January 2017 Volume 19 Issue 1
Providing Current Information on

Health Insurance Industry Issues and Legislation

Report Identifies 20 Most Costly Healthcare Conditions
20 conditions account for more than 50% of all healthcare spending in the United
States. Just five are responsible for $437 billion or almost 20% of all dollars spent.
Diabetes ($101.4B) is the most expensive condition followed by Ischemic heart
disease ($88.1B) and lower back and neck pain ($87.6B). These are some of the
key findings of the "US Spending on Personal Health Care and Public Heath 1996-
2013, published in the latest JAMA edition. To view the 10 ten most costly health
conditions and learn the other key finding of the report
Attorneys General Sue Generic Drugmakers
The Attorneys General of 20 states have filed a complaint in U.S. District Court
alleging that leading generic drugmakers conspired to keep their prices and profits
high. According to the complaint, an ongoing investigation "uncovered evidence of
a broad, well-coordinated and long-running series of schemes". Six companies are
named in the complaint and specific drugs are cited for which the price fixing took
place. To see the companies and drugs
Top Healthcare Issues in 2017
2017 will be a year of major changes, uncertainty and opportunity for the healthcare
industry. PWC projects the top 10 issues facing the healthcare industry will range
from the fate of the Affordable Care Act and the continuing emergence of the valuebased
payment model to the increasing use of emerging technologies. To read
about all 10
U.S. Ranks Last Again
The U.S. ranks worst in healthcare among 11 wealthy countries based on key
factors including the number of people with multiple chronic conditions,
emotional distress and ability to pay for medical care. Americans continue
to spend more on health care, by far, than the people in the other leading
industrialized nations. The Commonwealth Funds latest report finds not much
has changed in terms of quality and cost ranking for, at least the last 15 years. To
learn more of the report's findings
Three Star Preferred Provider Program Additions
Benefits Hospital, Inc.
Great Falls, MT 59403

Horizon Healthcare Services
Lancaster, PA 17601

Jerome M. Garden, MD
Chicago, IL 60611

Neurological Medicine, Inc.
Bridgeton, MO 63044

Oakbend Medical Center
Richmond, TX 77469
Orthopedic Associates of Wisconsin
Waukesha, WI 53188
Premier Interventional Pain
Flower Mound, TX 75028

Pro Oracle IOM
Houston, TX 77070

Robert Jackson, DPM
Greensburg, PA 15601

SPHIER Emergency Room
Katy, TX 77450

SW Houston Surgical Assoc.
Pasadena, TX 77504