http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Article/list/976 Managed Healthcare Executive Online offers insight to healthcare
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 contain costs and improve the quality of health care. 2009-11-21T15:26:01Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Plans-begin-massive-effort-to-reduce-paperwork/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/638743?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Eight Ohio health plans are participating in a pilot to streamline administration with hopes that national efforts could come next 2009-11-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/452009/638743null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Balance-needed-to-cover-high-risk-consumers/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/630623?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Every pre-existing condition is subject health insurers' anti-fraud mechanism, but that doesn't help them make many friends 2009-10-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/402009/630623null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Know-the-players-in-the-political-machinery/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/622622?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 The Senate Finance Committee is hammering out a bipartisan bill while other leaders will drive ultimate implementation 2009-09-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/362009/622622null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Cooperatives-tough-to-launch/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/615493?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 While co-ops do provide good care and the right incentives, they still face market pressures that have historically destroyed them 2009-08-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/312009/615493null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/After-reforms-patients-will-come-out-of-the-woodwo/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/607968?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 If Massachusetts is any indication, get ready for long wait times, doctors refusing new patients, high costs of unmanaged conditions and the blindsiding of America 2009-07-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/272009/607968null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Spending-grew-74-from-2008-to-2009/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/601150?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Industry and members have two different perceptions about what they are paying for medical and pharmacy costs. It's your job to educate members about comparative effectiveness. 2009-06-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/232009/601150null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/Policy+%26+Regulation/For-healthcare-reform-its-all-systems-go/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/595833?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Cooperation, involvement and action mark the current reform atmosphere, which is a big surprise to me 2009-05-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/182009/595833null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/EMRs/EMRs-not-enough/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/590428?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 The incentives and penalties for adopting EMRs might not help the small physician practices 2009-04-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/142009/590428null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Consumer-control-will-align-supply-and-demand/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/584944?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Regina Herzlinger's prescription for reform calls for payment based on episodes of care. 2009-03-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/102009/584944null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/Business+Strategy/Troubling-times-have-insurers-in-the-hot-seat/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/577624?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Big name insurers are getting smacked with fees and penalties for dropping the ball 2009-02-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/052009/577624null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Obama-and-Daschle-want-your-reform-wish-list/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/573831?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Healthcare leaders are concerned about future public programs under the new administration that simply shift costs 2009-01-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/022009/573831null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/New-age-of-healthcare-calls-for-gender-equality/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/569627?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Health coverage is typically gender-balanced, but in some states, women are paying higher premiums that simply cannot be justified actuarially, according women's groups and some Congressional leaders. 2008-12-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/492008/569627null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Collaborative-models-fuel-healthcare-quality/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/562097?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 In light of the recent NCQA report, plans should consider adopting emerging collaborative models 2008-11-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/442008/562097null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/Competition/Cost-controls-cant-be-sidestepped-in-2009/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/557620?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 In the wake of the upcoming presidential election, experts say both candidates cater to the public by assuring that everything will change, but neither candidate has offered up meaningful dialogue about the most needed change of all - reducing costs. 2008-10-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/412008/557620null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/Business+Strategy/High-costs-reduce-our-willingness-to-give/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/547903?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Healthcare leaders must begin forecasting where Americans will draw the line on their generosity when it comes to the healthy subsidizing the sick, the insured subsidizing the uninsured, and the wealthier subsidizing the less wealthy. 2008-09-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/362008/547903null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Collecting-payment-is-hard-work-for-small-practice/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/533523?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Personally, I'm concerned about the financial stability of the small physician practices that struggle to cover their costs. Small practices should consider options such as electronic fund transfers or an employment model to streamline financial activities. 2008-08-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/322008/533523null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Wacky-ad-campaign-reaches-the-right-people/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/528025?