No Pain, No Gain ;O): Services

Magellan Health Services, Inc. (MGLN) today announced that it will release second quarter earnings results on Friday, July 27, 2012. Management will discuss the Company’s financial results, as well as its business strategy and outlook in a conference call to be held the same day from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.

The press release detailing the Company’s second quarter 2012 earnings results will be issued at approximately 6:30 a.m. Eastern, and will be immediately available on the investor relations page at www.MagellanHealth.com.

To participate in the conference call, interested parties should call 1-888-566-8408 and reference the passcode Second Quarter 2012 Earnings Call approximately 15 minutes before the start of the call. The conference call also will be available via live webcast at Magellan's investor relations page at www.MagellanHealth.com.

A taped replay of the conference call will be available for one week following the call. Interested parties should call 1-800-925-0848 or 1-402-220-3072 (from outside the U.S.) to listen.

Those who plan to access the webcasts are encouraged to read Magellan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2012, and the subsequent Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2012, for material information regarding Magellan's operational and financial results, including the section entitled “Risk Factors.”

About Magellan Health Services: Headquartered in Avon, Conn., Magellan Health Services, Inc. is a leading specialty health care management organization with expertise in managing behavioral health, radiology and specialty pharmaceuticals, as well as public sector pharmacy benefits programs. Magellan delivers innovative solutions to improve quality outcomes and optimize the cost of care for those we serve. As of March 31, 2012, Magellan’s customers include health plans, employers and government agencies, serving approximately 33.8 million members in our behavioral health business, 16.1 million members in our radiology benefits management segment, and 6.2 million members in our medical pharmacy management product. In addition, the specialty pharmaceutical segment served 41 health plans and several pharmaceutical manufacturers and state Medicaid programs. The company’s Medicaid Administration segment served 24 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.MagellanHealth.com.

Cautionary Statement: Certain of the statements made in the presentations may constitute forward-looking statements contemplated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s analysis, judgment, belief and expectations as of the date of such statements and are subject to known and unknown uncertainties and risks which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in the presentations are qualified in their entirety by the more complete discussion of risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Magellan’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Magellan undertakes no obligation to publicly revise such forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of such statements.

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Prime Health Services Acquires Casualty Management Network

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Prime Health Services (Prime), one of the nation’s largest workers’ compensation, group health, corrections, and auto liability PPO networks is pleased to announce it has acquired Casualty Management Network (CMN).

CMN is a broad based PPO network with over 5,000 medical providers in the state of Colorado. Its providers are contracted for the workers’ compensation, group health, and auto markets. Both coverage and discounts are substantial.

Brian Sharp, CEO of Prime, said yesterday, “This acquisition greatly enhances Prime’s coverage in the state of Colorado for all of our product lines. CMN has done an excellent job in contracting the most desired providers in this prominent western state. Our clients will see an immediate impact on Prime’s coverage and savings in Colorado.” Sharp further stated, “Prime continues to enhance its place in the PPO market with this acquisition.”

As the consolidation of PPOs continues nationally (especially in the workers’ compensation market), Prime is executing its business strategy to aggressively contract the most sought after providers. For clients that use our Prime Metrics product, we also contract medical providers with the best empirical medical outcomes. As stated by Prime’s VP of Network Management, Dorrence Stovall, “Prime’s strategy also includes acquiring regional and local PPOs. CMN was a perfect fit with Prime and our overall business plan.”

About Prime Health

Founded in 2001 and based in Brentwood, TN, Prime Health Services (Prime) is a medical cost containment company that offers a full spectrum of services, including a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) ready for access with customizable solutions, as well as other cost containment services. Prime Health’s PPOs include Workers’ Compensation, Group Health, Corrections, and Auto Liability networks. Prime Health has over 600,000 providers and facilities nationwide forming the Prime Health National Delivery System. Prime Health offers our National Delivery System to the TPA, insurance carrier, and self-insured markets. More Information is available at www.primehealthservices.com or by calling 866-348-3887.

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Monday, June 4, 2012

Universal Health Services, Inc. to Acquire Ascend Health Corporation

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) ("UHS") announced today that they have reached a definitive agreement whereby UHS will acquire Ascend Health Corporation ("Ascend") for $500 million in cash. Including the assumption of $17 million in Ascend net debt, the total transaction consideration is approximately $517 million.

UHS's acquisition of Ascend is a strategic transaction that enhances our industry-leading presence in the behavioral health care services sector. Ascend is the largest private psychiatric hospital provider with 9 owned or leased freestanding psychiatric inpatient facilities located in 5 states including Texas, Arizona, Utah, Oregon and Washington.

