by Gregg A. Masters, MPH August 1st, 2016 marked the first day that I’ve been covered by health insurance since leaving the W2 workforce in 2000 as Vice President of Payor and Provider Contracting at Wellspan Health Network a ‘Super PHO’ launched by Texas Health Resources, post combination of Presbyterian Healthcare System, Harris Methodist Health Services …
Category Archives: Affordable Care Act
Those Failing CO-OPs: Implications for the ACA and its ACO Workhorse
by Gregg A. Masters, MPH As the battle for the hearts and minds of Americans relative to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues, and the tracking sentiment index waxes and wanes between ‘favorable’ and ‘unfavorable’ one front in particular seems to have a fair degree of utility with the narrative profferred by the ‘repeal and replace‘ crowd. …
Continue reading “Those Failing CO-OPs: Implications for the ACA and its ACO Workhorse”
POTUS: The De Facto Health Wonk-in-Chief of the US?
by Gregg A. Masters, MPH Love him or hate him President Barack Obama continues to demonstrate depth, insight, tenacity and a firm grip on the state of the U.S. Healthcare ecosystem dysfunction (and remedies) well beyond his formal training as a Constitutional scholar. Now as arguably one of the most legislatively accomplished President’s in …
Continue reading “POTUS: The De Facto Health Wonk-in-Chief of the US?”
The 2016 Medicare Trustees Report: One year closer to IPAB cuts?
by Gregg A. Masters, MPH From the relentless drone of ‘where are the jobs, Mr. President?’ to the misguided fear mongering of ‘death panels for Grandma’ administered by un-elected, faceless bureaucrats to the de facto death of American Democracy itself the attacks on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), flawed indeed as it is, is starting to log results, some …
Continue reading “The 2016 Medicare Trustees Report: One year closer to IPAB cuts?”
MACRA, MIPS and APMs: A Report from CAPG
by Gregg A. Masters, MPH So everyone is talking about value based healthcare. No longer is ‘business as usual‘ even an option on the table as the volume driven FFS zeitgeist continues to lose supporters in health policy circles while a growing body of clinical initiatives from ACOs to a range of variably structured and …
Final Medicare Shared Savings Program Rule (CMS-1644-F)
by Gregg A. Masters, MPH Creating consistent high quality original content is hard. At ACO Watch, we’re not in the business of breaking news or high frequency posts to drive eyeballs and traffic to this blog so ‘the numbers’ that might attract advertising or sponsorship (there aren’t any). Instead we (mostly me) watch the developments …
Continue reading “Final Medicare Shared Savings Program Rule (CMS-1644-F)”
Hey, Remember IPAs, PPOs and TPAs?
by Gregg A. Masters, MPH In a last man standing of sorts in what some may call the legacy and aging infrastructure of the ‘vote with your feet‘ PPO industry including it’s allies in the TPA (Third Party Administrator) space, the American Association of Payors, Administrators and Networks (AAPAN) is holding its 2016 Annual Forum …
Must listen JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Webcasts: @Centene
by Gregg A. Masters, MPH NOTE: This is second in a series of ‘Must listen’ webcasts produced at JP Morgan’s 34th Annual Healthcare Conference. The first focused on telehealth sector market leader Teladoc. For background and details on this august gathering, see ‘If It’s January, It’s JP Morgan Healthcare Conference‘. Remaining companies to detail as they represent …
Continue reading “Must listen JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Webcasts: @Centene”
Must listen JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Webcasts: Teladoc
by Gregg A. Masters MPH NOTE: This is one in a series of ‘Must listen’ webcasts produced at JP Morgan’s 34th Annual Healthcare Conference; for background and details, see ‘If It’s January, It’s JP Morgan Healthcare Conference‘. Remaining companies to detail as they represent important ‘bell weather’ insights relative to their respective sectors, include: Aetna, …
Continue reading “Must listen JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Webcasts: Teladoc”
CMS Quality Measure Development Plan: A DRAFT
by Gregg A. Masters, MPH An inspirational leader and ‘disruptive‘ politician taken down well ahead of his time once opined: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country…” John Fitzgerald Kennedy Fast forward some 55+ years and season such an invitation with the relentless drone of 24/7/365 …
Continue reading “CMS Quality Measure Development Plan: A DRAFT”
acowatch.me 