Consumers want healthcare pricing data
Seven out of 10 healthcare consumers said they would seek out information about the quality and price of nonemergency medical services, a survey found. Several experts said the findings indicate a market-based approach to health care could help lower costs. Read more here.
Medicare to expand rules for medical-equipment companies
Medicare plans to expand rules that regulate medical-equipment companies, and says the changes could save beneficiaries and the federal government about $1 billion every year. The rules require companies to submit bids to Medicare and attain accreditation to receive payments. Companies must also be screened to prove their legitimacy. Read more here.
Employer benefits include medical tourism and alternative therapies
A survey shows that 11 percent of U.S. employers cover medical tourism, 33.5 percent cover acupuncture or acupressure, and 80.5 percent cover chiropractic care. Read more on these surprising results here.
Kaiser expert discusses interoperability
Michael Robkin, the principal enterprise architect in care delivery for Kaiser Permanente Information Technology, says interoperability provides ROI by reducing acquisition costs and lowering maintenance fees over the long term. He anticipates more progress in standardization and interoperability this year than has been seen in previous years. Read more here.
