Health centers can meet standards, study says
Community health centers can adopt national performance standards and improve their quality of care. Results of a recent study concluded that because health centers show the ability to address quality standards, they have the potential to be factored into decisions made as more healthcare payers shift to performance-based purchasing. The study was conducted by researchers from The George Washingon University Medical Center and focused on three community health centers in New York, Miami and Washington. DATE: 01/14/08
Report: healthcare costs to outpace incomes
Americans will shoulder more healthcare costs in the future, with incomes unlikely to keep pace with the increases, a new study shows. The study, released by the Center for Studying Health System Change, projects that overall private health insurance costs and out-of-pocket spending will rise 6 percent to 7 percent annually through 2016. HSC's national study, supported in part by the Commonwealth Fund and published in the January/February edition of Health Affairs, said more than one in six Americans – or 17.7 percent of the non-elderly population – spent more than 10 percent of after-tax income on health care in 2004, up from 15.9 percent in 2001. DATE: 01/09/08
Medication compliance improves with incentives
A study conducted in part by ActiveHealth Management has found that a value-based insurance design program can increase compliance on the use of certain medications for chronic conditions if coupled with reduced co-payments. Using ActiveHealth's CareEngine health management system, the study identified members in the groups that would benefit from reduced co-pays for five drug classes: ACE inhibitors and ARBs, beta-blockers, diabetes medications, statins and inhaled steroids. DATE: 01/08/08
CMS proposes Medicare rule for low-income recipients
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is set to propose a regulation that would help qualifying low-income individuals get assistance in paying their premiums for the Medicare prescription drug plan. The proposal provides an option for Medicare prescription drug plan sponsors to offer a separate prescription drug premium amount for individuals receiving low-income subsidies, subject to certain conditions. DATE: 01/07/08