Pulse


Rebate Madness - Branded Drug Pricing Goes Rogue

Like hospitals that optimize revenues through complex assignment of charges, discounts and subsidies, aligned pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and pharmaceutical companies manipulate retail and net pricing on “branded” drugs to enhance organizational profitability.
 

EconVue Weekly Spotlight

This month the G7 finance meetings were held in Sendai, a city that experienced natural devastation in 2011. At the leaders' summit that followed, President Obama paid a historic visit to Hiroshima, whose destruction was entirely man made.  Both cities have personal significance for me, going back to my exchange student days.   

Everyone Will Lose if the UK Exits the EU — Except Donald Trump and his Soulmate, Vladimir Putin

On June 23rd, Britons will hold a referendum on whether to stay or leave the European Union (EU), and surveys point to close vote. If Britain does exit the EU, or “Brexit,” the fallout could be serious and widespread. In February, G-20 finance ministers warned that Britain’s leaving the EU “could threaten global economic recovery.”

Healthcare’s Dysfunctional Pricing: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

The Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) released its annual report of healthcare prices last month. To no-one’s surprise, HCCI found huge variation in commercial prices for 240 common medical services across 41 states. Here’s an excerpt from HCCI’s press release:
 
In New Hampshire and Wisconsin, over 20 percent of health care services are twice the national average price. While in Arizona, Florida, Maryland and Tennessee, over 90 percent of health care services are priced lower than the national average.
 

The G7 Meeting in Sendai: Mr Aso’s PEF Project

The sun has finally appeared, and the TV trucks are rolling out of this ancient hot springs town on the outskirts of Sendai, Japan. This was the location over the weekend of the G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers which, although civil, has ended with a lack of consensus.

EconVue Weekly Spotlight

Stories in our Spotlight This Week  

A Thank You Letter

If you haven't heard, I'm moving into a passive role at Technori after six years and a wonderful person, Scott Kitun, is taking my place as the CEO and the face of Technori. You can read about it in the Chicago Tribune or Chicago Inno. You can reach Scott at kitun@technori.com.
 

Rethinking Cyber-Security: A New Paradigm for Democratizing Data Exchange

Liberated data connects people, informs decision-making, stimulates innovation, streamlines production, creates wealth and advances humanity.  The upward trajectory of human accomplishment arises from ever-more sophisticated data exchange supporting ever-more complex win-win partnerships. 

Asset-Light and Ready: Physician Groups Embrace Accountable Care

This is a report I wrote with Carsten Beith.

Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky gave the business world its most over-used strategic metaphor, “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.”  In healthcare, companies are chasing dozens of “strategic pucks” to position for post-reform success. Gretzky would surely disapprove. There's only one golden puck, and it's called value: delivering better healthcare at lower prices with greater convenience. 

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