tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post6516699846517535349..comments2024-03-26T00:25:34.026-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: Does market power help patients?Paul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-44066346751497288102010-04-30T17:03:01.223-04:002010-04-30T17:03:01.223-04:00Can someone explain the analogous process for an i...Can someone explain the analogous process for an insurer with a dominant market share? Do they have to demonstrate that it helps patients? Or are they simply exempted from antitrust measures and allowed to set payment rates at whatever they want?<br /><br />Logically if providers aren't allowed to leverage their market share then insurers shouldn't be either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-22792783213783663022010-04-29T23:06:07.284-04:002010-04-29T23:06:07.284-04:00There is a disconnect between any measure of quali...There is a disconnect between any measure of quality and what charges healthcare systems are able to leverage. A hospitals location and reputation, whether it is deserved or not, determine its negotiating clout with commercial insurers. This hopefully will change under the new health care legislation which attempts to create accountable health care organizations who ultimately will be compensated on quality measures rather the number of procedures performed.Keithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-85919141226996021982010-04-29T12:58:05.754-04:002010-04-29T12:58:05.754-04:00OK, I'm "in"
-no
-no
-no
-no
-yes
-y...OK, I'm "in"<br />-no<br />-no<br />-no<br />-no<br />-yes<br />-yes<br />-no<br /><br />?how many did I get right?76 Degrees in San Diegohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14358630186174729315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-14210806244622747092010-04-29T11:48:01.885-04:002010-04-29T11:48:01.885-04:00I am not sure the court will look into outcomes.
...I am not sure the court will look into outcomes. <br /><br />This is pure antitrust. Does the Partners market power in any way prevent other healthcare delivery organizations to "compete fairly" They will have to find a statistically significant smoking gun. After a few/tens of millions of dollars spent on statisticians, actuaries and economist I would bet YES. <br /><br />I also wonder when corporate email trails will be requested.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-3770733667360122932010-04-29T10:47:25.982-04:002010-04-29T10:47:25.982-04:00You are exactly right. Boston hospital people oft...You are exactly right. Boston hospital people often have a self-satisfied belief that they provide the best health care in the world. In fact, I have heard those exact words from high-ranking people in this city. As you recognize, there is no basis for that belief -- especially if people have been reluctant to publicly measure and post their organizations' performance.<br /><br />At BIDMC, we have taken some early steps to improve our own performance and are quite transparent about progress, (e.g., with regard to eliminating harm to patients -- check www.bidmc.org), but we recognize how far we have to go. We relish the opportunity to learn from others how to do this better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-3588777742760784152010-04-29T09:28:13.844-04:002010-04-29T09:28:13.844-04:00So what exactly is "the market"? I'...So what exactly is "the market"? I'd venture to say that, based on CMS data, the outcomes in my organization in the midwest are better than they are in any of the Boston hospitals...but you get paid better. So are you ready to level this playing field across the country (we all compete for the same talent..)? Be careful what you wish for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-22670866383993402112010-04-29T07:11:47.474-04:002010-04-29T07:11:47.474-04:00These hospitals in power always trot out the same ...These hospitals in power always trot out the same arguments: there's the "our patients are sicker" argument, now the "market power produces clinical integration which is good" argument,and then there is this argument from the dominant provider in my area:<br /><br />"Inova, however, rejects the competitive model. Knox Singleton, its chief executive, has told me that competition in health care is badly overrated, that it leads to costly excess capacity and ruinous price competition that saps hospitals of the money they need to offer quality service and provide care to the uninsured." <br />See link for how Knox envisioned his hospital system should rule the area.<br />http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/29/AR2009012904086.html<br /><br />It begins to remind one of the excuses we hear from our kids.<br /><br />I agree: let the quality data speak. After all, this is the era of evidence-based medicine. And really - what other rational measurement is there?<br /><br />nonlocal MDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com