A successful health information exchange (HIE) must be constructed in a manner that accounts for and serves the needs of each stakeholder group individually and allows all, to share in the benefit. As a result, the success of a community-based HIE is as much a feat of cooperation as it is one of organization.
More insurers are establishing operations in China, with Aetna being the latest to join the forces. Opening business in China involves substantial international expertise and patience with investments.
Many brochures and ads issued by health plans to promote Medicare drug benefits to seniors fail to meet standards. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services seeks to stem the criticism by tightening up the rules governing such marketing plans.
A national approach to healthcare requires equal access, medical homes and quality and performance regulation.
Fraud, abuse and overpayment increases annual claims costs by up to 10% annually, but if addressed with a comprehensive fraud control program, could be money returned to the bottom line.
Stakeholders are all over the communications map trying to reach their audiences in the high-tech world where they live. Whether they're texting consumers, sending e-cards, creating video games or sharing information via social media, all are working to get the healthcare message out.
A recent study by the University of Connecticut indicates that the cost of low health literacy to the U.S. economy is as high as $238 billion annually. It's imperative that health plans and systems drive new efforts.
Evaluating the return on investment in disease management can be quite complicated, and survey results are suggestive rather than conclusive.
MHE's State of the Industry Survey findings show that 44.6% of those surveyed did not envision using or implementing any advanced technological innovations, such as online physician visits.
Organizations should realize the need for integrating structured IT information and unstructured information, experts say, since the amount of valuable unstructured information is growing exponentially.
The weak economy has hit the pocketbooks of health plans as reflected in their top two challenges for 2009: competing in the marketplace (27.7%) and enduring national economic lows (20.8%).
Chronic conditions, medical advances and consumerism are among the factors contributing to premium trends in 2009, experts say.
Commonwealth Fund State Performance Ranking (2007): 33
In the wake of the upcoming presidential election, experts say both candidates cater to the public by assuring that everything will change, but neither candidate has offered up meaningful dialogue about the most needed change of all - reducing costs.
Independent, nonprofit Blue plans are becoming extinct
Health plan executives are encouraged by the decline, noting that public and private stakeholders have had a hand in devising ways to improve the widespread problem of Americans lacking coverage
The ads were aired in a multimillion-dollar national advertising campaign run through the Democratic and Republican national conventions
The Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008 would establish the Health Care Comparative Effectiveness Research Institute as a private, nonprofit, nongovernmental entity that would contract with government agencies and private research organizations to conduct systematic reviews, observational studies, and randomized controlled clinical trials to obtain evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of therapies and treatments.
Primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT), the second most common treatment for localized prostate cancer following prostatectomy, is no more effective than conservative medical management for prolonging survival in most older patients with prostate cancer.
A retrospective cohort study published in the journal Stroke demonstrated an increased risk of stroke among users of rofecoxib and valdecoxib but not among users of other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
The purpose of this drug use evaluation was to report potentially inappropriate medication use, as defined by the full Beers criteria.
Alogliptin is a highly selective DPP-IV inhibitor under investigation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. An NDA for alogliptin was submitted in January 2008, and a response from FDA is expected in the fourth quarter of this year.
Generic drugs approved by FDA (through September 2008) including nisoldipine extended-release tablets and divalproex delayed-release tablets
Recent FDA action (through September 2008) related to Immediate-release diclofenac capsules, tocilizumab, sugammadex, topical alprostadil cream, fospropofol, iloperidone, lacosamide, and vascular endothelial growth factor b.
New indication: Tenofovir (Viread), an antiviral agent, was approved on August 13, 2008, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults.
Drug Watch: Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (September 2008)
Major changes are under way in global accounting standards, and all U.S. insurance companies will be affected.
While it is true that actuarial calculations of medical savings from disease management have been controversial, there is enough underlying value to DM that it will not only sustain itself, but also continue to grow as the true value of the concept emerges.
Health insurance payers and employers show a strong desire in the next year to increase their commitment to wellness initiatives.
The healthcare industry is calling for greater connectivity, or interoperability standards to increase adoption, safety and implementation.