Jan 31, 2019 | Commentary
Everybody seems to agree that “big data” holds much promise (or potential) for better healthcare. To this end, the Affordable Care Act made it a priority to create more, and presumably, better health care data. However, with the rapid development of devices, tracking systems and data tools, who will benefit from this data: Patients? Plan sponsors (or payers)? Insurance companies? Healthcare providers? PBMs? Pharmaceutical and device manufacturers? Other enterprising service providers? (more…)
Oct 19, 2018 | Commentary
With spousal exclusions or surcharges gaining popularity as a best practice to help organizations control the cost of benefits for everyone, the growing interest in spousal coverage audits (SCAs) makes sense. (more…)
Oct 19, 2018 | Commentary
Individual stop loss insurance is an important way that many employers with self-funded health plans manage the financial risk associated with their large claimants. If you fall into this category, you’re probably no stranger to large stop loss rate increases following years of poor large claim experience. (more…)
Sep 4, 2018 | Commentary
Whether we admit it or not, this question has crossed the mind of many a benefits professional — especially as most of us head into open enrollment season. After all, if employees don’t understand their health plan options and appropriate factors to consider in the selection, they could end up making a costly mistake.
Ensuring employees are well educated will not only help them make the right choice, but ultimately lead to increased engagement and productivity. (more…)
![Only PBMs Benefit from Rebate-driven System [UPDATE]](https://chelkogroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/0-1080x630.jpg)
Jul 31, 2018 | Commentary, Specialty Drug Management
UPDATE: The following piece was originally posted to Linked In by Rick Chelko on June 28, 2018. Shortly thereafter, Rick met with a senior Health & Human Services (HHS) official working on drug pricing reform to discuss this and related issues. Ironically, the official expressed concern that the marketplace might view the removal of safe harbor protection for rebates to be “a windfall for Big Pharma.”
Nonetheless, we were pleased to see the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and HHS submit a proposed rule change on July 18 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This proposed rule appears to remove the safe harbor protection for prescription drug rebates under the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. If and when the rule will be finalized is unclear, as is the effective date. Here’s hoping that it will be soon.
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Jun 26, 2018 | Commentary
We believe employers who know their numbers make better plan decisions. We also believe there is value in employers talking to each other about their respective challenges and solutions.
These are the fundamental principles behind our annual “Deep Dive” Roundtable in Columbus. It’s a simple concept really — as plan managers, it’s important to understand what’s driving costs. But tracking and analyzing health plan performance data can occasionally get lost in the recurring waves of vendor implementations and renewals, wellness events, open enrollment, HRIS system changes, or whatever else is the benefits priority of the quarter. (more…)
