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For the past 25 years business
leaders, CEOs, and CFOs have become increasingly concerned with
the impact of the price of healthcare on their often non-healthcare
related businesses. If the definition of insanity is: Doing the
same thing over and over and expecting a new or different result...
then, we, as a society, have been guilty of healthcare insanity.
We cannot afford the cost of continued insanity. The Rx for this
insanity is to do something different.
This article explains the signs of healthcare -- and health insurance
benefit -- insanity, and presents a new Rx for stopping this insanity.
(2331 words)
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It is that time again, where
you get to choose or reconfirm your choice in medical benefits
if you are one of the lucky ones that has medical benefits where
you work. Employers may offer incentives for the plans they feel
will be most cost effective. In the end, you need to choose what
works best for your philosophy, budget and overall health history.
Some companies will be talking about consumer-driven healthcare.
It sounds like healthcare that consumers really want, right? But
for the most part it is healthcare with high deductibles and lower
premiums. Knowing what it really is and how it will affect you
personally, and if you run a business, professionally is important.
(1516 words)
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It is the best of times,
it is the worst of times. When you look at healthcare trends in
the US, most of us might think that this is the worst of times.
Healthcare costs increases continue to outpace inflation with
no end in sight.
On the other hand, never before has the American public been more
aware of the importance of healthcare and the fragile nature of
employee benefits. (1435 words)
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As Dave Lazarus has written
in the San Francisco Chronicle, a healthcare implosion is in the
works, with GM's union negotiation being one more visible piece
of the implosion.
Pieces of the health care funding are being taken apart, and there
are other significant concerns. This article addresses these issues.
(1161 words)
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America's workplace is aging,
and many experts have suggested this is a problem. With aging
workers, healthcare costs can be significantly higher than for
younger workers.
However, older workers often are a good talent value for their
salary dollar. When you hear benefit consultants lamenting the
cost of older workers' benefits, and suggesting that older workers
are costly, you may choose to think again. In many cases they
are a bargain, in spite of their benefit costs. (1237 words)
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Childhood obesity is making
the papers. The numbers are up. Is it any wonder?
Phys ed classes are unavailable or ineffective in many schools.
Kids spend hours in front of computers, and their neighborhoods
are unsafe.
Here are some strategies for growing strong, healthy, mentally
and emotionally stable kids. (1471 words)
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We live in a youth oriented
culture. In the US we tend to worship youth, not wisdom. Hot trends
in beauty and health reflect this. This article discusses six
current trends in beauty and health, from aging baby boomers to
new technologies and new science. (617 words)
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Realtors, like other self-employed
entrepreneurs, need to pay attention to their own health and benefit
choices. They have the luxury of choosing what fits their needs
best, but need to pay attention, since no one is going to do it
for them.
What would be important considerations for realtors (and other
entrepreneurs)? This article presents a summary, from my upcoming
book on Healthcare and Benefit Choices. (870 words)
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The article "Cover Yourself!"
by Jack Lewin, MD, CEO of the California Medical Association,
and Ronald A Williams, President of Aetna, printed in Aug 19th,
2005 Wall Street Journal Opinion Page advocates that we should
require individuals to purchase health insurance coverage. They
advocate purchase of high deductible plan coverage to cut the
rising cost of health insurance.
The Business-Healthcare Contrarian believes this is not a prescription
for healthcare success. It feels more like the insurance industry
wants to cover its tail, than to create a realistic solution to
health care cost crisis. (1271 words)
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Is your organization experiencing
rising healthcare benefit costs, in spite of HMO promotion and
passing increases in premiums on to employees? Are your employees
complaining about the cost increases, while at the same time fighting
with insurers over claims? Would you be willing to experiment
with a program which would meet your needs for reduced costs AND
meet their needs for comprehensive coverage ... if it meant going
against conventional wisdom?
If you answered "yes" to these questions, then have hope. This
article tells of innovative approaches to cut your costs and keep
your employees happy too! (598 words)
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Every year, we gain new
knowledge about medicine, disease management and women's health.
2005 brought more biotech to market, and more choices for aging
baby boomers. This article discusses the top three advances for
woman's health in 2005. (540 words)
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As traditional health provider
and plan executives think about what is important in a consumer-driven
healthcare system, this article provides some recommendations
for healthcare executives who want to put management excellence
back into their CEOs portfolios. (590 words)
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Healthcare executives whose
management results have been less than stellar need to develop
proactive strategies to address ethical issues brought up by recent
corporate scandals, especially as healthcare consumerism is on
the rise.
While the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is focused on stockholder rights,
the message for healthcare leadership is that management is accountable
to ALL of the stakeholders it serves. Innovative approaches to
cost-effective healthcare is the highest priority mandate for
healthcare executives, and the additional message from Sarbanes-Oxley
is that cost justification alone is not sufficient rationale for
(marginally appropriate) treatment decisions. (907 words)
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What trends will have the
highest impact on financial management of health care in 2003?
Healthcare in the United States is in a chaotic place with most
stakeholders dissatisfied. The major 2003 financial healthcare
trends include rising costs, increased customer/patient dissatisfaction,
an increase in healthcare, and several other factors. (907 words)
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Close to 100,000 people die every
year from drug side effects and interactions. The economic issues
that accompany the drug problem are also costly. If we would prescribe
fewer drugs, then obviously this cost could come down and the side
effects would be less, decreasing the cost of treatment for side
effects further. (3938 words)
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How often do we hear managers
plea for objectivity? Ironically, the exact opposite is what can
set your workforce on fire. It is passion that ignites the energy
in those we seek to influence. Yes we want objectivity and facts.
And then we want passion too. This article talks to the benefit
of integrating passion into your style as an executive or a speaker.
(2059 words)
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Ever feel like your association
boards are a bit like a carousel? For association execs there,
year-in, year-out, the rotation of volunteer boards can be … well,
tedious? Want to assist your new board to hit the ground running
and be more effective than the average board? One thing that can
make a huge difference is facilitated team development and team
building for the board itself.
(1508 words)
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| The following
articles by Nan Andrews Amish appear on other websites. These external
web pages will open in new windows. |
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With Avian Flu in the news, parents,
seniors, healthcare providers are exploring the question of whether
flu shots are appropriate, and if they should be mandated to protect
us all from the risk. (693
words)
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Consumer-driven healthcare. Sounds
great doesn’t it? Knowing what it really is and how it will affect
you personally, and if you run a business, professionally is important.
(998 words)
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