The word “ambiguous” means something very different than I thought. I thought it meant “unclear,” or “imprecise,” or perhaps “subject to interpretation.” It doesn’t. It actually refers to something can have two alternative meanings or mean two entirely different things. (Think “ambidextrous.”) As such, an ambiguous word can misinform and even mislead. Read Article
The Overwhelming, Increasingly Self-Imposed Healthcare Cost Burden Employers Bear Read Article
For the last 30 years, the way we’ve purchased healthcare and provided health benefits has provided powerful financial incentives for hospitals to consolidate into financially-focused health juggernauts that have almost single-mindedly chased the rewards of highly compensated services and elective procedures. Read Article
“The U.S. spends at least 7 percent more of its GDP on health care than other rich countries, on average, leaving us with less to spend on infrastructure and defense, houses and education, and other worthwhile governmental and personal pursuits. And we have little to show for it.” Read Article
A total of 40 Colorado hospitals received grades. “A” represents the best Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, followed in order by “B,” “C,” “D,” and “F. 16 Colorado hospitals received an “A” grade, 9 hospitals received a “B” grade, 13 hospitals received a “C” grade, 2 hospitals received a “D” grade a no hospitals in Colorado received an “F” grade. Read Article
Rising health care prices have increased concerns about hospital and health system consolidation among policymakers, regulators, employers, and other purchasers of health coverage. With support from the National Institute for Health Care Reform Rising health care prices have increased concerns about hospital and health system consolidation among policymakers, regulators, employers, and other purchasers of health coverage. […] Read Article
What Employers Can Do The TCPi program concretely demonstrated the willingness of physicians to transform care delivery and patient experience. But unless employers transform the way they purchase and pay for healthcare. Those improved practices are likely to fade rapidly into academic history. Here are three things employers must insist upon and make happen beginning […] Read Article
At the September CBGH Strategy Session Andrew Forbes and Allyson Gottsman presented the results of the “Transformation of Clinical Practices Initiative” or TCPI. Andrew and Allison showed specific examples of how the TCPI improved quality, reduced costs, and increased satisfaction with the patient care experience (not to mention improved physician satisfaction). Employers who want to […] Read Article
Today the Catalyst for Payment Reform released a report on innovative approaches to paying health care providers written in collaboration with the Colorado Business Group on Health and if you missed the strategy session today at the Denver metro Chambers of Commerce, you can still download that report here. Denver_MA_Report_WebVersion (1).9.12.2019 Read Article
“Balanced Scorecards” have been around since the 1990’s when Drs. Norton and Kaplan from Harvard promoted them as a means of monitoring complex problems by looking for a limited number of “leading indicators” (e.g., indicators of what to expect). Until that time, the majority of organizations used complex spreadsheets comprised of numerous “lagging indicators” in […] Read Article
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national health care watchdog organization has released its 2019 Maternity Care and High-Risk Surgeries Performed at American Hospitals Reports. These reports are based on the results of the 2018 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, with data voluntarily submitted by more than 2000 U.S. 2019 Maternity Care Report This report provides an in-depth look at how participating […] Read Article
Epiphany [ee-pif-uh-nee], Noun: A sudden, intuitive perception of, or insight into, the reality or essential meaning of something; experience of a sudden and striking realization. Largely to listen and learn, I recently sat in on a regional healthcare meeting of community leaders at which two large hospital systems were amply represented – which is […] Read Article