact, the … Continue reading Obamacare is NOT just the Federal Exchange
Read More...I’m thinking the investment community’s current obsession with workers’ comp is not going to end anytime soon. For several months I’ve been saying investors will move away from work comp when the next new thing comes along. As one who … Continue reading Investors may well keep their focus on work comp
Read More...Here’s where things are. Briefly, my best guess is less than a hundred thousand folks have enrolled in insurance via the Exchanges so far. That’s based on reports I’ve seen from several sources identified below. And, there are a lot … Continue reading Status report: Obamacare implementation
Read More...Employer health insurance premiums increased 4 percent for families, 5 percent for singles this year. While that’s a modest increase, over the last decade, family premiums are up 80 percent. And, premiums have been held down of late in large part due … Continue reading What’s happening with health care premiums and costs?
Read More...Hard as it is to believe, the world kept turning while MCM was on vacation, with nary a wobble to mark our hiatus. Here’s a quick summary of things that happened while we were away… Medicare physician reimbursement Congress may … Continue reading Quick catch-up on the events of the week
Read More...Quality of care – will it increase or decrease as a result of Obamacare? That is a major concerns among those work comp professionals tuned in to health reform, as well it should be. For quality of care, it depends … Continue reading Obamacare and workers’ comp – Part 6 of 9; quality of care
Read More...There are (at least) two additional implications of more people and more workers covered by health insurance; cost-shifting, and access to care. Each is deserving of careful and thorough consideration; for now we’ll touch on the highlights and leave a … Continue reading Obamacare and workers’ comp – part 3 of 9
Read More...That is the question I’m left with after reading WCRI’s latest reports. One compares group health’s payments for outpatient hospital services to work comp’s; the other discusses the use of group health payments as the basis for a work comp … Continue reading Should workers’ comp pay more for medical care than group health?
Read More...This biweekly edition of health Wonk Review covers the recent news that health care cost inflation has moderated, digs into various aspects of ACA implementation, and provides insights on a couple other timely topics. Read on! Health care cost trends … Continue reading HWR on health care cost trends, reform implementation, and motivations
Read More...There appear to be several reasons for the decline in the health care cost inflation rate with a poor economy and resulting job loss and changes in benefit design often cited – rightly – as chief contributors. There’s some fear … Continue reading Health inflation is down – and may stay down
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