"We are thrilled to add Ascend's high quality assets to our strong portfolio of behavioral health facilities. We expect this acquisition to be immediately accretive to earnings and provide organic growth and expansion opportunities," said Alan B. Miller, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of UHS. We expect to complete the transaction in the fourth quarter of 2012, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

"Ascend and UHS have always shared a common set of principals and a commitment to the highest quality of care. We believe that combining with UHS represents an outstanding opportunity for our Company and will greatly benefit our patients and staff," said Richard Kresch, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascend.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as financial advisor to UHS. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is acting as legal advisor to UHS. Goldman, Sachs & Co. is acting as financial advisor to Ascend. Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP is acting as legal advisor to Ascend.

Universal Health Services, Inc. ("UHS") is one of the nation's largest hospital companies, operating acute care and behavioral health hospitals and ambulatory centers nationwide and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It acts as the advisor to Universal Health Realty Income Trust, a real estate investment trust (UHT). For additional information on the Company, visit our website: http://www.uhsinc.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Numerous factors, including those disclosed herein, those related to healthcare industry trends and those detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission(as set forth in Item 1A-Risk Factors and in Item 7-Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in Item 2-Forward Looking Statements and Risk Factors in our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012), may cause the results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine our future results are beyond our capability to control or predict. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and therefore actual results may differ materially. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Aetna to Provide Assurant Health Customers Access to Flexible, Convenient Pharmacy Services

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today a multi-year pharmacy benefit management agreement with Assurant Health, a leading provider of major medical, supplemental and fixed-benefit health plans for individuals, families and small employers. Aetna will deliver pharmacy benefit management solutions that will help manage costs and improve member health for Assurant Health’s customers in the 47 states in which they do business. Assurant Health customers will also benefit from Aetna’s agreement with CVS Caremark and their broad, national network of participating pharmacies, comprehensive pharmacy care support, and easy-to-use tools to manage their prescriptions. The agreement represents a full replacement of Assurant Health’s current pharmacy benefit manager for the majority of its customers, and will be effective on January 1, 2013.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to expand into a new marketplace and demonstrate the value of our integrated pharmacy benefit management capabilities,” said Laurie Brubaker, head of Aetna Pharmacy Benefit Management.

Assurant Health focuses on providing affordable health care coverage and services that help customers better manage their health care dollars.

“We understand consumers want clear information and tools to help them make cost-effective decisions when it comes to managing their health care budgets,” said Adam Lamnin, president and CEO of Assurant Health. “We are pleased that our customers will have access to tools through Aetna and CVS Caremark that will help them make the most of their prescription benefits.”

About Assurant Health

Assurant Health is the brand name for a family of health insurance products focused on providing a variety of affordable plan choices to consumers. The portfolio of health care products includes major medical, supplemental and fixed-benefit plans for individuals, families and small employers. Assurant Health is committed to providing access to convenient health care delivery, easy-to-understand products and value-added services that help customers better manage their health care dollars and get the most out of their coverage. Assurant Health’s products are underwritten and issued by John Alden Life Insurance Company, Union Security Insurance Company and Time Insurance Company, which has been in business since 1892. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Assurant Health employs approximately 2,000 employees. www.assuranthealth.com

Additional Company Information

Assurant Health is part of Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North America and select worldwide markets. Assurant, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ. Assurant has approximately $27 billion in assets and $8 billion in annual revenue. www.assurant.com

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.1 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services and health information technology services. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.

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Health Language, Inc. Partners with Siemens Healthcare to Provide ICD-10 Implementation Services to Enterprise Clients

Mon, Jun 4, 2012, 9:36 AM EDT - U.S. Markets close in 6 hrs 24 mins

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Health groups urge Ottawa to save refugee services

The heads of several of Canada's leading health-care organizations have written a strongly worded letter to the federal immigration minister, urging him to rescind plans to cut health services to refugees and refugee claimants.

"We are extremely concerned over the health impacts that this will have on the most vulnerable members of our society, many of whom will eventually become Canadian citizens," the letter to Jason Kenney states.

It is signed by the heads of eight prominent health-care groups:

The Canadian Association of Optometrists

The Canadian Medical Association

The Canadian Nurses Association

The Canadian Association of Social Workers

The Canadian Dental Association

The Canadian Pharmacists Association

The College of Family Physicians of Canada

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Currently, under a long-standing program called the Interim Federal Health Program, the federal government provides basic health care, dental and vision care, medications and medical devices as needed to refugee claimants until they become eligible for coverage under provincial health care.

But under the new government plan, which is due to take effect June 30, some refugee claimants would only be entitled to urgent care; others would be denied all care unless they have a disease that would be a risk to the public, such as tuberculosis.

Kenney said the plan is to ensure refugees don't get better health care than ordinary Canadians. He said it's also meant to deter fraudulent refugee claimants from coming to Canada for free health and dental care.

The plan would also save the government about $100 million over the next five years, he said.

