[The future of affiliated physicians]. / Die Zukunft des Belegarztwesens.

The affiliated physician is one of the oldest types of self-employed physicians who work between outpatients and inpatient sectors. The number of physicians affiliated with hospitals in Germany has been decreasing steadily in recent decades. The reasons for this decline are diverse and include political and financial problems that need to be resolved. The new political changes aimed at the expansion of out-patient services in the sense of the AOP Catalog 115 b SGB V can be a new opportunity for affiliated physicians and the departments that they are affiliated with.

Gestión de riesgo para la prevención primaria de tuberculosis en una entidad administradora de planes de beneficios en salud en Colombia / Risk management for the primary prevention of tuberculosis in an entity that administers health benefit plans in Colombia

RESUMEN Objetivo Diseñar y validar un modelo para la gestión del riesgo en salud, orientado a disminuir la incidencia de la tuberculosis en la población afiliada a las empresas administradoras de planes de beneficios colombianas (EAPB) desde la perspectiva de prevención primaria de la enfermedad. Métodos A partir de una reflexión inductiva, se diseñó un modelo de atención en tuberculosis orientado a coordinar acciones de gestión integral de riesgo en salud en el contexto de un modelo de aseguramiento fundamentado en la atención primaria en salud (APS). Se realizó una validación facial y de contenido del modelo con expertos temáticos en el programa de control de la tuberculosis de algunas EAPB y otros sectores. Resultados Se identificaron aspectos eje, fortalezas y oportunidades de mejora que se utilizaron como elementos centrales para el modelo, el cual se orienta a prevenir el desarrollo de la enfermedad, al tiempo que continúa promoviendo el seguimiento a los tratamientos y los procesos de rehabilitación. La revisión de expertos permitió validar y enriquecer el diseño planteado. Discusión La gestión del riesgo en salud es una responsabilidad asignada dentro del sistema de salud colombiano a las EAPB. El diseño del presente modelo aporta para que la gestión del riesgo se realice de manera organizada, definida y estandarizada, a fin de obtener mejores resultados en la prevención de la tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT Objective To design and valídate a model for health risk management, aimed at reducing the incidence of tuberculosis in the population affiliated with the Colombian Benefit Plan Administraron Companies (EAPB) from the perspective of primary prevention of the disease. Methods From an inductive reflection, a tuberculosis care model was designed aimed at coordinating comprehensive health risk management actions in the context of an assurance model based on primary care (PHC). A facial and content validation of the model was carried out with thematic experts in the tuberculosis control program of some EAPB and other sectors. Results Core aspects, strengths and opportunities for improvement were identified that were used as central elements for the model, which is aimed at preventing the development of the disease, while continuing to promote the follow-up of treatments and rehabilitation processes. The expert review allowed to validate and enrich the proposed design. Discussion Health risk management is a responsibility assigned within the Colombian health system to the EAPB. The design of this model contributes so that risk management is carried out in an organized, defined and standardized manner; seeking to obtain better results in the prevention of tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis among Health Workers-A Secondary Data Analysis of German Social Accident Insurance Data from 2002-2017.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common cause of fatal infections worldwide. Recent TB figures in Europe indicate that 30 people were infected with tuberculosis each hour in 2017. Healthcare workers are at particular risk of being infected through patient contact. TB is the second most common occupational infectious disease among German healthcare workers. Routine data from the German Social Accident Insurance were used to examine trends in occupational TB diseases. We analyzed annual cross-sectional data for the years 2002 to 2017. The data underwent descriptive analysis. A total of 4653 TB cases were recognized as occupational diseases (OD) in the period under study. In 2002, 60 TB cases were recognized as OD No. 3101, i.e., transmissions from person to person. Since 2013, the level has settled at around 500 recognized cases per year. This is around eight times the number of cases compared to 2002. The following three groups collectively accounted for the largest share of TB cases (88.5%): nurses (including geriatric nurses), other healthcare employees, and physicians. The upward trend in the number of TB cases recognized as occupational diseases is probably due to improvements in diagnostic tests used to diagnose TB infections. TB in health and welfare workers remains an important issue in the health and welfare sector in Germany, partly due to the long latency period between potential exposure to infectious patients or materials and the recognition of the latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) or active TB as OD.

