Chelsey Ledue
According to a May 2009 WellPoint Institute of Healthcare Knowledge report, advances in medical technology may be the primary driver of increased costs, not insurer profits.
The Senate Finance Committee has released a list of possible health reform options, including reducing contribution limits to flexible spending accounts or eliminating them entirely.
According to The New England Healthcare Institute, the primary care crisis is the "confluence of a rising demand for primary care and a decreasing supply of professionals providing these services."
Medicaid health plans are saving states money, increasing access to services, improving quality of care and earning high satisfaction ratings from enrollees, according to a report released by America’s Health Insurance Plans.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, physicians should play a leading role in achieving healthcare reform by helping achieve a guaranteed 1.5 percent annual savings in healthcare costs that would pay for covering all Americans.
The Center for Healthcare Strategies is launching "Transforming Care for Dual Eligibles," a state initiative to test innovative care models for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
While some physicians are considering early retirement or leaving primary care if reimbursements are cut further, others are turning to a hybrid model of concierge medicine.
Government officials have launched a Healthcare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) to combat Medicare fraud.
America's family physicians are increasing charity care, discounting fees and providing free screenings to help patients meet their healthcare needs during economically stressful times, according to an American Academy of Family Physicians national survey.
A toolkit to help physicians, preferred provider networks and payers develop a common understanding during contracting discussions has been released by the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations and the American Medical Association.