Feds, Vermont announce creation of health co-op

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Leaders of a new Vermont-based health insurance cooperative took advantage of an opening offered by the 2-year-old federal health insurance reform law in announcing its launch Friday, along with nearly $34 million in federal low-interest loans to help it get off the ground.

The Vermont Health CO-OP said it will be owned and governed by members and fill a niche envisioned in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

"We believe the Vermont Health CO-OP will play an important role in health care reform and is a perfect fit for Vermont's culture and rich heritage of cooperative endeavors," said Mitchell Fleischer, chairman of the CO-OP's founding board of directors.

The CO-OP uses capital letters in its name because it's the short form of co-operative — a business like a food co-op that is owned and governed by members — and an acronym standing for Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan, as called for under the federal Affordable Care Act.

After backers of a government-run public option health insurance program failed to get that included in the federal law, a compromise was reached in which the law ended up calling for the creation of new cooperative or nonprofit health insurance carriers in each state, to compete with commercial carriers. It also set up a loan program to get those businesses off the ground.

Under the federal law, any profits earned by the CO-OP must be used to lower premiums, improve benefits or pay for programs to improve health care quality.

Timed with the announcement of the Vermont CO-OP's creation on Friday, the federal Department of Health and Human Services announced that it was providing a nearly $6.3 million start-up loan for the new entity, to be paid back in five years, as well as a more than $27.5 million loan to enable it to set up a solvency fund. Health insurance companies must keep such funds on hand in case medical claims exceed premiums in a given year. The solvency fund loan is to be paid back in 15 years, officials said.

Fleischer said the CO-OP would apply immediately for a state insurance license and expected to be ready to offer health insurance coverage by October of 2013, a couple of months ahead of January of 2014. That's the date set by the federal law and a Vermont health care law passed last year as the beginning of operations for a new health care exchange. The Web-based, state regulated marketplace will allow consumers to do online comparison shopping for health insurance by comparing costs and benefits offered.

Officials said the CO-OP would be one of the entities offering health insurance coverage through the exchange.

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Health 2.0 and ONC Announce the Winner of the Reporting Device Adverse Events Challenge

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire -06/07/12)- Today, Health 2.0 and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) are announcing the winner of the Investing in Innovation initiative's (i2) Reporting Device Adverse Events Challenge. The i2 initiative utilizes prizes and challenges to facilitate innovation and obtain solutions to intractable health IT problems. Aligned with the Obama administration's innovation agenda, it is the first federal program to operate under the authority of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act.

The Challenge -- which launched on September 12, 2011 -- called attention to adverse events related to medical devices. With the spread of electronic health records, medical devices will continue to play increasing roles in monitoring and collecting patient data. As patients play larger roles in managing their health, the devices that are used in hospitals, clinics and homes must become easier to use and monitor. The United States has a limited system for the post-market surveillance of medical devices, specifically as relating to monitoring product safety and effectiveness. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) operates the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database, which catalogs reports of adverse events involving medical devices used in a variety of settings.

In order to improve the post-market surveillance of medical devices, it is important to innovate beyond the MAUDE database. ONC identified a need for a system that increased the rate of reporting of adverse events, improved the quality of the reported data, collected and analyzed information on providers using devices and patients receiving the devices and makes the data more dynamic and continuous to identify trends in real-time. The Reporting Device Adverse Events Challenge tasked teams with creating applications to meet these needs.

"This was one of our most technically difficult i2 Challenges. We commend the participating teams for their efforts and encourage them to continue to work on their products after the Challenge," said Wil Yu, Special Assistant for Innovations at ONC.

As the winner, Team IOSTREAM will receive $25,000 in prizes. A brief summary of the winning application follows:

IOSTREAM -- submitted by Doug Brown -- the MedDAERS system by IOSTREAM is a web-portal for health professionals and consumers to voluntarily report the adverse events, product problems and product use errors associated with medical devices. Submitted reports are converted into electronic versions of the MedWatch 3500 form. The website has two entry points -- the first is for users who wish to fill out and submit voluntary reports, the second is those with login credentials and is used to view the XML formatted voluntary reports that have been submitted.

To learn more about the Reporting Device Adverse Events Challenge, visit the Challenge's website (http://www.health2con.com/devchallenge/reporting-device-adverse-events-challenge/).

About ONC
ONC is the principal Federal entity charged with coordination of nationwide efforts to implement and use the most advanced health information technology and the electronic exchange of health information. The position of National Coordinator was created in 2004, through an Executive Order and legislatively mandated in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) of 2009. For more information, see http://healthit.hhs.gov/.

