Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - (Page 19) { SPECIAL REPORT } Economic Ripple Effect Healthcare’s sheer size makes it a major in uence on the nation’s economic trajectory By Shelly Reese T he Dow is on a rollercoaster course. Credit markets have contracted, choking o money to small businesses, would-be home buyers and other potential borrowers. Joe Six Pack and Joe the Plumber worry about whether they’ll have jobs and healthcare coverage next month. It can be said that all economic stories are also healthcare stories. Indeed, the rami cations of the current economic crisis are visible across the board. State health o cials are girding themselves for more Medicaid enrollees, higher expenses and budgetary shortfalls. Employers say they’re shifting more healthcare costs to their workers, and average Americans are tightening their belts by cutting back on trips to the doctor, prescription drug spending and preventive screenings—measures likely to have a negative impact on their health as well as the economy. Add to these woes the likelihood of job cuts, and the outlook is pretty grim. During the recent election cycle and economic crisis, headlines have waxed ad nauseam about Wall Street, Main Street, who is hurting more and who needs rescuing. When it comes to healthcare, such debates are moot: if one stakeholder feels the economic pinch, everybody feels it. “It’s all intertwined,” says George Whetsell, a managing director with Hu- ron Consulting Group. When health-plan members cut back on services, they not only jeopardize their health and run the risk of incurring far greater costs in the future, they a ect the overall healthcare economy. While some physicians report NOVEMBER 2008 Purestock/Getty Images 19
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 For Your Benefit Editorial Advisors Contents News Analysis State Report Politics &Policy Letter of the Law Affordable Access Economic Ripple Effect Hospitals &Providers Technology Managed Care Outlook Desktop Resource Ad/Edit Index Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 (Page Cover1) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 (Page Cover2) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - For Your Benefit (Page 1) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Editorial Advisors (Page 2) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - News Analysis (Page 4) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - News Analysis (Page 5) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - News Analysis (Page 6) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - News Analysis (Page 7) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - State Report (Page 8) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Politics &Policy (Page 9) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Letter of the Law (Page 10) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Letter of the Law (Page 11) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Affordable Access (Page 12) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Affordable Access (Page 13) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Affordable Access (Page 14) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Affordable Access (Page 15) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Affordable Access (Page 16) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Affordable Access (Page 17) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Affordable Access (Page 18) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Economic Ripple Effect (Page 19) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Economic Ripple Effect (Page 20) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Economic Ripple Effect (Page 21) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Economic Ripple Effect (Page 22) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Hospitals &Providers (Page 23) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Hospitals &Providers (Page 24) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Hospitals &Providers (Page 25) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Technology (Page 26) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Technology (Page 27) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Technology (Page 28) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Managed Care Outlook (Page 29) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Desktop Resource (Page 30) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Ad/Edit Index (Page 31) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Ad/Edit Index (Page 32) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Ad/Edit Index (Page Cover3) Managed Healthcare Executive - November 2008 - Ad/Edit Index (Page Cover4)
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