Highlights from this week's Healthcare Transparency News, Studies, and Articles:
Top Hospital Ratings Prove Scarce In Medicare’s Latest Tally
[By: Jordan Rau, NPR]
On Thursday the federal government awarded its first star ratings to hospitals based on the opinions of patients. Some of the nation’s most lofty hospitals—the ones featured in best hospital lists—received mediocre ratings, while the maximum number of stars often went to small, regional hospitals and others that specialize in lucrative surgeries.
The Quality Tower Of Babel
Chemo Decision First, Tell Them About the Cost Later
[By: Peter Ubel, Forbes]
[We need to] make discussion of out-of-pocket costs a more routine part of medical care, even when it is difficult to know the exact cost of care. Better yet, we need to fold these conversations into broader discussions of the pros and cons of patients’ medical alternatives. The “right” medical choice is often not purely a function of medical facts.
Medical fees shrouded in mystery
[By: Marlene Harris-Taylor, The Blade]
Toledo-area hospitals object to talk of price comparisons
Patients say health pricing must change
[By: Marlene Harris-Taylor, The Blade]
As hospital systems grow, so can charges they demand
Minnesota health care data bill is a Luddite move
[By: STEPHEN T. PARENTE and DAVID NEWMAN, Star Tribune]
[As] the world marches forward toward the light [of healthcare transparency], attempting to pull back the veil, the Minnesota Senate is attempting to quarantine this state’s all-payer claims data set such that its potential value will never be realized and never become the “state’s resource” to spur improvements. S.F. 1818 prohibits the identification of individual payers, providers, hospitals or clinics.
A growing risk: High-deductible health plans can ruin finances
[By: Ann Doss Helms, The Charlotte Observer]
High-deductible insurance is supposed to turn patients into smarter, healthier consumers. But for some, like David and P.J. Frick, the costs can become staggering. … “I think these high-deductible plans are going to become more the norm. They do reward folks who take good care of themselves,” said Joseph Piemont, chief operating officer for Carolinas HealthCare.
Medicare doc fix bill would expand access to Medicare claims data
[By: Paul Demko, Modern Healthcare]
Transparency advocates are hailing a little-noticed provision in the pending Medicare physician-payment bill that would widen the availability of Medicare claims data … Supporters estimate that it would double the amount of publicly available data. … But some are worried about provisions allowing private groups to make money by selling public data. “I worry philosophically about creating little centers of monopoly power,” said David Newman, executive director for the Health Care Cost Institute, the only nationwide qualified entity participating in the Medicare data program. “It’s public data.”
Obama Administration Report Slams Digital Health Records
[By: Melinda Beck, The Wall Street Journal]
Report criticizes vendors for making it costly to share patient information … The report … listed a litany of complaints it has received about vendors allegedly charging hefty fees to set up connections and share patient records; requiring customers to use proprietary platforms; and making it prohibitively expensive to switch systems.
Priority Health launches health care app to pull up shades on provider cost differentials
[By: , Crain’s Detroit Business]
Priority Health is offering members a way to estimate the cost of their doctor visit or hospital procedure and shop around for a lower cost option.
Consumer Needs Driving Price Transparency
[By: Patricia Smith, President and CEO, Alliance of Community Health Plans, The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism]
How could we benefit if it were the norm in health care to offer real-time, understandable, price information? Might consumers’ out-of pocket payments go down? Could the relentless climb in health care prices slow? Could the entire system – cost, health, quality and care experience – improve?
[New Mexico] Governor Signs Health Care Price Comparison Bill
[By: Marisa Demarco, KUNM radio]
Gov. Susana Martinez signed a bill today that makes it so people seeking health care can find out what different routine procedures cost at hospitals around the state.
Value, interoperability are keys to success
[By: Richard Pizzi, Healthcare IT News]
Humana CEO calls on healthcare industry to transform itself. … “Value-based reimbursement and interoperability are the keys to change … Information should be a shared asset, not a proprietary asset.”
Looking for quality in health care
[By: , Tulsa World]
Well, OK, Inc. is a coalition of businesses in northeastern Oklahoma … bringing the nationally recognized Leapfrog Group to [the] region.
Mostashari wants ‘day of action’ for widespread patient access to records
[By: Neil Versel, MedCity News]
Patient advocates are planning a “day of action” to generate mass demand for consumer access to medical records in the wake of a plan to roll back the Meaningful Use requirement for engaging patients in their own care. … “Patients are not an advocacy group. They are not a special interest. They’re why we do this,” Mostashari said. … While no date has been set, the general consensus is that the event should take place by mid-June, in time to influence HHS in its Meaningful Use changes.
[Texas] Senate Committee approves SB 425 to protect consumers through transparency for freestanding Emergency Rooms
[By: The Orange Leader]
Getting down to business with patient engagement
[By: Mike Miliard, Healthcare IT News]
“Disengaged consumers are more than twice as likely to experience a medical error,” [Jan Oldenburg, senior manager in the advisory services practice of Ernst & Young] said. “Engaged consumers actually cost less. They pick less expensive treatment options, are more thoughtful about what’s really important and tend to have fewer readmissions.”
Mayo Clinic and Optum360 Partner to Improve Experience for Patients
[By: Press Release, Market Watch]
Optum360 and Mayo Clinic will collaborate on enhancing and redesigning specific elements of the revenue cycle to increase efficiency while creating a convenient, accurate, transparent and personal experience for patients. … The partnership includes a next-generation patient cost estimator…
The Modern Day Health Care Disrupters
[By: Lola Butcher, Hospitals & Health Networks (H&HN)]
Loyalty recedes as cost, convenience drive consumer choice. Retailers, insurance exchanges and apps challenge hospitals’ traditional business model.
HIMSS Leadership Survey: 11 Key Findings
[By: , HIT Consultant]
The survey of more than 300 participants … examined key trending issues impacting the business of healthcare … Here are 11 key findings from the survey … 72 percent of respondents report that consumer and patient considerations, such as patient engagement, satisfaction and quality of care will have a major impact on their organization’s strategic efforts over the next two years….
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