News From Around the Web:
> Vermont's health insurance exchange has decided rates proposed by two insurers selling plans on the online marketplace are too high, reported VT Digger. The exchange board ordered Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont to lower its rates by 4.3 percent and MVP Health Care to reduce its premiums by 5.3 percent. Article
> UnitedHealth can now review and authorize referrals for Tricare members to see specialist providers after the U.S. Department of Defense dropped its emergency measures allowing primary care doctors to refer patients directly to specialists without first obtaining a review from UnitedHealth, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Article
Health Provider News:
> Low-income patients prefer hospitals to doctor's offices because they view hospital care as less expensive, more accessible and higher quality than ambulatory care. Article
> Primary care practices are effectively delivering preventive services to the growing number of patients with multiple chronic illnesses. Article
Health IT News:
> More than half of accountable care organizations are using remote patient monitoring to reduce readmissions, attain financial incentives and increase self-management of disease. Article
> Family practitioners are using mobile devices and medical apps more often, particularly to access reference materials in and out of the exam room as well as to "prescribe" apps to patients who are more comfortable using mobile technology. Article
And Finally… Coming in second can be so sweet. Article