Disability, absence and the health reform era

The total cost of employee absence for many employers is high, and the correlation between employee health and disability is clear. This article reviews several challenges employers face in managing employee health and absence in a well-integrated manner. Although such an undertaking is not easy, the additional cost national health care reform may bring makes the interrelationship between employer profitability and employee absence, health and disability more crucial than ever for employers to recognize and manage.     

Epilogue: health care reform and productivity

Only a health care system that balances the best interests of consumers with those of employers and government payers will ultimately provide quality care at manageable costs. These need not be opposing interests.     

Population health improvement--the next era of the health care management evolution

The trend of increasing health care costs over the past several years shows no signs of slowing down. While employers have attempted to address the issue with various cost-shifting and cost-sharing initiatives to relieve the burden, those attempts have often fallen short. In today's fiscally scrutinized benefits environment, the emphasis needs to be more strategic. The management of employee health and productivity needs to move to a more encompassing organizational view that addresses the most expensive drivers of these costs head-on, with prevention, education and employee responsibility as key tenets. Organizations that make the move--by implementing programs to maintain, improve and manage their population's health--will enjoy substantial cost savings and enhanced employee productivity.     

日元:敢问路在何方

日本央行入市干预 世界目光聚焦日元 5月22日,东京汇市收盘之前,本已摇摇欲坠的美元突然飙涨.原因是当美元跌至123.51日元的7个月低点之后,日本财务省通过日本央行入市干预,卖出日元.东京一些交易员估计,干预总额至少达10亿美元.     

A new equilibrium in health and rewards strategy--prospering in a post-health care reform world

To prosper in the coming years, companies will need to reassess current strategies and approaches related to talent management, total rewards and health benefits in light of the market-driven equilibrium emerging from U.S. health reform. This new equilibrium will be shaped by demographic and employment dynamics, U.S. tax policy, continued globalization and new challenges and opportunities in the health care system. Each company's assessment of the most beneficial balance will reflect its unique business dynamics, industry challenges, geography and size. While in some ways companies' approaches will build on the lessons learned and successes over the past few decades, they will also leverage the new opportunities presented in a postreform world.     

Global trade and the future of national health care reform

As a result of economic globalization, health care reform is no longer strictly a matter of domestic health policy and politics. This paper argues that international trade agreements impose institutional constraints on governments’ abilities to implement health care reform, and, if left unchallenged, could frustrate social reforms. The thesis is developed through three case studies that examine the implications of various trade agreements for health care reform in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The findings are discussed in the context of theoretical debates concerning the impact of globalization on the autonomy of nation states and the relevance of national politics.     

Retiree health care benefits: new rules, new strategies.

Two recent court decisions in a retiree health care benefits age discrimination case are likely to bring changes to employer-sponsored retiree health care. After reviewing the cases and how the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has responded to them, this article discusses employer implications. Although the court decisions add complexity to retiree health plan design, they also provide employers with the valuable opportunity to analyze the match between their retiree health plans and business needs.     

Storing radiology images in the reform era: what CFOs need to know

Vendor-neutral archives (VNAs) normalize PACS images and make image exchange possible, even when multiple divergent PACS or radiology departments are involved. These systems, onsite or cloud-based, allow for strategic and long-term growth regardless of the PACS used. Radiologists continue to operate with their system/vendor of choice, further strengthening productivity, satisfaction, and organizational loyalty. Finance executives shave costs, avoid future PACS expenses, and gain greater leverage with PACS vendors.     

互联网金融时代：中国金融体系何去何从

当前,中国正处于全世界创新与改革的中心,其金融体系的改革更成为全球瞩目的大事,而全球主要经济体每一次重要的体制变革,往往伴随着重大的金融创新,尤其随着互联网金融潮流的兴起,中国的金融体系势必要经历改头换面的洗礼。在互联网金融时代,中国的金融效率、交易结构、甚至整体金融架构都将发生深刻变革．对此,面临严峻挑战的传统金融机构应该作出何种应对7中国的金融体系改革何去何从     

论商业健康保险在新医疗保障体系中的地位

国务院新公布的《关于深化医药卫生体制改革的意见(征求意见稿)》引发了社会各界的高度关注,方案中明确提出在新的医疗保障制度构建中要积极发展商业健康保险。国际经验表明,要建立一个高效率运行和可持续发展的医疗保障体系,商业健康保险是不可或缺的重要组成部分。本文从经济学理论和医疗保障的实践结果两个角度出发,论述商业健康保险与社会医疗保险合理配合的必要性,以及商业健康保险在医疗保障体系中的优势和特殊作用,并对进一步确保我国商业健康保险发展提出相应的政策建议。     

No new state tax: universal health care coverage for children in Florida

Florida, which this year passed a sweeping health reform measure, is considering use of a Medicaid expansion option to revamp health care delivery for its children.     

The impact of health care reform on older workers, retirees and employers

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 impacts everyone who uses or pays for the health care system. Among the new law's effects will be changes in older workers' health care choices as they transition from full-time employees to part-time work or other jobs and, ultimately, to retirement, and the retiree health benefit choices facing their employers. This article reviews the major issues surrounding these changes, including those affecting retiree health benefits, benefits for Medicare-eligible retirees and health care options for older Americans not yet eligible for Medicare. The authors conclude that although employers will be reacting in 2010 and 2011 with regard to some issues surrounding FASB ASC 715-60 and the early retiree reinsurance program, employers should consider waiting to make major changes until regulations are issued and the health plans for active employees have been fully vetted.     

新医改视角下我国商业健康险的发展契机

在新一轮医疗卫生体制改革及其相关配套政策措施的合力推动下,作为覆盖我国城乡居民多层次医疗保障体系有机组成部分的商业健康险,其在整个国家医疗保障体制中的地位必将得到进一步巩固和提升。本文从我国商业健康险的发展现状出发,从外部经营环境和内部管理运营两个角度分析了我国现阶段商业健康险发展过程中存在的主要问题,并结合新一轮医改带给健康险发展的机遇与挑战,提出专业化经营+健康管理是我国商业健康险发展的唯一路径。     

积极探索业务监管工作新思路

几年来,我们始终把业务监管作为协会工作重中之重,找准监管工作的定位,坚持监督与指导相结合、处罚与教育相结合、管理与服务相结合,不断深化业务监管体系建设,积极探索行业监管工作新思路.