Posts All of our commentary in one spot. You can also browse by topics or search. 414 posts in this category Posts pagination Newer 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 42 Older Who is most efficient in health care? Surprise, it’s the VA January 25, 2024 This new study finds that in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) 22.5% of personnel are administrative or clerical, vs. 29.3% for the rest of the health care system. If non-VA insurers and providers echoed VA staffing, they would need 900,000 fewer administrators and clerks, sharply reducing administrative costs. Single payer efficiency gains would be even greater. Growing Job-Based Insurance Premiums Exacerbate Income Inequality January 20, 2024 For employers, labor costs include both wages and benefits. So when insurance premiums rise rapidly, wages stagnate. A new study finds that this phenomenon reduced total worker income from 1988-2019 by 5%. Lower paid workers and people of color were hit hardest, amplifying income disparities. Most Medical Debt Now from the Insured January 18, 2024 Over the past 5 years, the proportion of US medical debt represented by insured individuals grew from 11% to 58%. Modern health insurance is failing to serve its purpose of assuring financial access to care. Financialization – Structural Harm to US Health Care January 13, 2024 An excellent commentary in NEJM defines and describes the role of financial actors and actions in US health care. Increasingly, insurers and providers are purchased by financial organizations or adopt financial strategies. The focus on health care is disrupted. UK Doctor Strike Reveals Need to Resist Conservative Politics & Corporate Predation January 7, 2024 A physician strike in the UK National Health Service reflects how British politicians have betrayed the NHS through austerity funding and support for corporate grabs in health care. In the US we face similar barriers. We must preserve democracy at the ballot box, and build community control. HJM AI-Assisted 2023 Review January 1, 2024 2023 was another year of deteriorating US health insurance performance, especially as post-COVID protections lapsed, and continued modest gains toward single payer. For the annual summary, we set up a ChatGPT-based artificial intelligence bot on the HJM website to allow natural language interaction with HJM content – called HJM Ai-Chat. Check it out! Let us know what you like about it and any suggestions. Below are sample queries and responses. (The new HJM website is beta, we’re refining visual presentation and adding content … official launch in early 2024.) Private Equity Hospital Purchase Raises Risks for Patients December 29, 2023 A new study in JAMA of 5 million hospitalizations over 10 years at 300 US hospitals found that private equity acquisition was associated with a 25% rise in serious adverse clinical events, likely due to fewer employees. Private equity strategies in health put patients at risk. Thoughts & Prayers Do Not Protect Our Children December 24, 2023 Unintentional firearm deaths require action. This is an especially appropriate reminder during the holiday season, with its focus on family. Largest ACO Program Saves Piddling Amounts for Medicare December 22, 2023 A new analysis finds that that MSSP, the oldest and largest Medicare accountable care organization (ACO) program, has lost money for individuals it covers and overall for Medicare saves just 75¢ per $1000. Medicare Advantage Under-Performance December 20, 2023 A commentary on Medicare Advantage in a high-profile medical journal delicately discusses issues with MA performance. We believe the evidence warrants a much more critical stance. We need not accept the inevitability of Medicare capture by under-performing private insurance. Posts pagination Newer 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 42 Older
