MBGH's new website is now live at http://www.memphisbusinessgroup.org/home.
As of July 14, 2010, our Blog is fully integrated into our new website, so all new posts are on the website. You can continue to visit our old Blog on this blogspot for posts prior to July 13, 2010.
We look forward to having you visit our new site. Let us know what you think!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
MBGH Update: Methodist Healthcare Quality Report Cards Now On-line
Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) applauds Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (Methodist) for making their quality of care report card public on their websites. Specifically, MBGH is pleased with this initiative for the following reasons:
• MBGH has been working with Memphis-area hospitals since 1997 to improve transparency. As advocates for our member employers, we’ve consistently pressured hospitals to measure and publicly report their performance and to use this information to improve the quality of care they provide.
• MBGH has been asking Methodist to report quality information separately for their adult hospitals since 2002. In response to our request for Methodist to participate in our Leapfrog initiative, they have responded to The Leapfrog Group Annual Hospital Survey separately for each adult hospital. Until now, other publicly available quality reports have only been at the system level, essentially reporting average performance across the system. System-level reporting has not been useful to employers as they try to educate their employees about selecting hospitals that provide higher quality care. In this new initiative, Methodist is reporting quality information by facility which is a significant advancement.
• MBGH has asked Memphis-area hospitals to report their performance on a regular basis, which allows employer purchasers and employees to track performance over time, including whether hospitals improve performance or if there is lack of improvement. Methodist has committed to reporting this information regardless of whether it shows they are providing quality care or if they need to improve, thereby providing the good news and the not-so-good news.
This initiative is an excellent first step in increasing transparency with area employer purchasers and employees/potential patients. MBGH asks that all Memphis-area hospitals look to this as a local transparency standard they should try to meet and exceed.
As this initiative takes root, MBGH asks all Memphis-area hospitals, including Methodist, to add additional critical information to their online information. Information on outcomes, such as survival rates/mortality rates; structure measures such as staffing in ICUs and computerized physician order entry; and hospital acquired conditions, such as falls, pressure ulcers, and infections is already available and would not require significant work to add to the reports.
Gary Shorb, President and CEO of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, emphasizes their commitment to working with MBGH and purchaser employers to provide additional information that is useful to employers and their employees. MBGH is meeting with Gary and senior Methodist staff to work out the specifics and timeline. We will keep you up-to-date as details are finalized.
We welcome the opportunity to work with other Memphis-area hospitals, as well, as they develop their transparency strategies.
In the meantime, we encourage you to access and use the Methodist Healthcare information by clicking below:
Methodist Healthcare Adult Quality
Le Bohneur Children’s Hospital Quality
• MBGH has been working with Memphis-area hospitals since 1997 to improve transparency. As advocates for our member employers, we’ve consistently pressured hospitals to measure and publicly report their performance and to use this information to improve the quality of care they provide.
• MBGH has been asking Methodist to report quality information separately for their adult hospitals since 2002. In response to our request for Methodist to participate in our Leapfrog initiative, they have responded to The Leapfrog Group Annual Hospital Survey separately for each adult hospital. Until now, other publicly available quality reports have only been at the system level, essentially reporting average performance across the system. System-level reporting has not been useful to employers as they try to educate their employees about selecting hospitals that provide higher quality care. In this new initiative, Methodist is reporting quality information by facility which is a significant advancement.
• MBGH has asked Memphis-area hospitals to report their performance on a regular basis, which allows employer purchasers and employees to track performance over time, including whether hospitals improve performance or if there is lack of improvement. Methodist has committed to reporting this information regardless of whether it shows they are providing quality care or if they need to improve, thereby providing the good news and the not-so-good news.
This initiative is an excellent first step in increasing transparency with area employer purchasers and employees/potential patients. MBGH asks that all Memphis-area hospitals look to this as a local transparency standard they should try to meet and exceed.
