As stakeholders are now beginning to collaborate to meet the goals of health care reform and modernize their businesses, it has become imperative for physicians and payers to exchange information and share in the creation of new services and resources.

To facilitate this exchange, OptumInsight has formed a Physician Advisory Board composed of a diversified group of practicing physician-leaders. It's clear that physician leadership will be critical to the future shape of health care. In addition to the board, we produce Ignite as another vehicle for exchanging ideas on the future of health care. In this issue, we examine the critical role of physicians in rural health care and physician use of actuarial services to bridge the gap between payer and provider. We also offer into a feature on medication adherence as well as coordinated care opportunities for individuals who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare.

Check out our new winter issue:

Dual Challenge
Government health benefit program that pay for the care of the least healthy, most medically challenges individuals are going through a major overhaul. These plans for patient enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid could drain—or save—the health care system.

And don't miss this web exclusive:

Podcast: Managing the Self-Pay Population
The number of self-pay patients—patients who may be uninsured or for are (for any number of reasons) paying their own health care without government or employer assistance—is on the rise. To manage this population, physicians and hospitals must be able to estimate cost, collect payment and negotiate services to maintain market share.