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| Spotlight |  | |
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- Controlling fraud, abuse and waste could help fund health reform priorities
Advocates for improving health insurance coverage access and affordability believe that curtailing waste, fraud and abuse could help slow the growth of overall health care costs (which are predicted to double by 2018), ensure that spending is focused on providing appropriate health care services, and restore confidence in the system.
Helping to curtail inappropriate payments could save a great deal of money. The National Health Care Anti-fraud Association (NHCAA) estimates that 3% of all health care spending is lost to health care fraud; with the figure even higher in public health programs. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has estimated fraudulent billings to health care programs, both public and private, at between 3% and 10% of total health care expenditures.
"Regardless of which estimate is used -- and to be honest, both of these may be a bit conservative -- there is no question that there is money to be saved by preventing health care fraud, abuse and waste," said Gerry Hill, senior project manager, Fraud and Abuse Protection, at Ingenix. Click here to continue reading this article online. 
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| Employers | | |
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- Obamas focus on health, wellness for federal workers
The president and Michelle Obama are taking steps to encourage federal employees to live healthier lifestyles. "As an employer, we are looking for ways to create a healthier workforce, because we know that if you all are healthy and happy and moving, you'll come to work and you'll work really hard," the first lady said. Government Executive
(10/19)
- Expert: Companies try to mitigate health costs without increasing workers' premiums
Companies are looking at the problem of rising employee health care costs "with an enormous amount of understanding that employees are not seeing wage increases or are facing wage reductions," an expert said, adding, "Employers are trying not to increase the percentage of premiums employees are paying." Among the tactics employers have adopted are focusing more on preventive care and negotiating more with health plans. Human Resource Executive
(10/6)
- Accenture gives employees a way to ensure income during long absences
An Accenture employee program called Future Leave gives workers a way to ensure they will receive income if they need to take leave for long periods of time. Portions of participating employees' salaries are deposited into separate accounts, which then pay them back while they are out of the office. "Our people told us through employee surveys that they wanted flexibility and the option to have time off to pursue family obligations and/or interests," said the company's work-life program manager. Employee Benefit Adviser
(10/6)
| Hospitals | | |
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- Quiet time at night leads to fewer sedatives needed, hospital finds
After a doctor wound up being a patient at the hospital where she works, she found out how difficult sleeping through the night could be. That led to development of an experimental protocol in which the hospital set aside an eight-hour period at night when noise was cut down and medication interruptions were avoided. As a result, significantly fewer patients needed sedatives. The Boston Globe
(10/12)
- Scribes with laptops help hospital doctors save time
The University of Virginia Medical Center uses scribes who carry laptops with them throughout the facility so they can enter notes for doctors; the notes are then included in electronic medical records. Doctors at the facility say the scribes' work has led to a reduction in paperwork and more patient time. "I can sit and really listen to the patient, instead of scribbling notes while I'm talking to them," says one resident. USA TODAY
(10/7)
| Payers | | |
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- Minnesota payer partners up to stop rising health care costs
Minnesota's third-largest health insurer, HealthPartners, is working on a seven-year initiative with Allina Hospitals and Clinics to curb health care cost increases by rewarding quality care and boosting patient satisfaction. "We will continue to be separate organizations but will bring the assets of two organizations together to work more effectively on quality improvement," said HealthPartners' chief executive. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.)
(10/13)
| Pharma | | |
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- Drugmakers leverage adherence programs to help patients, improve sales
Drugmakers such as Pfizer use loyalty programs, also called compliance or adherence programs, to help patients on the companies' medications pay for the drugs to ensure they keep up with their prescribed doses. "Adherence programs can help manufacturers capture sales lost to current customers not sticking to their treatment regimen, and some companies are beginning to leverage the Internet and emerging technologies to enhance these programs," said an expert. NJBIZ (New Jersey)
(10/12)
- Pfizer invests in special research unit to study autism
Pfizer put together an autism research unit to study the condition suffered by one in 100 children. "I think it's a great advance that the pharmaceutical industry is ... looking at how to address the issues related to autism," said the head of the Autism Society of America, adding, "We believe other companies will start following Pfizer's lead." The Day (New London, Conn.) (free registration)
(10/12)
| Physicians | | |
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- Study: Electronic health records are the best strategy for improving care
A study comparing various strategies for improving care, including providing physicians with performance feedback, using interpreters and offering weekend and evening appointments, found that electronic health records adoption came out on top. "The strategy that showed the most impact was use of advanced electronic health records," the lead author said. Healthcare IT News
(10/7)
- Some doctors prefer to have "modern patients"
Modern patients are those who proactively request certain drugs or medical procedures after reading online information or seeing commercials. Although these patients often misdiagnose themselves and may be part of the cause of the rise in health care costs, a number of physicians still prefer informed, active patients because they are more likely to comply with doctors' orders. National Public Radio
(10/12)
| Public Sector | | |
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- Military electronic health record program makes progress
The Department of Veterans Affairs' Lifetime Virtual Electronic Record program, which aims to give each member of the military an electronic medical record, is ready for its second phase, making health records ready for secure exchange. The first phase was ensuring that systems at the VA and the Department of Defense were interoperable. Federal Computer Week
(10/8)
- Virginia pursues health information technology grant money
Virginia formed a commission to pursue around $1 billion in funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to use for health information technology projects. "This initiative will ensure that the Commonwealth remains a leader in this area by leveraging the expertise and efforts of our public and private partners," said the governor. Government Health IT
(10/15)
| Workers' Compensation & Auto Liability | | |
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- Pay-as-you-drive auto insurance approved in California
California's Office of Administrative Law approved final regulations allowing drivers in the state to buy pay-as-you-drive auto insurance. "Pay as you drive is an innovative way to give California motorists financial rewards for driving less, leading to lower-cost auto insurance, less air pollution and a reduced dependence on foreign oil," said Steve Poizner, the state insurance commissioner. Insurance Journal
(10/19)
- Some workers' comp rates to increase in Iowa next year
Effective in 2010, workers' compensation insurance rates in Iowa will increase slightly for a number of job classification codes, including contractors, office and clerical employers, and goods and services employers. The National Council on Compensation Insurance requested the new rates in August. RiskandInsurance.com
(10/19)
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time."
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| About Ingenix |
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Ingenix unites the brightest minds to transform organizations and improve health care through information and technology. We partner with more than 250,000 clients worldwide to solve the most important problems in health care. Learn more at
ingenix.com.
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| | Recent Ingenix Innovations Issues:
- Wednesday, October 21, 2009
- Tuesday, September 29, 2009
- Thursday, September 17, 2009
- Tuesday, September 01, 2009
- Tuesday, August 25, 2009
| | | Lead Editor: Elizabeth Collins
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