by Tom Barrett | Jan 6, 2016 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Providers
We read and hear a lot about the craziness and wild swings in pricing for common medical services. Some seem too incredulous to believe. Healthcare’s version of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. OK. So here’s a true story. Hot off the presses. Happened just this week to...
by Tom Barrett | Jan 5, 2016 | General Health, General Insurance Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Pharmacy Costs, Pharmacy, PBMs and Pharma Costs, Providers
It seems the kickoff of a New Year fosters predictions, Top Ten’s, and various and sundry industry-related crystal ball lists. An article about consumer healthcare trends in this morning’s Fiscal Times (10 Healthcare Trends That Will Affect You in 2016) caught my eye....
by Tom Barrett | Dec 18, 2015 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Managed Care - Group Health, National News
I doubt I’m going out on a limb by saying that the “kid in the candy store” perspective that insurance companies may have had about the Affordable Care Act has all but vanished. A new Standard & Poor’s report released this week supports that the “candy...
by Tom Barrett | Jun 19, 2015 | General Health, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, National News, News and Events
As the Supreme Court decision on subsidies looms, many are wondering: which way is the court leaning? Most experts agree it’s way too close to a call. Wondering where things stand as we wait for the high court to announce its decision? Here’s a good, plain speaking...
by Tom Barrett | May 7, 2015 | Employer Issues, General Health, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Uncategorized
The IRS released this week the inflation adjusted limits for health savings accounts (maximum contributions) and HSA-compatible health plans (minimum deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs). 2016 IRS Limits* Type of Limit Single Plan Family Plan Maximum HSA...
by Tom Barrett | Apr 16, 2015 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, News and Events, Providers, Research
We’ve seen quite a spike recently in the number of claims issues clients’ employees are reporting related to the coverage of colonoscopies. The problem almost always centers on billing for the service and payment of the claim. Many employees report that they are...
