The S&P Healthcare Economic Composite indicates that the average per capita cost of healthcare services covered by commercial insurance and Medicare programs increased by 6.05% over the 12-months ending May 2012. This is a six basis points deceleration from the +6.11% rate posted for April 2012, but still above what was experienced throughout 2011 and [ Read More ]
The S&P Healthcare Economic Composite Index indicates that the average per capita cost of healthcare services covered by commercial insurance and Medicare programs increased by 5.68% over the 12-months ending March 2012. This is a modest deceleration from the +5.72% rate posted for February 2012. As measured by the S&P Healthcare Economic Commercial Index, healthcare [ Read More ]
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is deeply disappointed to see that the Prevention and Public Health Fund was cut by $5 billion over the next several years to partially pay for extending unemployment benefits and fixing Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). While we recognize the importance of these policies, unless we [ Read More ]
The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) reported more and more companies are discovering giveaways boost employee participation in wellness programs and can ultimately lead to cuts in overall healthcare costs. Incentives are key to encouraging employee participation in wellness programs. A recent Incentive Research Foundation report shows only one in five people will participate in wellness [ Read More ]
New study finds that paid sick days would decrease unnecessary emergency department use Access to paid sick days could save $1 billion in medical costs annually according to a report released by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR). This includes $500 million in taxpayer-funded public health care programs for children, elders, and low-income Americans. [ Read More ]
Physician Offers Tips for Saving Money, Assuring Quality More Americans are paying more of their health-care costs out of pocket every year because they lack insurance, have higher deductibles and co-payments, or have chosen a Health Savings Account plan. There are ways they can save money without jeopardizing their health and there are steps they [ Read More ]