Pharmacy benefit manager Catamaran is acquiring Health Solutions, which largely provides similar services for the workers’ compensation market, for $405 million.
The current issue of Health Affairs is focused on innovation in medical products, suggesting that it may be hindered by less funding and regulatory and reimbursement hurdles.
Read More
The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans conducted a survey last year of over 450 employers in the United States and Canada to learn details about their wellness program activities.
Read More
Sikka Software pulls in $5.5 million for its analytics platforms for small provider groups, mostly in dental and veterinary practices.
http://medcitynews.com/2015/02/practice-management-software-business-raises-5-5m-expand-non-physician-healthcare-practices/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=46b2d12493-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-46b2d12493-67648197Yet another study, this one carried by Health Services Research, suggests that current methods for encouraging fewer inappropriate hospital readmissions are inadequate to avoid wrongly punishing hospitals for events beyond…
Read More
According to a survey from Vitals, belonging to their health plan's network is far and away the primary factor in selecting a doctor and only 30% are fully satisfied with their current physician.
http://www.vitals.com/about/posts/press-center/press-releases/seventy-percent-americans-just-arent-doctor-patient-relationshipInvestors have, not rashly we hope, have put a fresh $5 million into teledermatology company Iagnosis.
http://medcitynews.com/2015/02/teledermatology-business-targets-5m-to-roll-out-dermatologists-on-call-app/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=e0c19c0d87-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-e0c19c0d87-67648197The always eagerly-awaited Medicare Advantage Call Letter, this one for 2016, is now available, promising a meager premium increase for plans.
Read More
Continuing a trend of provider systems looking to become insurers, Ascension Health is buying a Michigan Health insurer, U.S. Health and Life Ins. Co., for $50 million.
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150220/NEWS/150229987?utm_source=modernhealthcare&utm_medium=email&utm_content=externalURL&utm_campaign=am&mh=About this Blog
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. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.