Secular Trends in the Cost of Immunosuppressants after Solid Organ Transplantation in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Immunosuppressive medications are critical for maintenance of graft function in transplant recipients but can represent a substantial financial burden to patients and their insurance carriers. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: To determine whether availability of generic immunosuppressive medications starting in 2009 may have alleviated some of that burden, we used Medicare Part D prescription drug events between 2008 and 2013 to estimate the average annualized per-patient payments made by patients and Medicare in a large national sample of kidney, liver, and heart transplant recipients. Repeated measures linear regression was used to determine changes in payments over the study period. RESULTS: Medicare Part D payments for two commonly used immunosuppressive medications, tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid (including mycophenolate mofetil and mycophenolate sodium), decreased overall by 48%-67% across organs and drugs from 2008 to 2013, reflecting decreasing payments for brand and generic tacrolimus (21%-54%), and generic mycophenolate (72%-74%). Low-income subsidy payments, which are additional payments made under Medicare Part D, also decreased during the study period. Out-of-pocket payments by patients who did not receive the low-income subsidy decreased by more than those who did receive the low-income subsidy (63%-79% versus 24%-44%). CONCLUSIONS: The decline in payments by Medicare Part D and by transplant recipients for tacrolimus and mycophenolate between 2008 and 2013 suggests that the introduction of generic immunosuppressants during this period has resulted in substantial cost savings to Medicare and to patients, largely reflecting the transition from brand to generic products.

PBMs: Maligned as Middlemen, They're Hearing Wedding Bells.

The PBM industry is under fire these days for what critics call its lack of transparency and its knotty contract language, secretive pricing schemes, and an inscrutable assortment of rebates, discounts, side deals, and administrative fees. Some see partnerships with insurers and retailers as a possible solution. Opponents see a risk of even higher drug prices.

Insurers on a Shopping Spree For All Sorts of Providers.

UnitedHealth Group, Humana, Centene, and Anthem have announced billions of dollars of deals to acquire primary care practices, hospice providers, and home health care companies. The insurers' foray into provider territory comes as the traditional contours of American health care are in flux.

A Financial Analysis of New York City Start-up Health Plans and Reasons for Their Losses.

PURPOSE: Using New York City as an example, this research explores reasons for the consistently poor financial performance of three start-up health plans (Health Republic, CareConnect, and Oscar) while other health plans have performed relatively well in the same market. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study compiles insurer data from financial years 2014 through 2016, submitted to the New York State Department of Financial Services as part of the rate-review process, including premium revenue, claims cost, risk adjustment, administrative costs, net income, and premium. The financial data were used to create a novel metric, adjusted net income, that evaluates the financial performance of an insurer excluding risk adjustment and assuming a market average administrative cost. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the performance of start-up plans, commercial plans, and Medicaid plans in the ACA exchange market. RESULTS: Premiums for start-up plans were within 9% of median silver premiums yet adjusted net income was negative (-$190 PMPM) for all three start-ups while it is positive (+$27 PMPM) for the non-start-ups. The difference in adjusted net incomes shows that poor financial performance of start-ups was due to claims costs, not high administrative costs and poor performance in risk adjustment. CONCLUSION: The consistent financial losses by New York City start-ups is driven by higher-cost provider contracts for the start-ups relative to competitors.

Strengthening Multipayer Collaboration: Lessons From the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative.

