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Generex Biotechnology announces plan to obtain cost reimbursement coverage for Generex Oal-lyn

Generex Biotechnology Corporation, the leader in drug delivery for metabolic diseases through the inner lining of the mouth, today announced that it has established an action plan for obtaining cost reimbursement coverage for Generex Oal-lyn™, including the development of an insurance product that covers the costs of Generex Oral-lyn™ and any additional and/or comparable diabetes products.

19 Apr 2010

Healthyroads announces new partnership status with NAQC

Healthyroads, the wellness subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated, announced its new partnership status with the North American Quitline Consortium and its approval to serve as an authorized quitline vendor in the state of Michigan.

19 Apr 2010

State round-up: Penn. Medicare advantage; N.J. cuts immigrant care; Hospitals face hardships

Independence Blue Cross has lost 30 percent of its Medicare managed-care members in the region this year in the wake of federal government rate cuts as its major competitors saw enrollment gains. The cuts came after the Philadelphia insurer eliminated some product offerings for senior adults and raised rates for others.

17 Apr 2010

Private insurers seek to help states manage Medicaid expansion

The Wall Street Journal reports on plans by the health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. to issue a report Thursday on managed care strategies that "it says will help cash-strapped states solve budget problems and doctor shortages that hobble the government health-care programs for the poor."

16 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 15, 2010

In today's headlines: The jobless benefits package, including a COBRA subsidy extension and Medicare-doctor pay fix, advances in the Senate. In the House, a committee chairman cancels a hearing on business health care complaints.

15 Apr 2010

Research report focuses on key influencers within employer health care market

Health Industries Research Companies' Employer & Coalition Service has released its spring 2010 market research. HIRC finds that employers are increasingly concerned about cancer medications and report sustained interest in health, wellness, and disease management initiatives.

15 Apr 2010

Florida lawmakers weigh Medicaid overhaul

Health News Florida: "In a surprising turnaround from last week, a top Senate health chairman Monday called off two meetings that had been scheduled to scrutinize a House proposal for overhauling the Medicaid system. The Senate Health Regulation Committee planned to hold more than nine hours of meetings Wednesday and Thursday to study House bills that would require almost all Medicaid recipients to move into managed-care plans.

15 Apr 2010

Florida to enact health care legislation to improve access to ARV therapy

Florida is poised to enact health care legislation that would add clarity to existing state statutes by requiring that all state-regulated health plans include lifesaving antiretroviral (ARV) HIV/AIDS drugs on their drug formularies or preferred drug lists.

15 Apr 2010

High OOP costs discouraging many cancer patients from filling prescriptions

A new study presented today at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's 22nd Annual Meeting finds that one in six cancer patients with high out-of-pocket (OOP) costs abandons their medication. The study by Prime Therapeutics (Prime), a thought leader in pharmacy benefit management, found patients with an OOP cost greater than $200 were at least three times more likely to not fill their prescription than those with OOP costs of $100 or less.

12 Apr 2010

Patients receiving medications in 90-day supplies less likely to have adherence problems: Study

A new study presented today at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's 22nd Annual Meeting by Prime Therapeutics, a thought-leader in pharmacy benefit management, provides new evidence to support an easy, low-cost way to help keep patients with chronic conditions on their medications: provide them with a three-month drug supply.

12 Apr 2010

Three in ten women use letrozole to treat infertility: Study

About three in ten patients using letrozole (Femara), a common medication for treating breast cancer, are likely taking the medication to treat infertility, according to a new study presented today at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's 22nd Annual Meeting in San Diego by Prime Therapeutics, a thought leader in pharmacy benefit management.

12 Apr 2010

List of MCEG's Annual Top Ten issues

Likely to be the first professional healthcare group to meet immediately after healthcare reform legislation passed, the Managed Care Executive Group held its annual forum in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida last week.

9 Apr 2010

Those who understand insurance coverage more cost-conscious, study says

The Associated Press/The Boston Herald: "Workers who better understand their health insurance plans — from their share of premiums to co-payments for doctor office and emergency room visits — are more likely to make more cost-efficient decisions, a new study finds. The study, which surveyed about 1,500 government workers in Massachusetts," was published in The American Journal of Managed Care.