But the medical professionals say it won’t save money in the long run because people who are sick will only get worse and take up more resources down the line.

They argue the plan will download costs to provincial governments, charitable groups and community organizations, which they say are already struggling to provide adequate health-care services to the overall community.

And they say the move will hurt not only refugees, it will endanger the public.

"These changes will have deleterious effects to the public health and safety of all Canadians. For instance, tuberculosis, which is still quite prevalent in various regions of the world, may go unnoticed by health professionals, inevitably putting the greater public in harm's reach," the letter states.

The health professionals are also concerned that there is no grandfathering provision. That means people who currently have medications provided to them for serious illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes will be cut off or forced to pay for it themselves.

"The health implications of cutting off individuals who are already receiving necessary health care could be catastrophic," the health professionals wrote.

Jeff Morrison, director of government relations and public affairs for the Canadian Pharmacists Association, told CBC News in an interview Friday that the government should consider other ways to save money without compromising the health of refugees.

"We would be more than happy to work with them in improving efficiencies in other areas," he said.

So far, the group has not had a response from Kenney or his office to their letter.

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Sunday, May 13, 2012

Nurse practitioners look to fill gap with expected spike in demand for health services

“We know that the Affordable Care Act will extend health coverage to millions of Americans,” said Penny Kaye Jensen, president of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. “It’s important for consumers to understand what we do and that we’re fully prepared to care for them.”

Through advertisements, public service announcements and events, the organization will try to raise the profile of the country’s 155,000 nurse practitioners.

The campaign looks to exploit what many say is a looming doctor shortage. The Association of American Medical College predicts that the country will have 63,000 too few doctors as soon as 2015.

“With the serious shortage of family doctors in many parts of the country, nurse practitioners — or NPs as they are known — can provide expert, compassionate and affordable care,” the group will contend in a radio public service announcement.

The AANP will follow up on the public relations blitz with state-level lobbying efforts, looking to pass bills that will expand the range of medical procedures that their membership can perform.

“A fully enabled nurse practitioner workforce will increase access to quality health care, improve outcomes and make the health-care system more affordable for patients all across America,” Jensen said.

All states have “scope of practice” laws, which regulate what medical procedures each profession can, and cannot, perform, given their level of education. These laws regulate everyone from dental hygienists to physician assistants up to nurse practitioners, who all hold graduate degrees in medical education.

In 16 states, nurse practitioners can practice without the supervision of another professional such as a doctor. Other states, however, require a physician to sign off on a nurse practitioner’s prescriptions, for example, or diagnostic tests.

As the health insurance expansion looms, expanding those rules to other states has become a crucial priority for nurse practitioners. “We’re all educated and prepared to provide a full range of services,” said Taynin Kopanos, AANP’s director of state government affairs.

The nurse practitioners’ campaign, however, is unlikely to move forward without a fight: doctors’ groups have often opposed such efforts of other professional societies to expand their medical authorities. The American Medical Association, which lobbies for doctors, often contends that such laws could put patients at risk.

“Non-physician professionals play vital roles in providing high-quality patient care, but no other health-care professionals’ education and training comes close to physicians’ more than 10 years of medical education and 16,000 hours of clinical experience,” AMA President Peter Carmel said.

Legislative analysts at the AMA say they’ve seen an uptick in state legislation meant to increase the powers of other professionals since the Affordable Care Act passed. Legislators have introduced about 400 such bills this year.

Nurse practitioners say they do have the skills necessary to treat patients with more autonomy. Unlike other nurses, all nurse practitioners hold either a master’s or doctorate degree in medical education.

Alongside the legislative push, the group also will focus on public education. Data suggest that they have their work cut out for them: A 2010 AANP poll found that while most Americans report having been seen by a nurse practitioner, few knew that their medical expertise goes beyond that of traditional, registered nurses, who go through less medical training.

Fourteen percent of the adults surveyed thought that nurse practitioners could prescribe medication, although sometimes with a physician’s supervision, an authority they have in all states. They can also order diagnostic tests and scans, such as X-rays and MRIs, but only 18 percent thought such powers were within their scope of practice.

“People stop at the word nurse and don’t understand the word practitioner,” Jensen said. “Obviously we are nurses, but we also have advanced education. We think there’s a misunderstanding on the patients’ behalf.”

Jensen hopes to see her members out at health fairs, church groups, rotary clubs and other community events to get the word out about the work they do, and the role they hope to fill as health insurance coverage expands.

“I think I was surprised about patients knowing so little, even if they’ve seen us,” she said. “That really was the springboard for this campaign, that we need to be expanding our visibility.”