About the Investing in Innovation (i2) Initiative
The Investing in Innovation (i2) program utilizes prizes and challenges to facilitate innovation and obtain solutions to intractable health IT problems. Aligned with the Administration's innovation agenda, i2 is the first federal program to operate under the authority of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011. For details see http://www.health2con.com/devchallenge/challenges/onc-i2-challenges/

About Health 2.0
The conference. The media network. The innovation community. The Health 2.0 Conference is the leading showcase of cutting-edge innovation transforming the health care system. Since its beginning in 2007, Health 2.0 has served as a community resource for search and online tools to help consumers manage their health and connect to providers. Now that the industry has caught up, Health 2.0 covers the entire cloud, web, mobile and unplatforms technology revolution that is shaking up every sector of health care. For more, visit http://www.health2con.com.

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Cardinal Health, Detroit Medical Center, Henry Ford Health System Announce Unique Collaboration To Promote Urban Renewal

DETROIT, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardinal Health, Detroit Medical Center (DMC) and Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) today announced a unique collaborative effort to spur urban renewal and bring jobs to the city of Detroit.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120529/CL15141 )

As part of the economic recovery effort, DMC and HFHS have agreed to long-term distribution agreements with Cardinal Health, enabling the company to relocate a medical products distribution center to the midtown area from its current Romulus locations. The transfer will bring 140 jobs to the city of Detroit.

"DMC was focused on leveraging our partnership in a meaningful way to contribute to the city's revitalization. This new facility will fulfill Cardinal Health's commitment to relocate its Michigan based distribution operations within the City of Detroit, which was part of the negotiation of the DMC agreement. We are excited our 20 year partnership will continue and the relocation will be an opportunity for new construction within the midtown area," said Donald P. Groth, corporate vice president, Materials Resource Management, Detroit Medical Center.

"Henry Ford Health System is deeply committed to the revitalization of the midtown area and is pleased to be collaborating on what we envision as the first step in a major redevelopment effort," said Nancy Schlichting, HFHS CEO. "We're thrilled to be making progress and expect that this project will lead to further development not only in the areas of warehousing and office space but also in retail and residential space."

Cardinal Health has construction plans for a 273,520 square foot distribution center. The company has filed an application with the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and is awaiting a number of City Council approvals before details can be finalized. The company advises that its relocation to the site within city limits is dependent upon those approvals and a robust package of local, state and federal economic development incentives.

Pending approvals, Cardinal Health could begin construction by the end of 2012. Construction would be complete in approximately 12 months.

"We're pleased that we have entered new, long-term agreements with both Detroit Medical Center and Henry Ford Health System and that, as a result of our mutual long-term commitments, we're able to collaborate with these organizations in support of their commitment to the city of Detroit and its revitalization," said Steve Inacker, president, Medical Channel Management at Cardinal Health.

Cardinal Health will also serve surrounding areas in the state of Michigan as well as northern Ohio and northern Indiana from its new location.

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) is a $103 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices focus on patient care while  reducing costs, enhancing efficiency and improving quality. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products to more than 60,000 locations each day. The company is also a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company supports the growing diagnostic industry by supplying medical products to clinical laboratories and operating the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #21 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at cardinalhealth.com and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.

About Detroit Medical Center

The Detroit Medical Center operates 10 hospitals and institutes, including Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Harper University Hospital, Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, Hutzel Women's Hospital, Cardiovascular Institute, Kresge Eye Institute, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Sinai-Grace Hospital, and DMC Surgery Hospital.  

The Detroit Medical Center is a leading regional health care system with a mission of excellence in clinical care, research and medical education.

The Detroit Medical Center is proud to be the Official Healthcare Services Provider of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons.

About Henry Ford Health System

Henry Ford Health System, one of the country's largest and most comprehensive integrated health care systems, is a national leader in clinical care, research and education. The system includes the 1,200-member Henry Ford Medical Group; four acute care hospitals; two residential behavioral health facilities; Health Alliance Plan, a 600,000-member health insurance and wellness company; Henry Ford Physician Network, a physician-led organization to drive clinical integration and quality and reduce costs; and 150 ambulatory, health-related and wellness sites throughout southeast Michigan. Henry Ford is a 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient.

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Texas Health Resources and Healthways Announce Ten-Year Commitment to Improve Well-Being and Reduce Health-Related ...

