Posts All of our commentary in one spot. You can also browse by topics or search. 427 posts in this category Posts pagination Newer 1 … 25 26 27 28 29 … 43 Older The US: Inspiration, Embarrassment, & Struggle May 9, 2022 Summary: Friends around the world watch in disbelief as the US is mired in democratic crisis, hoping we re-normalize soon. The frailties of our political system are on display, challenging its core strengths. This battle is paralleled in the health system, with similar dynamics and perhaps linked futures. Comment by: Jim Kahn A European colleague […] Lame CMS Defense of REACH, the Corporate Takeover of Traditional Medicare May 5, 2022 Summary: Medicare’s funder is defending its plan to yield control of the traditional fully public side of Medicare to private investors. The evidence they present is flawed, and the story they tell is misleading. This is abetting a corporate Medicare money grab. Expanding Accountable Care’s Reach among Medicare BeneficiariesBy Douglas Jacobs, Purva Rawal, Liz Fowler, […] Obama, Obamacare, & Disinformation May 3, 2022 Summary: We hear lots, including from former President Obama, about the serious problem of disinformation stoked by social media algorithms, polarizing our society. What we hear less about is disinformation regarding private health insurance that comes from both Dems and the GOP and that compromises our ability to get care. We must address both. ‘Regulation […] Medicare Advantage Plans Denying Appropriate Care April 29, 2022 Summary: This report from the US Dept of Health and Human Services Inspector General quantifies the high frequency of unjustified denials of care authorizations and payments by Medicare Advantage plans. This is private insurers maximizing profits at the expense of patients. Some Medicare Advantage Organization Denials of Prior Authorization Requests Raise Concerns About Beneficiary Access […] More Children Now Killed by Guns than Cars April 25, 2022 Summary: Since 2017, for the first time, US child and young adult deaths from firearms exceeded those from motor vehicles. Why? Because we’ve improved car safety, and failed abysmally to improve gun safety. Why? Because gun organizations have opposed research and regulation. This must change. Crossing Lines — A Change in the Leading Cause of […] California Commission Affirms Unified Financing April 22, 2022 Summary: The Healthy California for All Commission issued a final report laying out the huge benefits to be derived from “unified financing” – one payment mechanism for all health care. Costs down, health care up. The impressive affirmation of fundamental principles plus technical findings bolster efforts for single payer. Key Design Considerations for a Unified […] How Financial Incentives for Quality Metrics Hurt Us April 19, 2022 Summary: An excellent commentary describes how two decades of paying to improve quality metrics has failed. Quality hasn’t improved, and we’ve spent billions of dollars and hours on quality indicators of dubious validity. We’ve compromised the practice of medicine, and increased disparities. Universal insurance is the foundation for improving quality. Reassessing Quality Assessment – The […] Congenital Syphilis Deaths Should Be a Wake-Up Call April 16, 2022 Summary: More fetuses and babies are dying from syphilis, a completely preventable outcome with adequate access to quality prenatal care. This is a another marker of failure of our systems for health care financing and public health. Babies Die as Congenital Syphilis Continues a Decade-Long Surge Across the USCalifornia HealthlineApril 12, 2022By Anna Maria Barry-Jester […] Medicare Advantage Costly Diagnostic Upcoding April 14, 2022 Summary: Investigative reporting by Bloomberg highlights the work of whistleblowers and the federal government to combat fraudulent upcoding by Medicare Advantage plans. But Medicare itself greatly worsens the problem, by failing to properly regulate aggressive (largely legal) upcoding. Major Insurers Are Scamming Billions from Medicare, Whistle-Blowers SayBloombergApril 12, 2022By John Tozzi Each year, [Medicare Advantage] […] US Physician EHR Burden = Less Clinical Focus, More Burnout April 12, 2022 Summary: The electronic health record is now ubiquitous. Doctors complain about its time demands and its emphasis on billing. This review quantifies that burden – more than 4 hours per day, far higher than in countries with simpler insurance. How much time do physicians spend in the EHR?KevinMDApril 10, 2022By Thrisha Gogineni, James G. Kahn, […] Posts pagination Newer 1 … 25 26 27 28 29 … 43 Older
