A report from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, was released linking social determinants of health to differences in health across communities. From this report payers can see how demographic, behavioral, and structural factors impact health conditions of their members in different ways and gain greater insight into these differences to better understand population’s overall health.
CEOs at hospitals and health systems are faced with increasing headwinds as they look to move forward in an uncertain environment. So what are the key issues and trends CEOs are facing? Deloitte interviewed 20 health system CEOs this year to find out. While none of the key themes emerging from our interviews have really changed since Deloitte last spoke with health system CEOs, the urgency certainly has. Instead of thinking about these issues in a futuristic sense, CEOs are ready to address and tackle them now.
A number of recent reports point to drug prices as the leading factor for choosing insurance coverage, particularly Medicare Advantage Plan. Payers must prioritize decision factors for signing and retaining members, meaning payer involvement in pricing and rebates directly influence member growth.
Workers compensation treatment guidelines are part of this Workers' Compensation Benchmarking Study. BHM's network of case and utilization reviewers meet high standards of clinical experience, especially covering the complex areas of behavioral health. Click HERE and discuss how BHM's review network can ease review workload.
2017 Telemedicine and Digital Health Survey reflects a surging demand for telemedicine services among providers and patients, and a broader acceptance of the technology by other major players in the health care industry. In the 2014 inaugural survey three years ago, 87 percent of respondents did not expect their patients to be using telemedicine services by this time. However, according to this year’s survey, those expectations have been defied with approximately three-quarters of respondents currently offering, or planning to offer, such services, and also having strong intentions to grow those programs (53 percent).
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) released a report which details health plan effects by state, including the District of Columbia. “More people than ever have health care coverage today. But, for plans, their commitments are about so much more.” says Dr. Richard Bankowitz, Chief Medical Officer for AHIP.
Change Healthcare (CH) announced payer insights revealed in The Engagement Gap: Healthcare Consumer Engagement in 2017, a new national study of 89 payers, 251 providers, and 771 consumers. CH asked payers about the factors influencing their consumer-centric initiatives, and how these strategies are altering their organizations. Health plans surveyed were generally aligned in pointing to value-based care as the primary factor driving their focus on consumer-centricity, with 74% reporting it as the leading factor.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Star Ratings for the 2018 Medicare health and drug plans. With the release of the Star Ratings, people with Medicare will have improved access to high-quality health choices for their Medicare coverage in 2018. This news comes on the heels of the recent release of the benefit and premium information for Medicare health and drug plans which shows that there will be more health coverage choices and decreased premiums in 2018.
Findings from the 11th Annual ReviveHealth Trust Index™ reveal trust in healthcare is dismal across the board, and trust in health plans hit new low. The survey represents the first 360-degree view of trust in healthcare – digging into consumer, physician, health plan, and health system executives’ views of each other – showing the industry as a whole has a long way to go. Factors driving widespread distrust in health plans by provider organizations include the hassle of doing business with payers and a lack of progress toward new models of payment and care. Consumers feel slighted by health plans as well, compared to the higher trust ratings in physicians and hospitals.
Population trend data outlines the behavioral health challenges and changes occurring throughout the United States. For payers, understanding the movement of population segments help estimate coverage patterns and potential for claims submissions. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) released an annual survey of the population of the United States ages 12 years or older. The main First Findings Report contains a cross-section of NSDUH data on substance use and substance use disorders, mental health issues among adults and adolescents, and co-occurring disorders.