"Employer-Sponsored Health and Retirement Benefits: Efforts To Control Employer Costs and the Implications for Workers," Government Accountability Office: In the report, GAO analyzes the effect employer cost-control strategies for health care benefits have on workers -- especially sicker, older or lower-wage employees. The report examines emerging and current trends used to control the costs of health care and retirement benefits and evaluates work force restructuring changes (GAO, "Employer-Sponsored Health and Retirement Benefits: Efforts To Control Employer Costs and the Implications for Workers," March 2007).

"Growth and Innovation in Medical Devices: A Conversation With Stryker Chairman John Brown," Health Affairs: In the interview, Stryker Corporation former CEO and current Chair John Brown discusses the development of medical devices during the past 30 years. In addition, Brown describes strategies at Stryker to sustain long-term growth rates. He also discusses several current issues in medical device policy, such as direct-to-consumer advertising, conflicts of interest, product safety and the rising prices of devices (Burns, Health Affairs, 5/1).

"Medicare: Focus on Physician Practice Patterns Can Lead to Greater Program Efficiency," GAO: The GAO report examines physician compensation in fee-for-service Medicare and pay-for-performance programs. The report estimates the number of physicians in Medicare who are likely to practice inefficiently, analyzes strategies used by health care purchasers to encourage efficiency and examines whether CMS can profile efficient physicians and use the results. The report concludes with recommendations to CMS (GAO, "Medicare: Focus on Physician Practice Patterns Can Lead to Greater Program Efficiency," April 2007).

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