Unbiased Analysis of Today's Healthcare Issues
According to a recent Health Affairs paper, health care spending as a share of GDP grew by the largest percentage point increase since the U.S. government has tracked national health expenditure. Not only did the numerator (health spending) increase–especially for public spending–but the denominator also decreased (i.e., GDP). The article begins as follows: “National health…
A survey conducted by Grant Thornton reveals that employee benefits rank at the top of employer cost control concerns. According to the survey, “A vast majority (84%) cited employee benefits (e.g., health care, pensions) as their greatest pricing pressure — up from 68% six months earlier.” In response, about one-third of employers plan to cut…
The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) reviews how California’s safety net residents receive medical care. Safety Net patients are considered those who have incomes below 300% of the federal poverty line. Below is a list of governmental and non-governmental programs which serve California Safety Net residents. State: Medi-cal (California’s Medicaid program) and Healthy Families (California’s CHIP…
PricewaterhouseCoopers recently conducted a survey of about 700 companies to determine the latest trends in employer-provided benefits. The survey, conducted in early 2010, assessed the level of health insurance, retirement, and other benefits provided by firms from over 30 industries. Today, I will focus on the results with respect to the health insurance. Broadly, PPOs…
National Health Expenditures reached $2.3 trillion, or $7,681 per person. This means that health care services made up 16.2% of the economy. Where did these dollars go? The CBO summarizes where America spends these funds. Source: CBO Long Term Budget Outlook, June 2010.
In America, your health care expenses are taken care of when you get older…right? We have Medicare after all…shouldn’t that pay for all my healthcare expenses? Not according to a recent article from Yahoo! Finance. Here are some of the health care costs retirees face: Part B Premiums: For most people retiring in 2010, the…
From the CMS Office of the Actuary: U.S. health care spending growth decelerated in 2008, increasing 4.4 percent compared to 6.0 percent in 2007, as spending growth slowed for nearly all health care goods and services, particularly for hospitals. Health spending growth for state and local and private sources of funds also slowed while federal…
America’s Health Ratings 2009 report ranks states according to overall healthiness. Mississippi is the least healthy state and Vermont is the healthiest state. The ranking methodology is available here. The following states are the least healthy (starting with the least healthy): Mississippi Oklahoma Alabama Louisiana South Carolina Nevada Tennessee Georgia West Virginia Kentucky The following…
Indonesia. Indonesia has the fourth largest population in the world and is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. The island of Bali–where I went for my honeymoon–is the most famous island for tourists. Unlike most islands, it is largely Hindu. Java, where the capital of Jakarta is located, is the most…
The healthiest 76% of Medicare beneficiaries consume only 14% of program expenditures. The sickest 15% consume 75% of Medicare expenditures. Hughes et al. (2004).