Providers Don't Like CMS Value Based Regs

No one said this was going to be easy.

http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/page-5/QUA-263564/10-Ways-CMSs-ValueBased-Purchasing-Proposal-is-Flawed

ACO Regs: Give Providers the Flexibility to Promote Healthy Behavior through Incentives

This idea really makes sense:

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Columns/2011/March/031511lutesbrill.aspx

Employers Do Not See the Real Costs of Underinsuring Their Workforces

It is more than just the cost of premiums:

http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2011/03/15/what-employers-don%E2%80%99t-spend-for-health-will-cost-them/

Cost of Chronic Conditions

Good chart from McKinsey:

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/newsletters/chartfocus/2011_03.htm

Pharmacists Step in to Fill the Gap

With the shortage of primary care physicians and the regular contact many people have w/their pharmacy this idea makes sense:

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Features/Insuring-Your-Health/Michelle-Andrews-on-Pharmacy-Outreach-and-Chronic-Health-Problems.aspx

5 Components of High Quality Health Plans

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Fund-Reports/2011/Mar/Success-Factors-in-Five-Health-Plans.aspx

Year Two of ACA

There will be more nitty gritty matters to resolve. The big one will be deciding what services must be covered by health plans:

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials will create a Medicare initiative to encourage hospitals and physicians to coordinate more closely on patient care in the coming year. Regulators will start deciding which medical services health plans must cover as of 2014. Negotiations between federal and state officials will escalate as states prepare to launch the health insurance markets that will expand coverage. And researchers will get federal money to find the most effective way to treat diseases.