A large number of providers in a network does not make a network good. Few providers and a handful of hospitals does not make a network bad. A good network has a sufficient number of providers in a wide variety specialties so that members can quickly get appropriate and high quality care at locations that …
Good news everybody
America’s uninsured rate just dropped to a new low https://t.co/2N1QqziPGa pic.twitter.com/p2j3wKywO2 — Vox (@voxdotcom) September 7, 2016 Glass half empty: The ACA marketplaces face challenges. Glass half full: Uninsured rate at the lowest point ever. https://t.co/N3bIodFggf — Larry Levitt (@larry_levitt) September 7, 2016 One of the fundamental aims of the ACA is being met — …
Double D’s and Subsidies
I always like to look at the 12-DD box on my W-2. friendly reminder: 100% of the employer sponsored market is subsidized, and has mostly higher premiums https://t.co/eQ4MgLdMFX — Seth Trueger (@MDaware) September 6, 2016 This box tells me how much my employer sponsored insurance (ESI) actually costs between premiums and Health Savings Account (HSA) …
Risk Adjustment:Vox::Narrow Networks:538
There are two recent health policy articles by interested lay expertise sites that have me scratching my head. In Vox’s case, I am seeing a conclusion without context. For 538, I can not figure out the model that leads to a core assumption. These sites’ jobs are to inform the public and in these cases …
Flu and ice cream
The @AmerAcadPeds isn't recommending the nasal flu vaccine for kids this year. https://t.co/t6cU1TQqcB Subscribe: https://t.co/qd2x1Xgt5l — STAT (@statnews) September 6, 2016 The flu spray was barely more effective than a placebo in preventing flu infections in the past couple of years. Flu shots are the way to go. This will have a few policy implications. …
Hedge funds with funny cash flow
Kevin Drum flagged a good Wall Street Journal article on how low interest rates will probably lead to higher medical malpractice insurance premiums. Over the past year, several major insurers have notified tens of thousands of people of higher costs to keep their policies in force, with increases ranging from midsingle-digit percentages to more than …
A policy analysis question
Later on today, I’m meeting up with two referees to go to Middle of Nowhere State College for a soccer game tonight. One of my colleagues is a public policy post-doc at the local policy school and the other is a business prof focusing on economic development issues. I work with this crew once or …