HHS Assisting States in Health Exchange IT Issues

Joel Ario spoke at an AHIP conference on states' efforts to establish health insurance exchanges by 2014.

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Newsletters/Washington-Health-Policy-in-Review/2011/Mar/March-14-2011/Insurer-Friendly-Exchange.aspx

Connector Popular in MA: Shades of Things to Come in 2014?

The health insurance exchange in MA gets high marks from its customers. 86% are satisfied w/its services:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/03/11/health_connector_patients_mostly_satisfied_with_service/

ACOs vs. Bundled Payment Pilots

If you are a hospital, a Medicare bundled payment pilot is the way to go:

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/evaluating-the-medicare-pilot-programs-comparing-acos-and-bundled-payments.html

Aetna and Carillion Clinic Form ACO in VA

Aetna will perform the back office support for the venture. No word on how risk will be shared for global payments.
http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/COM-263594/Aetna-Carilion-Clinic-Building-ACO-in-VA

BCBSMA Suspends Pay to Board Members

This is not surprising:

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/COM-263482/BCBSMA-halts-payments-to-directors.html

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