As this initiative takes root, MBGH asks all Memphis-area hospitals, including Methodist, to add additional critical information to their online information. Information on outcomes, such as survival rates/mortality rates; structure measures such as staffing in ICUs and computerized physician order entry; and hospital acquired conditions, such as falls, pressure ulcers, and infections is already available and would not require significant work to add to the reports.
Gary Shorb, President and CEO of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, emphasizes their commitment to working with MBGH and purchaser employers to provide additional information that is useful to employers and their employees. MBGH is meeting with Gary and senior Methodist staff to work out the specifics and timeline. We will keep you up-to-date as details are finalized.
We welcome the opportunity to work with other Memphis-area hospitals, as well, as they develop their transparency strategies.
In the meantime, we encourage you to access and use the Methodist Healthcare information by clicking below:
Methodist Healthcare Adult Quality
Le Bohneur Children’s Hospital Quality
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
DOL FAQ on Mental Health Parity Offers Guidance for Grandfathered Plans
Click here to read Buck Consultants' summary of how recently released DOL FAQ (click here to read) on mental health parity impacts grandfathered status under health reform.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
J.D. Power 2010 Employer Health Insurance Plan Study Shows Low Satisfaction Rates
According to J.D. Power, there are overall low employer satisfaction rates (61%) with health plans. Service outranks cost & benefits as satisfaction driver. Employee plan servicing ranked #1, with account servicing and product offering/design ranking 2nd & 3rd. Go to http://bit.ly/blTq3t for the press release re: major study findings.
The LA Times reports that health plans are ramping up customer service to compete post-health reform. Guess the JD Power employer survey was right! http://bit.ly/9N82ix
.
The LA Times reports that health plans are ramping up customer service to compete post-health reform. Guess the JD Power employer survey was right! http://bit.ly/9N82ix
.
MBGH Participating in TN's All Claims Database Development
MBGH is a member of the Tennessee Health Information Committee which oversees the development of TN's all claims database in terms of information that is collected and information that is publicly reported.
Click here to read a report which summarizes why states are creating these all claims databases. Examples of how information from these databases can be used include:
Click here to read a report which summarizes why states are creating these all claims databases. Examples of how information from these databases can be used include:
- Employers can begin to understand the variation in cost and utilization by geographic area within a state;
- The value equation (cost & quality) of new health care services can be assessed;
- The design and implementation of health reforms can be informed by data and data can be tracked to determine impact;
- Compare prevalence of disease across populations;
- Determine payer competitiveness;
- Report on the cost and quality of individual providers.
PWC Report Forecasts 2011 Employer Health Benefit Trends
PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute surveyed 700 U.S.-based companies, small through jumbo sized, to gauge their perspectives on health care costs and benefits program priorities for 2011. Interviews were conducted in the first quarter of 2010. Click here for a copy of the report.
Major findings include:
Major findings include:
- Medical costs are projected to increase 9% in 2011.
- More employers will move away from co-payments & toward co-insurance at the point of care.
- Hospitals, getting less from Medicare, will cost-shift to employers/commercial to make it up.
- Providers will merge and consolidate, creating greater leverage in negotiations with health plans.
- Employers plan to add more worksite wellness & health promotion programs.
MBGH Worksite Wellness Project with Health Department Gets National Recognition
Click here to see the article on this project in the Memphis Business Journal.
The Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) received one of seven national Community Health Partnerships (CHP) Population Health Seed Grants. The $12,911 grant was awarded by the National Business Coalition on Health through the Community Coalitions Health Institute (CCHI).
The grant will fund a joint program between the Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) and the Memphis Shelby County Health Department (MSCHD) to study the effectiveness of the Move More, Eat Better…It All Works Together Fitness Challenge in the workplace.
The MSCHD has been offering the Move More, Eat Better…It All Works Together Fitness Challenge through churches and community centers. The program is funded by the State of Tennessee Department of Health. Despite the fact that the program is free to employers, The MSCHD has had a difficult time getting employers to offer it at worksites.