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Your advertising campaign has officially become old-school. That stock image of pleasant patients and attractive doctors? You aren't catching anyone's attention with that approach anymore. Meet HealthPartners' new mascot: Petey P. Cup. Yes, that's right, a urine specimen cup is a walking, dancing, huggable mascot that makes appearances at clinics, health fairs and events around the Twin Cities. Petey also has a syringe sidekick named Pokey. 2008-07-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/272008/528025null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Irish-healthcare-system-offers-access-at-72-GDP/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/522491?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 I had the honor of joining 40 executive delegates for a week to observe the Irish healthcare system. While spending in the Irish healthcare system is just 7.2% of GDP, the public hospitals are filled to the gills. 2008-06-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/242008/522491null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Expert-protection-laws-to-follow-federal-parity-la/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/515147?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Long debates in Congress over mental health parity laws position the most human of health needs up against stretched budgets and market disagreements on treatment value. At the moment, arguments center on insurers' coverage obligations, but few are addressing another debate that is certain to follow. 2008-05-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/192008/515147null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Hospitals-speak-out-on-payers-behaving-badly/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/507965?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 When the former owner of the NFL's Cleveland Browns announced he was moving the team to Baltimore in 1996, not only were Cleveland fans outraged, ironically, so were Pittsburgh Steelers fans—their biggest rivals. For the two seasons that the Browns franchise remained dark, the Steelers missed the Browns because they had enjoyed the competitive rivalry. The Browns team and its followers were the people they loved to hate. 2008-04-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/152008/507965null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/New-guidelines-influence-wellness-incentives/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/489457?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 HIPAA prohibits group plans from charging higher premiums to individuals due to health status, medical history, genetic information, claims experience, receipt of care or evidence of disability. The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration recently issued guidelines that closed off a loophole that might have allowed employers to charge less healthy workers higher deductibles. 2008-02-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/062008/489457null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Patients-Find-their-Own-Ways-to-Rate-Providers/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/482402?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 With healthcare quality being so difficult to quantify, flawed ratings are unavoidable. Health plans, patients and governments, however, are desperate for some sort of yardstick by which to judge providers. 2008-01-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/022008/482402null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Overcrowding-is-less-about-wasteful-ED-use-for-non/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/476112?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Emergency departments (EDs) are a critical safety net for all Americans, and that net is becoming evermore threadbare. It's downright scary when you look closely at the reality of EDs today. 2007-12-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/482007/476112null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Greatest-HIPAA-risk-is-private-lawsuits/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/469638?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Actor George Clooney was hospitalized recently after a minor motorcycle accident. He cracked a rib, but that wasn't the worst of it. Star-struck hospital employees who weren't involved in his care accessed his medical record, no doubt hoping to find some celebrity gossip. 2007-11-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/442007/469638null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Few-can-design-truly-affordable-coverage/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/462213?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Every time I look through the sales fliers in the Sunday newspaper, I'm amazed by all the stuff we can buy. Toys, such as satellite radios and video game systems, are just the beginning. Today, you can even buy high-end cleaning products for your bath or shower at more than 10 times the price of a simple sponge and some cleanser. 2007-10-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/402007/462213null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Waiter-theres-Staphylococcus-aureus-in-my-soup-Inf/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/452858?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Coffee shops, restaurants and grocery stores have started getting serious about employees washing their hands to prevent the spread of germs. If the guy who steams my cafe latte remembers to scrub his hands for 30 seconds before getting behind the coffee counter, then why aren't more healthcare providers remembering to do it? 2007-09-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/352007/452858null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/General-spending-trends-sloping-down-Past-40-years/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/446454?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Get your Power Point ready because the annual season of strategic planning is upon us. There are quite a few givens that we know we'll have to work with for 2008 in spite of the fact that the year still has several good months left in it. 2007-08-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/312007/446454null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Concrete-details-have-more-influence-Massive-healt/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/439155?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Typically not a big fan of movies, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed my DVD rental of "Man of the Year." The basic premise of the movie has a quirky, independent-party candidate winning the popular vote in a presidential race. 2007-07-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/272007/439155null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Consumers-want-kinder-gentler-paperwork/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/430362?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Last month, the LA Times reported that Blue Cross of California had agreed to change its position on policy cancellations, now making a distinction between those who make honest mistakes on application forms and those who fraudulently misrepresent themselves to obtain benefits. The Times predicted that the class-action settlement would "send shock waves" through the insurance industry. 2007-06-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/222007/430362null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Check-your-addition-when-counting-up-uninsured/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/424940?