Managed Care Matters is a year old. Starting with the first day’s posts on the use of oxycontin in workers comp and Coventry’s acquisition of First Health, the blog has covered topics ranging from international pharmaceutical pricing to the investment strategies of Ohio workers comp officials. We are up to just under 200 individuals signed up to receive posting notifications. Almost 5000 unique users visited last month, perusing the 320 entries posted to date. Over 120 comments have been posted to date, enriching the debate, educating me, and providing perspective sorely needed in today’s health care debate.
These are busy days for managed care bloggers. Proposals to cut Medicare and Medicaid by Congressional Republicans hit the nightly news shows, interrupted by ads for the $800 billion dollar Medicare prescription drug program passed by these same elected officials.
Mergers and acquisitions still happen, although the decline in frequency is balanced against the increase in the size of the deals.
Workers comp executives are indicted for illegal campaign contributions, bribery, and outright theft.
Managed care firms find themselves the subject of scathing audits alleging overbilling and lousy services.
Consumer directed health plans grow in popularity, while costs keep rising.
Health plan profits zoom, as medical inflation moderates and premiums climb.
Hurricanes affect the entire industry, forcing drivers in Alaska to help pay for wind damage in Alabama.
Huge companies, beneficiaries of state tax subsidies, are forced to offer health plans to low paid workers after news reports indicating 65,000 of their employees are covered by Medicaid.
I have enraged a few along the way (one executive at a workers comp managed care firm was heard to say he would rip my head off the next time he saw me) and look forward to continuing to perform that needed chore when appropriate. Hosting Managed Care Matters has made me more thoughtful, better read, and busier than ever.
Thanks for the insights, challenges, and news items, and please, keep it up.
Nov
1
Joe: Congratulations on 1 year of “Managed Care Matters”. I heard about it in August at the FL Work Comp Conference and have been readinging every since! Since I’m now working for a physician practice, it’s been a great source for keeping informed on the managed care industry. Hope to see you at FWCI next year! Ann
Congratulations, Joe, and thanks! Managed Care Matters is a real gem of a business blog – educational, insightful, and useful. A daily visit – five stars!
Joe – keep up the excellent work. Love the blog and your analysis, as well as the occassional rant – nothing wrong with turning up the volume occasionally!