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The protection of pre-existing conditions is a very popular theme during this mid-term election.  Perhaps this should not be surprising due to the strong popularity of such policies with the public.  In the absence of specific detail about what any given candidate means by ‘protection of pre-existing conditions’ or how he or she might make … Read moreWhat Does It Mean to Support Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions?

In a previous article, I provided some background on the social determinants of health, made the case that most health care organizations, particularly those with low-income or elderly members or patients, would benefit from a well-thought-out social needs strategy, and described some of the general contours of such a strategy.  In this article, I lay … Read moreRoadmap for Health Care Organizations Developing a Social Needs Strategy

The last time I wrote about telehealth, I noted that there remained substantial room for growth.  While that remains the case, telehealth has been rapidly increasing in popularity over the last several years as more technology options have become available, payers increasingly reimburse for it, and state regulations have been modernized.  Increasingly, health care organizations … Read moreKey Considerations for Health Care Provider Telehealth Strategies

On the campaign trail and during his first year and a half in office, Donald Trump railed against high prescription drug costs.  After each of his most public pronouncements along such lines, the stock prices of prescription drug manufacturers would dip as the market assumed that presidential attention to such matters would translate into lower … Read moreThe Vexing Challenge of Prescription Drug Costs in the U.S.

Numerous state and local governments are suing the makers and distributors of prescription opioids seeking to recover damages for alleged improper marketing and distribution of various prescription opioid medications.  In December of 2017, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred 46 of these cases to the Northern District of Ohio for coordinated and consolidated … Read moreEstimating the Cost of the Opioid Epidemic to State and Local Governments

The social determinants of health play a larger role in determining overall health than does clinical care.  Health care organizations, particularly those serving low-income or otherwise vulnerable populations have a significant opportunity to improve the health of their patients and members, and their own bottom lines, by developing and implementing strategies for addressing the social … Read moreDeveloping a Strategy for Addressing the Social Determinants of Health

While the number of deaths annually due to drug overdoses in the United States has been climbing steadily since 2000, over the last several years the rate of increase has accelerated.  The main factor responsible for this rise has been the increasing use and abuse of prescription and non-prescription opioids, which has reached such a … Read moreThe Potential Role of Information Technology in Fighting the Opioid Epidemic: Opportunities and Limitations

The current use of e-health tools and services within the health care industry – including the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) by physician and hospitals, the development of electronic health information exchange (HIE) networks, and the maturation of the telemedicine market – clearly contributed positively to the quality of, and access to health care … Read moreA Tale of Two Storms – Transformation of the e-Health Ecosystem between Katrina and Harvey

As the Obamacare debate continues, Congress will have a choice of whether to maintain the status quo, or to pursue a minimalist legislative fix, comprehensive reform, or something in between.  I propose something in between – a moderate and relatively light package of reforms to the individual health insurance market including some changes that are … Read moreA Modest Proposal… wherein I describe my own recipe for the ‘repeal and replace’ of Obamacare