The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up

This edition is hosted by David Williams of the Health Business Blog.  Experience the craziness of Part D trends, the suspense of deductibles, the thrill of shared decision making as well as funky financials, going "naked" and being bit by policies that may not cover dog bites and exotic pets.

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

It's a recurring fav of the Disease Management Care Blog: that Cavalcade of Risk, the collection of commentary, the assembly of assertions, that tempest of thoughts from the best of the business risk-related blog postings.  The latest is hosted by Chatswood Consulting wayyy over on the other side of the globe.  Where else can your brain travel so far with so little effort?  Check it out.

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

The latest Cavalcade of Risk is up for your reading pleasure. This time it's Jay over at the Colorado Life Insurance Insider who is your able, witty, organizing, summarizing, linking and commenting host on a series of bloggy business risk topics. Well worth a visit.

The Disease Management Care Blog Proudly Presents the 124th Cavalcade of Risk

Welcome to the Disease Management Care Blog's hosting of the 124th Cavalcade of Risk. Every few weeks, writers like the DMCB get to submit their on-line posts for inclusion in the CoR. Bloggers take turns hosting the CoR by selecting the best, summarizing the posts and providing links back to the original post for further review. Think of this as a virtual convention of writers who blog about risk and want to share our best recent work for your reading pleasure.

The DMCB likes to regularly write about health care, primary care, insurance, health reform and disease management. As a result, it often strays into the topics of measuring, monetizing, moving and mitigating risk. As a result, it couldn't resist a chance to host this CoR.

The DMCB has divided this Cavalcade of bloggery into two categories. The former are of the very high quality "thinking" persuasion that critically examine some new aspect of policy, regulation or the business. The latter are peripherally associated with risk but spill over into money management, employment, credit, value and personal security. They are more "informational" in nature.

Thinking Contributions

Louise of the Colorado Health Insurance Insider quotes the President of a state medical society about comparative effectiveness research (CER) and likes what she hears. Doctors need to be confident about which treatment option among many offers their patients the greatest value, says she. If every doc follows Colorado's example, maybe we'll be on the way to achieving real health reform, not just health insurance reform. The DMCB wonders if anyone has done research comparing health care quality among physicians who believe in CER versus those who don't.

If we're going to have a mandate for health insurance, why not the same for mishaps related to gun ownership? Nina Kallen of the Insurance Coverage Law in Massachusetts blog points out that insurance generally only works for unintentional accidents. She thinks it's a lousy idea. Most shootings are intentional, so it'd be difficult to price and regulate. Yet, thinks the DMCB, health insurance covers intentional injuries and what about the person who knowingly continues with a lifestyle that is harmful.....? Maybe that's why we should have a tax and not a mandate. Maybe that's why health insurance is broken. You can think about this knotty issue here.

Auto accidents, falls, skin injury, being impaled, electrocution, amputations, being trapped in a building, exhaustion, dehydration, heart attacks, lumbago and being gassed are all risks that share one key characteristic. Want to know what that is? Then head on over to Julie Ferguson of the Workers' Comp Insider Blog, who succumbs to the blogtemptation of an informative "Top Ten" (in this case "12") List (Speaking of "cold," the DMCB spouse would have little problem with her husband heading off into space if she were recovering from a gunshot wound to the head. It's his coming back that she'd have the problem with).

Have you heard about the Obamacare "mandate" and "risk pooling," but never quite grasped it? Jason Sharfrin of the Healthcare Economist provides a remarkably clear explanation while dismissing Florida Judge Vinson's controversial decision. The DMCB worries, however, that in both scenarios, the total cost is approximately the same, it's just spread around more people and is less visible. Unfortunately, for Mr. Obama, it appears U.S. health care costs are being spread around and are more visible. Not to worry, however, since lawyers on the Supreme Court will have the answer.

Somewhere in the Affordable Care Act is something called the "Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) provisions. This is a voluntary, tax-qualified long-term care assistance program that is administered by the federal government. Henry Stern of the InsureBlog has been closely looking at this from a "nuts and bolts" insurance perspective and doesn't like what he sees. After reading it and checking out its links, you may not either. That was certainly true for the DMCB.

Russell Hutchinson of Chatswood Consulting examines the insurance concepts of the "booster benefit" here and benefit exclusions here. The former is mysterious and the latter is pernicious. Both appear to be situations where it may really pay to have a broker on your side who can explain all this to you. Lacking a broker, another option is to regularly read the Cavalcade of Risk as well as the Colorado Health Insurance Insider, Insurance Law in Massachusetts, Workers' Comp Insider, Healthcare Economist, InsureBlog, Chatswood Consulting and DMCB (via Twitter, Facebook and RSS) every once in a while.