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Mental Health and Bullying: Magellan Health Services Launches Second Annual “Take Mental Health to Heart” Campaign

Tue, May 1, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT - U.S. Markets close in 4 hrs 56 mins

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Health Net, Armed Services YMCA and Blue Star Families Present: Families in the Kitchen

Tue, May 1, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT - U.S. Markets close in 4 hrs 56 mins

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Leading Health Economist Mark V. Pauly, Ph.D., Named 2012 Recipient of the Willam B. Graham Prize for Health Services ...

ARLINGTON, Va. & DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Mark V. Pauly, Ph.D., has been named the 2012 recipient of the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research. The Prize, funded by The Baxter International Foundation and managed by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), will be awarded on May 31, 2012 during the AUPHA Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minn.

The Prize recognizes the contributions of health services researchers who apply analytic methods to examine and evaluate the organization, financing and/or delivery of health services. An independent committee of past winners, distinguished academics and internationally recognized researchers selects the recipient each year.

One of the nation’s leading health economists, Dr. Pauly has made significant contributions to the fields of medical economics and health insurance including research exploring healthcare reform, conceptual foundations for cost-benefit analysis of drugs, and incentives in managed care. His classic study on the economics of moral hazard was the first to note how health insurance coverage might affect patients’ use of medical services.

''Dr. Pauly is a marvel. His work has advanced the worlds of health services, health economics, health policy, and health management,'' said Kyle Grazier, DrPH, University of Michigan professor and Graham Prize Selection Committee chair. ''He has held leadership positions in academia as a dean, chair, and endowed professor; in professional leadership as a journal editor and advisory board member; in corporate and public sector leadership with the National Institutes of Health and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and as a teacher and mentor, winning awards for both. Mark Pauly is truly deserving of the Graham Prize.''

Dr. Pauly is Bendheim Professor in the Department of Health Care Management, Public Policy and Management, and Insurance and Risk Management at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is Co-Director of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Life Sciences and Management Program and Professor of Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.

''Health economics means more than cost and more than money,'' said Dr. Pauly. ''It means getting every American the healthcare and health insurance that is of highest net value, private and social. I am delighted to be recognized for my attempts to deliver on this promise.''

Dr. Pauly has been a consultant to the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine, and currently serves on the National Advisory Committees for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Care Financing and Organization Program, and the RWJF Health Policy Scholars Program. In 2007, Dr. Pauly was awarded the John M. Eisenberg Excellence in Mentorship Award from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, and the Distinguished Investigator Award from AcademyHealth. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics, an associate editor of the Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, and Co-Editor of the recently published Handbook of Health Economics, Volume 2 (Elsevier). Dr. Pauly received the Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Virginia.

About the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research

Since 1986, The Baxter International Foundation and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration have awarded the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research to recognize researchers who have made major contributions to the health of the public through innovative research in health services. The Prize honors the late William B. Graham, longtime chairman and CEO of Baxter International Inc., and is internationally regarded as the premier recognition for individuals conducting health services research. The Prize recognizes individuals who have had a significant impact on the health of the public in one of three primary focus areas: Health Services Management, Health Policy Development and Healthcare Delivery. The Prize includes an award of $25,000 to the individual and $25,000 to a not-for-profit institution that supports the winner’s work.

About the Prize Sponsors

The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX - News), helps organizations expand access to healthcare in the United States and around the world. The foundation, established in 1981, focuses exclusively on increasing access to healthcare particularly for the disadvantaged and underserved in communities where Baxter employees live and work. Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide. For more information, please visit www.baxter.com.

AUPHA is a global network of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals and organizations dedicated to the improvement of healthcare delivery through excellence in healthcare management and policy education. Its mission is to foster excellence and drive innovation in health management and policy education, and promote the value of university-based management education for leadership roles in the health sector. It is the only non-profit entity of its kind that works to improve the delivery of health services – and thus the health of citizens – throughout the world by educating professional managers at the entry level. AUPHA's membership includes the premier baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degree programs in health administration education in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Its faculty and individual members represent more than 400 colleges and universities. For more information, please visit www.aupha.org.

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Sunday, April 29, 2012

Accretive Health Announces Termination of its Quality and Total Cost of Care Services Contract by Fairview Health ...

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Accretive Health, Inc. (NYSE: AH - News) said today that it has received notice of termination from Fairview Health Services of its Quality and Total Cost of Care (“QTCC”) services contract. The terms of the transition have yet to be determined. The Company will update its business outlook on its quarterly earnings call on May 9, 2012.

Accretive Health said that it regrets that the recent activities of the Minnesota Attorney General have created a situation where Fairview felt it necessary to cancel its work with the Company in QTCC. The Company intends to work with Fairview to preserve the good results that have been achieved and will continue to invest in this important area.

Accretive Health also said it has received reiterations of support from other clients who recognize the value of Accretive Health’s ability to help hospitals and other healthcare providers enhance their quality of care. This show of support is consistent with the Company’s mission of being a constructive and positive contributor to the American healthcare system.

