September 2007

Cover Story

Do Out-of-Pocket Payments Put Preventive Care on Hold?
Studies by Cigna and Humana challenge some long-held assumptions about high-deductible plans

John Carroll

Go Carefully When Measuring Quality
Gauging and rewarding good work in health care is a noble goal with potentially negative consequences

Martin Sipkoff

Pay for Performance in Pharmacy Is More Theory Than Reality
Even if the the goal is unattainable in this country, working toward it might produce interesting experiments in cost efficiency

Frank Diamond

Does the Chronic Care Model Signal Big Changes for DM?
The pros and cons of each weigh heavily, but ultimately, a melding may benefit patients and primary care physicians

Jaan Sidorov, MD, MHSA

Peer-Reviewed

Comparison of Human Growth Hormone Products' Cost in Pediatric and Adult Patients
Payers' drug costs for human growth hormone are related to product waste that is related to the container in which the product is supplied

Gary R. Bazalo, MS ; Ashish V. Joshi, PhD ; John Germak, MD

Editor's Memo

Doing the Right Thing For Employers and Members

John Marcille

Legislation & Regulation

Who Gets Covered, Junior or Grandma?
That seems to be the upshot of the debate over funding children's insurance and Medicare Advantage

John Carroll

Medication Management

Patent Law Rulings Work in Favor of Generics
Thanks to recent Supreme Court rulings, manufacturers of generic drugs are in a good position to continue expansion of their market share

Martin Sipkoff

Compensation Monitor

Primary care gains over 3 years
Tomorrow’s Medicine

Gene Discovery May Change Treatments for Hearing Loss
Otosclerosis has been traditionally managed with hearing aids and surgery, but a recent discovery may result in development of a biochemical treatment

Thomas Morrow, MD

Employer Update

Bulletin: Consumer Direction Not Just About Cheaper Drugs
Plans seem curiously unconcerned about technology that helps workers compare premiums, other features

Lola Butcher

Managed Care Outlook

Opportunity in shift to consumer plans



News & Commentary

NCQA Standards Focus on PPO Performance

Income Said To Influence Use of Generics

Ninety Percent of Adults Eligible For Medicare Have Drug Coverage

Young and uninsured — a looming problem

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