HealthScope » Health Policy http://healthscope.apcoforum.com Diagnosing what's next in the business of health Mon, 20 May 2013 22:31:08 +0000 en hourly 1 From Ninth Graders to Health Care Elites: A Communications Lesson on the Power of Engagement http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/a-communications-lesson-on-the-power-of-engagement/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/a-communications-lesson-on-the-power-of-engagement/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 22:31:08 +0000 HealthScope http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1516 A few weeks ago, I attended TEDMED. I was impressed with the speakers and the whole TEDMED experience, but what really struck me was just how interested I was in what was being said. And not just as someone who works in health care communications, but as a regular, curious individual. Many of the talks, topics of which ranged from supercomputers to nematodes to heart disease, not only left me with a solid understanding of their content, but also inspired me to want to go off and learn more about subjects I wouldn’t have necessarily been motivated to learn about on my own beforehand.
]]> Clair BriggsA few weeks ago, I attended TEDMED. I was impressed with the speakers and the whole TEDMED experience, but what really struck me was just how interested I was in what was being said. And not just as someone who works in health care communications, but as a regular, curious individual. Many of the talks, topics of which ranged from supercomputers to nematodes to heart disease, not only left me with a solid understanding of their content, but also inspired me to want to go off and learn more about subjects I wouldn’t have necessarily been motivated to learn about on my own beforehand.… Read more »

]]> http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/a-communications-lesson-on-the-power-of-engagement/feed/ 0 What’s Next in Health Care Part II: Price Transparency – is it the Holy Grail? http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/price-transparency-is-it-the-holy-grail/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/price-transparency-is-it-the-holy-grail/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:46:18 +0000 Bill Pierce http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1508 Bill PierceHealth care is the only product or service we purchase without any idea of the price. Often, you don’t even know your portion of the price. This raises the question, “Why?” Can anyone imagine going into a restaurant and ordering a meal that had no price listed, or signing a contract to buy a car and then being told the price? It would never happen. But in health care, we not only tolerate such behavior, we are often reticent to even ask about prices.
]]> Bill PierceHealth care is the only product or service we purchase without any idea of the price. Often, you don’t even know your portion of the price.

This raises the question, “Why?” Can anyone imagine going into a restaurant and ordering a meal that had no price listed, or signing a contract to buy a car and then being told the price? It would never happen. But in health care, we not only tolerate such behavior, we are often reticent to even ask about prices.… Read more »

]]> http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/price-transparency-is-it-the-holy-grail/feed/ 0 Accountable Health Care: The Silent Health Care Reform http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-silent-health-care-reform/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-silent-health-care-reform/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:52:09 +0000 Stig Albinus http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1501 Most of the discussion about health care reform has centered on the expansion of access to care for people not covered by health insurance. Surprisingly, there has been very little discussion about the delivery of care, which in fact is the root cause of a "sick" health care system that results in uncontrollable spending with limited transparency whether or not money is spent in the best possible way to improve the quality of care. However, outside of the media limelight a massive restructuring of health care delivery is taking place under the banner of what increasingly is being called accountable health care.
]]> Most of the discussion about health care reform has centered on the expansion of access to care for people not covered by health insurance. Surprisingly, there has been very little discussion about the delivery of care, which in fact is the root cause of a “sick” health care system that results in uncontrollable spending with limited transparency whether or not money is spent in the best possible way to improve the quality of care. However, outside of the media limelight a massive restructuring of health care delivery is taking place under the banner of what increasingly is being called accountable health care.… Read more »

