February 2010

Meaningful Use: Tasty Carrot or Big, Brutal Stick?
The stimulus bill’s $27 billion for health information technology will go to providers, but health plans will experience other financial and operational benefits.

John Carroll

HIT Decisions Lie on the Horizon, But Savings Remain Elusive
How electronic health records, in their many manifestations, will transform health care should be evident within a couple of years. Will the potential be realized?

Martin Sipkoff

Generics Offer Pharmacy Plans Specific Benefits
Administrators find themselves with pricing leverage they’ve never had before

Thomas Reinke

Health Management Uses IT To Reduce Future Costs
Payers must manage the care of all members, regardless of how sick or well, to control escalating treatment expenditures

Jackie Mazoway

A Conversation with AHRQ’s P. Jon White, MD

Managed Care Has Useful Role In Promoting ‘Meaningful Use’
AHRQ’s director of health care information technology looks at the federal health care IT stimulus program from the quality perspective
Peer-Reviewed

Impact of 17P Usage on NICU Admissions In a Managed Medicaid Population — A Five-Year Review

Mary V. Mason, MD, MBA ; Amy Poole-Yaeger, MD ; Cathie R. Krueger, RN, BSN ; Kara M. House, MBA ; Brad Lucas, MD, MBA

Editor’s Memo

A Lot Is Riding On ‘Meaningful Use’

John Marcille

Snapshot

Membership falls at most of the biggest plans
Medication Management

Health Plans Walk a Clinical Tightrope When Treating Adolescents for Depression
Notwithstanding a black box warning from the FDA, ongoing research demonstrates the efficacy of treating adolescents and children with antidepressants

Martin Sipkoff

Compensation Monitor

Medical groups can receive 2% bonus from CMS
Plan Watch

500 Patients in San Diego Might Revolutionize Care
Kaiser Permanente and the federal government believe that they’ve found the path to a national health record system

Frank Diamond

Tomorrow’s Medicine

Mitral Valve Clip’s Value? Fewer Open Chest Surgeries
Inspired by an anatomic variant in a patient, a double-orifice control device alleviates mitral regurgitation

Thomas Morrow, MD

Managed Care Outlook

Medical school costs deter qualified candidates



News & Commentary

Plans Help Bridge Cost Discussion

Stroke Survivors Often Forsake Preventive Drugs

CMS Fields Provider Survey

What a bargain: Employer-sponsored health plans

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