Policy Points: Collaboration across payers to align financial incentives, quality measurement, and data feedback to support practice transformation is critical, but challenging due to competitive market dynamics and competing institutional priorities. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or other entities convening multipayer initiatives can build trust with other participants by clearly outlining each participant's role and the parameters of collaboration at the outset of the initiative. Multipayer collaboration can be improved if participating payers employ neutral, proactive meeting facilitators; develop formal decision-making processes; seek input on decisions from practice representatives; and champion the initiative within their organizations. CONTEXT: With increasing frequency, public and private payers are joining forces to align goals and resources for primary care transformation. However, sustaining engagement and achieving coordination among payers can be challenging. The Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative is one of the largest multipayer initiatives ever tested. Drawing on the experience of the CPC initiative, this paper examines the factors that influence the effectiveness of multipayer collaboration. METHODS: This paper draws largely on semistructured interviews with CPC-participating payers and payer conveners that facilitated CPC discussions and on observation of payer meetings. We coded and analyzed these qualitative data to describe collaborative dynamics and outcomes and assess the factors influencing them. FINDINGS: We found that several factors appeared to increase the likelihood of successful payer collaboration: contracting with effective, neutral payer conveners; leveraging the support of payer champions, and seeking input on decisions from practice representatives. The presence of these factors helped some CPC regions overcome significant initial barriers to achieve common goals. We also found that leadership from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was key to achieving broad payer engagement in CPC, but CMS's dual role as initiative convener and participating payer at times made collaboration challenging. CMS was able to build trust with other payers by clarifying which parts of CPC could be adapted to regional contexts, deferring to other payers for these decisions, and increasing opportunities for payers to meet with CMS representatives. CONCLUSIONS: CPC demonstrates that when certain facilitating factors are present, payers can overcome competitive market dynamics and competing institutional priorities to align financial incentives, quality measurement, and data feedback to support practice transformation. Lessons from this large-scale, multipayer initiative may be helpful for other multipayer efforts getting under way.

La crisis del sistema de salud colombiano: una aproximación desde la legitimidad y la regulación / The Crisis of the Colombian Health System: An Approach from Legitimacy and Regulation / A crise do sistema de saúde colombiano: aproximação desde a legitimidade e a regulamentação

Resumen El objetivo fue determinar cuáles son las percepciones de distintos actores del sistema de salud colombiano sobre los problemas del sistema que están detrás de la crisis. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo a partir de entrevistas semiestructuradas y en profundidad con cuarenta agentes del sector salud, en Bogotá, Cali, Ibagué, Espinal y Calima-Darién. Los resultados mostraron que la corrupción, el incumplimiento de normas y los conflictos entre los intereses de diversos actores del sistema debilitan la legitimidad de este último, atomizan la cooperación y cohesión de los actores y fortalecen el interés particular. La polución normativa, la inconsistencia temporal de las normas y la información incompleta generan incertidumbre, confusión y desintegración en el interior del sistema, con lo cual contribuyen al desenvolvimiento de una crisis regulatoria con respecto a la cual se hace urgente recuperar espacios de toma de decisiones colectivas y concertadas que promuevan el diálogo y la superación de los intereses rentistas individualistas.

Abstract The objective was to determine the perceptions of different actors of the Colombian health system regarding the problems of the system behind the crisis. A qualitative study was carried out on the basis of semi-structured and in-depth interviews with forty health sector agents in Bogotá, Cali, Ibagué, Espinal, and Calima-Darién. The results showed that corruption, breach of regulations, and conflicts of interests between various actors in the system weaken the legitimacy of the system, shatter the cooperation and cohesion of the actors, and strengthen private interests. Regulatory pollution, a temporary inconsistency of regulations, and incomplete information generate uncertainty, confusion, and disintegration within the system. This, in turn, contributes to the development of a regulatory crisis regarding which it is urgent to recover collective and concerted decision-making spaces to promote dialogue and the overcoming of rentier individualistic interests.

Resumo O objetivo foi determinar quais as percepções de diferentes atores do sistema de saúde colombiano sobre os problemas do sistema por trás da crise. Estudo qualitativo a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas e em profundidade a quarenta agentes do setor saúde, em Bogotá, Cali, Ibagué, Espinal e Calima-Darién foi realizado. Os resultados mostraram que a corrupção, o descumpri- mento de regras e os conflitos entre os interesses de diversos atores do sistema enfraquecem a legitimidade deste último, atomizam a cooperação e coesão dos atores e fortalecem o interesse particular. A poluição normativa, a inconsistência temporal das regras e a informação incompleta criam incerteza, confusão e desintegração no interior do sistema, com o qual contribuem para o desenvolvimento de uma crise regulatória com respeito à qual resulta urgente recuperar espaços de tomada de decisões coletivas e concertadas a promover o diálogo e a superação dos interesses rentistas individualistas.

Episode-Based Payment and Direct Employer Purchasing of Healthcare Services: Recent Bundled Payment Innovations and the Geisinger Health System Experience.

