In The News
Case for Mask Mandate Rests on Bad Data PHILLIP W. MAGNESS
The top scientific journal Nature Medicine published a study on Oct. 23 with an astounding claim: By simply wearing masks at higher rates, Americans could prevent as many as 130,000 Covid-19 fatalities by the end of February 2021. Produced by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation, or IHME, the study garnered immediate acclaim. More […]
Health Care and Social Security Costs are Unsustainable.
Health spending totaled $74.6 billion in 1970 or $355 per Beneficiary. By 2000, health expenditures had reached about $1.4 trillion or $4855 per Beneficiary. In 2017, the United States spent about $3.5 trillion, or $10,200 per person, 18 percent of GDP, on health expenditures. Of that $3.5 trillion, $1.5 trillion, is directly or indirectly financed […]
Employer based health insurance. American Academy of Actuaries
An address by George Ross Fisher, MD, to the Actuarial Society of New York, was featured in one of our annual medical conferences. His opening statement was that employers should move out of the health insurance business completely, as gracefully and as quickly as they can. His reasoning was medical, or at least based on […]
2. In the News: The U. S. District Court upheld racial discrimination at Harvard
New York, NY (October 3, 2019) — The National Association of Scholars (NAS) reacted with disappointment to the decision by a United States District Court upholding racial discrimination in admissions by Harvard University. NAS had previously filed an amicus brief in the case, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, in favor of the plaintiff. We […]
2. In the News: Editorial: Trust in Health Care JAMA: July 15, 2019
Building Trust in Health Care—Why, Where, and How Dhruv Khullar, MD, MPP1 Viewpoint Promoting Trust Between Patients and Physicians in the Era of Artificial Intelligence Shantanu Nundy, MD, MBA; Tara Montgomery, BA; Robert M. Wachter, MD Trust in US health care has declined precipitously in the past half century. In 1966, 73% of US residents had confidence in medical leaders, whereas in 2012, […]
The Health Plan of Tomorrow: Deloitte’s Business Model
In general, Deloitte observes that industry transformations occur in three seven-year cycles. Health care organizations—and thus health plans—appear to be no different. The Health Plan of Tomorrow: What will the health plan of tomorrow look like? How will traditional health plans transform, and what choices do leaders need to make now to survive the forthcoming […]
The World Economic Forum at Davos is in Session this month
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had some choice words for fellow heads of state who aren’t pulling their weight in the fight against catastrophic climate change. Speaking in the session Safeguarding Our Planet alongside broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, Ardern was asked by former US Vice-President Al Gore what she would say to […]
How can government determine the value of an employee?
Commentary by Pamela Villarreal Source: Investor’s Business Daily | December 04, 2013 The bottom line is that those who want to make $15 an hour flipping burgers should . . . pursue education and skills that warrant higher pay. This week, another fast-food walkout will take place in 100 cities. Evidently, this one claims to […]
A New Understanding of the Childhood Brain
Over the past decade, new research has revealed the link between early trauma and lifelong mental health issues. These discoveries have since revolutionized social work, healthcare, and early education. Policy changes enacted in response to our understanding of the biology of trauma are prioritizing earlier interventions like nurse home visiting services for at-risk families, and […]
Practice Fusion is agreeing to be sold to Allscripts
Christina Farr | @chrissyfarr Practice Fusion is scrapping free software model after agreeing to sell to Allscripts Practice Fusion is planning to start charging doctors to use its software, sources say. The change comes weeks after Practice Fusion agreed to a disappointing $100 million sale to Allscripts. Practice Fusion has struggled to build a growing business […]