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.

Aug 15 2014

In a development that will radically transform the health insurance landscape, WellPoint is changing its name to Anthem.

http://ir.wellpoint.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=130104&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1958094&highlight=
Aug 15 2014

TowersWatson projects that greater use of telemedicine could save employers $6 billion a year.  Growth of benefits specifically encouraging telemedicine visits is growing among employers, with 37% saying they plan to offer them in 2015.

http://www.towerswatson.com/en/Press/2014/08/current-telemedicine-technology-could-mean-big-savings
Aug 14 2014

$21 million has been invested in Doctor on Demand, a vendor of video physician visits.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140806/NEWS/308069950/&utm_source=AltURL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hits?AllowView=VXQ0UnpwZTVBdlNZL1IzSkUvSHRlRU9oajBvZEErTmQ=
Aug 14 2014

Premier, Inc., a leading group purchasing organization, is acquiring the TheraDoc software suite for $117 million.

http://investors.premierinc.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=8641820
Aug 14 2014

Non-profit hospital CEOs and other executives received very high compensation increases on average this year, far outpacing wage growth for ordinary workers.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140809/MAGAZINE/308099987/1135&utm_source=AltURL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=am&AllowView=VXQ0UnpwZTVBdlNYL1I3TkErT1lBajNja0U4VUF1WlVFQk1JQXc9PQ==?mh
Aug 14 2014

MedVersant raised $10 million.  The company offers products to streamline administrative processes for health care clients.

http://medcitynews.com/2014/08/health-company-medversant-raising-10m/
Aug 14 2014

The Medicare Trustees are projecting that increased use of expensive specialty drugs will drive Part D spending rapidly higher in the next few years.

http://www.rxobserver.com/?p=2358
Aug 14 2014

Bravo Wellness has received an additional $22 million in funding for its growing business.

http://www.pehub.com/2014/08/bravo-wellness-grabs-22-mln-from-abs-capital/
Aug 13 2014

MedAssets, a large group purchasing organization, has acquired SG2 for $142 million.  SG2 provides consulting and related services to health systems.  This year has seen several expansions by GPOs into new lines of business as their core purchasing services have slowed.

http://ir.medassets.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=865977
Aug 13 2014

Practice Fusion, a large EHR vendor, is acquiring Ringadoc, which arranges for physicians to call patients for health issues they submit online.

http://venturebeat.com/2014/08/06/practice-fusion-acquires-physician-call-back-service-ringadoc/
Aug 13 2014

Cerner is getting bigger in health IT and EHR's by acquiring Siemen's business in this market for $1.3 billion.

http://www.smartbrief.com/08/06/14/cerner-expand-acquisition-siemens-health-it-unit-13b-1#.U-t9g1a4nHg
Aug 13 2014

TelePharm has received a $2.5 million investment to aid its business of providing telepharmacy services to rural drug stores.

http://medcitynews.com/2014/08/telepharm-pulls-2-5m-get-rural-pharmacies-connected/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=71d16efee7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-71d16efee7-67677117