Good Post on Medical Homes

Medical homes are gaining in popularity and showing good results. I truly believe that medical homes are an essential element to any ACO. Here is the link:

http://blog.healthintegrated.com/index.php/2011/03/08/pcmhs-acos-and-reality/?utm_content=0000-00-00%2000%3A00%3A00&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PCMHs%2C%20ACOs%20and%20Realitycontent

So What Will HIEs Look Like?

It really will depend on the political philosophy of the state:

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/HEP-263497/HIEs-Still-More-Questions-than-Answers.html

BCBSMA Former CEO's Goodbye Package

$11M is quite the goodbye present for Cleve Killingsworth, particularly since he worked for a not for profit health insurer:

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/HR-263382/ExBlues-CEOs-11M-Severance-Package-Slaps-Policyholders

But it was approved by the Board in 2005 as the article notes. But as is also noted board members collect anywhere from $55-90,000 in annual salary so what do they care?

Agents Are Concerned

With the new MLR requirements agents are feeling the squeeze and are not happy about it:

http://aishealth.com/archive/nhpw022111-03

Once state insurance exchanges are operational in 2014, there will be a role for brokers and agents, particularly in the small-group market, said former Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario, who has headed HHS’s Office of Insurance Exchanges since September. A provision in the law requires states to create Small Business Health Options Programs (SHOP) exchanges to help small employers find coverage and enroll workers. Agents, he explained, often do more for small employers than just help them choose health plans. NAHU has long argued that navigators need to be licensed, as agents are, to ensure that they understand the complexities of

health coverage. Ario said the law envisions “baseline similarities” between navigators and insurance agents. However, he said agents sometimes don’t possess necessary “linguistic capacities” and “don’t necessarily serve all of the different populations as well as they could be served.” Those comments were met with boos.

It's Health Inflation Stupid

To control the deficit we need to control health care costs. To control health care costs we need to control health care inflation. Here is a good post on the topic:

http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2011/03/04/the-real-issue-controlling-all-health-care-costs/

High Performing Networks and Tiered Benefits: The Answer to Rising Premiums?

Once again Massachusetts is leading the way to reduce the rising costs of premiums:

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Features/Insuring-Your-Health/Michlle-Andrews-on-Premiums-and-Prices.aspx

HHS Gives States Major Grants for Exchange Development

Overall $241M given to seven states including $48M to Oklahoma:

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Newsletters/Washington-Health-Policy-in-Review/2011/Feb/February-22-2011/Exchange-Innovator.aspx