About Accretive Health

Accretive Health partners with healthcare providers to help them more effectively manage their revenue cycles, strengthen their financial stability, and improve the quality of care they provide while reducing overall healthcare costs. Our people, processes and sophisticated integrated technology complement our clients' existing resources to enhance results for patients, physicians and staff. For more information, please visit www.accretivehealth.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This document contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding outstanding issues with the Minnesota Attorney General and the Company’s efforts to facilitate an orderly transition of its QTCC services at Fairview Health Services, which involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2012, under the heading "Risk Factors". The words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "would," “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Although we believe that the expectations underlying any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, these expectations may prove to be incorrect and all of these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions, projections, or expectations prove incorrect, actual results, performance, financial condition, or events may vary materially and adversely from those anticipated, estimated, or expected.

All forward-looking statements included in this report are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement that speaks only as of the date made and to recognize that forward-looking statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results, due to the uncertainties and factors described above, as well as others that we may consider immaterial or do not anticipate at this time. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. Our expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown uncertainties and factors, including those described above. The risks and uncertainties described above are not exclusive, and further information concerning us and our business, including factors that potentially could materially affect our financial results or condition or relationships with customers and potential customers, may emerge from time to time. We assume no, and we specifically disclaim any, obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements. We advise you, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our periodic reports that we file with or furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Monday, April 2, 2012

Credit Repair | Credit Repair Services CALL NOW (888) 873-7388

Credit repair that can help you, CALL NOW (888) 873-7388 or fill out this form HERE http://tiny.cc/593mr if you're committed to working towards financial control of your life. A great place to start is with education on how and when to use credit. Our resources are designed to motivate and assist you in making the necessary changes in your financial life. We've included tools that will enable you to save time and money, free content that will help you build your financial knowledge, and webinars that will teach you about money management skills. You'll be surprised how quickly you can build a strong foundation of financial knowledge to set you on the path to financial independence with our credit repair services.

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Health Care Market Analysis Finds Pittsburgh Uses Substantially More Services, Resulting in Higher Costs to Employers

PITTSBURGH, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To provide its members with a baseline understanding of health care delivery and costs in the Pittsburgh region, the non-profit Pittsburgh Business Group on Health (PBGH), an employer-led coalition, commissioned a health care market analysis that found the Pittsburgh region uses substantially more health care services, than comparative markets — Cleveland, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. As analyzed, the Pittsburgh region's annual burden for additional hospitalizations was $187 million.

The Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute (HCI3), a non-profit organization focused on improving health care quality and value through evidence-based incentive and provider payment solutions, worked with PBGH to analyze the market comparison to better understand the relationship between the supply of hospital beds and the frequency of hospitalizations in the four comparable U.S. metropolitan areas. The findings and recommendations were released today in an HCI3 Issue Brief. The initial research was conducted by FORTE Information Resources.

"Due to the uncertainty of the changing landscape of health care, nationally and in the Pittsburgh region, and the potential impact this may have on employers' benefits programs, it was critical to develop a baseline understanding of the delivery and cost of health care in our market," said M. Christine Whipple, PBGH executive director. "It was equally important to determine if the cost and use of health care services is different, and if so, examine how and why. We found that the higher use of services in the Pittsburgh region is producing higher costs for health care. However, without knowing the actual payments to providers for health care services (and the link to the information), it is unclear just how much more employers, and their employees, are paying for health care in our region."

Cheryl Melinchak, PBGH board president and director, Benefits, Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC, indicated, "These studies raise thought-provoking questions about health care in the Pittsburgh region. Based on this type of information, and the current climate, employers have the best opportunity in years to influence the payments and delivery of health care services in our region."

Results
Both Cleveland and Pittsburgh have a higher number of beds per 1,000 residents than are found in Cincinnati or St. Louis. Among these communities, Cincinnati has the fewest hospitals, yet its occupancy rate is among the lowest despite having one of the highest Medicare patient case mix severity adjustments. Adjusted length of stay is second only to that of Pittsburgh.

"Whether one compares U.S. regions or the care major academic medical centers provide — a large fraction of the nearly two-fold differences in per-patient costs that are observed, after accounting for patient case-mix, are due to differences in utilization rates of supply sensitive services," said Elliott S. Fisher, MD, MPH, professor of Medicine at the Dartmouth Medical School and director, Population Health and Policy at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. "Patients cared for in regions that have a greater relative supply of beds and physicians spend more time in the hospital, have more frequent physician visits (especially by specialists), and get more diagnostic tests and imaging services."

