Posted on January - 25 - 2012

Lessons from Medicare’s Demonstration Projects on Disease Management, Care Coordination, and Value-Based Payment

In the past two decades, Medicare’s administrators have conducted demonstrations to test two broad approaches to enhancing the quality of health care and improving the efficiency of health care delivery in Medicare’s fee-for-service program. Disease management and care coordination demonstrations have sought to improve the quality of care of beneficiaries with chronic illnesses and those whose health care is expected to be particularly costly. Value-based payment demonstrations have given health care providers financial incentives to improve the quality and efficiency of care rather than payments based strictly on the volume and intensity of services delivered.

In an issue brief released today, CBO reviewed the outcomes of 10 major demonstrations—6 in the first category and 4 in the second—that have been evaluated by independent researchers. CBO fin

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Posted on November - 08 - 2009

The Pelosi Health Care Bill

According to the Wall Street Journal

The following appeared in the Wall Street Journal’s November 7-8 edition. If the Nancy Pelosi health care plan passes, here are surprises awaiting the American people.

The following costs were estimated by the Congressional Budget Office:

An individual earning $44,000 before taxes who purchases his own insurance will have to pay a $5,300 premium and an estimated $2,000 out of pocket expenses for a total of $7,300 per year (17% of pre-tax income).

A family earning $102,100 per year before taxes will have to pay a $15,000 premium plus an estimated $5,300 out of pocket, for a total of $20,300 (20% of pre-tax income).

Oh, the fees and costs to Americans have apparently NOT yet been worked out. Sec 224 (118) of the bill states that: 18  months after the bill becomes law the Secretary of Health and Human Services will decide what a qualified plan covers and how much you will be required to pay.

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