Memphis Business Group on Health is a coalition of member employers sharing solutions and providing tools to manage the cost and quality of health benefits. As part of the grant, MBGH has secured participation of four member employers, including the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority and Merck. The employers will enroll approximately 120 employees in the challenge, which lasts six weeks.
Health department staff will record the employee’s blood pressure, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) at the beginning of the challenge and compare it to the employee’s final numbers six weeks later. During that period, MSCHD staff will provide weekly educational programs to employees on topics such as nutrition and exercise.
Incentives for participants include pedometers, waist circumference tape measure, hand sanitizer, jar grips, pens, notepads. The grand prize, a George Foreman grill, is awarded to the participant making the most significant progress toward better health.
The Memphis Business Group on Health will track the initiative from an employer’s perspective, measuring employee engagement, realized benefits, and employer satisfaction. As part of the grant, MBGH will recommend how the program may be modified to make it more successful in the workplace in the future. Results will be published in a white paper and made available to employers and other communities.
“In Memphis, employers have historically perceived the Health Department as an organization that helps the uninsured and the under-insured and not employers,” said Cristie Upshaw Travis, Chief Executive Officer of The Memphis Business Group on Health. “The department is an underutilized resource that we can tap to help deliver better value to our member organizations. For example, we worked with the MSCHD to help our employers implement H1N1 Flu shot programs.”
The Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) received one of seven national Community Health Partnerships (CHP) Population Health Seed Grants. The $12,911 grant was awarded by the National Business Coalition on Health through the Community Coalitions Health Institute (CCHI).
The grant will fund a joint program between the Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) and the Memphis Shelby County Health Department (MSCHD) to study the effectiveness of the Move More, Eat Better…It All Works Together Fitness Challenge in the workplace.
The MSCHD has been offering the Move More, Eat Better…It All Works Together Fitness Challenge through churches and community centers. The program is funded by the State of Tennessee Department of Health. Despite the fact that the program is free to employers, The MSCHD has had a difficult time getting employers to offer it at worksites.
Memphis Business Group on Health is a coalition of member employers sharing solutions and providing tools to manage the cost and quality of health benefits. As part of the grant, MBGH has secured participation of four member employers, including the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority and Merck. The employers will enroll approximately 120 employees in the challenge, which lasts six weeks.
Health department staff will record the employee’s blood pressure, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) at the beginning of the challenge and compare it to the employee’s final numbers six weeks later. During that period, MSCHD staff will provide weekly educational programs to employees on topics such as nutrition and exercise.
Incentives for participants include pedometers, waist circumference tape measure, hand sanitizer, jar grips, pens, notepads. The grand prize, a George Foreman grill, is awarded to the participant making the most significant progress toward better health.
The Memphis Business Group on Health will track the initiative from an employer’s perspective, measuring employee engagement, realized benefits, and employer satisfaction. As part of the grant, MBGH will recommend how the program may be modified to make it more successful in the workplace in the future. Results will be published in a white paper and made available to employers and other communities.
“In Memphis, employers have historically perceived the Health Department as an organization that helps the uninsured and the under-insured and not employers,” said Cristie Upshaw Travis, Chief Executive Officer of The Memphis Business Group on Health. “The department is an underutilized resource that we can tap to help deliver better value to our member organizations. For example, we worked with the MSCHD to help our employers implement H1N1 Flu shot programs.”
Health Reform Resources Added in June
Quite a bit of activity in June related to health reform. You can click the following links to access the latest information. Don't forget to click here to go to MBGH's Health Reform Resource Center for the 30+ postings on health reform information important for employers.
Click here to read Health Reform GPS's summary of Health Insurance Reforms & Grandfathered Plans (6/26/10)
Click here to read the HHS press release on regulations for grandfathered plans (6/14/10).
