News

Detroit Free Press: Michigan is paying price for unhealthy adults

Report on CHRT’s August 2010 issue brief “Health Care Cost Drivers: Chronic Disease, Comorbidity, and Health Risk Factors in the U.S. and Michigan.” Must pay fee to view full story.

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Chronic Conditions Equal High Expenditures in Michigan

Chronic conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, are attacking our wallets in Michigan. According to a new issue brief from the Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation (CHRT), average annual spending for someone with a chronic condition can cost from $3,785 to $38,270 more than someone with no chronic condition. Chronic conditions are also disproportionally costly. Data …

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What’s Early Childhood Got to Do with Health Care Reform?

One of the provisions I particularly like in the Affordable Care Act is the section that provides $1.5 billion over five years to states for home visiting programs for new mothers. Under the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, nurses, social workers, or other professionals are expected to meet with at-risk families in their homes, evaluate the families’ …

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Prognosis on Electronic Medical Records: The Long Slog to Come

On July 13, 2010, HHS released final rules telling providers of care how to demonstrate the “meaningful use” of electronic medical records in order to be eligible for incentives starting in 2011. By 2015, most providers who don’t adopt electronic medical records will face penalties. The originally proposed rules were considered too rigid by many, and would have made it …

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Physicians: To employ or not to employ – that is the question!

While my personal thoughts frequently center around issues such as “being,” on a professional level I have probably given more thought to the issue of physician employment than any other. I am old enough to recall when an employed physician was actually an oddity. During my many years working on the provider side of the business, I experienced the rush …

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