Tag: Straight Talk

This is a photo of Dr. Vindell Washington, Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, and Marc Rippen, founder and CEO of Alertgy.

Alertgy wins NOLA Health Innovators Challenge Diabetes Pitch

Note from Mike: I was at this event earlier this week. I’m really excited to see the amazing work these firms are doing to fight diabetes. I’ve talked before about the cost of treating chronic conditions. I’m amped about new tech that can help doctors and health plans like Blue Cross stop some of the tragic results of diabetes. These advances can save money and improve lives at the same time. Here’s more about the event and the winner.

This is an illustration of a judge with a piece of paper, a quill pen, a judge with a gavel, and a book titled "The Law" and text that reads: "Escape Routes: Lawsuits, Associations and Mandates! Straight Talk."

Category: ACA and Policy, Government Programs, Health Insurance

Escape Routes: Lawsuits, Associations and Mandates!

How many times have you seen something in the news and been surprised?

This is an illustration of cookies and candy with text that reads: "The Weight Loss Minefield: Christmas, Mardi Gras, Valentine's and Girl Scout Cookies! Straight Talk."

Category: Health and Wellness

The Weight Loss Minefield: Christmas, Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day and Girl Scout Cookies!

It’s been a while since I caught you up on my efforts to improve my health! In case you’re new to this party, you can see where I started, my 10 steps for staying on track and how I tackled the holidays.

This is an illustration of a microphone with text that reads: "Straight Talk with Michael Bertaut, Episode 4."

Category: Cost of Healthcare, Health Insurance

Podcast: Straight Talk with Michael Bertaut, Episode 4

In this edition of the Straight Talk podcast, Mike Bertaut shares a personal story about shopping for the best price for a medical procedure, the frustrations he found and what Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is doing to make it easier for you to have a more “Amazon-like” experience.

This is an image of a dollar bill and a bunch of pennies and text that reads "Straight Talk."

Category: Cost of Healthcare, Health Insurance

Straight Talk on How We Spend Your Money

Want the Straight Talk on how we spend your money? Healthcare Economist Mike Bertaut lays it out, in plain English, in this video from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

This is an illustration of a marijuana leaf with text that reads: "Prohibition or Prescription? The Status of Medical Marijuana and Health Insurance"

Category: ACA and Policy, Health Insurance

Prohibition or Prescription? The Status of Medical Marijuana and Health Insurance

You’ve got to love America. We have a long history of love/hate relationships with mood-altering substances, which we have often described as having “medicinal value” until science stops us cold. Of course, these scientific studies in medicine often never catch up to folklore, which exists everywhere in our culture in the form of things we “know” but cannot prove.