by Mike Barrett | Mar 7, 2016 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Managed Care - Group Health, National News, Uncategorized
This is hot off the presses. The most important announcement this past week is that HHS published the increased out-of-pocket regulations for 2017. Originally, the ACA was to cap deductibles at $2,000. That seems like a long time ago and was never really followed. In...
by Mike Barrett | Feb 8, 2016 | Employer Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Managed Care - Group Health, Pharmacy Costs, Pharmacy, PBMs and Pharma Costs, Providers, Uncategorized
We are finding some crazy Rx trends that are translating into real world cost and care issues for our clients and their employees. Here’s a prime example. We recently found that a type 2 diabetes drug (GLUMETZA) increased in cost by 900%, nearly overnight. After...
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 | Oct 9, 2013 | Health Policy, Healthcare Reform
Interested in finding what official online resources are available from the federal government for learning about the various requirements and other aspects of healthcare reform? With implementation of the major pieces of healthcare reform around the corner and the...
by Tom Barrett | Sep 18, 2013 | Employer Issues, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform
ACA Prescribed Limits Are Still on Track for Most Plans in 2014 Out-of-Pocket (OOP) maximums of $6,350 for individuals and $12,700 for families will still apply for most customary fully-insured health insurance plans in 2014 (coinciding with renewal/anniversary dates;...