Click here to read the HHS Q&A on the regulations for grandfathered plans (6/14/10)
Click here to read National Business Coalition on Health's Action Alert on the release of the official application & application instructions for the early retiree reninsurance program (6/29/10)
Click here to read Milliman's assessment of the impact of health reform on Large Employers (6/11/10)
Click here to read FAQ's about health reform from Buck Consultants (6/21/10)
Click here to read Health Reform GPS's summary of Health Insurance Reforms & Grandfathered Plans (6/26/10)
Click here to read the HHS press release on regulations for grandfathered plans (6/14/10).
Click here to read the HHS Q&A on the regulations for grandfathered plans (6/14/10)
Click here to read National Business Coalition on Health's Action Alert on the release of the official application & application instructions for the early retiree reninsurance program (6/29/10)
Click here to read Milliman's assessment of the impact of health reform on Large Employers (6/11/10)
Click here to read FAQ's about health reform from Buck Consultants (6/21/10)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Memphis Medical News Reports on MBGH Leapfrog Rewards
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Why Do Employees Not Take Their Meds?
Interestingly, cost is the not the only reason. Seems convenience is too. This article suggests physician offices should dispense prescription drugs. Evidence also shows that worksite clinics that dispense drugs save employees and employers dollars and increase adherence.
Click here to read the blog post on this issue.
Click here to read the blog post on this issue.
Memphis Hospitals Continue to be Challenged by Infections
Click here to read the latest article on hospital infection rates in Memphis.
MBGH has been working through The Leapfrog Group and other ways to push hospitals to reduce hospital infections, which cost both dollars and lives.
Click here to see Leapfrog Hospital Survey results for Memphis hospitals which include infectionr rates in ICUs. Share this important information with your employees so they can select hospitals that provide a higher level of quality, safe care.
MBGH has been working through The Leapfrog Group and other ways to push hospitals to reduce hospital infections, which cost both dollars and lives.
Click here to see Leapfrog Hospital Survey results for Memphis hospitals which include infectionr rates in ICUs. Share this important information with your employees so they can select hospitals that provide a higher level of quality, safe care.
Work-Site Clinics Beginning to Show Up in Memphis
MBGH suggests that as work-site clinics expand their focus from helping employees with acute episodes (such as sinus infections, colds, etc) to providing on-going care for those with chronic conditions, the value of work-site clinics will increase for employers.
Click here to read the article describing how work-site clinics, though slow to catch on in Memphis, are beginning to pop up over town.
Click here to read the article describing how work-site clinics, though slow to catch on in Memphis, are beginning to pop up over town.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Implementing Mental Health Parity
Issues covered include:
Deductibles and out of pocket limits
Coordination with EAP services
Separate coverages or benefit packages
How to deal with providers, specialists, primary care
Quantitative vs. non-quantitative benefits (very controversial)
Compliance
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
More Updates on MBGH's Health Reform Resource Center
- Employer uptake on early retiree reinsurance program
- How employers are handling expanding coverage to <27 year olds
- Guidance on Extension of Children's Health Coverage to Age 26
- New resource on health reform provisions that apply to grandfathered plans
- How employers are reacting to Health Reform
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Mercer Reports on How Large Employers Are Reacting to Health Reform
Click here to read results from Mercer's survey of 800 large employers which shows that:
■Early estimates of cost impact range from moderate to severe, with 30% of employers surveyed still in the dark
■Even so, the excise tax on high-cost plans – which doesn’t kick in until 2018 – tops employers’ list of concerns
■Retailers concerned about cost of expanding coverage to more part-timers
■Employers considering several options for offsetting cost of covering adult children
Most large employers are waiting unitl their new plan years to implement coverage for <27 year olds. Click here to read an NPR article on this aspect of the survey results.
