In the health care field, the impact of fraud, waste and abuse on payers -- whether insurance companies, government agencies or self-insured employers -- is enormous. Fraud losses weaken a payer’s financial position, with fraud loss estimates rivaling net income. Fraud losses feed the escalating care cost curve, undermining a
Recently I was listening to an NPR (National Public Radio) documentary about the history of cancer and medicine’s evolution in understanding and treating cancer. This was an amazing story. I would venture a guess that nearly everyone who is reading this post has been affected by cancer in one way
I am back home in Denver and catching up on all my thoughts from AHIP 2008. Every year I come back wishing I could divide my time exponentially. After all, a quick count of this year’s session tells me that I could only scratch the surface. In total, the Institute
Twice this year, I have been privileged to hear Clayton Christensen outline the principals around disruptive technologies and their impact on redefining industries. I left Friday’s closing day general session, “Diagnosing the Disease: A Disruptive Remedy for Health Care”, equally excited, reenergized yet perplexed. AHIP, again, did not fail to
As I head over to Moscone Friday morning, I keep thinking about one statistic I heard yesterday as presented by Dr. Sobel, The Permanente Medical Group: Who provides the largest source of care provision in the US? You do! 80% of all primary care is self-care. In today's age of
AHIP brings each year a bit of a surprise. In my pre-AHIP posting, I discussed the dedication to improving the healthcare system all the while your industry is being painted as the “bad guy”. That point was driven home this morning. As I was getting charged-up learning about the opportunities
An afternoon of sessions followed by the exhibit hall mania to the AHIP Opening Night Reception…..from the discussions to exhibits to the presentations, there is no doubt that the business of health insurance plans is changing…..but I am not convinced we are all on the same page as to how,
AHIP’s 2008 Institute is getting cranked up and the streets of San Fran are filling with bag-carrying registrants scurrying back and forth between their “conference hotels” (1 block to 15 blocks away) while the early session workshops are underway. This morning’s AHIP Evidence Policy “update” was a good supplement session
As we head into the week before America’s Health Insurance Plan’s annual Institute, just a few thoughts…….. How healthy is our healthcare system? It depends of course on your definition of healthy. Imagine spending 24/7 tirelessly working to improve “the system” and always being painted as the “bad guy.” What