Last and least, the DMCB offers up another public service, informational and humorous video portraying a fictional conversation between an enthusiastic Accountable Care Organization administrator and a skeptical health care consumer. While ACOs are the darling child of President Obama's health reform efforts, there may be less to these details than meets the eye.

Informational contributions:

Indexed annuities. Their complexity is part of their fascination.... and risk.

Parachuting. Here's why you shouldn't.

Think you can beat the markets when it comes to investing? Meet your competition.

Income not keeping up with your job responsibilities? Here's what to do.

If you think $10 is not a lot of money, here's 9 good (along with one bad) reasons to think again.

Lending money to family and friends calls for some tough discipline.

Mixing your 401K and a cash advance loan is risky. If you must.

If you are considering opening or managing your own IRA, here's some facts.

Inflation is lurking out there, so you may consider some hedging strategies.

You: road warrior. Your device: iPhone. Your need: travel apps. Lots.

Credit cards can get you into credit trouble. Ironically, they can also get you out.

Speaking of credit cards, AmEx will extend product warranties with the usual exclusions.

Risk is known, knowable and unknowable. Know why here.

If you are tired of paying too much for routine care maintenance, pop this hood.

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

This time the Cavalcade is hosted by the medical student author of The Notwithstanding Blog. It is a collection of some very interesting and neatly summarized linked posts from other smart bloggers dealing with the topics of business risk and finance (including moral hazards, statistics, the time value of money and, yes, health reform). It's worth a read by heading over here.

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

Wenchypoo (wise and a wastebasket) hosts the latest Cavalcade of Risk with a "Mostly Insurance" Edition." There are posts that are categorized in the "insurance" basket and then there are some that are in what the DMCB thinks fit the "interesting" basket like Stuxnet and tax scams. Well worth a read and not just because this blog made the cut.

(There's even a link to a blog post on how to manage your own health insurance. The DMCB finds it wise but would add practice barrier birth control and wear seatbelts.)

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

So, which is it? Do you LIKE risk, or are you RISK AVERSE? You can try both out by heading on over to the latest Cav of Risk edition at Healthcare Economist Blog, hosted by the able Jason Shafrin. Take the Disease Management Care Blog's word for it - the only real risk from not checking it out is that you won't get to read the latest insights on the business of measuring, monetizing, managing and minimizing risk.

A New Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

This one is ably hosted by newbie Nina Kallen, a lawyer specializing in insurance law. She does a great job of summarizing some important topics that make for interesting reading. As an added bonus, she doesn't disagree with the DMCB.

It's worth a look so check it out.

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

The Disease Management Care Blog apologizes for this tardy alert to readers about the pre-Thanksgiving Cavalcade of Risk. Louise Norris of the Colorado Health Insurance Insider has laid out a repast of summarized links to the latest, the bestest and the brightest of risk-related bloggery. After sampling some of this intellectual feast, your hunger for wisdom and insight will be long gone. You can check it out here.

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

The (in)famous Cavalcade of Risk rating system of the anonymous Ironman's Political Calculations Blog is at it again, and the DMCB has a healthy Ab2 rating. If it were a bond, you'd be on topic and informed: definitely investment grade! There's a lot of other good and bad products out there, all assembled for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up

Once again, the folks at the Cavalcade of Risk have provided a brain fest of links about the vagaries of insurance (what happens if you don't pay the premium on time?), auto safety, social networking, identity theft, cancer from CAT scans, accountable care organizations and worksite wellness. You're taking a big risk if you don't keep up with all this stuff, says the DMCB.

Check it out here. It's ably hosted and smartly written by Julie Ferguson at the Workers' Comp Insider Blog. A bonus is that there are some humerous videos that show the connect between risk and insurance.

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

The Disease Management Care Blog has a special place in its heart for the Wenchypoo Mental Wastebasket. Always a curious and compelling mix of libertarianism, street-wise economics, vegetable gardening and good old common sense, Wenchypoo is one of the best examples of why bloggery is emerging as a critically important window into the good and the bad of current public policy. This particular Cavalcade host is also one of the cheeky few to ever reject a past DMCB submission. This time the DMCB made the cut, along with a host of other bloggers that - combined with Wp's unique narrative - makes for a worthwhile read.

Check it out!

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk is Up

That's right, over at David Williams' Health Business Blog, where he outlines and links some tasty blog posts on health, investing and insurance risk. Check it out!

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk is Up!

The first year medical student at the notwithstandingblog has created a curricular mash of standard freshman course work in pathology, physiology, anatomy etc., mixed in with a decidedly unique look at the best recent postings of the "risk" related blogs - including this Disease Management Care Blog. The DMCB was assigned an histology theme, because of its close scrutiny of the recent medical-loss-ratio NAIC decision. There's much more schooling waiting for you there - enjoy!

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is up!

