MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'blue cross blue shield'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:23:59 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096209&cid=t_180987_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Feven-with-insurance-childbirth-is-an-expensive-undertaking%2F2011.08.03 Childbirth hospital costs these days aren’t cheap. Some studies suggest the cost of raising a child exceeds $200,000, not including education expenses.   Most insurance companies charge women of childbearing age more for their insurance because the actuarial tables say so.  Mrs  Happy and I now have a 3 month old Zachary in our wings.  He is a cute little peanut.  His two brothers, Marty and Cooper adore him. Forty-two days after his April 21st, 2011 delivery, we still had not received our explanation of benefits from Blue Cross Blue Shield for the midwife charge.  I had previously received a statement from them saying the charge was under review.  Perhaps they believed that delivering Zachary was not medically necessary.  I can’t explain it. When I called to ask them w... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096209 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5096209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062290&cid=t_180987_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F25%2Fneed-mental-health-treatment-in-2-weeks-fat-chance%2F This study demonstrates quite the opposite. Read the full article: Medical News: Barriers High in Mental Health Care (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062290 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:15:01 +0100 5062290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872476&cid=t_180987_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fl6OCIRjRzwE%2F And so another working week is about to come to an end, which means we can daydream about weekend plans. Our modest agenda includes hanging out with the short people and catching up on some reading. What about you? Maybe a dip in the pool? A walk in the park? Perhaps gazing into the future? This side of the pond has a three-day break, of course, so there will be more time to indulge. Whatever you do, have a great time and see you soon… Novartis Found Not Liable For Jaw Disease (Reuters) Medco Loses Blue Cross Blue Shield Contract (Reuters) Trimeris Gets $5M In Roche Settlement (Triangle Business Journal) Pharma Protests UK Pricing Plan (Bloomberg News) AstraZeneca Confirms Endings Payments For Docs To Attend Meetings (Reuters) CMS Proposes Looser E-Prescribing Rules (Internal Medicin... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872476 Fri, 27 May 2011 12:09:07 +0100 4872476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820950&cid=t_180987_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNeilVerselsHealthcareItBlog%2F%7E3%2F-gmzgCD_78g%2F I’ve just finished my latest post for EMR and HIPAA, based on a session I moderated this week at the the Institute for Health Technology Transformation health IT summit in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Here’s a taste: The panelists did great job of articulating some of these conundrums and strategies to overcome them, but none better than Kevin Maher, director of clinical innovations for Horizon Healthcare Innovations, a new affiliate of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey tasked with testing new care models, and Victor Freeman, M.D., quality director in the Health Resources and Services Administration‘s Office of Health IT and Quality. The patient-centered medical home is a great idea for managing care, promoting prevention and, ultimately reducing costs. “We view the ba... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820950 Thu, 12 May 2011 21:59:53 +0100 4820950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820952&cid=t_180987_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FD3BF4RAkszU%2F Healthcare and health IT are plagued by conundrums. Providers long have been the ones asked to make hefty investments in EMRs and other IT systems to help remove costs from the healthcare system, but payers and plan sponsors tend to enjoy most of the financial benefits. Clinicians wish their organizations would share data with others, but those in the executive suite have been reluctant to cooperate with competitors for fear of losing revenue. And, let’s face it, medical errors can be profitable if a routine procedure turns into an expensive inpatient admission. Portions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are intended to address these problems by providing financial incentives for “meaningful use” of EMRs (incl... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820952 Thu, 12 May 2011 21:45:30 +0100 4820952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4544970&cid=t_180987_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcdc-campaign-hasnt-slowed-inappropriate-antibiotic-use%2F2011.03.03 High rates of inappropriate antibiotic use continued despite a 15-year campaign by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed at Michigan physicians and consumers on the dangers of antibiotic overuse. The Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation (CHRT) released an issue brief detailing overall antibiotic prescribing for adult Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) members. (The project is a non-profit partnership between the University of Michigan and BCBSM.) While antibiotic prescribing in adults decreased 9.3 percent from 2007 to 2009, it increased 4.5 percent for children during the same time period. The studies found significant differences in prescribing patterns between rural southeast Michigan and the rest of the state, particularly for children. Chi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4544970 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4544970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082062&cid=t_180987_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0L1HfBXgumw%2F By Michael F. CannonObamaCare has touched off a battle between Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield and Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. From the commissioner’s press release: Kreidler orders Regence BlueShield to cover children OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ordered Regence BlueShield this morning to stop illegally denying insurance to children, effective immediately. “Regence is in clear violation of state law that prohibits insurers from denying insurance to people on the basis of age,” said Kreidler. “I was shocked and deeply disappointed when Regence announced its decision last week to stop selling insurance to kids.” The Affordable Care Act requires all health plans to cover kids with pre-existing conditions&#8230... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082062 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:11:59 +0100 4082062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3880944&cid=t_180987_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F1OYcnjqulm8%2F The HITECH Law Blog had a post recently titled “Commercial Payors Implementing EHR Meaningful Use Criteria in P4P Programs.” Here’s a short excerpt: On August 5, 2010, four major commercial health insurance payors participated in the Health Industry Forum in Washington, D.C., to discuss private industry collaboration with the United States Health & Human Services Department (HHS) to support providers in the adoption of certified electronic health records (EHRs). Leading the Forum’s panel discussion was David Blumenthal, M.D., Chief of the Office of National Coordinator of HIT. All four payors will include the Meaningful Use criteria in their pay for performance (P4P) programs. The 4 insurance groups identified are Aetna, Inc and its subsidiary, ActiveHealth Managen... