Among the worrisome trends discussed on health insurers’ recent earnings calls is a growing medical cost ratio, or MCR, the percent of premium the insurer spends on claims and expenses that improves health care quality. It is sometimes referred to as a medical-loss ratio. … READ MORE >
health care
Health care faces demand for pricing transparency
On June 24, the president signed an executive order designed to improve transparency in the pricing of health care. It’s the latest move in an environment where consumers are exercising power over the cost of treatment, an area that historically offered them little wiggle room. … READ MORE >
As consumers gain leverage, lower health care deductibles are forthcoming
Over the past decade, higher deductibles have become standard for the majority of health care plans in the United States. That standard could change, however, as consumers gain a louder voice in the health care value equation. … READ MORE >
Why health systems are buying into schools to offset their labor shortage
Recent tie-ups between health care systems and schools that provide medical training may signal the beginning of a trend within the health-care ecosystem — to remain competitive, providers must to boost their access to skilled labor by owning a piece of the talent pipeline or building programs that get them closer to it. … READ MORE >
Apple Heart Study should not dampen industry view of health tech
On March 16, Stanford researchers released results from the Apple Heart Study; this significant research project relied on data gleaned from some 420,000 adult Americans who agreed to wear an Apple Watch that monitored their cardiac rhythms to identify irregularities. … READ MORE >
As telemedicine grows, a ‘digital front door’ lowers health-care costs
Telemedicine—like other industries where digitization of service has transformed an entire ecosystem—is dramatically changing health care delivery. Frequently health systems are partnering with telemedicine providers to build out a digital front door to patient care. … READ MORE >