U.S. healthcare payers to limit IT investments in 2008
Although top U.S. healthcare payers reported pricing transparency initiatives in 2007, they face challenges in 2008 that will limit their information technology investments in these areas. A study conducted by Health Industry Insights in June of 79 of the largest and most active payers in both business and technology innovation and investment examined investment and execution priorities, strategies, barriers and likely future trends through 2009.
DATE: 11/16/07
Health plans found lacking on information front
Health plans need to do more to inform their members on a number of healthcare topics and do a better job alerting patients and doctors on needed cancer screenings, a new survey concludes. The eValue8 report of health plan performance released today by the not-for-profit National Business Coalition on Health says health plans could do a better job at sharing important information with their customers, enabling improvements in patient safety, care coordination, consumer selection of the best providers and member health maintenance.
DATE: 11/13/07
Futurist foresees too many hospitals, too few workers
The construction of new hospitals and expansions of others across the country show how unprepared the nation is for the effect of baby boomers on the $2.3 trillion healthcare industry, says futurist Jeff Goldsmith. “The complexity of how we pay for care,” he says, is a waste of time and money, and it’s a payment system in dire need of revamp,” he said. "We're not getting near enough mileage out of the $2.3 trillion."
DATE: 11/06/07
Rising costs are changing Americans' health habits
Rising costs are forcing Americans to change the way they use the healthcare system, according to a recent survey. However, the jury’s out for consumers on whether the changes are for the best. Some 63 percent of Americans reported an increase in insurance costs this year, according to a survey of 1,000 consumers by EBRI. In the 2007 edition of its Health Confidence Survey, 81 percent of respondents said rising costs are forcing them to take better care of themselves, while 66 percent said they were increasing efforts to review cost and care options with their physicians. But rising costs caused 64 percent of respondents to seek care only when they had serious conditions or symptoms.
DATE: 10/25/07.