Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
High-Deductible Plans Drive Hospital Changes
Modern Healthcare: High-Deductible Plans Change How Hospitals Interact With Patients
High-deductible plans are changing the way health systems interact with their patients, from where they get care to how they're presented with their bills. The changing healthcare environment was a significant focus of the Healthcare Financial Management Association's annual National Institute this week in Orlando, Fla. (Kutscher, 6/24)
The New York Times: Pursuit Of Cash Taints Promise Of Gene Tests
The story of Renaissance offers a view inside the intoxicating brew of hype and hope in the field of genetic testing. All over the country, labs and research firms are popping up, eager to study strands of DNA to better identify who is at risk for developing a disease, to guide existing treatments and to develop new ones. But the troubles at Renaissance speak volumes about how difficult it is for Medicare and private insurers to keep up with the proliferation of tests being offered. (Abelson and Creswell, 6/24)
USA Today: Oscar Uses Tech To Make Consumers Less Grouchy About Healthcare
Oscar's website and app hammers that point home. Signing up is as easy as answering a few multiple choice questions. There are discounts for being active, which is tracked by a free wearable. Customers get two free primary care visits a year and free generic drugs. All plans are the same, except that a higher premium gets you a lower deductible. As for doctor responsiveness, [co-founder Joshua] Kushner – a Manhattan real estate scion whose brother, Jared, is married to Ivanka Trump – taps the Oscar app to request a call from his doctor, then minutes later grins as his physician's voice comes on the line. (della Cava, 6/24)
