BCBS Reduces Opioid Use Among Members by 56 Percent
March 19, 2019
Opioid use among Blue Shield of California members with noncancer pain fell 56 percent since 2014, the health insurer said March 18.
One in Five Patients Asked Doctors for Lower-Cost Medication Last Year
March 19, 2019
In an effort to reduce prescription drug costs in the last year, nearly one in every five patients asked their physician for a lower-cost medication, according to a new report from the CDC.
Value-Based Approach Reduces Costs
March 5, 2019
Shifting from a fee-for-service health system to a value-based one is the most effective way to lower overall healthcare costs, a medical trade group wrote recently to a Senate panel.
How Payers Can Collaborate with Providers
March 5, 2019
Health plans are looking for new ways to compete for customers, and some are finding that collaborating with healthcare providers can improve outcomes and costs for members; however, payers still have to persuade wary providers to work with them, according to a Deloitte analysis.
Lower Healthcare Costs by Paying Patients to Shop
March 5, 2019
Paying patients to shift to lower-price providers could be a successful option for helping employers and insurers lower healthcare costs, a new study in Health Affairs suggests.
Seniors Satisfied With Medicare Supplemental Plan
March 5, 2019
Almost half — 46 percent — of adults aren’t familiar with “Medicare for All” proposals, according to a survey from NORC at the University of Chicago.
Insurance Report: Employers Increase Health Plan Bundling
February 26, 2019
More than 71 percent of surveyed employers are integrating or considering bundling their medical, pharmacy, dental, vision and disability benefits under a single employee package, according to a new study released by Anthem.
CMS Updates Opioid Mapping Tool
February 26, 2019
CMS updated its Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool to give users a more in-depth look at opioid prescribing rates across the U.S., the agency announced Feb. 22.
AHA Tackles Social Determinants of Health
February 19, 2019
The American Hospital Association has opened applications for its second annual AHA Innovation Challenge.
Survey: The Present and Future of the Health IT Workforce
February 19, 2019
The health IT workforce appears to be growing in hospitals, according to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s 2019 U.S. Leadership and Workforce Survey.