Editorials

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announces intent to delay ICD-10 compliance date

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius confirmed Wednesday that they will change the ICD-10 timeline.

Increasing pay for primary care doctors - why it matters

The current shortage of primary care physicians has received a great deal of attention in recent years, but very little has happened to impact or reverse the trend and the problem just continues to get worse.

Why the Pilot Programs Failed

Just about everybody in the health policy blogosphere has noted with disappointment the failure of Medicare’s demonstration projects to reduce the costs of care. Recall that these are critical to President Obama’s challenge “To find out what works and then go do it.”

Incentives position payers for HIX success

When the state health insurance exchanges (HIX) come online in 2014, the insurance industry will begin to shift from a B2B market to one that includes B2C. The Affordable Care Act will allow individuals and small businesses to buy coverage through these online insurance marketplaces at the state level. As such, participants likely will buy on value, and health plans will need to stand out from the many options available to members, while also remaining price competitive.

Avoid loaded words in healthcare debate

In the 1952 Florida Senate race, George Smathers campaigned against incumbent Claude Pepper in the democratic primary, using this characterization attributed by journalists of the day as key to his win:

"Are you aware that the candidate is known all over Washington as a shameless extrovert? Not only that, but this man is reliably reported to have practiced nepotism with his sister-in-law... He matriculated with co-eds at the University, and it is an established fact that before his marriage he habitually practiced celibacy."

Medicaid expansion: Will we get our money's worth?

Should we just hand uninsured adult diabetics $1000 per year rather than enrolling them in Medicaid? That’s the question I’m left with after reading Medicaid Expansion Under Health Reform May Increase Service Use and Improve Access for Low-Income Adults With Diabetes in this month’s diabetes focused issue of Health Affairs.

Healthcare costs will influence patient choice

In a recent blog post, I discussed a growing trend in patient choice of healthcare providers being based on the cost of services. This has become most apparent in the willingness of private health insurers to provide the insured with provider options based on a "tiering" according to the level of deductibles or co-pays.

5 trends that will shape ICD-10 implementation in 2012

I hate making predictions. Especially when they're about the future.

But since I listed the top stories of 2011 and how they affected ICD-10 implementation, I need to explain their implications in 2012.

Wyden/Ryan Medicare plan is a loser

The Bipartisan Options for the Future white paper by Ron Wyden (Senate Democrat from Oregon) and Paul Ryan (Republican Congressman from Wisconsin) is billed as a bold move to reform Medicare. It is admirable that two prominent legislators from across the aisle have come together on the pivotal fiscal question of our era, but the plan itself is disappointing and even counterproductive.

HIPAA 5010: Are You Ready for the New Transaction Standard?

Can you hear that clock ticking down to Jan. 1, 2012? If you are among the few in healthcare who are really on the ball, becoming compliant with new ASC-X12 5010 transaction standards ahead of the deadline, then congratulations! A big weight is off your shoulders.