Francois de Brantes, HCI3 executive director noted, "By making data available on the costs and quality of care, we can better identify where employers, insurers and providers can collaborate to improve health care in Pittsburgh. Two such areas are payment reform and the use of value-based purchasing and benefit designs. Employers should demand from their health plans new payment models that impose financial risk on providers for excessive and unwarranted use of services. Additionally, Pittsburgh's employers would benefit by being more aggressive in incenting employees to use low cost, high-value providers. Benefit designs can provide the practical way to drive employees to use higher value hospitals that can result in providers moderating their price increases."

Study methodology
Two separate analyses were conducted to measure total hospital capacity in each community and the contribution of that capacity to health care costs. First, PBGH commissioned FORTE to develop the Pittsburgh Health Care Market Comparison, which provides a market assessment of demographic and general health care characteristics, hospital utilization and discharge analyses of specific diagnoses and procedures in each of the four regions. Secondly, HCI3 standardized the community-wide information and using its internal benchmark data of commercially insured health plan members estimated the average national cost of a bed day. This estimate was used to compare the potential added cost of hospital usage on total health care costs in Pittsburgh against that of the other markets.

About the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute™, Inc.
The Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute, Inc. (HCI3) is a non-profit multi-stakeholder umbrella organization for Bridges to Excellence® and PROMETHEUS Payment®. The mission of the organization is to create significant improvements in the quality and affordability of health care by developing and implementing programs that recognize and reward physicians, hospitals and other health care providers that deliver safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care. HCI3 offers a comprehensive package of solutions to employers, health plans and coalitions to improve the flawed incentives that currently permeate the U.S. health care system. www.HCI3.org

About the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health
Founded in 1981, the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health (PBGH) is an employer-led coalition representing over 80 members regional and national members. The coalition, promoting education, collaboration, and innovation to manage costs and drive value in health care and benefits, raises awareness and highlights leading edge strategies through its community forums, members' only meetings, annual conferences and health care market analyses and benchmarking surveys. www.pbghpa.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The PBGH Pittsburgh Health Care Market Comparison available to accredited media upon request.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

National Community Health Center Partnership Forms to Improve Health IT Services

WASHINGTON and BETHESDA, Md., March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Recognizing the need for trusted resources with relevant experience to help safety-net providers manage increasing demands for quality, cost, and outcome data, as well as navigate a complex and ever changing HIT marketplace, The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), in partnership with three Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs) - Health Choice Network of Florida, OCHIN of Oregon, and the Alliance of Chicago, is pleased to announce the launch of THQLink (connecting Technology, Health, and Quality).

THQLink aims to harness decades of investment in Community Health Center specific expertise, resources, and thought leadership under one organization to strengthen our nation's Community Health Centers and other safety-net providers by leveraging technology to advance quality in healthcare. "We didn't want to recreate the wheel. This is about bringing together the thought leaders in the field with their proven track records and expertise to quickly implement what works so that Community Health Centers can be well positioned for the future," said Tom Van Coverden, President and CEO of NACHC.

The three founding HCCNs came together with NACHC as the culmination of a joint strategic planning process. These primary partners built THQLink as an infrastructure that will allow the three Networks, along with other safety-net participants, to share resources to carry out three aims:

1) Achieve greater value for Community Health Centers as they improve quality and cost effectiveness of care delivery by jointly deploying state of the art information technology.2) Promote high quality resources specializing in the safety-net to support efficient and effective use of Health Information Technology to improve quality and achieve Patient Centered Medical Home recognition. 3) Develop and implement a robust data aggregation and analytics platform to measure outcomes, share best practices and improve population health.

Health Choice Network, Alliance of Chicago, and OCHIN currently serve approximately 12% of all Federally Qualified Health Centers in 27 states. As the electronic health record (EHR) market matures, achieving economies of scale and attracting and maintaining skilled workers who know health centers requires Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs), Primary Care Associations (PCAs), and Regional Extension Centers (RECs) to work closer together than ever before. In this spirit, and as part of the arrangement, all three organizations have agreed to deploy a consolidated aggregation and analytics system powered by Microsoft Amalga, an enterprise health intelligence platform.

"Health Choice Network is breaking new ground in using Amalga to combine clinical and educational data to improve care processes in South Florida," said Nate McLemore, general manager, Microsoft Health Solutions Group. "We're excited to build on that foundation and collaborate with THQLink and community health centers nationwide to implement the Amalga platform and applications in support of population health initiatives across the country."

THQLink will be officially announced at the NACHC Policy & Issues Forum in Washington, D.C. on March 21, 2012.

For more information, please contact Clayton Gillett, Interim CEO at 1-855-THQ-LINK.

