David Belk, M.D., Announces New Website

belk David Belk, M.D.

Here’s the new website with a whole new look that’s been redesigned by Modern Creations: http://truecostofhealthcare.org

There are three new sections. The first is a study of the prices of brand name medications. It shows that the price pharmacies in the US pay for brand name drugs has gone up an average of 40% in 2 1/2 years.

That’s about 18 times the rate of inflation

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XYZ Insurance Company Discloses Separate Financial Arrangements With Providers

monkey

Provider Affairs Editor for Monkey Business Magazine

XYZ’s compensation for the services under its administrative services agreement(s) with certain group customers can include the difference, if any, between the net claim payments reimbursed to XYZ by the group customer and the net amounts paid to health care providers by XYZ, after giving effect to XYZ’s separate financial arrangements with health care providers.

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Is Medicaid the Answer to Crushing Health Care Costs for Inmates?

Medicaid will not cover the health care costs of inmates while they’re in jail or prison, with state and local governments often footing the bill. But there is an exception that could save millions of local dollars: If an eligible inmate requires a stay in a hospital outside the corrections system that lasts more than 24 hours, his or her suspended Medicaid coverage can kick in to reimburse the costs. 

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This Article Proves PPO’s Have Failed To Control Costs

GRANDMOTHER

This article proves that managed care has failed. PPO’s drive costs up, not down. Within all PPO contracts there is, among other things, an annual escalator clause that guarantees annual increases in provider reimbursement. The annual compounding effect is enough to make grandma want to go back to the good old days when a dozen eggs would buy a doctor visit in the comfort of your own home, or a bottle of tequila and a jar of honey for that nasty cold Johnny brought home from school.

The table shown in the article leaves out Cost Plus Health Insurance Plans, or Reference Based Pricing models. These plans beat medical trend.

“Medical costs are directly related to what you agree to pay” – William Rusteberg

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Overkill

Millions of Americans get tests, drugs, and operations that won’t make them better, may cause harm, and cost billions.

Millions of Americans get tests, drugs, and operations that won’t make them better, may cause harm, and cost billions.

” Six years ago, I wrote an article for this magazine, titled “The Cost Conundrum,” which explored the problem of unnecessary care in McAllen, Texas, a community with some of the highest per-capita costs for Medicare in the nation.”

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Oklahoma-Based The Holmes Organisation Acquired by Hub

May 4, 2015

Hub International Limited (Hub) subsidiary Hub International Midwest Limited (Hub Midwest) has acquired the assets of The Holmes Organisation (Holmes), a Tulsa, Okla.-based multi-line property and casualty, employee benefits and personal lines brokerage.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The Holmes team will continue to operate from their existing offices in Tulsa and Little Rock, Ark., and will become part of Hub Midwest, establishing Hub Midwest’s fourth location in Oklahoma. Stuart F. DeSelms, president of Holmes, will join Hub Midwest as executive vice president and chief sales officer.

Source: Hub International Limited