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Apparently somebody forgot to carry the one. The U.S. Census Bureau recently revised its 2005 data on the uninsured and now reports that the initial numbers were off by 1.8 million people. New totals show 44.8 million people were uninsured in 2005, not the 46.6 million previously reported. 2007-05-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/192007/424940null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Top-plans-stand-out-among-close-contenders/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/415858?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care in Massachusetts has been calling itself "America's highest rated health plan" for the past several years. And it's got industry studies to back it up. 2007-04-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/142007/415858null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Tricky-poverty-measures-influence-coverage-levels/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/409182?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Millions of people's lives have been influenced by the work of Mollie Orshansky, even though very few people know who she is. Dozens of health-related programs throughout history have benefitted from Mollie's contributions, including programs through HHS, charitable agencies, private companies and managed care. In 1963, it was Mollie—an accomplished mathematical genius and daughter of a poor immigrant family—who developed the U.S. government's official measure of poverty and the guidelines for what we call the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) today. 2007-03-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/102007/409182null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/States-getting-feet-wet-with-new-proposals/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/401863?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Everyone is jumping into the pool—the state-purchasing pool that is. States are beginning to dive into healthcare overhaul with almost artistic creativity, coming up with state-specific, collectively funded plans to fix the leaks in coverage. 2007-02-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/052007/401863null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Weight-remains-a-sensitive-costly-issue-for-payers/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/396678?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Obesity is the new smoking. While states are increasingly outlawing public smoking, no one is ready to initiate similar measures targeted at people who are obese. It's just not polite. 2007-01-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/022007/396678null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/2006-ends-on-a-positive-note-for-consumers/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/389256?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Like the wide-eyed toddlers who will stare in awe at their stack of holiday gifts this year, healthcare consumers certainly have a few surprises to get excited about as 2006 comes to a close. 2006-12-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/482006/389256null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Theres-good-news-and-bad-news-this-flu-season/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/383200?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Heartfelt sympathies to any of you who at this moment are holding a fistful of soggy tissues and cough drops as you read. 2006-11-01T05:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/442006/383200null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Medical-science-sure-to-help-us-live-longer/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/376825?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Would you pay $19,900 to add another year to your life? If only it were that simple. The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) recently published a study that concluded between 1960 and 2000, we paid an average of $19,900 in medical costs per year of life gained during that time. In 1960, a newborn's life expectancy was 69.9 years, and in 2000, it was 76.87 years, according to the study. 2006-10-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/402006/376825null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Grocery-stores-have-changed-how-we-receive-routine/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/367904?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 One of the things I love about living in the suburbs is the close proximity of retail when I need to get my errands done. In a three-mile stretch, I can eat lunch, hit the ATM, buy a gift, fill up my gas tank and replenish my groceries. At the grocery store, I can buy stamps and drop off my dry cleaning, too. 2006-09-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/352006/367904null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Universal-healthcare-not-as-scary-as-it-seems/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/363685?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Gut instinct always used to tell me that America would never go for universal healthcare coverage. In the back of my mind, I kept picturing either a healthcare free-for-all with everyone and their uncle running to the doctor for every little paper cut, or just as bad, everyone and their uncle waiting in line for months to receive their ration of healthcare. You might have envisioned those alarming circumstances, too. 2006-08-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/322006/363685null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Politics-aside-we-have-a-chance-to-prevent-a-deadl/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/357664?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 About two hours after a colleague and I lamented over breakfast about Americans' shortcomings in wellness, I heard the news that the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) had received the final nod from FDA. Now there was something Americans were actually doing pretty well: immunizing. 2006-07-01T04:00:00Z http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/data/articlestandard/mhe/282006/357664null XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Those-who-hold-out-on-transparency-might-regret-it/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/329906?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Transparency. If that's not the hottest topic in managed care today, I don't know what is. So many of the consumer-directed healthcare advocates I've talked with this year have told me that transparency will be the big coup for consumers, regardless of which plan design they choose or how much they spend in any given year. 2006-06-01T04:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/In-call-center-management-customer-service-comes-f/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/322934?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Everyone runs into troublesome customer service now and then. You know how frustrating it can become, and it probably inspires you to be that much more careful when conducting business with your own customers. Certainly as consumers, we know the caveat emptor warnings, but there is nothing so valuable as great service. 2006-05-01T04:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Achieving-technology-goals-appears-within-reach/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/301711?