Interviews

How the Affordable Care Act Strengthened Mental Health Parity

by Vera Gruessner

The Obama administration's Affordable Care Act has brought various benefits to the American people including greater health coverage through the health insurance exchange and Medicaid expansion....

Why Payers Should Improve Cost Transparency for Consumers

by Vera Gruessner

The health insurance industry could benefit from greater cost transparency, as it could bring new methods for lowering healthcare spending and create a more competitive market among providers. Federal...

How the Affordable Care Act has Impacted Health Payers

by Vera Gruessner

The Affordable Care Act has  brought a significant reform toward the health insurance industry. This particular legislation has given the majority of American people healthcare coverage, which has...

Could Electronic Processing Reduce Medical Spending Rates?

by Vera Gruessner

The US healthcare system is one of the most expensive around the world and the rising costs haven't diminished significantly in recent years. Today, health payers and providers have been working...

Concierge Medicine Model Impacts Population Health Management

by Vera Gruessner

The concierge medicine model is becoming more and more prominent around the nation, as healthcare providers continue to adopt the new payment system. While many hospitals and physicians are finding...

How Data, Value-Based Care Drives Down Health Insurance Costs

by Vera Gruessner

In today’s world, the average employee and business owner are seeing a rise in health insurance costs. Even through the health insurance exchange, premium prices are expected to rise this year...

How One Health Payer Partnership Reduced Hospitalizations

by Vera Gruessner

Recently, the health payer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) announced in a press release that it will be extending its partnership with the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest...

Bundled Payment Models Need to Align Payer, Provider Incentives

by Vera Gruessner

Bundled payment models are growing in popularity throughout the health insurance industry partially due to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pushing forth alternative payment...

‘The Future is Accountable Care,’ Population Health Management

by Vera Gruessner

Effective population health management remains a key aspect of running a successful accountable care network. As part of a stronger population health management program, the primary care...

5 Elements Essential for Value-based Care Reimbursement

by Vera Gruessner

The health insurance industry has been undergoing significant changes ever since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act became law and rising healthcare spending brought a need for payment...

How Health IT Automation Improves Consumer Satisfaction

by Vera Gruessner

New technologies and health IT tools are becoming a necessary part of the health insurance industry, as innovative approaches like automation can largely benefit employees while portals could make a...

Time, Commitment Required for ACO, Value-Based Care Success

by Vera Gruessner

In healthcare, as in so many other areas of life, patience is a virtue. Providers and payers pursuing ACO development will need to have plenty of it before their care transformation efforts pay off with significant cost savings. As...