…government-run Medicare. What can explain this revealed preference? Freedom of Choice One answer, as the JAMA Forum post hinted, is that traditional Medicare still offers beneficiaries complete freedom of choice…
Uwe Reinhardt: Support for traditional Medicare is based on trust
…government-run Medicare. What can explain this revealed preference? Freedom of Choice One answer, as the JAMA Forum post hinted, is that traditional Medicare still offers beneficiaries complete freedom of choice…
New CMS rules take good care of insurers
…Americans by reducing adverse selection. https://www.cms.gov… CMS Proposed Rule: https://s3.amazonaws.com… *** Comment: By Don McCanne, M.D. CMS today released a new proposed rule allegedly designed to “protect patients” by stabilizing…
California's employer mandate is a step forward,but not enough
…covered-with the employee’s premium contribution dependent on the choices made. http://www.chcf.org/topics/view.cfm?itemid=21485 For the full report: http://www.chcf.org/documents/insurance/ConsumerDirectedHealthCare.pdf Comment: Since consumer-directed health care is being touted by some as the next major…
Ending the scourge of surprise medical bills
…that fight. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-surprise-medical-bills-20160711-snap-story.html *** Comment: By Don McCanne, M.D. There are many injustices inherent in our dysfunctional, fragmented system of financing health care, and surprise medical bills from out-of-network physicians…
Tiered and limited networks deprive patients of choice
…baby rather than go to a less expensive community hospital, and can schedule MRIs in a hospital outpatient department, even when freestanding clinics provide similar service for less money. But…
Higher premiums, higher deductibles, and narrower networks in exchange markets
The High Cost of Healthcare: Patients See Greater Cost-Shifting and Reduced Coverage in Exchange Markets 2014-2018
…patients in plans insurance companies offer through ACA health insurance exchange markets and details the changes in patient cost-sharing. This paper will demonstrate that: 1. Health plan networks have grown…
Exchange plans have sharply limited networks
Insurers limiting doctors, hospitals in health insurance market
…licensed physicians in L.A. County (MBC) http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-insure-doctor-networks-20130915,0,6433104,full.story Comment: By Don McCanne, M.D. These new data on use of narrow provider networks in state insurance exchanges, using Los Angeles County as…
California exchange plans take away provider choice
Insurers limit doctors, hospitals in state-run exchange plans
…insurance market is accelerating the trend. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-health-rates-deals-20130525,0,4396720.story Comment: By Don McCanne, M.D. There was quite a celebration amongst Affordable Care Act (ACA) enthusiasts when California, a leader in health care…
Insurers shift more out-of-network costs to patients
Consumers Hit By Higher Out-of-Network Medical Costs
…for consumers. “Once New York said you can’t use those (Ingenix figures) anymore, the insurers looked at it as an opportunity to pay even less.” http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2012/February/09/consumers-hit-by-higher-out-of-network-medical-costs.aspx Comment: By Don McCanne,…
Remember Managed Care? It’s Quietly Coming Back
…18 months, care coordination will generally be replaced by a new “prior authorization” process, according to company documents prepared for clients. For certain services and tests, including joint replacements and…
Tiered and limited networks deprive patients of choice
Plans steer patients to lower-cost hospitals
…physician group, said some people will become seriously ill and realize they can’t go to, or can’t afford, their first-choice hospital. http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2011/02/10/plans_steer_patients_to_lower_cost_hospitals/?page=full Comment: By Don McCanne, MD Although private insurers…
