March 2003

Managed Medicaid's Last Stand
Some state officials have real doubts that health plans offer any viable solution to the problem of providing care while budget deficits grow.

John Carroll

Cover Story

Lion and Lamb: Stakeholders Work Together
Purchasers, health plans and, to some extent, enrollees are pressuring providers to use information technology to improve care.

Martin Sipkoff

How Medical Directors Survive In a Tough Job Market
In a marketplace fraught with downsizing and restructuring, many top administrators find themselves having to change careers.

MargaretAnn Cross

Believe It: HEDIS Scores Matter to Employers
The 11 new measures — as is the case with those already in place — focus on problems that greatly affect their employees, and therefore overall costs.

Frank Diamond

Q&A

Paul Ellwood, MD: Only Government Has the Clout To Fix Broken Health Care System
His concepts have been enormously influential in the evolution of the health care system, but the results aren't what he expected. Now he has a new program for saving the system from itself.
Peer-Reviewed

Economic Analysis of Oral and Topical Therapies For Onychomycosis of the Toenails and Fingernails

Julian Casciano ; Karine Amaya, PhD ; John Doyle, MPH ; Steve Arikian, MD ; Neil Shear, MD

Editor's Memo

Can't We All Get Along?

John A. Marcille

Viewpoint

Plans Should Harness PBMs To Help Educate Customers
By drawing on the expertise of pharmacy benefit managers, managed care plans can teach plan sponsors and brokers the value of pharmacy, and in the process, add to their business.

Todd Gibson

Legislation & Regulation

States Examine Ways to Improve Disease Management in Medicaid
With today's immense pressure on Medicaid budgets, states can't extend DM programs fast enough.

John Carroll

Compensation Monitor

Specialists say greater clinical autonomy not affecting their incomes
Snapshot

Prototypes offer insight into Medicare costs
The Formulary Files

Select SSRIs increase level of HMO drug formulary access despite generic incursion
Legal Forum

Don't Let Fear of HIPAA Keep You From Crucial Data
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act need not endanger outcomes that depend on data access unless you let it.

Jack A. Rovner

Outlook

Health spending expected to slow



News & Commentary

Policy Change Could Ease HMOs' ER Burden

Legislation Would Allow Association Health Plans

Consumer Groups: WellChoice Funds Improperly Used

Prescription coverage adds to satisfaction with Medicare

Headlines on Deadline ...

Study: $1B Saved If Maine Should Enact Single-Payer Plan