So What is the Latest on Payment Reform in MA?

Interesting presentation on payment reform by Dr. Robert Galvin on what could go wrong in payment reform. Two of his biggest concerns: providers fighting the loss of their income and consumers being told they can no longer have it all.

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2012/04/10-ways-payment-reform

Good Summary of the SC and the Mandate

I have read many accounts now of Tuesday's SC hearings. Many said that the mandate is likely to lose 5-4 based on what they heard during the oral arguments. This summary takes a more reasoned view:

http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2012/03/28/william-sage-on-the-supreme-court-aca-arguments-day-two-where-no-law-has-gone-before/

Employer Sponsored HI Coverage Drop

In 2001 it was at 69.8%. By 2010 it had dropped to 54%. Wow.

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/03/employer-based-health-insurance-going-way-dodo

Consumers Still Not Satisfied w/ Health Insurers

JD Power's new survey shows that consumers still are not happy with their health insurers. Interesting to note that 41% of people who have coverage through their employers would be interested in using an exchange to obtain coverage. I think this speaks to their desire to have multiple options for coverage.

http://www.fiercehealthpayer.com/story/insurance-exchanges-entice-dissatisfied-consumers/2012-03-16?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

CBO Analysis of ACA Impact on Employer Coverage

Estimates range from 3M more covered by employers to 20M less. But even if the 20M less happens the net cost to the federal gov't will be minimal as additional cost for subsidies will be offset by higher tax revenues from higher salaries paid in lieu of HI coverage.

http://www.cbo.gov/publication/43090?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzEmail&utm_content=812526&utm_campaign=On-Demand_2012-03-15%2016%3a08

So Much for "Skinny" Benefits

These MN employers pay full freight for employee coverage and make the trade-off in salaries:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/wellness/141253433.html

5 Top Benefit Trends (According to Mercer)

February 27, 2012 | Categories: Infographics | Tags:

Health benefit cost management continues to be a dominant concern among US employers, according to the National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans. This nationally projectable survey, conducted annually by Mercer, includes public and private organizations with 10 or more employees; 2,844 employers responded in 2011.

“Our survey results show not only the actions employers are taking to manage their health benefit costs, but where they are having success,” says Beth Umland, Mercer’s director of research for health and benefits. “For example, last year the average growth in prescription drug benefit cost was the lowest in many years, helping to slow overall health plan cost growth.”

“As we typically see, larger employers are leading the way in exploring new cost-management measures,” she adds. “For example, they’ve been the first to adopt value-based plan design, which provides financial incentives to choose and adhere to courses of treatment with the best chance for success.”

Learn about five of today’s top health benefit trends.

(Click image to enlarge)

For more information about this survey, visit www.mercer.com/ushealthplansurvey.

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<a href="http://mthink.mercer.com/top-health-benefit-trends-part-1/"><img src="http://mthink.mercer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/120222-MERCER-TOPHEALTHTRENDS.png" alt="Top health benefit trends – Part 1" title="Top health benefit trends – Part 1" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mercer.com/">Infographic by Mercer Insights</a>

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