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3880944 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:29:56 +0100 3880944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3831431&cid=t_180987_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fthree-more-understated-aspects-icd-10-part-two ICD-10 is a multi-headed beast. As such, there are many faces to the new code sets; some are well known while others, often just as important, are not so understood. In our first installment, ICD10Watch reported the facets that readers likely do not, but really ought to, know more about. That triptych has since proven to be something of a beginning. And so the list of understated ICD-10 aspects continues: (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3831431 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:54:35 +0100 3831431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538245&cid=t_180987_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ficd-9-icd-10-crosswalks-theres-got-be-better-way At a time when industry bodies and consultancies are trying to figure out how providers and payers can best transform existing ICD-9 data into the imminent ICD-10 code schemes, and the word “crosswalk” keeps being batted around, Dennis Winkler at Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan is the curious case of an ICD-10 crosswalk contrarian, believing he's found a better path. Winkler, it seems, just might be onto something that appears revolutionary but in practice is not. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538245 Thu, 06 May 2010 12:21:54 +0100 3538245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105044&cid=t_180987_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Frule-of-twenties.html Heard from a local independent gerontologist tonight who does not accept Medicare or other insurance payments in our state: "When it comes to geriatrics, it's the rule of twenties: 20 problems20 medications20-minute phone calls20 minutes to take their clothes off20 minutes to put their clothes back on.With the initial physical exam, three follow-up visits, and one EKG that Medicare pays for, I would receive only $360 in total. I pay $40,000 per year in malpractice, yet have never had a judgement against me. Think how may patients I'd have to see to cover just that expense. (editor's answer: 111)You wonder why I am not a Medicare provider? I'd never survive at that their payment rate. And Blue Cross? They're no better and often pay less. Funny thing is, Medicare was only too happy to have m... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105044 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:54:00 +0100 3105044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3023147&cid=t_180987_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fwhen-insurers-dominate-market-share.html Prices rise:One factor that could be driving larger increases locally: Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois, which historically has used its dominant 50%-plus marketshare to undercut competitors' prices, has been more aggressive with rates this enrollment season, brokers say."Blue Cross is the one company that is consistently coming in with higher renewal increases," says Rob Wilson, an insurance broker and president of Westmont-based Employco Group.A Blue Cross spokeswoman declines to comment.Funny that when hospital systems coalesce and raise prices to remain "competetive," the FTC cries foul, but when the insurance industry does the same thing, the FTC can't be bothered.But then, the government knows what's best for patients, right?-WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysio... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3023147 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:19:00 +0100 3023147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405573&cid=t_180987_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclinicalit.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fbreaking-news-private-sector-health.html There's some fairly significant news coming out of Washington tonight: A CNN Money report via Yahoo! says that six key private-sector health industry groups have agreed to participate in the Obama administration's effort to reform healthcare by pledging to take $2 trillion in costs out of the system over the next 10 years. "Six trade associations representing unions, hospitals, insurers and the drug industry have signed on to the commitment," the story says. An Associated Press story says doctors are participating as well. Based on these stories, we can safely assume that coalition includes the AMA, AHA, AHIP, PhRMA and probably the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and the Service Employees International Union. We'll know for sure Monday when representatives from the six participatin... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405573 Mon, 11 May 2009 04:52:00 +0100 2405573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376497&cid=t_180987_130_f&fid=34938&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEvidenceInMotion%2F%7E3%2FXYZ4e4AYj6k%2Fa-physical-therapist-in-new-york-goes-public.html About 1 year ago, I attended the Michigan Physical Therapy Association spring meeting and brought up a very valid concern about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is a non-profit insurance company that continually increases premiums, continually pays its administrators high annual salaries and by switching most of its insurance plans to PPO plans continues to pay less to providers.  Of course, I haven't heard a darn thing with regard to what the MPTA has done in researching how BCBSM can elevate premiums yet concurrently maintain or decrease the fee schedule.  Providing insurance coverage should be a risk... subscribers pay to reduce their financial medical bill risk and insurance companies should be somewhat gambling in determining their premium amo... MyPhysicalTherapySpace.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376497 Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:38:15 +0100 2376497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2170628&cid=t_180987_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fwhy-clinical-groupware-may-be-next-big-thing-health-it What would you call health care software that: (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2170628 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:44:46 +0100 2170628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1537804&cid=t_180987_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclinicalit.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Ffiercehealthit.html Just a quick note: I'm the guest host, as it were, of FierceHealthIT this week. I wasn't sure until it was too late if I was supposed to write a commentary, so I didn't, but four of the top five story summaries this week carry my byline:"Study: Physician adoption of EHRs continues to lag""MI, WI advance health information exchange""PHRs make inroads with health plans""WellPoint says e-prescribing could be a Trojan horse for HIE"The one I didn't write, "Top P4P hospitals to score $7m in bonuses from CMS," ran in the daily FierceHealthcare last Thursday. (Source: Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog) Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1537804 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:10:00 +0100 1537804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419287&cid=t_180987_115_f&fid=34680&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcoolmristuff.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fthoracic-aorta-disection.html Aortic dissection is the most common catastrophe affecting the aorta. The aorta is the largest artery of the body through which blood leaves the heart to deliver oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. It occurs in about 24 people per million each year in the U.S. It is caused when the inner layer of the aortic wall tears and then peels or separates away from the next layer of the aorta. This creates two channels; the original aortic channel for blood flow (the true lumen) is still present while the peeling away of the outer layer in the dissection creates a new additional flow channel (the false lumen).Symptoms of Aortic DissectionLocation of Pain:Chest painBack painFlank painAbdominal painLeg painQuality of PainPain that is tearing or sharpAbrupt onset of painPain that migrates or radi... MRI LINKS AND OTHER COOL THINGS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1419287 Sun, 04 May 2008 13:54:00 +0100 1419287