Wed, Apr 18, 2012, 7:51 AM EDT - U.S. Markets open in 1 hr 39 mins

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Rush System for Health, UnitedHealthcare Announce New Network Relationship

Mon, Mar 26, 2012, 1:14 PM EDT - U.S. Markets close in 2 hrs 46 mins

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Regence Rx and Catalyst Health Solutions Announce Pharmacy Benefit Management Agreement Through 2017

Mon, Mar 19, 2012, 10:54 PM EDT - U.S. Markets closed

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Orlando Chiropractor and Affinity Health & Wellness Center Announce New Services for 2012

ORLANDO, FL--(Marketwire -01/22/12)- Orlando chiropractic facility Affinity Health & Wellness Center has announced the introduction of new services, effective in January 2012. The chiropractor and staff at Affinity Health & Wellness Center offer chiropractic care for personal injury and auto injury patients, massage therapy, and wellness services. The new services will include a non-invasive facial peel, new types of massages including hot stone and deep tissue massage, and a new method of chiropractic adjustment that is entirely pain-free. Affinity Health & Wellness Center will continue to offer the services of the chiropractor, Dr. Brent Baldasare, and the services of the staff licensed massage therapist.

When asked about the decision to offer new services at Affinity Health & Wellness Center, Dr. Baldasare said, "We have always strived to be not just an Orlando chiropractic resource, but also a total health and wellness resource. We decided to add these new services because it allows our clients to get all their health, wellness, and beauty needs met in one convenient place."

The Orlando massage therapy services that are new offerings at Affinity Health & Wellness Center include hot stone massage, a therapy in which warmed river stones are placed along the spinal column for a heated therapy experience. Deep tissue massage will also be offered under the guidance of the Affinity Health & Wellness Center Licensed Massage Therapist, Lisa. Deep tissue massage can be used to relieve severe pain and to break up scar tissue that has built up after an injury. Massage therapy can be arranged as a spa service or as part of a healing program prescribed by the chiropractor.

Another new offering at Affinity Health & Wellness Center is a low-force means of chiropractic adjustment. The tool used to make the adjustments uses very low pressure and allows for completely pain free adjustments for patients.

According to Dr. Baldasare, "Some patients who have concerns about undergoing chiropractic adjustments will feel more comfortable with this new low-force method as they are assured of a pain-free experience. Patients can try this method if they are looking for an alternate type of chiropractic adjustment, since it often as effective as other adjustment methods."

A new type of facial peel has been added to the spa service menu at Affinity Health & Wellness Center for 2012 as well. According to the chiropractor, the facial peel is a non-invasive way to remove many of the effects of aging, allowing patients to look up to ten years younger with no invasive treatment required.

"Facial peels can rejuvenate skin, remove fine lines and wrinkles, and will expose a new layer of younger-looking skin. The new facial peel uses all-natural products and does not introduce any potentially harmful chemicals to the skin," said Dr. Baldasare.

Affinity Health & Wellness Center is offering all the announced new services at the time of press release. More information is available on the center website at http://www.affinityhealthcarecenter.com.

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Magellan Health Services and Phoenix Health Plan Announce Joint Venture Development Agreement

Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 8:53 AM EST - U.S. Markets open in 37 mins.

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RedBrick Health and The Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM) Announce the Formation of a First-of ...

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- RedBrick Health, a leader in consumer health engagement technology and The Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM), a global non-profit enterprise created to establish the full value of employee health as an investment in workplace productivity and business performance, announce the formation of a first-of-its-kind WorkPlace Center™ for Employee Health Incentives. The new WorkPlace Center is a meeting place for employers, health plans and health solutions providers of all kinds to share their latest thinking and practice in the evolving field of behavioral incentives and employee engagement, and to conduct new research to "push the curve" in this field.

The Mission of the WorkPlace Center for Employee Health Incentives is to demonstrate the most effective incentives for employees to become engaged in lifestyle behavior changes that measurably reduce their health risks, improve their productivity, and slow the rise of employers' medical costs.

The WorkPlace Center to Study the Science of Incentives for Healthy Behavior will assist:

Employers with validated information on incentives for employees which increase engagement and change behavior to reduce health risks, slow rising medical costs and improve productivity; Health plans and other health solution providers in developing evidence-based incentive designs that increase employee engagement and change health behaviors to improve outcomes from prevention, wellness and condition management programs; Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in developing more effective patient compliance programs in concert with new incentive-based health plan benefit designs.

