Blog


The Healthcare Jobs Concern

December 3, 2013

The October jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed unemployment inching up from 7.2 percent in the September report to 7.3 percent today.  That, however, wasn’t the most … Continued


IPAB and the Nuclear Option

November 26, 2013

With U.S. Senate Democrats exercising the so-called ‘nuclear option’ – changing Senate rules so that executive branch nominations can be approved by a simple 51-vote majority instead of the 60 … Continued


Where The Savings Are

November 21, 2013

There is more good news on the healthcare cost front.  The White House Council of Economic Advisers has issued a report noting that real per capita healthcare spending has increased … Continued


Sympathy Shouldn’t Be Litigated

November 1, 2013

The Pennsylvania state legislature has passed a medical liability measure that doesn’t make malpractice lawsuits more or less difficult or affect the level of damages a plaintiff may receive, but … Continued


Weight Loss and Better Health: The Approach Makes Pounds of Difference

October 16, 2013

Right now, I’m attending the annual Cleveland Clinic Innovation Summit, which is focused this year on obesity, diabetes and the metabolic crisis.  Speakers have addressed in detail the linkage between … Continued


Good for the Exchanges, Good for Medicare

October 9, 2013

Let’s set aside for the moment the glitches taking place with the Affordable Care Act health exchange websites.  It provides grist for late-night comedians, but we can presume the software … Continued


Mayo, Morning Joe and the Affordable Care Act

September 25, 2013

Yesterday, Dr. John Noseworthy, President and CEO of the Mayo Clinic and a Healthcare Leadership Council member, appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program. It was an interesting and informative discussion … Continued


Medicare Part D: Why Satisfaction Matters

September 18, 2013

Yesterday, the Healthcare Leadership Council, through its Medicare Today initiative, released its annual survey of seniors nationwide regarding their perceptions of and experiences with the Medicare Part D prescription drug … Continued


The Need to Put Patients First

September 10, 2013

Whenever we talk about comparative effectiveness research (CER) and using data to shape the direction of American healthcare, it’s always important to remind ourselves that the needs of patients must … Continued


Leadership on the Quality/Cost Front Lines

August 22, 2013

Building on my last post about U.S. healthcare leaders making a difference – one for which they’re often not given full credit – in containing health system costs while still … Continued