In Healthcare, Yet Another Hidden Tax in a Long Line of Hidden Taxes...

The was a hidden tax in NY, aka the NYS secret hospital charity care pool, that's not so hidden anymore, it started showing up on hospital remittances as one of the line items between the hospital and our insurer's this past year (at least that is when I started seeing them), and like many government programs it doesn't really work (link below).

There's another Hidden Tax in Health Care on it's way, but will the old one that doesn't work go away when this one that is seemingly supposed to do the same thing starts? Doubtful. The sad part of this is that the first hidden fee found it's way into our rates already (IMHO, this too could be considered a tax) and it seems reasonable to believe that this new tax that's designed to increase annually will affect our rates each year as well. So it seems like our rates have a built in powered multiplier, even without medical costs themselves going up which they do.  I am sure the answer can be found in the new Obamacare exchanges, but unfortunately there are no options there for small business employees that had quality physician networks and an HSA design, becuase there are no such plans there. Anyone on a plan like this must down grade to the president's version of platinum care instead - and I'm not sure those plans won't be subject to these fees and the effects of them on rates as well.  

Remember, as designed, this is all a good thing.

(1) HOW NEW YORK STATE’S SECRET HOSPITAL CHARITY CARE POOL FUNDS FAIL TO HELP UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED NEW YORKERS

Disrupting the Business Meeting as Usual

Disrupting the Business Meeting as Usual

Caught this the other day when scanning an article about disrupting business meetings as usual. Makes total sense and I know I have been guilty of some part of this a few times as well as suffering through others doing the same:

"PowerPoint slides with long lists of what you’re talking about should be banned. They are used as a prop by the speaker - if they need reminding of what they’re speaking about they can have it on a laptop in front of them. There a few thing worse than watching someone talk through a long list of PowerPoints." 




I've always liked to believe a few short bullets on a slide to guide the meeting participants and/or an audience through the presentation is a good idea, but in thinking about this further, if it's just a meeting, it is more about you as the speaker than the others participating.  Working from your own slides (without presenting them) or a set of notes personalizes and makes it more conversational which makes for a better meeting.  If on the other hand, the slides would make for good note taking, then keep each slide to less than 4 bullets and send it out before the meeting. Let participants figure out what to do with them that better fits their work style.  The other positive benefit of doing this gives meeting participants an idea of what the meeting's going to be about and may even better prepare them for the meeting. 

Good news, bad news on Medication Adherence

Good news and bad news here.  As I see it, at least here in the US, too many plans are not implementing reimbursement strategies for pharmacists to play their necessary role in driving adherence.  Perhaps this reality is perception issue is part of why pharmacists are leaving so much money on the table by not being setup to bill for these services with those plans that do.

HIN's third annual Improving Medication Adherence e-survey conducted in January 2013 captured how more than 100 healthcare organizations are improving medication adherence and compliance in the populations they serve. According to survey respondents, beyond the 58 percent not currently reimbursing, the top pharmacist-incented tasks in medication adherence programs are:

• Not currently reimbursing: 58.3 percent
• Medication reconciliation: 16.7 percent
• Resolving drug therapy problems: 16.7 percent
• Improving medication adherence: 13.9 percent
• Other: 13.9 percent
• Patient education: 11.1 percent

Read full article on Hin