Think of it as a parade or a procession of interesting floats, groups, bands and VIPs waving at you while they regale you with eye-candy. The latest Cavalcade of Risk is pretty much the same way, except this uses brain-food served up from the best of the blogs that deal with business risk. Don't worry though, the eye candy is also there, courtesy of Jay & Louise Norris' photo album. Enjoy!

A 109th Cavalcade of Risk Picnic and You're Invited!

Welcome to this 109th edition of the Cavalcade of Risk, proudly hosted by the Disease Management Care Blog. For the last three years, the DMCB has been writing about the intersection between clinical medicine, health insurance, health policy, research, public health and politics. It all about the emerging science on the care of populations, with advances in insurance designs, disease management, health technology, wellness, prevention, the medical home and accountable care organizations. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to visit the DMCB again.

Given the summer season, the DMCB thinks hosting this Cavalcade is much like a big noisy backyard barbecue. Anyone can cook up a pair of steaks medium rare, but having the Risk Blogging Community visit the DMCB is like having the whole neighborhood over for huge combined multi-grill menu pot-luck dinner picnic. Think of it as a party where we can each learn from smart friends about the other aspects of the backyard culin-bloggery risk-arts. Everybody is bringing something, each of which is described in delicious detail below.

So, let's eat!

A list

What's a picnic, especially if the DMCB spouse is involved, without a detailed list to help organize the countless details like - getting the plates (with beer), the ice (plus some beer), mosquito repellent and, adds the DMCB, additional beer. If you agree with her, then check out this list of the top ten mistakes persons make when they thoughtlessly park your money in a bank, courtesy of the blog at the depositsaccount web site.

The Seasoning!

The Scope Crêpe Blog serves up a basic lesson in how humans process risk. Take the test and find out for yourself how the loss of $20 can be too salty for some. There's more on the implications for medical care here (Hat Tip to TinkerReady).

Slow basted ribs.....

Greg Mankiw's Blog ponders how insurance companies could deal with the advent of genetic testing that can identify persons with an unfavorable profile. Perhaps his dish of ribs is better moved to the back burner and put on very low heat for a long time. As this article from the New England Journal makes clear, we have a way to go before the sensitivity, specificity and reliability of these tests are ready for prime time. There's also the issue of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (or GINA), at least when it comes to health insurers.

Burgers? And now for something completely different....

Meat patties, check. Buns, check. Oh, but wait! With some creativity, this classic staple can take on some novel features. And so it is among students of risk, who can reshape ho-hum life insurance into "return of premium" term life insurance. The cashmoneylife blog explains.

Just not complete without dogs

The DMCB never quite understood the attraction of these cylinders of pressed meat byproducts, but it does know there's a spectrum of quality out there. The DMCB personally prefers Kosher hot dogs because the contents don't include filler and scraps. That same discerning taste can be applied to car insurance, which has been ranked by JD Power. You can go to the christianPF site and see if your car insurer is also a dog.

Yes, I said an entire turkey.

Did you know it's possible to put an entire bird on a grill? It's a complicated and involved affair that involves a lot of attention and lots of time with rotating, basting, collecting all that grease and keeping things from being burnt on the outside and raw in the middle. So it is with life insurance and estate planning, eh? Freemoneyfinance provides a lengthy option-filled recipe on the big bulky topic, with an emphasis on a surprising variety of trusts.

Everyone has a favorite....

...and so does the DMCB. It's happy to see that the topic of health insurance high risk pools are on the table. Louise of the Colorado Health Insurance Insider unveils how Colorado is using Federal money to cover persons that were previously uninsurable. The premium levels seem quite tasty.

More on that favorite...

Insuranceproviders has prepared a discussion on the topic of assigned risk auto insurance, which seems similar to high risk health insurance pools. This seems rather cut and dry, which makes the DMCB wonder a) why couldn't the States have done the same thing for health insurance years ago, and b) if it'll be so non-controversial years from now?

How about something tasty from overseas?

The ever vigilant DMCB spouse has kept it from bringing pickled herring when it's a guest at picnics. She understands hosting is different though, so the Brits from TaxReturnBlog neighbors could have brought blood sausage and we'd say thank you. Fortunately, they have something far more yummy: an adjustment in tax policy that has led to an increase in Her Majesty's citizens' "tax free allowance." That's so delicious sounding, the DMCB would like more of that.

Health foods?

Well if the entire neighborhood is coming over, there's bound to be someone insisting on something additive free, organic and vegetarian. If so, direct them to the naturalezine site, where persons can find out more about health insurance coverage of 'natural' remedies. Beware, though: the DMCB thinks health insurers are willing to cover this stuff not because the remedies included in the benefit actually do any good, but because these kinds of beneficiaries are low risk.

