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InDemand Interpreting selected to provide language services for IASIS Healthcare

IASIS Healthcare, a healthcare services organization with hospitals in high-growth urban and suburban markets, has selected InDemand Interpreting to provide language services for their Deaf and limited English proficient (LEP) patients and families.

21 Jan 2015

ACOs can ethically influence physician referrals, say medical ethicists

It's the health care holy grail: higher quality care at lower cost, and there are a growing number of accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the United States aiming to achieve it, in part by influencing where patients receive care. This carries risk to patient well-being and choice, but medical ethicists at Johns Hopkins and Brigham and Women's say ACOs can ethically influence referrals, under certain conditions.

16 Jan 2015

InformedDNA and NIA Magellan to jointly offer evidence-based genetic benefits optimization program

InformedDNA announced today that it will collaborate with NIA Magellan, a division of Magellan Health, Inc., to offer an evidence-based genetic benefits optimization program. InformedDNA's national network of independent board-certified genetics specialists provides expert clinical review services to ensure appropriate use of genetic testing and improve patient care, while at the same time delivering significant cost savings.

30 Dec 2014

Hospice of the Western Reserve, Hospice of Dayton partner to provide quality care for all Ohioans

Ohio's two largest hospice care providers - Hospice of the Western Reserve and Hospice of Dayton - have announced a collaborative initiative to ensure delivery of the highest quality of care for all Ohioans. The partnership will focus on creating best practice standards for hospice and palliative care, proactively sharing quality data, benchmarking performance to continuously improve care delivery and creating the most skilled workforce.

14 Dec 2014

CareCore, MedSolutions complete merger agreement

CareCore National, LLC and MedSolutions, Inc., two leading providers of Specialty Benefits Management (SBM) services to managed care organizations and risk-bearing provider organizations, today announced the completion of a merger that will help advance the companies' collective commitment to containing healthcare costs and achieving quality medical outcomes.

4 Dec 2014

WLT agrees to make MediClaims software available to Advanzeon

Advanzeon Solutions, Inc., which provides behavioral health, substance abuse and pharmacy management services, as well as sleep apnea programs, to employers, Taft-Hartley health and welfare funds, and managed care companies throughout the U.S. is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Agreement with WLT Software Enterprises, Inc.

3 Dec 2014

Phytel Annual Client Conference kicks off

The Phytel Annual Client Conference (PACC) kicked off today with an invitation-only Executive Forum at the luxurious Omni Fort Worth Hotel, hosting twice as many healthcare leaders as the 2013 event.

1 Dec 2014

Triple-S Management announces $50M stock repurchase program, reports consolidated revenues of $567.2M

Triple-S Management Corporation (NYSE: GTS), one of the leading managed care companies in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $567.2 million and consolidated operating income of $8.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014.

4 Nov 2014

Employers devise strategies to avoid Obamacare fines

With large companies facing potential fines next year for not offering health insurance, some are looking at approaches such as enrolling employees in Medicaid, reports The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, the federal government posts a notice Tuesday saying that it will continue to fund an optional health insurance program for the working poor in 2016.

23 Oct 2014

State highlights: Calif.'s Prop. 45 fight; new benefits for same sex couples in N.C.; Aetna sheds jobs after Medicaid drop

A selection of health policy stories from California, North Carolina, Delaware, New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida and Kansas.

17 Oct 2014

UIC receives $4.3 million grant to study needs of families caring for people with disabilities

The University of Illinois at Chicago has received a five-year, $4.3 million grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Administration for Community Living to establish a new, multi-institutional center to study the needs of families caring for people with disabilities.

16 Oct 2014

Researchers explore effect of email exchanges between patients and physicians

Email has become one of the most widespread forms of communication, with its streamlined interactions benefiting both businesses and individuals.

13 Oct 2014

In Mississippi, Medicaid expansion advocates continue to press their cause

Backers of expanding the low-income health insurance program say elected officials are turning their back on hundreds of thousands of poor Mississippi residents by refusing the federal funds that come with the expansion. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, insurers appear to be adding a wrinkle to Gov. Corbett's expansion plan. Also, election outcomes will play a big role in where such plans proceed.

9 Oct 2014

As next enrollment period approaches, states wrestle with exchange issues from last year

In Washington state, officials are still trying to resolve billing and computer issues related to 1,300 accounts. In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick says the problem-plagued website is now fixed and ready to go when enrollment opens Nov. 15, but at an additional cost of $26 million. And in Minnesota, a new plan enters the MNSure marketplace.

8 Oct 2014

State highlights: Ohio Medicaid and senior annuities; Mich. extends Medicaid dental coverage for kids

A war is being waged in Ohio over whether elderly couples with one person in a nursing home can buy an annuity to keep the other from going broke -- and still apply for public assistance. Elder-law attorneys say the state isn't following federal laws regarding Medicaid-compliant annuities, and that's hurting middle-class seniors who worked hard and saved for a rainy day. Several courts seem to agree, with one judge recently putting the state on notice that it could lose millions of dollars in federal funding if it doesn't change its ways (Pyle, 10/6).

7 Oct 2014

Medac Pharma launches Rasuvo (methotrexate) injection for patients with RA, pJIA and psoriasis

Medac Pharma, Inc., a privately held pharmaceutical company, has announced the launch of its lead product Rasuvo (methotrexate) injection for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), poly-articular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) and psoriasis in the U.S.

6 Oct 2014

State highlights: Infant mortality rises in D.C.; Medicaid managed care rates

The District's infant mortality rate ticked up in 2012, city officials announced Wednesday -- an unwelcome development that comes amid the loss of a key federal grant and the launch of a new effort to reduce infant deaths (DeBonis, 10/1).

3 Oct 2014

State highlights: New Calif. health laws signed; Mass. judge considers partners deal

A selection of health policy stories from California, Massachusetts, New York, the District of Columbia, Minnesota and Kansas.

1 Oct 2014

State highlights: Calif. health insurers and contraception coverage; Alaska sues Xerox over Medicaid payment systems

Health insurance policies in California will have to cover all federally approved contraceptives for women by 2016 without charging co-payments under legislation signed this week by Gov. Jerry Brown, countering trends in other states and the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill, SB1053 by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, expands state laws that required coverage for most birth-control drugs and devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The new law mandates coverage for all FDA-approved contraception, prohibits co-payments and includes managed-care Medi-Cal plans, which are not expressly covered by current laws (Egelko, 9/27).

30 Sep 2014

Pharmacy Value Management Solutions and Jeff Liva sign marketing deal

Advanzeon Solutions, Inc., ("Advanzeon" or the "Company"), which provides behavioral health, wellness, pharmacy management services and sleep apnea programs, to employers, Taft-Hartley health and welfare funds, managed care companies throughout the U.S. today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacy Value Management Solutions, Inc. ("PVMS"), has entered into a marketing agreement (the "Agreement") with Jeff Liva & Co. ("Dr. Liva"), whereby Dr. Liva, through his Preventive PLUS division will, among other things, introduce the Company's programs to his existing and potential clients and recommend the programs for inclusion in his clients' healthcare benefit packages.