Hello From Chicago
If you’re wondering why this quarter’s newsletter is a little late (a question I’m sure has been keeping you up nights), it’s because my husband and I just moved from Virginia to the Chicago area. He accepted a major new job, and I figured that after 25 years of marriage, I should come along.
We moved three weeks ago, and I’m happy to report we unpacked the last box this weekend and the house is nearly in order.
The move has made me think a lot about change—change in terms of one’s environment, changing friends, changing lifestyle. And when I turn my attention to my work, I see even greater change, with a health care system that is being kicked out of its comfort zone and forced to move in the direction of value.
Things are certainly not as rosy as we might have hoped five years after the Affordable Care Act. High-deductible health plans are becoming the norm as insurers grapple with the (unsustainable) cost of care; drug pricing has become a major point of contention; and industry consolidation is driving fears of reduced competition and even higher prices.
On the other hand, 16.4 million previously uninsured Americans now have health insurance; pockets of innovation around the country are leading to improved quality and reduced cost; and health care costs, while still rising, have been rising far more slowly than in the past.
The one thing we can be certain of as we move into a highly politicized year is that change is a given. And that the year will certainly be, well, interesting.
Value-Based Purchasing Webinar
By far the biggest change in health care is on the reimbursement side. That’s why I’m offering a
free webinar on
value-based purchasing. I’ll explain the goals behind it, pros and cons of the various types, and look at what the research shows about its impact. Most important, I’ll talk about what it means to your business.
So, mark your calendars: Wednesday, March 23, 1-2:30 p.m. Eastern. I’ll talk for an hour, then take your questions.
Can’t make it?
Register anyway; the webinar will be available on demand the following day. And feel free to share the registration link with your colleagues.
Register here:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/692478293356896516
Upcoming
Are you a writer? Want to be a writer? Whether freelance or employed, check out these two conferences.
Extraordinary Learning and Networking for Seasoned, New, and Aspiring Freelance Medical Writers. If you are a freelancer or want to be a freelancer, then you need to attend this conference on
Saturday, March 12, 2016, at the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia in King of Prussia. I’m the keynote speaker, but there are several other excellent speakers, as well as interactive roundtables. Learn more here:
http://www.amwa-dvc.org/article.aspx?page=register-now-for-the-th-annual-freelance-conference.
Tools and Strategies for More Effective Communication. If you’re doing anything in the area of health economics and outcomes research, or HEOR, (and who isn’t?) then you need to mark your calendar for this two-day conference: March 17-18 at the Sofitel Hotel in Philadelphia. Topics include:
- Developing HEOR writing skills
- HEOR and market access, writing case studies
- Health care analytics
- Primer on HEOR writing strategy
- Budget impact model in-depth training
- HEOR groups at bio/pharma companies – how they view publications
- HEOR writing in managed markets
- Payer-focused writing
Special discount for freelancers. Learn more here:
http://www.healtheconomics.com/HEORWorkshop2016/
Interesting Projects
Been an interesting year so far. Projects on biosimilars (they’re coming!), the complement system in neurological disease, software to improve revenue cycle development in specialty practices, bundled payments for total joint replacements, proceedings of a patient safety forum, and coverage and proceedings of a conference on patient engagement in clinical trials.
Can’t wait to see what else 2016 brings.
Cheers from the Midwest (where we are having a mild winter).
Deb Gordon
