Article Abstract:
Germany's social insurance program provides affordable, comprehensive health insurance coverage for all Germans. The program has contained medical-care costs and maintained health-care-expenditure increases consistent with the consumer price index since its inception in 1883. The American health care system could emulate the German system with the creation of a federal commission to set aside a percentage of the gross domestic product for health care costs and to oversee national health care goals.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Article Abstract:
Large employers who form coalitions to buy health care for their employees more economically present a marketing challenge to hospitals. Relationships between hospitals and employer coalitions can be adversarial or tend toward a partnership. A focus group of employee health benefits managers identifies employer coalitions' priorities as health care cost control and more effective communication between hospitals and payers, as well as patient education of the billing system.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Article Abstract:
The effective communication of utilization-review data is vital to a utilization-management program's success. Utilization care plan (UCP) systems can facilitate utilization-review data communication by reminding caregivers to provide patient services and monitoring the provision of those services. Computer-based UCPs can also document and highlight deviations from prescribed service programs.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic: