Matthew ’s health care tidbits: Health care pricing is cray-zee
Each time I send out the THCB Reader, our newsletter that summarizes the best of THCB (Sign up here!) I include a brief tidbits section. Then I had the brainwave to add them to the blog. They’re short and usually not too sweet! –Matthew Holt
It’s no secret that health care pricing has been out of whack for a very long time. This past week PBMs and pharma manufacturers were in front of congressional committees trying to defend the indefensible–how much drugs cost and why? Hospitals have been required to publish their fictional price lists (their chargemasters) for a few years now and more recently have been instr...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 16, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Health Policy Matthew Holt Carbon Health Elevance PBMs pricing TrTansparency Source Type: blogs
The ERA – An Amendment Who ’s Time Has Come
BY MIKE MAGEE
Believe it or not, The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first introduced 100 years ago in 1923. But it was only adopted by Congress by a 2/3 majority vote 49 years later in 1972. That was simply step 1 in the world’s most complex and difficult national constitutional amendment process.
Step 2, approval by 3/4 of the states, seemed off to a running start with 28 of the required 38 states signing up that first year. But 1972 was also the year that Phyllis Schafly, an outspoken supporter of patriarchy and stay-at-home motherhood, began echoing her anti-ERA message on Chicago News Radio WBBM. The followin...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 15, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Health Policy ERA Mike Magee Phyllis Schafly Source Type: blogs
In an Ideal World, How Much Would We Spend on Health Care? – Part 1
BY BEN WHEATLEY
We have heard it said before, and it is no longer shocking to say, that in 2021 the United States spent $4.3 trillion on health care. To put this gaudy number in some perspective, we measure it as a share of our economy and report that health care comprised 18.3% of our gross domestic product. CMS projects that health care will approach 20% of GDP in coming years—one-fifth of everything we buy and sell in this country.
In a recent report, the Health Affairs Council on Health Care Spending and Value said that “it is unclear what percentage of GDP would represent the ideal level to devote to healt...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 11, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Health Policy Ben Wheatley Health care spending medical debt Patent Source Type: blogs
In an Ideal World, How Much Would We Spend on Health Care?
BY BEN WHEATLEY
We have heard it said before, and it is no longer shocking to say, that in 2021 the United States spent $4.3 trillion on health care. To put this gaudy number in some perspective, we measure it as a share of our economy and report that health care comprised 18.3% of our gross domestic product. CMS projects that health care will approach 20% of GDP in coming years—one-fifth of everything we buy and sell in this country.
In a recent report, the Health Affairs Council on Health Care Spending and Value said that “it is unclear what percentage of GDP would represent the ideal level to devote to h...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 11, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Health Policy Ben Wheatley Health care spending medical debt Patent Source Type: blogs
23 Small Ways to Make Life Simpler
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”Leonardo da Vinci
“The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity.”
Ludwig Wittgenstein
I love simplifying my life. It makes me more effective and life less stressful. It makes me calmer and happier. And it simply makes life easier.
But where do you start? Or continue if you are already on your way?
In this week's article I’d like to share 23 small habits that help me to live a simpler life.
Pick one of these to get started and keep doing it until it sticks and becomes just another normal part of your life.
...
Source: Practical Happiness and Awesomeness Advice That Works | The Positivity Blog - May 11, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Henrik Edberg Tags: Personal Development Relaxation Source Type: blogs
THCB Quickbite: Aditya Bansod, Luma Health
Aditya Bansod is the CTO & co-founder of Luma Health. Matthew Holt spoke to him about their new offerings, following up on an interview with CEO Adnan Iqbal about 18 months ago. To their operational workflow tools which help providers route and manage the patient journey (think appointments, communications and much more), they have now added some data intelligence based on collating all the anonymized data they have access to and seeing what works best in actually getting patients to engage with their care.
Today (i.e. since this video was shot) Luma announced a new deal with major EMR player Meditech, which should...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 10, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Health Tech THCB Quickbites Aditya Bansod Hospital Systems Luma Health patient engagement Source Type: blogs
What's new in midwifery - 10th May 2023
Some things you might find useful.There is a newLancet series on " small vulnerable newborns " . The first in the series argues for that new term, to include preterm births, SGA and LBW. That article is discussed in the Guardian. A newMaternal Mental Health Foundation report (PDF) on specialist perinatal mental health care, discussed in the Guardian.A NIHR Evidence Alert - summary of a research article - onthe need for women who tear or who have a surgical cut to get prompt antibiotics. A research article, Application of the Modified Early Obstetrical Warning Syst...
Source: Browsing - May 10, 2023 Category: Databases & Libraries Tags: midwifery Source Type: blogs
Would You Picket Over AI?
By KIM BELLARD
I’m paying close attention to strike by the Writers Guild Of America (WGA), which represents “Hollywood” writers. Oh, sure, I’m worried about the impact on my viewing habits, and I know the strike is really, as usual, about money, but what got my attention is that it’s the first strike I’m aware of where impact of AI on their jobs is one of the key issues.
It may or may not be the first time, but it’s certainly not going to be the last.
