December 2003

Cover Story

Dr. Do-Good and Mr. Bottom-Line
How medical directors reconcile the contradictory demands of physician and executive roles.

Frank Diamond

Health Plans Begin To Address Chronic Care Management
As with so much else in health care, observing protocols, analyzing data, and rethinking benefit designs are important.

Martin Sipkoff

Will New Benefit Design Harm Some Patients?
In the past, reducing demand for care by raising patients' costs has resulted in the loss of some needed care. Can we avoid the trap?

MargaretAnn Cross

Why Do FEHBP and Big Unions Excel at Managing Drug Costs?
PBMs can do only so much to keep drug price increases in the single digits. Initiatives instituted by health plans can help in this effort.

Tony Berberabe

Peer-Reviewed

Treating Psoriasis Patients With Biologic Agents
Improved outcomes with new biologic agents are prompting physicians to integrate them into therapy for psoriasis patients.

David M. Pariser, MD

Editor’s Memo

Will a Gift From Congress Rebuild Public Confidence?

John A. Marcille

Viewpoint

NCQA To Look More Closely At Issues Small Employers Care About
Why don't small employers consider health care quality information the same way large employers do when making benefits decisions? We asked the president of NCQA.

Margaret E. O'Kane

Legislation & Regulation

Aloha State Never Expected Such a Long Goodbye to Uninsured
Three decades after Hawaii was supposed to have put a controversial end to a chronic problem by making employers cover more people, guess what persists?

John Carroll

Compensation Monitor

Family physicians paid less per RVU than internists
Tomorrow’s Medicine

Can Amylin Analogue Lead To Better Diabetes Control?
Maintaining tight glucose control is difficult to accomplish, but adding amylin to the mix may be the answer.

Thomas Morrow, MD

Employer Update

'What Can You Do To Help Control Costs?'
Employers are beginning to tap into the groundswell of employee interest in reducing premiums.

MargaretAnn Cross

The Formulary Files

Electronic prescribing has no effect on formulary compliance
Managed Care Outlook

Simple math: Health plans' robust performance spurs merger and acquisition interest



News & Commentary

Headlines on Deadline ...

Pay-or-Play Ideas Make Employers Help Uninsured

Chiropractor-Directed Care Could Boost Costs by 30%