One significant driver of the disjointed healthcare often observed in the United States is the traditional fee-for-service payment model which financially incentivizes the volume of care delivered over the quality and coordination of care. This problem is compounded by the wide, often unwarranted variation in healthcare charges that purchasers of health services encounter for substantially similar episodes of care. The last 10 years have seen many stakeholder organizations begin to experiment with novel financial payment models that strive to obviate many of the challenges inherent in customary quantity-based cost paradigms. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has allowed many care delivery systems to partner with Medicare in episode-based payment programs such as the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative, and in patient-based models such as the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Several employer purchasers of healthcare services are experimenting with innovative payment models to include episode-based bundled rate destination centers of excellence programs and the direct purchasing of accountable care organization services. The Geisinger Health System has over 10 years of experience with episode-based payment bundling coupled with the care delivery reengineering which is integral to its ProvenCare® program. Recent experiences at Geisinger have included participation in BPCI and also partnership with employer-purchasers of healthcare through the Pacific Business Group on Health (representing Walmart, Lowe's, and JetBlue Airways). As the shift towards value-focused care delivery and patient experience progresses forward, bundled payment arrangements and direct purchasing of healthcare will be critical financial drivers in effecting change.

Consolidation in the Dialysis Industry, Patient Choice, and Local Market Competition.

The Medicare program insures >80% of patients with ESRD in the United States. An emphasis on reducing outpatient dialysis costs has motivated consolidation among dialysis providers, with two for-profit corporations now providing dialysis for >70% of patients. It is unknown whether industry consolidation has affected patients' ability to choose among competing dialysis providers. We identified patients receiving in-center hemodialysis at the start of 2001 and 2011 from the national ESRD registry and ascertained dialysis facility ownership. For each hospital service area, we determined the maximum distance within which 90% of patients traveled to receive dialysis in 2001. We compared the numbers of competing dialysis providers within that same distance between 2001 and 2011. Additionally, we examined the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, a metric of market concentration ranging from near zero (perfect competition) to one (monopoly) for each hospital service area. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of different uniquely owned competing providers decreased 8%. However, increased facility entry into markets to meet rising demand for care offset the effect of provider consolidation on the number of choices available to patients. The number of dialysis facilities in the United States increased by 54%, and patients experienced an average 10% increase in the number of competing proximate facilities from which they could choose to receive dialysis (P<0.001). Local markets were highly concentrated in both 2001 and 2011 (mean Herfindahl-Hirschman Index =0.46; SD=0.2 for both years), but overall market concentration did not materially change. In summary, a decade of consolidation in the United States dialysis industry did not (on average) limit patient choice or result in more concentrated local markets. However, because dialysis markets remained highly concentrated, it will be important to understand whether market competition affects prices paid by private insurers, access to dialysis care, quality of care, and associated health outcomes.

Accidentes de trabajo y enfermedades laborales en los sistemas de compensación laboral / Work accidents and occupational diseases in work compensation systems

Introducción: Las contingencias laborales constituyen un importante problema de salud pública en el mundo. Para reducir los daños, los países han introducido leyes y normas técnicas para la prevención de las mismas y reparación de las víctimas a través de seguros de compensación laboral y atención médica integral. Objetivo: Conocer el nivel de evidencia existente sobre los accidentes de trabajo y enfermedades profesionales compensados y las características de los trabajadores que los presentaron e industrias más afectadas. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática bajo la metodología "Prisma". La búsqueda bibliográfica se llevó a cabo en bases de datos y revistas científicas a través de palabras claves que fueron combinadas y restringidas a artículos publicados entre los años 2003 y 2013. Resultados: Se incluyeron 11 artículos de investigaciones que fueron realizadas en cuatro continentes: Europa, Asia, Oceanía y América. Los tipos de estudios fueron, principalmente, retrospectivos con fuentes secundarias. Las muestras variaron entre 307 hasta 1.320.792 registros en diferentes grupos poblacionales, que tuvieron una o múltiples reclamaciones de compensación por accidentes de trabajo y/o enfermedades laborales. El género masculino tuvo el porcentaje más alto de reclamaciones; las industrias más afectadas fueron la manufactura y la construcción; predominaron como primera causa los esguinces o torceduras, seguidos por los trastornos musculoesqueléticos. Conclusiones: Las investigaciones revisadas proporcionan informaciones para caracterizar las contingencias ocupacionales y orientar las estrategias de prevención en las industrias y en las poblaciones trabajadoras más afectadas. Sin embargo, tienen limitaciones para establecer la gravedad de las lesiones y los tipos de compensación otorgados.