]]> http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-silent-health-care-reform/feed/ 0 The FDA Likes Facebook? The AMARC Hysteria http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-fda-likes-facebook-the-amarc-hysteria/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-fda-likes-facebook-the-amarc-hysteria/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:49:39 +0000 David Oarr http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1493 David OarrA few months ago the FDA contacted AMARC Enterprises to let them know they were in violation of well, just about everything. (See Letters) Among the many things the FDA mentioned is that the company’s Poly-MVA Facebook page had “liked” a testimonial on someone else’s Facebook page. Being the internet, there was an immediate outcry, followed by an immediate sarcastic rebuttal. Roughly summed up, the conversation was something like:
]]> David OarrA few months ago the FDA contacted AMARC Enterprises to let them know they were in violation of well, just about everything. (See Letters) Among the many things the FDA mentioned is that the company’s Poly-MVA Facebook page had “liked” a testimonial on someone else’s Facebook page. Being the internet, there was an immediate outcry, followed by an immediate sarcastic rebuttal. Roughly summed up, the conversation was something like:… Read more »

]]> http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-fda-likes-facebook-the-amarc-hysteria/feed/ 0 The Need for a Medical Surge http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-need-for-a-medical-surge/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-need-for-a-medical-surge/#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:56:59 +0000 HealthScope http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1487 Saralyn MarkEveryone has had to wait to see a physician--either for an appointment or in a waiting room where minutes seems like hours and months can feel like years. Imagine the havoc when an additional 30 to 46 million patients who may now have health coverage are in need of doctors. Add in an aging population and public health emergencies such as pandemics, natural disasters and bioterrorism, and the scenario becomes more catastrophic.
]]> Saralyn MarkEveryone has had to wait to see a physician–either for an appointment or in a waiting room where minutes seems like hours and months can feel like years.

Imagine the havoc when an additional 30 to 46 million patients who may now have health coverage are in need of doctors. Add in an aging population and public health emergencies such as pandemics, natural disasters and bioterrorism, and the scenario becomes more catastrophic.… Read more »

]]> http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-need-for-a-medical-surge/feed/ 0 Health Care: Now What http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/health-care-now-what/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/health-care-now-what/#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:30:55 +0000 Bill Pierce http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1482 Bill PierceAlthough the State of the Union Address (SOTU) often marks the beginning of the legislative season in Congress, it seems health care is not following the usual pattern. Due to the vast nature of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the strong and continuing political feelings it created, the debate has never subsided. It has just gone on, but the SOTU does provide an appropriate moment to assess where the country is on the issue of health care. First, regardless of where you come down on the ACA, it is important to understand that there are trends in the health care marketplace that are underway that were not created by the ACA.  If anything, the ACA capitalized on these trends, trying to encourage and/or accelerate them, and most importantly, they will continue regardless of any modification to the law.
]]> Bill PierceAlthough the State of the Union Address (SOTU) often marks the beginning of the legislative season in Congress, it seems health care is not following the usual pattern. Due to the vast nature of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the strong and continuing political feelings it created, the debate has never subsided. It has just gone on, but the SOTU does provide an appropriate moment to assess where the country is on the issue of health care.

First, regardless of where you come down on the ACA, it is important to understand that there are trends in the health care marketplace that are underway that were not created by the ACA.  If anything, the ACA capitalized on these trends, trying to encourage and/or accelerate them, and most importantly, they will continue regardless of any modification to the law.… Read more »

]]> http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/health-care-now-what/feed/ 0 The Real Hospital Quality Measures http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-real-hospital-quality-measures/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-real-hospital-quality-measures/#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:09:35 +0000 Richard James http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1475 These are extraordinarily stressful times for America’s hospitals. Many are treating fewer patients now than they did two years ago and operating at a financial loss; they complain publicly about the financial squeeze they are in between demands for higher pay from doctors and nurses and inadequate reimbursement rates from public and private sector payers. On top of this, hospitals are expected to keep up with a rapidly changing health care system, one which is now beginning to pay hospitals based on quality measures, such as patient satisfaction scores, infection rates and patient outcomes. In short, the reimbursement model is transitioning from one based on the number of procedures performed to one based on outcomes.
]]> Richard JamesThese are extraordinarily stressful times for America’s hospitals. Many are treating fewer patients now than they did two years ago and operating at a financial loss; they complain publicly about the financial squeeze they are in between demands for higher pay from doctors and nurses and inadequate reimbursement rates from public and private sector payers. On top of this, hospitals are expected to keep up with a rapidly changing health care system, one which is now beginning to pay hospitals based on quality measures, such as patient satisfaction scores, infection rates and patient outcomes. In short, the reimbursement model is transitioning from one based on the number of procedures performed to one based on outcomes.… Read more »

