Healthcare and the Fiscal Cliff

The Fiscal Cliff stories are everywhere and as a result, lots of misinformation, conjecture, and supposition of deals, no deals and what happens next abound within the media.  The economist in me can’t help but opine on the economics at stake but for this purpose, I’ll take only a slice of the overall issues; a … Read more

Policy News: A Black Friday Edition

Full of turkey and the trimmings and avoiding any retail outlets, Black Friday seems perfect for a quick synopsis of what is happening with health policy.  Fortunately, I’ve maintained a good inventory of “stuff” (not stuffing, though I have an inventory of that too) to cull for content. OIG on SNF Payments: This falls into my … Read more

Five Things Every Healthcare Executive Should Focus On: Updated, Revised

More than two years ago I wrote a post regarding “five” things every SNF administrator should focus on and lo and behold, a reader asked late last week if I would revisit this subject.  She (the reader) is not an SNF administrator so she asked if I could focus more globally; sort of a “best practices” … Read more

Fables, Tales and Job Reports

Before too much rancor sets in among readers, I’ll admit that my content has strayed just a bit lately from health policy, etc. to politics and economics.  This too shall pass and rather quickly.  This post is for a friend and reader who e-mailed me earlier about the ADP job report and what it means … Read more

First Glimpse at ACO Results

A cornerstone of health policy arising from health care reform is the formation of Accountable Care Organizations.  The premise is that an organizational structure focused on improving patient care and satisfaction, in a coordinated fashion, would improve quality and thus, reduce cost. The policy implication is that on a shared incentive basis, organizations at-risk, would … Read more

Presidential Debates and the Core of Health Policy

Tonight marks Round 1 in the three-part series of presidential debates.  Why Round 1 is interesting, aside from the political points and positioning each side craves (in his favor) is that this round is supposedly focused on domestic issues. Deficits, tax policy, education and yes, health policy will no doubt work through each candidate’s comments.  As debates … Read more

Catching Up, Part II: Home Health and Hospice

As the week concluded (sort of), I’m about half-way back in terms of cutting through the stacks of research and notes that I compiled through August and into early September.  While time away from work is necessary for my sanity, it certainly promotes insanity upon return.  Below is Part II of “catching up”, entirely focused … Read more

Catching Up Part I: Politics, Observation Stays, and Medicaid

Off the golf course (reluctantly) and back to work.  Last week was full of catching up and revisiting issues and reports.  As promised before I went temporarily AWOL, here’s Part I of at least two parts (maybe three) of issues that I am following. Politics and the First Tuesday in November: The conventions are done and … Read more

What’s Trending: Back on Track….For Now

Finally, my plans and I collide again on a Friday afternoon and I’m somewhat back on schedule … for now.  With forecasted travel next week plus a touch of R&R time, it looks like I’ll be back off-track before long.  We’ll see.  Not a lot different on my dashboard as this week concludes.  I’m pretty much awash … Read more