Introduction: Occupational injuries constitute an important problem of public health in the world. In order to reduce damage, countries have introduced laws and technical standards for their prevention, and to provide the victims support by means of worker's compensation insurance and comprehensive health care. Objective: To know the existing evidence level of work accidents and compensated occupational diseases and the characteristics of workers who presented them, and the most affected branches of industries. Methods: A systematic review following the "Prisma" methodology was conducted. The bibliographic research was carried out in databases and scientific journals through keywords that were combined and restricted to articles published between 2003 and 2013. Results: Eleven articles about researches conducted in four continents (Europe, Asia, Oceania and America) were included. The studies were mainly retrospective with secondary sources, and the samples ranged from 307 to 1,320,792 records in different population groups, who had one or multiple claims of compensation for work-related accidents or illnesses. The male gender had the highest percentage of claims; the most affected industries were manufacture and construction; the first causes were sprains and strains followed by musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusions: The reviewed investigations provide information to characterize the occupational contingencies and to orient the strategies of prevention in the industries and in the most affected working population. However, there are limitations to establish the seriousness of the injuries and the types of compensation awarded.

Genetic testing insurance coverage trends: a review of publicly available policies from the largest US payers.

AIM: Health plan coverage policies can influence utilization of genetic tests. Our goal was to characterize the current state of test-related policies from US private payers. METHODS: We searched the public websites of 206 insurers for coverage policies. We documented the number of policies, tests mentioned, coverage determination and policy effective dates. RESULTS: Approximately one-third of insurers had at least one genetic testing policy. Moderate consistency was seen between payers. Tests in oncology and personalized medicine were most frequently addressed. Half of the policies specifically excluded coverage of a particular genetic service. Nearly half of insurers had at least one out-of-date policy. CONCLUSION: Genetic services are addressed by many large health plans. Challenges remain in ensuring consistency and currency of payer policy for genetic tests.

A genética e os seguros: correlação e analogia ao estudo do genoma humano: [revisão] / Genetics and insurance companies: correlationship and analogy with human genome studies: [revision]

O mapeamento genético possibilitou a detecção de alterações que provocam o aparecimento de certas doenças, mesmo antes do aparecimento dos sintomas, e a otimização das terapêuticas de algumas patologias e prevenção de doenças multifatoriais. Com os avanços na tecnologia genética, aumentaram também as discussões sobre o fato de que as seguradoras podem usar os testes genéticos para o estabelecimento de taxas. Também existe a possibilidade das seguradoras conduzirem seus próprios testes ou questionar o consumidor sobre a sua história genética. Isso representa um possível conflito entre interesses do consumidor e das seguradoras. Casos de discriminação genética têm sido documentados em muitos países e, conseqüentemente, leis têm sido criadas no sentido de se frear o uso abusivo das informações do mapeamento genético pelas seguradoras. No entanto, no Brasil, esse assunto tem sido pouco discutido pelas autoridades e desconhecido pela maioria da população. Dessa forma, já que a saúde é um direito de todos, uma informação genética não deveria influenciar no pagamento e na disponibilidade de emprego e de assistência médica. Aexigência do conhecimento do conteúdo genético de um cidadão, por uma seguradora, é de ordem discriminatória, invade a privacidade, além de contrariar os princípios éticos.

The genetic mapping enabled some detections of changes that trigger some diseases, even before the symptoms appear. Moreover, it provided therapeutics optimization and prevention of some multifactorialdiseases. The advances of genetic technology also increased discussions about the fact that insurance companies can use the genetic tests to establish their fees. They may also provide their own tests or ask the clients their own genetic history. This represents a possible conflict between the client’s interest and the insurance company. Cases of genetics discrimination has been registered in several countries. Consequently, laws that reduce information on the genetic mapping have been launched. However, in Brazil, this issue hasbeen little discussed by official government, and it is also unknown by most of the population. Thus, since health is a right of all citizens, some genetic information should not influence the fee payment, the job availability and medical care. The right to know the citizens´genetic content by an insurance company canbe considered discrimination, invading their privacy, moreover, going against the ethical principles.