The 15% Medicare Doc Cut and Medicare Advantage Payments--The Battle Has Begun Again

Key players in the Congress are voicing some optimism that they can fix the 10% reduction in Medicare physician fees that will occur on July 1 and the further 5% reduction that is on track to follow on January 1, 2009.It is not surprising that Democrats would be sounding optimistic this early in the new session, but what is interesting is that we are hearing some willingness to compromise on the

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Four Big Trends Toward Better Health Care Cost and Quality

Brian Klepper joins us again today and calls attention to four key trends in the marketplace, all targeted on improving both the cost and quality of care.Four Big Trendsby Brian KlepperSeveral events and trends emerged over the last year that will reverberate throughout the health care marketplace in 2008 and going forward. While none of these dominated the trade press like some other issues--

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An Analysis of Senator Hillary Clinton's Health Plan Proposal

A Detailed Point by Point Analysis of Senator Clinton's Health Reform PlanThis is a repost of my October analysis of Senator Clinton's health care reform plan.This is nothing like the Clinton Health Plan from 1993.Senator Clinton has so far been running a smart campaign for President and her health care reform strategy is no exception.She waited until after all of the leading Democratic, and most

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"Health Wonk Review" Here At Health Policy and Marketplace Review

This week it's my turn to host Health Wonk Review. HWR is designed to highlight some of the best posts in the health blog world.What I found remarkable this time was the sheer number of thoughtful submissions. The number and quality of health care blogs continues to grow.It's a long, but terrific, list so I'll try to make it easy reading:Brian Kleppper, posting over at "Health Commentary" gives

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Can You Really Mandate People To Buy Health Insurance?

That's not so much a policy question as a practical question and it is what Hillary Clinton seems to be saying is the big difference between her health care reform plan and the health reform plan of Barack Obama.That's why a news story this week out of Massachusetts caught my eye.It seems that the Mass Department of Revenue is in the process of drafting new regulations to up the penalty for

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Medicare Advantage Cuts?

The highly profitable Medicare Advantage business is vulnerable to payment cuts to HMOs.Any of you that read this blog know that I have been predicting big changes for the Medicare Advantage business ever since the Democrats took control of the Congress--particularly for the controversial Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) part of the program.But I have often felt alone in that opinion so a recent

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The Budget Outcome--Everything Was Decided and Nothing Was Decided

The Budget agreement, SCHIP, the Medicare Physician Fee Cut, and Medicare Advantage HMO payments.For months, I have been telling you four things:The federal budget impasse would be resolved because Democrats and Republicans weren't going to go home without their earmarks. In predicting the budget outcome you might recall my telling you to follow the "pork."SCHIP would not be allowed to expire and

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