Attention all TPA’s and PBM’s that may want to work with me and my clients……you will give me any and all data I ask for, in an expeditious and COMPLETE manner, without talk of extra costs or complexity. Your entire purpose is to analyze data and make decisions on that data, on behalf of our clients, with their money.
Month: August 2017
National Direct – Satisfying the Greed Factor
“WHY WORK FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN THE MOST YOU CAN GET?”
Continue reading National Direct – Satisfying the Greed Factor
Why The Healthcare Industry Will Eliminate PPO Networks
Mike Dendy
Eliminating the PPO domination of healthcare financing will represent a paradigm shift but one that is long overdue.
Continue reading Why The Healthcare Industry Will Eliminate PPO Networks
Anthem Steers Members Away From Hospital Based Imaging Services
In a move that it says will save members money, Anthem is rolling out a program that steers individuals away from hospital-based imaging services and toward less costly, freestanding imaging centers.
Continue reading Anthem Steers Members Away From Hospital Based Imaging Services
BCBS of Georgia’s Solution to Non-Emergency ER Visits?
BCBS of Georgia held a webinar last week. From what we have been told, BCBS and Anthem are cancelling Emergency Room benefit payments that are not “emergencies.” We have done the same with some of our self-funded clients. Significant savings have been achieved. No longer will Mommy take little Johnny to the ER for a fever and pay a low co-pay. Now when Little Johnny’s mommy gets the bill, her co-pay for non-emergency ER visits will be 100%……………….
Continue reading BCBS of Georgia’s Solution to Non-Emergency ER Visits?
To Promote Health Care Excellence, Let’s Recognize Approaches That Assure Value
Aug 28, 2017
BY BRIAN KLEPPER
A challenge for health care purchasers is choosing vendors whose performance matches their cost and outcomes claims. A 2015 Mercer surveyfound that only 41 percent of worksite clinic sponsors think that they’re saving money. As Al Lewis and Tom Emerick have detailed, many wellness and disease management companies simply overstate their results. In many cases employers may not realize that they, not the vendor, take the risk for results.
Continue reading To Promote Health Care Excellence, Let’s Recognize Approaches That Assure Value
Report Touts PBM “Savings” off Egregious Sticker Prices?
Part-time PBM Salesman
“Costs would run an estimated 58 percent higher without PBM management tools and the pharmacy pricing and manufacturer discounts negotiated by the PBM”.
Continue reading Report Touts PBM “Savings” off Egregious Sticker Prices?
Aetna Violates HIV Patient’s PHI? 12,000 HIV Patients Affected?
Legal groups on Monday filed a class-action lawsuit against the health insurer Aetna, alleging the company violated the privacy of its customers by sending many of them letters through which the phrase “filling prescriptions for HIV” was visible through envelope windows.
Continue reading Aetna Violates HIV Patient’s PHI? 12,000 HIV Patients Affected?
WellNet’s Fall Broker Tour Offers Self-Funded Insights with Focus on Reference Based Pricing
WellNet’s Fall Broker Revolution Tour is coming to a city near you. This tour is for brokers and consultants whose clients are tired of the carrier lip service.
General Patton Addresses His Troops
Damn it! We can’t continue to go around selling PPO plans instead of reference based pricing plans…..…
Converting PPO “Discounts” To Medicare Allowable
They were floored and shocked to find out that the 60% discount of billed charges in their area actually converted to 270% of Medicare charges!……………
Continue reading Converting PPO “Discounts” To Medicare Allowable
Money Affects Behavior
Amazing what people will do when they get told what their real costs are…………….
PBM’s Bypass Middlemen – Cutting Out Insurance Companies From Gravy Train
By cutting certain players, often insurers, out of the drug supply chain, disruptors are challenging the drug-pricing paradigm, as well as the value of prescription coverage…………
Continue reading PBM’s Bypass Middlemen – Cutting Out Insurance Companies From Gravy Train
Express Scripts Lawsuit Should Raise Everyone’s Eyebrows
The information that’s revealed is shocking………………….
Continue reading Express Scripts Lawsuit Should Raise Everyone’s Eyebrows
Texas Balance Billing Law To Take Effect September 1
The bill expands a patient’s ability to mediate their claims with the insurance companies and sets new guidelines for mediation………………….
Continue reading Texas Balance Billing Law To Take Effect September 1
Bernhard Opines on Fake News – PPO Discount Game
Jeff Bernhard – President of Continental Benefits
Does everyone realize that a discount guarantee is really useless/ineffective for a self-funded offer/RFP? When does a discount ever lead to lower spend? How silly!
Continue reading Bernhard Opines on Fake News – PPO Discount Game
Medicaid Overpaid Texas $18.9 Million For School Based Health Services
Texas received $18.9 million from Medicaid for school-based health services that were billed improperly, and the federal government is seeking to get the money back.
Continue reading Medicaid Overpaid Texas $18.9 Million For School Based Health Services
Blue Cross Michigan Hit With Flurry of ERISA Lawsuits
A Shell Game Common To Health Care Financial Transactions
As a plan sponsor are you paying undisclosed fees that don’t show up on the fixed cost side of the ledger but rather on the claim cost side? There are numerous lawsuits that have exposed this industry practice and is not limited to BCBS………………….
Continue reading Blue Cross Michigan Hit With Flurry of ERISA Lawsuits
Texas Permanently Bans Taxpayer Funding of Abortion
Bill prohibits insurance providers from forcing Texas policy holders to subsidize elective abortions
Continue reading Texas Permanently Bans Taxpayer Funding of Abortion
Freedom Plan
A Man Before His Times – Martin Luther announcing “Free at Last” Reference Based Pricing Plan
Nixon Went to China. Can Trump Go to Single Payer?
Only Trump can make single-payer health care happen in this country…………..
Continue reading Nixon Went to China. Can Trump Go to Single Payer?
Why A Pennsylvania Insurer’s Collapse Could Whack Californians In the Wallet
Penn Treaty’s liquidation poses a “potential shock to the health marketplace” as the losses pile up, according to the A.M. Best credit rating firm. Industry analysts estimate the parent company has long-term claims liabilities approaching $4 billion, but only about $700 million in assets.
Continue reading Why A Pennsylvania Insurer’s Collapse Could Whack Californians In the Wallet
Your Network Discount Analyses Are Useless
Throw it in the trash. Seriously………………….
Smoke & Mirrors – Comparing PPO “Discounts”
Many independent fee based insurance consultants are sucked into the PPO “discount” vortex……………..
“The carriers are very good at playing this game and my belief is that most consultants don’t get it or pretend not to get it, thus doing a great dis-service to their client.” – PHO Sales Representative
Continue reading Smoke & Mirrors – Comparing PPO “Discounts”
Cigna, Other Health Insurers’ Profits Surge, Ignoring ACA Chaos
U.S. health plans stocks up 26%, outperforming S&P 500…………….
Continue reading Cigna, Other Health Insurers’ Profits Surge, Ignoring ACA Chaos
Institute For Supply Management Announces September Seminar
This program is applicable to all areas of the public education sector, including school districts, junior colleges, and colleges.
Continue reading Institute For Supply Management Announces September Seminar
What Employers Need To Know To Manage Health Costs
Employers can immediately reduce the cost of health insurance by 20% by simply shifting their focus to proven strategies…..
Continue reading What Employers Need To Know To Manage Health Costs
Why Most Health Plans Strive To Make Healthcare Cost More
Brian Klepper
“The truth is that group health plans typically earn a percentage of total expenditures, and it is in their interest for healthcare to cost as much as possible.”
Continue reading Why Most Health Plans Strive To Make Healthcare Cost More