Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
It’s August. Things are supposed to be slowing down, as record heat waves hit the south central part of the nation, vacations thin out offices and shorten commuting times, and parents rejoice that their beloved offspring – and their detritus … Continue reading The Health Policy Heat Wave
Read More...When Congress reaches agreement on a deal to increase the debt limit, there will almost certainly be parts that significantly affect workers comp. Medicare and Medicaid are on the table, with both likely to lose hundreds of millions in funding … Continue reading The deficit deal’s impact on workers comp
Read More...For several years, Newt Gingrich was one of the more interesting voices in the health care policy world. He joined obscure policy entities, developed interesting ideas, promoted the use of technology as a BIG part of the solution, wrote a … Continue reading Gingrich on health care
Read More...This afternoon I was a lunch time speaker at the IAIABC Conference in St Louis, where I was asked to opine on the chances of a major Federal incursion into the (mostly) state regulated world of work comp. I’ve noted … Continue reading The Federalization of Workers Comp – seriously?
Read More...Last week I wrote on how CMS can save big bucks on Medicare expenditures – negotiate directly with pharma for drug prices for Part D, and base reimbursement for devices on effectiveness and efficacy. Add ‘safety’ to the list of … Continue reading Medical devices – an ‘exemplary’ safety record.
Read More...Or perhaps more accurately, what are they smoking? From HealthNews Florida comes the news that a state Senator, one Joe Negron (R Stuart) has come up with the brilliant idea of shoving most of the state’s Medicaid beneficiaries into a … Continue reading Florida’s Medicaid ‘Fix’ – What are they thinking??
Read More...The debate is on, and it is going to get even more nasty, heated, and divisive. If we’re serious about cutting Federal health care expenditures over the long term, here are two changes that will do just that. 1. Requiring … Continue reading Cutting Federal health care costs
Read More...WorkCompCentral’s [sub req] Greg Griggs reported the Division of Workers’ Comp’s public hearing last week was dominated by providers complaining about moves to reduce reimbursement for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) and spinal implant hardware. I have a [very] tough time … Continue reading Spine surgery in California – some cheese with that whine?
Read More...Anyone else feeling a bit of deja vu? The blog world certainly is, with many of the entries for this edition of Health Wonk Review focusing on the ongoing battle over health reform, aka the Patient Protection and Affordable Care … Continue reading Repeal, replace, renew, revise, revisit – what the bloggers say
Read More...This always seems like a good idea in January, looks like a not-well-thought-thru idea in July, and by December morphs into a well-it-coulda-been-worse idea. But I’ve got a short memory, so here goes – in no particular order, predictions for … Continue reading What’s up for 2011 – predictions for work comp in the Next Year
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