ABOUT NACHC

To address the widespread lack of access to basic health care, Community Health Centers serve over 20 million people at more than 8,000 sites located throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories. They depend in part on public financial help and need a unified voice and common source for research, information, training and advocacy. The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) was founded in 1971 to address these needs. NACHC works with state and regional primary care associations to serve health centers in a variety of ways:

Provide research-based advocacy for health centers and their patients.Educate the public about the mission and value of health centers.Train and provide technical assistance to health center staff and boards.Develop alliances with private partners and key stakeholders to foster the delivery of primary care services to communities in need. ABOUT OCHIN

One of the nation's largest and most successful health information networks, OCHIN is nationally recognized for its innovative use of Health IT to improve the integration and delivery of health care services across a wide variety of practices with an emphasis on safety net clinics and small practices, as well as critical access and rural hospitals. OCHIN is focused on helping practices use Health IT tools to achieve the core components of care quality improvement that are essential to realizing the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Triple Aim goals:

(1) improving patient experience,(2) enhancing population health, and(3) controlling costs. ABOUT HEALTH CHOICE NETWORK

Health Choice Network, Inc. is a successful nationwide collaboration among health centers, mental health centers, health center controlled networks and partners. By providing key business services, strategic initiatives and the latest in health information technology, participants can improve patient outcomes through increased efficiencies and more accessible care. With 43 health centers in eleven states serving more than 838,000 patients, Health Choice Network, Inc. is recognized as a leader in the integration of health information technology among health centers and safety net providers.

ABOUT ALLIANCE OF CHICAGO

While an important characteristic of Community Health Centers is their strong individual community identification and governance, they are subject to the same forces that have driven the development of large health care systems. Recognizing the opportunities for groups of safety net organizations who could choose to cooperate rather than compete, the HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care established the Integrated Service Networks Initiative (ISDI) in 1994. The Alliance was founded to realize this strategy. The mission of the Alliance is to share resources and integrate services in order to more efficiently and effectively deliver accessible quality health care to community health centers. The Alliance's strategic vision is to continue promoting the thoughtful use of Health Information Technology (HIT) in the safety-net to promote access, improve quality, and efficiency.

Media Contact: Clayton Gillett of THQLink.org, 855.847.5465, gillettc@thqlink.org

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Friday, March 16, 2012

CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley - Dispute may cut health services for TX women

A dispute between Texas and the federal government could leave thousands of poor women without health services. Anna Werner reports.

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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Prime Health Services, Inc. Announces the Completion of Its TX HCN

Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 5:09 PM EDT - U.S. Markets closed

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Monday, March 12, 2012

Global Home Health Care Services Industry

NEW YORK, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Global Home Health Care Services Industry

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0152435/Global-Home-Health-Care-Services-Industry.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Caring_Se

The global outlook series on Home Health Care Services provides a collection of statistical findings, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. Amply illustrated with 24 market data, tables, charts, and graphs, the report offers a rudimentary overview of the industry, highlights latest trends and demand drivers, in addition to providing statistical insights. Regional markets briefly abstracted and covered include United States and Rest of World, including Canada, Japan, Europe, India, and Brazil. The report offers a compilation of recent mergers, acquisitions, and strategic corporate developments. Also included is an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of 152 companies worldwide.

1. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW 1

Overview 1

Home Health Care Services Market to Surge 1

Home Health Care Equipment: A Promising Market 1

Trends in the Home Healthcare Equipment Market 1

Ease of Use to Drive the Adoption Rate 1

Home Health Care Gains Strength 2

Table 1: World Current & Future Market Analysis for Home

Health Care Services Market by Geographic Region: Annual

Sales Independently Analyzed in US$ Billion for US and Rest

of World Markets for the Years 2010 through 2015 2

Table 2: Global Home Health Care Market by Geographic Region:

