Author: trident50
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Reform roundup: Georgia exchange attracts more insurers; Kansas embraces one part of health law
UnitedHealthcare, Coventry, Cigna and Time Insurance Company have each submitted plans with the state to offer health insurance in the federally run exchange in Georgia next year. They join the five holdovers from this year’s exchange that are also submitting rates for review: Alliant Health Plans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Humana, Kaiser…
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Dispatch from Tokyo
I’m in Japan today lecturing at the TOPOS Conference. per the request of several colleagues. Think of it as TED in Tokyo. I’ve been asked to discuss the Meaning of Life in an Aging Society without referencing Healthcare IT, which is a real challenge for a CIO. The approach I’ve taken is to explore life…
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State roundup: Christie vows overhaul of pension, health benefits; Ill., Fla. move more into Medicaid managed care
Gov. Chris Christie said he would propose an overhaul to the state’s pension and health benefits system later this summer, revisiting an issue that burnished his national political image in 2011 but challenged him this spring when he scaled back promised funding. As the governor signed a $32.5 billion budget on Monday, he vetoed tax…
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Viewpoints: Hobby Lobby decision celebrated and panned; gender and religious politics explored
In ruling 5 to 4 that “closely held” companies can refuse on religious grounds to include contraceptives in their employees’ health plans, the Supreme Court has needlessly interfered with an important provision of the Affordable Care Act. And it has done more than that (7/1). …read more
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Technology-Driven Healthcare Part 1: Telemedicine
Healthcare IT and healthcare reform are inextricably entwined as healthcare delivery transforms itself from a model based on volume to one based on value. Telemedicine is a disruptive technology that is ripe for driving this change from a provider-centric care model to a patient-centric model. That’s the view of Dennis Schmuland, M.D., chief health strategy…
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Report: Majority of EHR Vendors Score in “D” Range for Security
More than half of electronic health record (EHR) vendors—58 percent— scored in the “D” grade range for their culture of security, according to a report from Corl Technologies, an Atlanta-based security risk management solution provider. More than half of electronic health record (EHR) vendors—58 percent— scored in the “D” grade range for their culture of…
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Efforts to Cut Unnecessary Blood Testing Decreases Laboratory Spending Significantly
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore used two relatively simple tactics to significantly reduce the number of unnecessary blood tests to assess symptoms of heart attack and chest pain and to achieve a large decrease in patient charges. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore used two relatively simple tactics…
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At the Forefront of Health Plan-Provider Collaboration: Aetna’s Commitment to Accountable Care
Things have been moving forward very rapidly these days, as Aetna pursues an accelerating number of private ACOs with provider organizations nationwide Things have been moving forward very rapidly at the Hartford-based Aetna these days. The giant U.S. health insurer has made a firm commitment to developing accountable care relationships all across the country. At…
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Washington Debrief: Discussions Swirl on Best Route to Digitize Post-Acute Providers
The government is stepping up their approach to healthcare and health information technology with a series of roundtables and commenting opportunities to get feedback on digital health innovation and the current regulatory landscape. Quality Standards Seen as Opportunity to Wire LTPAC Providers Key Takeaway: EHR standards for long-term and post-acute care settings will be addressed…
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Viewpoints: Nothing in health care is free; Obamacare opponents lack facts; ‘Nurse Jackie’ and the ER
The Department of Health and Human Services released a report Friday declaring that 76 million Americans with private insurance became eligible for more preventive services with no out-of-pocket fees as a result of the 2010 healthcare law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare). Because Democrats are counting on female voters to help…