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 New technologies have lifecycles that include a curve of initial resistance as well as an eventual plateau of acceptance. There are some who rush out and buy the latest gadget the minute it's available, and others—myself included—who wait to see how the new product or service pans out. Some of us cling to our old ways and our comfortable devices because we're used to them or because they're so much less expensive. At some point in time, however, we resisters just have to give in. 2006-02-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Healthcare-and-finance-meld-to-serve-the-new-marke/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/282702?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 For some problems, there are no easy answers. Even the best solution might have detrimental drawbacks. We see this in healthcare every day when we try to deliver care to the uninsured, improve health through lifestyle changes or push the quality envelope. 2006-01-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Lets-do-our-homework-and-have-our-choices/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/196463?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 We all seem to be taking a wait-and-see approach. 2005-11-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Todays-creative-leaders-always-find-a-way/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/183300?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Last Month brought us news of the indescribable aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I consumed all the information I could find at first, but then, like many Americans, I had to step away from the media for a while. I had to let the reality sink in without the narration of a news anchor. 2005-10-01T04:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Taking-care-of-business-means-taking-care-of-peopl/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/164164?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Maybe we're encouraged by recent steps forward to harmonize our disconnected healthcare system (through proposed health information networks, for example) but there is still so much more to do. 2005-06-01T04:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Innovative-programs-help-Medicaid-recipients-thriv/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/155745?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Not long ago, I was talking with a family friend, Jamie, a young, single mom and then Medicaid recipient. We were discussing our families and I had mentioned how busy I was driving my children to and from their many extracurricular activities and social events. 2005-04-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/150882?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 EVERY SO OFTEN, something in healthcare really captures my imagination. I am frequently amazed by the innovation, intelligence and dedication of the people who work in this industry, but once in a while something special will happen and I'll think, "I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life." 2005-03-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Converting-political-fervor-for-the-benefit-of-eve/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/146104?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Politics are a very strange animal. The vehemence brought to the table by the extreme left and right, and just about everyone in between, strikes me as both frightening and encouraging. 2005-02-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Looking-high-lowand-East/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/141932?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 What would you think if I told you that a country could provide healthcare coverage for its population of 6.8 million without collecting a single dollar in taxes from two-thirds of those people? Would you be intrigued? 2005-01-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/When-theres-brilliant-leadership-in-healthcare-eve/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/136674?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 The National Inventors Hall of Fame is located in Akron, Ohio, about 45 minutes from the MANAGED HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVE offices. It's interesting how many of the modern day Hall of Fame inductees are researchers who were honored for their discoveries in medicine, while historical creators offered more electronic or industrial solutions. 2004-12-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Healthcare-gets-an-assist-from-exciting-new-fields/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/133395?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 The practice of medicine continues to become more effective, and all of the players in managed care seem to have found a way to (somewhat) peacefully coexist. 2004-11-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Combined-services-that-care-for-seniors-provide-bi/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/127443?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Months before my grandmother moved into a nursing home, she called me over to her house to help in the kitchen. 2004-10-01T04:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Its-time-to-consider-any-and-all-available-options/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/122089?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Pride, as they say, is difficult to swallow—but it will go down. Love us or hate us, Americans certainly have plenty of self-confidence, so on those occasions when we have to eat our words, it can be quite a feast. 2004-09-01T04:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Finally-the-EMR-cavalry-might-be-in-sight/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/109130?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 I have learned over the years that I am, for better or worse, a fairly risk-averse person. Given the choice between steady production and a high-risk/high-reward opportunity, I'll almost always choose the former. 2004-08-01T04:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/The-more-hands-to-work-on-healthcares-knots-the-be/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/105557?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 According to Greek legend, a poor peasant named Gordius became the king of the Asian country of Phrygia because of a rather vague prophecy. An oracle had prophesied that the nation’s future ruler would come riding into town on a wagon, so when Gordius and his wife arrived in the public square driving an ox cart, the populace named him king. 2004-07-01T04:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Medical-management--comes-to-the-forefront/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/100522?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Systems integration has evolved to become much more than a technology issue 2004-06-01T04:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Medicare-Advantage-plans-poised-to-build-on-what-t/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/96836?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Putting the rate enhancement back into benefit programs can only improve quality 2004-05-01T04:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/As-we-move-forward-we-cant-forget-where-we-came-fr/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/92979?