UnitedHealth Group, the nation's largest health insurer, is planning to dramatically increase its presence on the health insurance exchanges, from 4 states to 24. The insurer has the advantage of understanding rating and benefit design of those who participated last year.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/unitedhealth-plans-to-sell-health-exchange-policies-in-24-states-1408716573Predictive analytics company Medalogix, which focuses on readmission risk, has raised $5 million to extend its services to the skilled nursing facility segment.
http://medcitynews.com/2014/08/medalogix-raises-5m-to-add-skilled-nursing-facilities-to-predictive-analytics-tool/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=1737f02182-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-1737f02182-67648197A Center for Disease Control brief examines the relationship between income, insurance and receipt of preventive health services.
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Health Gorilla isn't monkeying around, getting $1.2 million to support connecting providers with diagnostic labs electronically.
http://medcitynews.com/2014/08/startup-health-gorilla-raising-1-2m-expansion-diagnostic-test-markeet/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=728960e356-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-728960e356-67677117An article in the Medicare & Medicaid Research Review finds that under the current risk-adjusted Medicare Advantage payment scheme, many plans have increased coding intensity, which increases reimbursement.
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In a big win for the proponents of mobile apps having a dramatic impact on health, Aetna is dropping its mobile fitness tracker, CarePass. Wait, did that say dropping? What's going on here, I thought these apps were going to be world beaters?
http://medcitynews.com/2014/08/aetna-drops-mobile-health-app-carepass/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=0f20021106-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-0f20021106-67677117An Avalere analysis finds that most eligible Part D Medicare beneficiaries are not receiving medication therapy management services.
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Another telemedicine company, Avizia, has received $2 million to develop and sell carts to support telemedicine hardware and software.
http://medcitynews.com/2014/08/cisco-veterans-telemedicine-business-raises-2m/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=728960e356-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-728960e356-67677117A Deloitte survey finds that young adults often did not sign up for mandated health coverage, usually due to cost concerns.
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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.