Many States Will Not Have Their HIX Ready 2014

It made little sense to me to invent the wheel 50 times throughout the country but to appease conservatives and lessen the concern about the federal government takeover of health care, the ACA gave the power to the states to create their own HIXs. But in a true irony, given how few states will be ready come 2014, the feds will have to step in and play a minor to major role in approximately 40 states or more come 2014.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76596.html

Under 65 HC Claims Data Study Reveals Interesting Results

The first report based on claims data for the under 65 insurance market was released last week. Some of the findings include:
--Prices for care outside the hospital grew faster (10.1%) than care for patients admitted to the hospital (5.5%), though the average price for outpatient care was a fraction of inpatient care. The average price for care provided to patients admitted to the hospital was $14,662, compared with $2,224 for outpatient care.

The researchers found that price was still the major driver of costs even after adjusting for intensity of service

Read more: Rising prices drove higher spending among commercially insured: study - Healthcare business news and research | Modern Healthcare http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20120521/NEWS/305219978#ixzz1vWFR0KUN
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State HIXs Should Limit Plan Choices

Each state has the flexibility to create the HIX that it believes best serves its market. Right now only two states, Utah and Massachusetts, have established HIXs. Utah allows any insurer to market its product(s) while Massachusetts limits the number of products offered. My experience shows that the MA model makes the most sense. Health insurance is very confusing to the average consumer so limiting the amount of choices is best. Research has shown that the more choices a consumer has the more difficult it is for them to make a purchase decision. This is particularly true for health insurance.

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/226085-study-states-should-limit-number-of-plans-in-exchanges

HHS Regulatory Review: All Bark No Bite

It is nice that HHS can call out insurers for "unreasonable" rate increases on their individual products but in the end the feds cannot stop them from doing it.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76066.html

Commonwealth Study On US HC Costs Compared to 12 Other Countries

Good review of the topic. Same old story: we spend much more than anybody else with no improvement in quality and in some ways are way worse.

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Publications/Issue-Briefs/2012/May/High-Health-Care-Spending.aspx

Good Review of the Promise of ACOs

I think this is a fair treatment of the ACO concept. But is the risk worth it? I think most providers will still say no.
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2012/May/02/millenson-ACOs-muscle-to-transform-system.aspx

Aetna CEO: HIs are Dinosaurs

Aetna CEO says in a speech that health insurers need to shift to becoming  technology guides for future consumers that will make it more convenient for consumers to access health care:
http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/HIMSS12-Aetna-CEO-insurers-face-extinction-44041-1.html?zkPrintable=true&goback=.gde_3264333_member_97073975