9 Apr 2010

Educating individuals about healthcare costs could lead to efficient use of healthcare system

Educating individuals about the costs of healthcare could save money and lead to a more efficient use of the healthcare system, report policy researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and Boston University School of Public Health. The study is the first to assess the effect of knowledge and perceptions of cost-sharing levels (the percentage of cost borne by individuals out of total healthcare costs) on self-reported and actual behavior.

8 Apr 2010

Arizona's hospital industry decides not to push tax to help poor, Maryland health programs struggle financially

"Arizona's hospital industry has decided not to push for an income tax increase on the state's wealthy to help the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System," the Medicaid program in the state.

8 Apr 2010

Data illustrates methods for improving adherence to medication, lowering prescription drug costs

CVS Caremark presented data at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy that illustrate successful methods for improving adherence to medication and lowering prescription drug costs. The company showed results from three studies which demonstrated the positive impact of various tools available to pharmacy benefit managers – including automated telephonic messaging, fax alerts to physicians about gaps in care, and strategic co-pay waivers for generic medications.

8 Apr 2010

DealSearchOnline.com announces $72.3B committed to fund 291 managed care mergers and acquisitions

More than $72.3 billion was committed to fund 291 managed care mergers and acquisitions announced during the 10-year period ended December 31, 2009, according to DealSearchOnline.com. UnitedHealth Group was the acquirer in 10 of the top 25 managed care mergers and acquisitions announced during 10-year period ended December 31, 2009.

7 Apr 2010

Wisconsin residents may switch health insurance due to reform; Florida lawmakers seek changes to Medicaid

Some 60,000 Wisconsin residents could be shifted in the coming years from the state's BadgerCare Plus health coverage for the poor to commercial plans, under the federal health reform law. That's just one option that Wisconsin officials will have as they work through the effects of the sweeping federal law on the state's own extensive Medicaid health programs.

7 Apr 2010

Ameritas Group adds over 22,000 access points to dental network

Ameritas Group announced today it has added more than 22,000 access points to the Ameritas dental network, bringing the total network size to more than 130,000 access points.

5 Apr 2010

Physicians increase prescription of new biologics

Sermo, the world's largest online community for physicians, today announced a Sermo Event Report titled "Is there any Threat to Anti-TNFs from Newer Biologic DMARDs?" In the past year, the FDA has approved four new biologic DMARDs – Actemra (Genentech), Orencia (Bristol-Myers Squibb), Simponi (Centocor Ortho Biotech), and Cimzia (UCB). According to the report, Orencia leads the pack among physicians as the next line of treatment for patients who fail two or more TNF antagonists.

2 Apr 2010

Managed Care News and Research

Generex Biotechnology announces plan to obtain cost reimbursement coverage for Generex Oal-lyn

Healthyroads announces new partnership status with NAQC

State round-up: Penn. Medicare advantage; N.J. cuts immigrant care; Hospitals face hardships

Private insurers seek to help states manage Medicaid expansion

First Edition: April 15, 2010

Research report focuses on key influencers within employer health care market

Florida lawmakers weigh Medicaid overhaul

Florida to enact health care legislation to improve access to ARV therapy

High OOP costs discouraging many cancer patients from filling prescriptions

Patients receiving medications in 90-day supplies less likely to have adherence problems: Study

Three in ten women use letrozole to treat infertility: Study

List of MCEG's Annual Top Ten issues

Those who understand insurance coverage more cost-conscious, study says

Educating individuals about healthcare costs could lead to efficient use of healthcare system

Arizona's hospital industry decides not to push tax to help poor, Maryland health programs struggle financially

Data illustrates methods for improving adherence to medication, lowering prescription drug costs

DealSearchOnline.com announces $72.3B committed to fund 291 managed care mergers and acquisitions

Wisconsin residents may switch health insurance due to reform; Florida lawmakers seek changes to Medicaid

Ameritas Group adds over 22,000 access points to dental network

Physicians increase prescription of new biologics

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