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Humble beginnings are often the first step to greatness--as long as we remember our raison d'etre 2004-04-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Americans-are-waking-up-to-what-it-means-to-be-hea/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/89085?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona keeps America on a healthy course and away from bad choices 2004-03-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Cheers-to-those-who-make-it-easier-for-us-to-help-/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/85869?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Incentives for personal gain are common, but those that motivate us to help others are rare and valuable 2004-02-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Programs-critical-to-altering-the-lifestyles-of-ch/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/82722?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 health risks are not the only drawback for overweight kids ... take my word for it! 2004-01-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Choose-your-favorite-for-the-2003-Readers-Choice-E/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/78459?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 It only takes two clicks to vote for the thought leader who provided you with the most insight in 2003 2003-12-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Low-hanging-fruit-need-not-apply/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/75800?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 HAP CEO CLevel Killingsworth seeks a savings plan, but only if it reduces overuse and misuse of care 2003-11-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/Commentary/Were-only-as-strong-as-our-weakest-healthcare-link/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/72489?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Every state will be forced to implement Medicaid cost-containment strategies in 2004. 2003-10-01T04:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/Commentary/The-road-to-wellness-is-a-two-way-street/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/69430?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Consumers and providers need to work together to improve overall healthcare 2003-09-01T04:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Doctors-serve-needs-on-both-sides-of-the-bargainin/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/62583?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Physician plan executives tap into daily experiences to serve even the tiniest of members 2003-07-01T04:00:00Z PDF http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/The-war-is-being-won-in-the-marketplace-right-now/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/59997?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Health plans are going to look a lot different in the future, and the transformation needs to begin today. 2003-06-01T04:00:00Z PDF http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/In-todays-world-lifers-are-a-dying-breed/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/56355?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Mike Cascone has spent his entire career -- more than 35 years -- with the fortunate BCBS of Florida. 2003-05-01T04:00:00Z PDF http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Is-the-sleeping-giant-finally-starting-to-stir/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/54250?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 With tips from countries that haveless to work with, the U.S. healthcare industry 
 moves toward major reform 2003-04-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Its-time-for-all-Americans-to-play-Follow-the-Lead/ArticleBrief/Article/detail/50130?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Although I'm almost 30 years younger than Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, I was thoroughly exhausted by the time we were done with our exclusive, face-to-face interview. 2003-03-01T05:00:00Z XML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/The-role-of-health-plans-is-to-serve-however-they-/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/6671?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Individual people and circumstances have different needs, and MCOs need to be flexible enough to meet them all 2002-12-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Healthcare-accounts-for-13-of-our-GDP-but-is-that-/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/40941?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 As costs continue to rise, perhaps we should focus less on our expenses
 and more on our priorities 2002-12-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Easy-access-and-better-communications-are-a-win-wi/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/37931?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Health plans that make their products easier for individuals to find
 will reap the rewards 2002-11-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Changing-the-concept-of-patient-to-customer/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/31990?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Sisters of Mercy CEO Ron Ashworth cultivates an environment of personal
 as well as clinical service 2002-09-01T04:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Calling-a-spade-a-spadefor-your-customers-sake/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/20081?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Great-West eliminates confusion in the marketplace by consolidating its
 plans under a single name 2002-05-01T04:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Everyone-suffers-when-people-play-the-blame-game/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/17331?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Sharing information might be the best way to minimize medical errors, but culpability has to be minimized first 2002-04-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/Commentary/Its-not-just-a-job-and-its-more-than-an-adventure-/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/12815?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Many workers in the healthcare industry got here by chance, but personal
 satisfaction keeps them here 2002-03-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Its-OK-to-succeed-at-the-business-of-healthcare/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/6670?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Despite the bad reputation from consumer publications, MCOs should be proud of their successes 2002-01-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Employers-want-consumers-to-take-the-reins-on-spen/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/6675?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Workers won't be happy about sharing the costs, but it's an opportunity to teach them the meaning of value 2001-11-01T05:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Wise-plans-give-their-members-what-they-want/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/6680?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 As long as alternative therapies aren't dangerous, consumers should be
 able to get the treatments they choose 2001-10-01T04:00:00Z HTML http://managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com/mhe/For+Your+Benefit/Sheathing-the-iron-fist-of-accountability-in-a-vel/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/6683?contextCategoryId=976&ref=25 Despite the squabbling, everyone in healthcare wants the same thing: more effective care for patients 2001-09-01T04:00:00Z HTML