Digital Edition

Study: Consolidation Lowers Hospital Costs

Increased consolidation among health plans nationally may benefit consumers by lowering hospital prices, at least in those regions where health plans are the most consolidated, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Read full article.

Healthcare is a Hassle

A recent survey of uninsured Americans by Oliver Wyman shows they are eager for new healthcare products and services, but don’t understand their options. It illustrates the importance of new products and consumer education efforts. Read full article.

How to Save $100 Billion

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) sent a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that outlined greater use of pharmacy benefit management (PBM) tools to save more than $100 billion in prescription drug costs over the next 10 years. Read full article.

Healthcare Costs Accelerate

Data released by S&P Indices for the S&P Healthcare Economic Composite Index indicate that the average per capita cost of healthcare services covered by commercial insurance and Medicare programs increased by 5.61% over the 12-months ending June 2011. Since posting its lowest annual growth rate in its more than six-year history — +5.37% in April 2011 — the rate for this index accelerated in both May and June. Read full article.