The Numbers Game

Posted on April 25th, 2008 by Sean Khozin, MD, MPH

U.S. annual healthcare spending = $2.3 trillion

$7600 per person
16% of the gross domestic product (GDP)
Annual spending is expected to reach $4.2 trillion in 2016, about 20% of GDP

In 2007, health insurance premiums increased by 6.1%, two times the rate of inflation

Annual premium for an employer health plan covering a family of four ~ $12,100
Annual premium [...]

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Medicare Disadvantage

Posted on April 19th, 2008 by Sean Khozin, MD, MPH

Medicare Advantage refers to private Medicare plans that are run by insurance companies such as Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare. These plans have proven to be very profitable for these companies. For example, they currently account for about 48% of Humana’s annual revenues. Unfortunately, this has translated into higher costs to tax payers and poor coverage [...]

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Schering-Plough Goes for a Dip

Posted on April 8th, 2008 by Sean Khozin, MD, MPH

 

Since the controversy over the ENHANCE trial and the drug Vytorin, Schering-Plough’s stock has taken a hit. On April 2nd, the company announced the launch of their productivity and transformation program to confront their new challenges. “We are taking the tough actions that are needed to respond to a tough situation,” said Fred Hassan, Chairman [...]

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Albert Einstein

Posted on April 2nd, 2008 by Sean Khozin, MD, MPH

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them”
Albert Einstein
We need an innovative paradigm, a disruptive attitude, and a new way of thinking to heal our ailing healthcare system.
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