Jul 6, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Rescinding health policies of 20,000 people in past five years saved health insurers $300 million
For years, Americans have heard news stories about the sick patient whose health insurance policy was rescinded in the midst of a health crisis. Now comes public acknowledgement—at a Congressional hearing no less—that this business practice exists!
Executives from three of the nation’s largest health insurers admitted to this practice when testifying at a Congressional investigation recently. Observers believe the surprisingly candid acknowledgement about health insurance recissions pretty much guarantees insurers will be excluded from the health care reform debate. It may even ensure inclusion of a government health insurance plan in the final legislation which passes. (more…)
Jun 29, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology, Uncategorized
Health reform plan preserves patient choice and requires no new government funding
As Congress gets down to the nitty gritty details of healthcare reform, a unique bipartisan proposal presented by the Rolling Hills Group, a group of Tennessee healthcare experts and community leaders, is gaining support on both sides of the aisle.
This healthcare reform proposal, initially developed for a statewide program in Tennessee, has captured Congress’ attention because it meets top health care reform priorities—universal coverage, lower costs, improved care and safety, but doesn’t require any new funding sources.
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Jun 17, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Clinical laboratories can provide that missing education about CDHPs to patients
Even as enrollment in Consumer-Directed Health Plans (CDHPs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) climbs steadily year after year, a new study reveals that most physicians are unprepared to help their patients understand and better use these forms of health insurance. This is a barrier to CDHP acceptance and an opportunity for clinical laboratories.
CDHPs—and their close cousins, HDHPs (high-deductible health plans_—are designed to shift more responsibility for healthcare decisions to patients. Many physicians, however, are unprepared to advise patients enrolled in CDHPs about cost-effective treatment options. This is the finding of a 2008 survey of 525 randomly selected doctors published in the American Journal of Managed Care . Nearly half, 43%, of doctors responding to the survey admitted knowing “a little” or “not at all” about CDHPs or HSAs. At least 33% of surveyed physicians said they are “somewhat” knowledgeable. Only 24% of physicians surveyed claimed “much” or “a great deal” of knowledge about CDHPs.
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Jun 11, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Influenza Outbreak Calls Attention to Shortage of Medical Technologists, other lab staff
It took the threat of an influenza pandemic recently to get at least one news reporter to realize the shortage of medical laboratory technicians has reached epidemic proportions.
While the recent outbreak of A/H1N1 influenza turned out to be a dress rehearsal, it inspired Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Laura Landro to focus on the critical role played by medical technologists, clinical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, and other lab professionals, along with the potential consequences of this clinical laboratory staffing shortage when a killer bug turns out to be “for real.”
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May 15, 2009 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Laboratory Pathology
When it comes to quoting accurate prices in advance to patients, hospitals are finding themselves caught in a double bind. On one hand, Medicare and some large insurers require hospitals to provide cost estimates for non-emergency procedures. That helps patients know in advance how much they will have to pay out-of-pocket. On the other hand, growing numbers of consumers want precise estimates of their care-in advance of their hospitalization.
Medicare and private payer requirements for accurate price estimates are the primary reason hospitals began boosting their capabilities in this area, But it’s today’s dismal economy, in tandem with the growth in consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs), that are causing more people to request estimates from one or more hospitals before they decide which provider they will use for their healthcare needs.
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