Summary:Ā Medicareās funder is defending its plan to yield control of the traditional fully public side of Medicare to private investors. The evidence they present is
The McCanne Health Justice Monitor is produced by a team of health policy experts and single-payer champions. For more information, and a complete archive of entries, visit the HJM website. For an archive of Quote of the Day entries from Dr. Don McCanne, click here.
Obama, Obamacare & Disinformation
Summary: We hear lots, including from former President Obama, about the serious problem of disinformation stoked by social media algorithms, polarizing our society. What we
Medicare Advantage Plans Denying Appropriate Care
Summary:Ā This report from the US Dept of Health and Human Services Inspector General quantifies the high frequency of unjustified denials of care authorizations and payments
More Children Now Killed by Guns than Cars
Summary:Ā Since 2017, for the first time, US child and young adult deaths from firearms exceeded those from motor vehicles. Why? Because weāve improved car safety,
California Commission Affirms Unified Financing
Summary:Ā The Healthy California for All Commission issued a final report laying out the huge benefits to be derived from āunified financingā ā one payment mechanism
How Financial Incentives for Quality Metrics Hurt Us
Summary:Ā An excellent commentary describes how two decades of paying to improve quality metrics has failed. Quality hasnāt improved, and weāve spent billions of dollars and
Congenital Syphilis Deaths Should Be a Wake-Up Call
Summary:Ā More fetuses and babies are dying from syphilis, a completely preventable outcome with adequate access to quality prenatal care. This is a another marker of
Medicare Advantage Costly Diagnostic Upcoding
Summary: Investigative reporting by Bloomberg highlights the work of whistleblowers and the federal government to combat fraudulent upcoding by Medicare Advantage plans. But Medicare itself
US Physician EHR Burden = Less Clinical Focus, More Burnout
Summary: The electronic health record is now ubiquitous. Doctors complain about its time demands and its emphasis on billing. This review quantifies that burden ā
US Women of Reproductive Age Hurt by Insurance Barriers
Summary: āAmong women of reproductive age in high-income countries, rates of death from avoidable causes, including pregnancy-related complications, are highest in the United States. U.S.
Big Insurer Explosive Growth & Profits Since ACA Passage
Summary: An excellent review of 12-year financial trends for the largest six insurers reveals: a) skyrocketing revenue and profits, b) based mainly on growth in
Nurse Conviction for Fatal Error vs System Harm
Summary: A nurse mistakenly gives an incorrect drug that kills a patient, and is convicted of homicide. Our system kills up to 100,000 a year