Let's Be Creative

There's no shortage of recipes for other crazy dishes involving all kinds unexpected ingredients like dandelions, marshmallows or turnips. If that's what you're hankering for, try a spoonful of I Could Make A Fortune over at the New York Personal Injury Blog. The DMCB sampled the haircuts/cut ears, yet somehow, the taste is very familiar.......

The Beverages

It's sure hot isn't it? Those cold sudsy beverages that were on the DMCB spouse's list sure are good. But they're enough to make one forgetful and cloud rational thought. A number of things could be going on, but it you're really worried, read about another stop on the endless road to find a reasonably accurate test for that dreaded dementing disease called "Alzheimer's", courtesy of Hank Stern over at the InsureBlog.

Salad anyone?

The variations of leafy greens, tomatoes, carrots, cukes, peppers and the like seem good for you, which mathematically cancels any bad calories in the other foods, right? Well, surfersam has a description of why annuities may be a worthwhile investment option that can neutralize the bad effects of negative interest from chasing returns in a moribund economy.

Getting the Fire Going

The Digerati Life Blog wanders over to a corner of investment diversification that involves buying FDIC insured certificates of deposits based in other single or basket combinations of currencies, like the South African rand or the Australian dollar or the Brazilian real. Good thing thing this particular currency isn't an option, since it'd be better used as paper kindling to light the charcoal.

The Gas Grill

The DMCB's spouse is eternally leery about the risks associated with her spouse's handling of propane cylinders. The threat of things going horribly wrong is likewise a factor in obstetrical physicians' overcautious and "cascading" use of tests and interventions that have led to, according to the healthcare economist blog, an epidemic of C-sections. Author Jason Shafrin, being the economist that he is, points out that physicians are also vulnerable to its financial incentives. The solution says he? "Midwives." Finally, the DMCB knows the answer to the question posed here. Any midwives at a DMCB BBQ are welcome to take over the grilling, so the physician DMCB can pursue other less risky and more remunerative activities, like having $100 per pop Botox party over by the keg.......

Propane Fired Deep Fryers?

The DMCB tried to get the spouse to agree to this last Thanksgiving. Given her noisy veto, it's highly unlikely that she'll let a bunch of men, whatever their safety record, deploy this within a hundred yards of a summer picnic. Julie Ferguson of the WorkersCompInsider Blog would probably agree, and you will too when you go beyond the story of the DeepWater Horizon and see what a fire disaster does to people's lives.

What About the Guests?

Sure, you can have the best food offerings, but what good is it if everyone leaves early? Nancy Germond of the All Business web site has an article minimizing the risk of not being able to retain talent. She has some excellent suggestions, but if it doesn't seem to be working, the DMCB suggests employers turn to a long honored BBQ methodology: free beer.

Politics Intrude

Let's face it: it's just unavoidable that some guests will want to talk politics. That could get heated if any of them are allowed to check out EarthPM's video link that contrasts what should have been learned about managing the past risk of offshore oil drilling to better deal with the current risk. Egads.

Picnic faux pas

The DMCB has its moments when, to the chagrin of the spouse, it says something impolitic ("Oh, are you pregnant?"), oafish ("Be careful sitting in that chair, you might break it!") or just plain dumb ("The dessert is ready! I can tell how much you were looking forward to that...."). Guests would be well served to be similarly en guard, especially when it comes to giving your social security number to anybody for any reason at any time. Getrichslowly shows why.

Ugh, who invited that person?!

The DMCB will close with this link to a post it co-authored with Vince Kuraitis, which examines the risks of inviting Medicare to a party. There's one in every neighborhood.

Thanks for stopping by everyone. See you at the next Cav!

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

There are the provider-related risk issues and then there are the customer-related issues, but they're all learner-reader issues, especially when you want to learn about all the dimensions of measuring, monetizing and minimizing risk. And learn you will if you check out the latest Cavalcade of Risk - a one stop posting of the best and brightest of the blogs - over at My Wealth Builder. Enjoy!

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

The Disease Management Care Blog has been writing a lot about risk lately. The more you think about it, the more you find. And you'll find a lot of interesting nuggets on the topic at the latest rendition of the latest Cavalcade of Risk, ably hosted by Julie Ferguson at Worker's Comp Insider. Happy Anniversary.

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

Are academic sociologists really that depressing? The Disease Management Care Blog doesn't think so, after seeing the number of excellent risk related posts at Nancy Germond's Trainwreck Edition. Check it out and enjoy!

The Latest Cavalcade of Risk Is Up!

Veteran hoster My Wealth Builder has the latest Cavalcade of Risk at this "Stars Edition." Don't let the number of stars assigned to each link fool you, because it's based on prior participation. The Disease Management Care Blog currently has one star.... which is sure to increase. There is lots of good stuff on insurance, economics and finace - well worth your time.