The Amazing Maze of US Health Care

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)has approximately 250,000 members representing the varied disciplines and commercial interests within the  human resource profession.   As a benefits professional with expanded human resource responsibilities, I recently joined SHRM.

No one there {Photo by JLM}

So I was disappointed to learn that SHRM does not support the recently passed House health care reform bill, HR 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act.

My readers will know I consistently argue that relying on employment as the primary gateway to the health care system is outmoded and ultimately harmful to the American economy.   Part of that argument is because employer sponsored health care limits the flexibility of employer human resource policies and the mobility of the workforce.

Does SHRM share those views?

Apparently not.

What does SHRM say? Read the rest of this entry »

Approximately six months ago our office began receiving stacks of paper claims for prescription drugs.  The drugs originated in various Veterans’ Administration medical centers around the country.  They were for drugs that members in our Plan had received at VA medical centers. 

It was obvious that there had been some sort of new policy at the VA that required the VA to obtain payment from other payers when veterans had other coverage.  The problem in this case is that our Plan had just changed pharmacy benefit managers effective January 1, 2008. 

So think about this.   Read the rest of this entry »