And They’re Off! Base, that is…

Okay, this post has little to do with health care. But, it has everything to do with two pervasive problems we have in this country. A lack of personal responsibility and a void of leadership in our political theater. In short, Cait Murphy’s post on Bnet, “In Defense of Goldman (Kind of)” highlights the sheer lunacy of today’s congressional [...]

Understanding Health Care Reform

Here’s an interesting factoid by the Kaiser Family Foundation: Based on my circle of friends, outside of the industry, I think many of the people comprising the 43% may be delusional. Or maybe not. There exists much information about the impact of the reform bill, based upon the law as written. For example, Kaiser has [...]

Can’t Buy Me Love

That’s what Humana’s CEO, Mike McCallister might be singing if he looks at the readers comments on Monday’s story in the Courier Journal, “Humana profits urge, CEO predicts more growth“. Sign on and read the comments. Interesting. As background, during February Humana announced a reduction in its work force of about 2,500 people. Next, the [...]

Fat Fighters?

The obesity epidemic is an issue for the Pentagon. Thus reports the Atlantic Monthly’s Mark Ambinder in his essay, Too Fat to Fight? With all the major interest groups in agreement that we as a nation need to skinny down, physically anyway, why can’t we get the policy changes into the federal regulatory scheme that would [...]

Bad Moon Rising

I see the bad moon arising, I see trouble on the way… Thus begins the classic Credence Clearwater Revival song, Bad Moon Rising. You may be aware that the Congress has again failed to forestall a dramatic reduction, yes a reduction, in Medicare payments to physicians that is built into its physician payment system. Overall, [...]

FASB Issues Two Accounting Standards Updates

On Friday, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued two Proposed Accounting Standards Updates that would impact health care organizations.  The first – Health Care Entities (Topic 954):  Measuring Charity Care for Disclosure – notes that in measuring charity care, some organizations use a cost-based measurement, while others use a revenue measurement.  The proposal would require that all [...]

Cheaper to Keep Her!

Over the years, many friends and business associates have lamented the devastating effects of divorce on their financial position. In other words, it’s cheaper to keep her (or him). Well, it may be healthier to keep her/him as well. Yesterday’s New York Times Sunday Magazine was focused entirely on health and wellness. The article headlined [...]

Achoooo!

Tree and grass pollen abound! (Click here) Anyone know a good allergist?

Flatlining

Here’s an editorial cartoon that I thought was amusing, especially after reading Drew Altman’s blog piece yesterday.

Implementing Health Care Reform

Over the years, I’ve seen some great strategies developed by highly intelligent and insightful leaders. Many times, what appeared to be the best strategies crashed and burned on the rocky shores of implementation. I’ll bet you’ve been there as well. So, Drew Altman’s latest blog post (Kaiser Family Foundation) is interesting reading. He comments on [...]