September 2016

How does a state with almost no money launch Medicaid expansion? Louisiana health officials used data they already had, and in doing so, have created a model that could be used elsewhere.

“Lean” methodology creates quality improvement and leadership capacity, which is currently missing in ambulatory care settings. Failure to create this capacity will minimize transformation efforts.

The Medicare Shared Saving Program benchmark can be improved by following the example of Next Generation accountable care organizations, but with a larger adjustment level.

The authors’ survey of providers in a new accountable care organization reports that initial perceptions of this care model are ambivalent and vary among participating practices.

Researchers calculated savings available to healthcare insurers if providers of obstetrical services avoided the performance of early elective deliveries. The calculations illustrate a considerable savings.

Sociodemographic characteristics of blue-collar workers may be attributed to the higher rates of obesity and chronic disease seen among them compared with white-collar workers.

Analysis of the rich data of US health insurers-pivotal players in the healthcare system-reveals continuing reductions in employer-provided group health insurance and increases in Medicaid members and utilizations following the Affordable Care Act.