Percentage Share for Annual Sales Figures in US$ Billion for

Years 2011 and 2015 for US and Rest of World 3

Home Health Care: A Highly Fragmented Market 3

Growth Drivers 4

Restraints 4

Technological Developments 4

Use of Information Technology in Home Care 4

Wireless Technology for Improved Home Care 5

2. HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES - AN OVERVIEW 6

Introduction 6

Elements of Homecare Services 6

Homecare Providers 6

Formal Care Givers 6

Nursing Professionals 7

Physical Therapists 7

Occupational Therapists 7

Social Workers 7

Informal Care Givers 7

Services Provided Under Homecare 7

Homecare Technology 8

Remote Patient Monitoring System 8

3. MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS 9

4. MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS IN THE RECENT PAST 26

5. STRATEGIC CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS 39

6. CORPORATE ACTIVITY IN THE RECENT PAST 50

A REGIONAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE 52

1. THE UNITED STATES 52

Overview 52

Aging Population and Healthcare Reforms to Drive Growth 52

Table 3: The US Current & Future Market Analysis for Home

Health Care Services Market: Annual Sales Figures

Independently Analyzed in US$ Billion for Years 2010 through

2015 53

Table 4: The US Home Health Care Market: Percentage Share for

Annual Sales Figures in US$ Billion for Years 2011 and 2015 54

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 54

Home Health Care Industry in the US - Fast Facts 54

Factors Driving Homecare Sector 55

Escalating Healthcare Cost in the US 55

Table 5: US Annual Healthcare Expenditure 55

Table 6: Health Expenditure in the US by Type of Service

(2010) 56

Table 7: Estimated Share of Payers for Home Health Care

Spending in the United States (2015) 56

Table 8: Medicare Spending for Home Health Care in the

United States (2010-2019) 56

Increase in Aging Population Continues to Drive the Home

Health Care Market 57

Table 9: Estimated US Population (In Million) Aged Over 65,

85, and 100 Years of Age (2010-2050) 57

Table 10: Breakdown of US Population in Million by Age Group

(2010-2020) 58

Challenges Faced 58

Shortage of Skilled Workforce 58

Review of Select Segments 58

Home-based Pulmonary Care 58

Table 11: The US Current & Future Market Analysis for Home

Respiratory Care Market with Annual Sales Figures in US$

Billion for Years 2010 through 2015 59

Home Infusion Therapy 60

Table 12: The US Current & Future Market Analysis for Home

Infusion Therapy Market with Annual Sales Figures in US$

Billion for Years 2010 through 2015 60

History of Homecare in the US 60

Fragmented Home Nursing/Healthcare Industry 61

Home Healthcare Agencies (HHAs) 61

Table 13: Market Shares of Home Healthcare Agencies in the US

(2010) 62

Table 14: Percentage Share Breakdown of Free-Standing and

Facility-based Medicare Certified Home Health Agencies (HHAs)

in the United States (2010) 62

Table 15: Percentage Share Breakdown by Proprietary,

Not-for-profit, and Government Owned Home Health Agencies:

2010 62

Table 16: Patients under Hospice Care in the United States:

Percentage Breakdown by Type of Agency (2010) 63

Table 17: Patients under Hospice Care in the United States:

Percentage Breakdown by Age Group (2010) 63

Table 18: Patients under Hospice Care in the United States:

Percentage Breakdown by Location of Demise (2010) 63

Table 19: Hospice Admissions in the United States: Percentage

Breakdown by Primary Diagnosis (2010) 64

IT for Improved Home Health Care 64

Licensure in the US 65

In Florida 65

In California 65

Table 20: Leading Home Health Care Providers in Chicago, US

(2010) 65

Table 21: Leading Home Health Care Providers in the United

States (2010) 65

Reimbursement 66

2. CANADA 67

Overview 67

Increase in Number of Homecare Recipients 67

Homecare Vs. Institutional Healthcare 68

Competition 68

Competitive Factors 68

Hospice Palliative Home Care Services 69

Reimbursement Facilities 69

3. JAPAN 70

Home Health Care Services Industry 70

Table 22: Estimated Japanese Population by Age (2010 - 2050)

(In Millions) 70

Demand for Home Healthcare Workers Grows Rapidly 70

4. EUROPE 71

Overview 71

History of Home Care in Europe 71

Factors Driving HHC Market 71

Social Changes 72

Technological Advancements 72

Demographic Changes 72

Table 23: Population Trends for 65+ and 0-14 Year Age Groups

as Proportion of Population for Years 2010-2050 (in %) 72

Epidemiological Changes 73

Home Care Service Providers 73

Formal Care Givers 73

Informal Care Givers 73

Policy Related Issues for Effective Home Care Service 74

Funding in European Home Health Care Market 74

Funding Mechanism in European HHC Market 74

Approach of Various Countries 75

Role of Home Care Technology 76

Hurdles in Diffusion of Technology 76

4a. GERMANY 77

Table 24: German Home Health Care Market (2011): Market Share

Breakdown by Value Sales for Disposables, Ophthalmic, Dental

Surgery, and Other Equipment/ Diagnostics/ Supplies 77

4b. THE UNITED KINGDOM 78

Regulation of Homecare Agencies 78

4c. DENMARK 78

5. INDIA 79

Overview 79

Indian Market -Fast Facts 79

Homecare - A Cost Effective and Convenient Option 79

Limitations in the Indian Home Health Care Market 80

High-Cost 80

Distribution Challenges 80

Unorganized Sector 80

Lack of Awareness 80

Growth Potential 80

6. BRAZIL 82

Overview 82

Growth Drivers 82

Aging Population 82

Private Sector Plays a Major Role 82

GLOBAL DIRECTORY

To order this report:

Caring Services Industry: Global Home Health Care Services Industry

More Market Research Report

Check our Industry Analysis and Insights

CONTACT
Nicolas Bombourg
Reportlinker
Email: nbo@reportlinker.com
US: (805)652-2626
Intl: +1 805-652-2626

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