]]> http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/the-real-hospital-quality-measures/feed/ 0 Happy Healthy Weight Week? http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/happy-healthy-weight-week/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/happy-healthy-weight-week/#comments Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:23:43 +0000 Melissa Musiker http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1470 January 20 – 26 was National Healthy Weight week. Strategically positioned to be right in the middle of the post holidays and  New Year’s resolution use-your-gym-membership season, the premise behind Healthy Weight Week is to remind people concerned about their weight to stop fixating on numbers and focus on building healthy habits and a more positive self-image. Recognizing the economic difficulties facing society as a result of rising healthcare costs associated with obesity, and the fact that a winning and innovative strategy to address this crisis is needed, Hastings Center bioethicist emeritus Dr. Daniel Callahan, in a recently released controversial paper,  posits three potential solutions to addressing the obesity epidemic: strong and somewhat coercive public health measures childhood prevention programs and extreme social pressure on the overweight.
]]> Melissa MusikerJanuary 20 – 26 was National Healthy Weight week. Strategically positioned to be right in the middle of the post holidays and  New Year’s resolution use-your-gym-membership season, the premise behind Healthy Weight Week is to remind people concerned about their weight to stop fixating on numbers and focus on building healthy habits and a more positive self-image.

Recognizing the economic difficulties facing society as a result of rising healthcare costs associated with obesity, and the fact that a winning and innovative strategy to address this crisis is needed, Hastings Center bioethicist emeritus Dr. Daniel Callahan, in a recently released controversial paper,  posits three potential solutions to addressing the obesity epidemic: strong and somewhat coercive public health measures childhood prevention programs and extreme social pressure on the overweight.… Read more »

]]> http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/happy-healthy-weight-week/feed/ 1 Personalized Medicine – from Complexity to Clarity http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/personalized-medicine-from-complexity-to-clarity/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/personalized-medicine-from-complexity-to-clarity/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:53:51 +0000 Stig Albinus http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1458 Personalized medicine – the application of genetic information to tailor therapy to individual patients – is frequently touted as one of the biggest current advances in modern medicine. A majority of European stakeholders hope that personalized medicine will reduce medical errors, improve patient outcomes and reduce total health care spending over 15 years. Most physicians in the United States and Europe expect personalized medicine to become routine in their own clinical practice within a few years.
]]> Personalized medicine – the application of genetic information to tailor therapy to individual patients – is frequently touted as one of the biggest current advances in modern medicine. A majority of European stakeholders hope that personalized medicine will reduce medical errors, improve patient outcomes and reduce total health care spending over 15 years. Most physicians in the United States and Europe expect personalized medicine to become routine in their own clinical practice within a few years.… Read more »

]]> http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/personalized-medicine-from-complexity-to-clarity/feed/ 1 APCO Forum: What’s Next in Food http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/apco-forum-whats-next-in-food/ http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/apco-forum-whats-next-in-food/#comments Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:49:46 +0000 HealthScope http://healthscope.apcoforum.com/?p=1456 ]]> Last week, APCO's New York office hosted an APCO Forum salon event to discuss key marketing, regulatory and financial issues impacting the food industry. Panelists included Nancy Schnell, former deputy general counsel, Unilever; Dr. Karen Hulebak, former chair and vice-chair, Codex Alimentarius Commission; and Kaumil Gajrawala, consumer analyst, UBS Investment Bank, who provided insightful and interesting commentary on a range of issues and took great questions from our audience.

Watch highlights from the discussion below and... Read more »

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