■Early estimates of cost impact range from moderate to severe, with 30% of employers surveyed still in the dark
■Even so, the excise tax on high-cost plans – which doesn’t kick in until 2018 – tops employers’ list of concerns
■Retailers concerned about cost of expanding coverage to more part-timers
■Employers considering several options for offsetting cost of covering adult children
Most large employers are waiting unitl their new plan years to implement coverage for <27 year olds. Click here to read an NPR article on this aspect of the survey results.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Pushing for Market-Level Health Plan Performance Reporting
But I am struck by the fact that although reporting at the plan or vendor level often works for individual employers, those of us involved in community-level change need this valuable information cut in a different way. For example, health plans in TN report their HEDIS measures at a statewide level. Works for employers that have employees across the state, but does not work for those of us wondering how plans are peforming in Memphis specifically. Another example is the wealth of information that will become available through NCQA's relative resource use reports, which, once again, look at the plan's performance across the entire state.
It is great to know how health plans perform, in general across TN, but it would be even more powerful and actionable to know how they perform in each market in TN. That would tell us more about our own providers and their performance and help identify what we need to improve locally and may even give us hints about how to improve it. Because of contracting methods here in Memphis, where plans contract either with Baptist or Methodist, but generally not with both, we could even begin to understand if there are any real differences in the quality and resource use between our two major hospital systems and their affiliated physicians.
Understanding whether these differences exist between Baptist & Methodist is critical to local employers, and their employees, in knowing where to go for safe, high quality, efficient care.
NCQA is pushing itself to be relevant, vital, and address the current issues that are even more important due to health reform. The next challenge will be how to make this information relevant and usable by communities as well as individual employers. I hope I can bring this perspective to NCQA as I continue to serve on their Purchaser Advisory Council.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
More Resources on Grandfathered Plans & Early Retiree Reinsurance Now on MBGH Health Reform Resource Center
Great resources from national experts now uploaded on MBGH's Health Reform Resource Center on our temporary website. Click here to access the following:
Proskauer's presentation on Grandfathered Plans & Exception for Collectively Bargained Agreements (4/29/10)
Groom Law Group chart identifying sections effective for Grandfathered Plans (4/2/10)
Groom Law Group Memo on Interim Final Regulationson Retiree Reinsurance Program (5/6/10)
Buck Consultant's summary of HHS Interim Final Regulations on Retiree Reinsurance Program (5/6/10)
Paul Hasting's "Early Retiree" Retiree Health Insurance Initial Observations & First Guidance (5/4/10)
Proskauer's presentation on Grandfathered Plans & Exception for Collectively Bargained Agreements (4/29/10)
Groom Law Group chart identifying sections effective for Grandfathered Plans (4/2/10)
Groom Law Group Memo on Interim Final Regulationson Retiree Reinsurance Program (5/6/10)
Buck Consultant's summary of HHS Interim Final Regulations on Retiree Reinsurance Program (5/6/10)
Paul Hasting's "Early Retiree" Retiree Health Insurance Initial Observations & First Guidance (5/4/10)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Check Out New Postings on MBGH's Health Reform Resource Center
- IRS guidance on tax-free employer-provided heatlh insurance for children under 27
- HHS Releases Regulations on Early Retiree Reinsurance Program from Buck Consultants
- How Will Reform Affect Large Employers? from Jenny Ivy at Benefits Selling
- Employee Benefit News is Establishing Health Reform Study Groups
Friday, April 30, 2010
MBGH Recognizes 5 Memphis-area Hospitals for "Best Odds of Survival"
Click here to read about MBGH's Leapfrog awards to 5 Memphis-area hospitals that have "best odds of survival" in the Memphis Daily News.
Click here to read the press release which talks about other Memphis-area findings from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, including how Memphis hospitals compare to hospitals nationally on COST of care.
Click here to read the press release which talks about other Memphis-area findings from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, including how Memphis hospitals compare to hospitals nationally on COST of care.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Memphis Employers Using Incentives & Data to Control Health Benefit Costs
Check out MBGH's comments on how Memphis-area employers are controlling health benefit costs through employee incentives and providing data to make informed choices. Click here to read the Memphis Business Journal article.
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