The WGA included this in their demands: “Regulate use of artificial intelligence on MBA-covered projects: AI can’t write or rewrite literary ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 9, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Health Tech AI Kim Bellard Writers Strike Source Type: blogs
The Power of Connection: Why Building Relationships Is the Key to Personal and Professional Success
Establishing deep meaningful genuine relationships with others is a vital aspect of personal and professional success. Numerous studies have found that social connections are essential for our overall well-being, both physical and mental. Despite this, people often tend to overlook its importance in their lives. There’s plenty of reasons behind it.
Firstly, the hectic nature of modern-day life may involve long working hours and various other responsibilities. Consequently, people fail to allocate adequate time to nurture their relationships with others.
Secondly, we’ve got spoiled by the simplicity of conne...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - May 8, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ilya Rouss Tags: career communication confidence creativity featured internet culture philosophy productivity tips self-improvement success connection Source Type: blogs
Michael Gould, ZeOmega
Michael Gould is AVP of Interoperability Strategy at ZeOmega, a utilization/care management company that predominantly helps payers manage population health for about 50m covered lives including AmeriHealth Caritas, home care company HealPros and more. Since 2016 they have also been in the interoperability game since they bought Health Unity. Since Michael came over to ZeOmega from Independence Blue Cross a few years back he’s been helping the data/API integration that replaces a lot of the fax and phone-based prior-auth. He told me about the cross-sell between the two sides of the company, in part driven by the new ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 8, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Health Tech THCB Quickbites Interoperatbility Michael Gould Population Health Utilization Review ZeOmega Source Type: blogs
THCB Quickbite: Michael Gould, ZeOmega
Michael Gould is AVP of Interoperability Strategy at ZeOmega, a utilization/care management company that predominantly helps payers manage population health for about 50m covered lives including AmeriHealth Caritas, home care company HealPros and more. Since 2016 they have also been in the interoperability game since they bought Health Unity. Since Michael came over to ZeOmega from Independence Blue Cross a few years back he’s been helping the data/API integration that replaces a lot of the fax and phone-based prior-auth. He told me about the cross-sell between the two sides of the company, in part driven by the new ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 8, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Health Tech THCB Quickbites Interoperatbility Michael Gould Population Health Utilization Review ZeOmega Source Type: blogs
Burden of Pain
BY JAY JOSHI
We’re seeing a trend of late, where matters in healthcare once deemed to be civil in nature are turning criminal. We see it for nearly every polarizing health issue, from abortion to opioids. And it’s affecting vulnerable patients the most.
We have two separate systems in place, civil and criminal, because we have different standards of behavior. Civil laws determine whether undue harm was caused by one party to another. Criminal laws determine whether someone committed a crime. The threshold is distinctly different. If someone is caught driving ten miles over the designated speed limit, that pers...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 5, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Health Policy Abortion Civil Penalties Criminal Law Jay Joshi Opioids Source Type: blogs
201 Monday Motivation Quotes (+ My 5 Favorite Tips for a Great Week)
Are you in need of some Monday motivation?
If you’re perhaps tired, unmotivated and just reluctant to do anything and want a few more days of weekend right now then I have something that can help you.
I’ve put together 201 of the best Monday motivation quotes I’ve ever come across to give you a boost of inspiration as you start your Monday and week and to maybe help you to find a change in perspective.
That’s the first part of this post.
In the second part I’ll share my own 5 favorite tips that I’ve used the most to overcome my own Monday blues and reluctance and to get my week off to a good and motivated star...
Source: Practical Happiness and Awesomeness Advice That Works | The Positivity Blog - May 4, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Henrik Edberg Tags: Inspirational Quotes Personal Development Source Type: blogs
THCB Quickbite: Steve Yaskin, Health Gorilla
Steve Yaskin is CEO of Health Gorilla and probably the only non-lawyer who has read the entire 21st Century Cures Act, and decided that there was a business buried in it. If we are going to fix the data access problem and then move that data to where it is needed in the patient care experience, it’s a good bet that Health Gorilla’s health information network will be a big part of that future. Steve told me about the company, its technology for patient identity and matching (among others), and what it means to be an official QHIN exchanging data using FHIR. Will consumers and providers on their behalf demand acc...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 3, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Health Tech THCB Quickbites Health Gorilla QHIN Steve Yaskin Source Type: blogs
Bluesky Ahead
BY KIM BELLARD
I’ve been thinking about writing about Bluesky ever since I heard about the Jack Dorsey-backed Twitter alternative, and decided it is finally time, for two reasons. The first is that I’ve been seeing so many other people writing about it, so I’m getting FOMO. The second is that I checked out Nostr, another Jack Dorsey-backed Twitter alternative, and there’s no way I’m trying to write about that (case in point: Jack’s Nostr username is: npub1sg6plzptd64u62a878hep2kev88swjh3tw00gjsfl8f237lmu63q0uf63m. Seriously).
It’s not that I’ve come to hate Twitter, although Elon Musk is makin...
Source: The Health Care Blog - May 2, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Health Tech Bluesky Decentralize Healthcare Kim Bellard Source Type: blogs
