GLG News by Employee Benefits Experts

     The market response to healthcare inflation running at 200%-300% of the rest of the economy will force federal action to fund care as an established precedent and "access" to care. We have surpassed the price point where many individuals and small employers now elect not to...

The deals abound for care abroad.  The perceived risk is always of infection or complications a long way from home.  But the tremendous differences between costs for dental work, to lithotripsy, to plastic surgery attract the medical tourist for many procedures.  Where complex...

    Public policy is clearly moving towards more transparency of medical cost and outcomes. All the leading democratic candidates say that national health care is part of their agenda. Bush has relented from his veto position, and is considering lowering the poverty level for increased...

Some hospitals review swing bed utilization as follows: 1)Initial review within 24 hours to see if inpatient criteria are met. Criteria incorporate Severity of illness and Intensity of Service. Severity of Illness can be shortness of breath, multiple effusions or other symptoms. In other words, the...

The Health insurance industry is anticipating a profit windfall with the Universal Health Coverage proposals. Where is that money coming from? Will it come from the Federal government? Or, will the money come from a segment of society that has less influence on this debate? Could it be that the industries...

    Entities that simplify ranking of hospitals and physicians will move market share and revenue.  More importantly, these providers will attract the educated and well informed (80,000,000 soon to arrive Medicare), and commercially well insured commercial customers. ...

Infection Rates and Quality Indicators now impact reimbursement. The Revenue Cycle Team at a hospital must incorporate both features into any work plan.

CIGNA has received the okay from the NY Attorney General to publish its system for ranking physicians. Aetna is also moving forward with establishing a deal with the Attorney General. This process will proceed rapidly throughout the country and will change consumer behavior.

Wellcare' stock has dropped like a rock since the FBI, Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Florida Attorney General's office raided the facility earlier this week. Initial speculation was on marketing activities, or billing issues.  It now appears that it may be based upon their use of...

Savvy CLients will rarely pay for underwriting help from their broker.  Additional service fees above the disclosed commission for underwriting analysis that some agents are looking to capitalize on will be a tough sell to most policy holders who feel the commission already compensates the...