Many of those working to improve health care in America have advocated for the use of electronic prescribing as an important tool for improving patient safety and moderating health care cost trends. A recent report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) documents abuses in the Medicare drug benefit that underline the potential value of electronic prescribing tools. According to the …

It is difficult to find an issue that is more politically contentious than health care; particularly the policy changes and programs that are needed to assure that Americans have access to needed care.  The liberal position tends to see health care as a right, and seeks a strong centralized public role in assuring that all Americans have access to the …

In early August, when the debt ceiling agreement was reached, many news reports noted the agreement did nothing to address core reasons for the debt, namely: Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. Indeed, nearly every article written about the debt ceiling talked about the need to “deal with” (aka: cut) Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. But every time there is a …

When I was in graduate school and early in my career, hospices were viewed as one of the most altruistic components of the health care system. With a philosophy of caring holistically for those at the end of life by controlling symptoms, supporting families, and providing a “good” death (preferably at home), hospices seemed to represent the vision of compassion …

Health care policy happens at many levels, but health care delivery: just one. Policy is made at the federal, state and local levels—but delivery is at the local level: in organized systems of care or with individual or teams of practitioners working with patients and families. There must be a nexus between policy and practice in order for policy related to …

In the May 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Rashi Fein and Arnold Milstein tackled the question of why evidence-based care diffuses so slowly. The article is compelling because of its fundamental conclusion: institutionalized interest group pressure against change in health care and consumer misunderstanding of health care financing make it hard to envision how health care …

Sixty-five quality indicators? Retrospectively attributed patient populations? Risk after the fact? Significant management and financial investment required with uncertain payback? This may not sound like a strategy to win the hearts and minds of providers who are on the fence about whether or not to participate in CMS’ new approach to care: accountable care organizations (ACOs). So, what is going …

Today we are releasing our Cover Michigan Survey, 2011. Like last year’s survey, this report looks at what Michigan residents say about their access to health care. Different from last year, this survey was designed to look more in-depth at access, along with health status. Our findings confirm last year’s major finding: Having health insurance coverage is important but not …

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder deserves special notice and acknowledgement for the courage and focus he displayed in his decision not to sign on to the letter signed by all other Republican governors, asking for changes to the Medicaid program and advocating for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. I am sure Governor Snyder disagrees with some provisions of the …

In the New England Journal of Medicine on May 26, 2011, Thomas Smith and Bruce Hillner describe a series of strategies to reduce the cost of spending on cancer care in the United States. The article is compelling, and highlights the reasons health care spending is so difficult to talk about—much less do something about: all five strategies involve changes to …