All Posts By

Kevin Roche

The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry through Roche Consulting, LLC. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.

Apr 10 2015

An analysis conducted for AHIP by The Menges Group finds that states that keep their Medicaid medical and drug benefits in the same plan as opposed to separating them have lower total drug spending.  The savings were about 14.6% per prescription or over $2 billion.

http://www.ahip.org/News/Press-Room/2015/New-Report--Allowing-Medicaid-Plans-to-Manage-Pharmacy-Benefits-Leads-to-Cost-Savings-for-States.aspx
Apr 10 2015

UnitedHealth Group's Optum division has acquired MedExpress, the operator of over 140 urgent care centers, for an undisclosed price.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150409/NEWS/150409897?utm_source=modernhealthcare&utm_medium=email&utm_content=externalURL&utm_campaign=hits
Apr 10 2015

Women's health, oh wait, make that "digital" health, company Maven has attracted $2.2 million in capital.

https://www.pehub.com/2015/04/maven-attracts-2-2-mln/
Apr 09 2015

Sharecare, founded by talk show host Dr. Oz, has raised an additional $25 million in capital, bringing the total to over $160 million, for development of health apps, with a focus on voice analysis.  And you think we aren't at a speculative investing top?

http://venturebeat.com/2015/04/08/sharecare-announces-20-million-investment-brings-total-funding-to-160-million/
Apr 08 2015

Apogee gets $2.5 million from investors for yet another gaming approach to helping chronic disease patients stick with care plans.

http://medcitynews.com/2015/04/ayogo-raises-2-5m-series-accelerate-sales-marketing-social-gaming-chronic-conditions/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=1abf84551b-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-1abf84551b-67677117
Apr 08 2015

Living got another $20 million in capital for its "digital" health business that helps people with chronic diseases.  I got a digit for you.

https://www.pehub.com/2015/04/livongo-health-rakes-in-20-mln-series-b/
Apr 08 2015

Novu obtained $20 million in financing for its business of engaging health care consumers in their health care.  Knowyu this, that is one crowded space with unproven ROI.

https://www.pehub.com/2015/04/novu-attracts-20-mln/
Apr 06 2015

Healthland, which offers information systems for smaller hospitals, has acquired Rycan, which focuses on revenue cycle management.

http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/healthland-acquires-rycan-revenue-cycle
Apr 06 2015

Oh, no, here we go again.  PicnicHealth has received $2 million for its virtual health care record, no day at the beach for investors.

http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/02/y-combinator-backed-picnichealth-nabs-2-million-in-seed-to-build-out-a-virtual-healthcare-records-platform/
Apr 06 2015

Ventas, the large health care REIT, is buying Ardent Medical, a hospital operator, from Welsh Carson for $1.75 billion.

https://www.pehub.com/2015/04/welsh-carson-to-sell-ardent-medical-services-for-1-75-bln/