Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
ACOs Produce Mixed Results In Arizona
The Arizona Republic: Medicare 'Accountable Care' Reforms Bring Mixed Results
A Medicare experiment that encourages doctors and hospitals to work in tandem to improve care while saving taxpayers money has produced mixed results in Arizona. Six out of 10 Arizona health systems participating in Medicare’s “accountable care” programs spent more money than Medicare projected last year, and one program broke even. Another three health systems saved Medicare money compared to what the agency projected spending. (Alltucker, 9/25)
The Wall Street Journal: A Health-Care Model In Coal Country
Geisinger Health System, whose decades of investment in technology and integration have made it a pioneer in the use of electronic medical records and other data, dominates most of the rural [Pennsylvania] markets it serves. The system focuses to an unusual degree on avoiding unnecessary procedures, in part because it also runs an insurance company that covers many of its patients. It’s those kinds of things that many U.S. health-care experts want to see more of. ... David Feinberg, a Los Angeles transplant, gave up a lucrative post running UCLA’s hospital system to become chief executive of Geisinger last May. ... Dr. Feinberg spoke to The Wall Street Journal about his plans for Geisinger. (Weaver, 9/27)