WorkPlace Center actions will include:

Recruiting additional sponsors to support the mission and activities of the Center and build it into the national thought leadership body on the subject of incentives; Forming an Advisory Board of leading practitioners from sponsors and major stakeholder groups including self-insured employers, health plans and other health solution providers and researchers from the field of behavioral economics to establish the Center's objectives and help set its research and education agenda; Conducting sponsored field research with the stakeholders to test the value of different kinds of incentives in improving engagement and effecting behavior change that improves functional health and productivity and slows rising medical costs; Providing educational opportunities for all stakeholders through IHPM Value-Based Health Conference sessions and Academies and publishing research results and other educational content in IHPM electronic and print vehicles such as Health & Productivity Management.

"Linking rewards to healthy behaviors provides a financial benefit to employees who invest time and energy in their health," says Kyle Rolfing, founder and president of RedBrick Health. "By establishing a proper rewards structure, a win-win situation for both the employees and their employer can be realized."

About RedBrick Health

RedBrick is a health engagement technology company that helps employers reinvigorate their health & wellness programs. The company combines financial accountability, clinical and behavioral insight, social and game mechanics and powerful data analytics to create a personalized and persuasive experience delivered through web, mobile and live interactions. As a result, RedBrick drives healthy behaviors, better outcomes, and stronger returns on everyone's investment in health. The company serves large, self-insured employers and strategic distribution partners. Visit RedBrick at redbrickhealth.com, read more at healthinnovationblog.com or follow the company at twitter.com/redbrickhealth.

Connect with RedBrick Health
Health Innovation Blog
LinkedIn
Twitter

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RedBrick Health and The Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM) Announce the Formation of a First-of ...

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- RedBrick Health, a leader in consumer health engagement technology and The Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM), a global non-profit enterprise created to establish the full value of employee health as an investment in workplace productivity and business performance, announce the formation of a first-of-its-kind WorkPlace Center™ for Employee Health Incentives. The new WorkPlace Center is a meeting place for employers, health plans and health solutions providers of all kinds to share their latest thinking and practice in the evolving field of behavioral incentives and employee engagement, and to conduct new research to "push the curve" in this field.

The Mission of the WorkPlace Center for Employee Health Incentives is to demonstrate the most effective incentives for employees to become engaged in lifestyle behavior changes that measurably reduce their health risks, improve their productivity, and slow the rise of employers' medical costs.

The WorkPlace Center to Study the Science of Incentives for Healthy Behavior will assist:

Employers with validated information on incentives for employees which increase engagement and change behavior to reduce health risks, slow rising medical costs and improve productivity; Health plans and other health solution providers in developing evidence-based incentive designs that increase employee engagement and change health behaviors to improve outcomes from prevention, wellness and condition management programs; Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in developing more effective patient compliance programs in concert with new incentive-based health plan benefit designs.

WorkPlace Center actions will include:

Recruiting additional sponsors to support the mission and activities of the Center and build it into the national thought leadership body on the subject of incentives; Forming an Advisory Board of leading practitioners from sponsors and major stakeholder groups including self-insured employers, health plans and other health solution providers and researchers from the field of behavioral economics to establish the Center's objectives and help set its research and education agenda; Conducting sponsored field research with the stakeholders to test the value of different kinds of incentives in improving engagement and effecting behavior change that improves functional health and productivity and slows rising medical costs; Providing educational opportunities for all stakeholders through IHPM Value-Based Health Conference sessions and Academies and publishing research results and other educational content in IHPM electronic and print vehicles such as Health & Productivity Management.

"Linking rewards to healthy behaviors provides a financial benefit to employees who invest time and energy in their health," says Kyle Rolfing, founder and president of RedBrick Health. "By establishing a proper rewards structure, a win-win situation for both the employees and their employer can be realized."

About RedBrick Health

RedBrick is a health engagement technology company that helps employers reinvigorate their health & wellness programs. The company combines financial accountability, clinical and behavioral insight, social and game mechanics and powerful data analytics to create a personalized and persuasive experience delivered through web, mobile and live interactions. As a result, RedBrick drives healthy behaviors, better outcomes, and stronger returns on everyone's investment in health. The company serves large, self-insured employers and strategic distribution partners. Visit RedBrick at redbrickhealth.com, read more at healthinnovationblog.com or follow the company at twitter.com/redbrickhealth.

Connect with RedBrick Health
Health Innovation Blog
LinkedIn
Twitter

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