Research published in Health Affairs finds that giving patients comparative cost information for MRI services led to reduced spending and more intense price competition among providers.
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Airstrip, which makes clinical data available on cell phones and other mobile devices, has raised another $25 million, ostensibly to support a move into home health. The company must be burning cash at a pretty good rate and likely has modest revenue at best.
http://medcitynews.com/2014/08/two-airstrip-customers-support-25m-fundraise-to-move-into-home-health-market/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=21e6a9e5f5-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-21e6a9e5f5-67648197Another firm selling buzzwords, Lumiata, is seeking to raise $6.3 million for its predictive analytics platform aimed at hospitals.
http://medcitynews.com/2014/08/predictive-health-analytics-startup-lumiata-raising-6-3m/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=21e6a9e5f5-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-21e6a9e5f5-67648197Its not just in the US that people are looking for more convenient and cheaper ways to access clinicians. China's Chunyu has raised $50 million to support its service of connecting patients to doctors through phone or internet communications.
http://www.techinasia.com/doctor-consultation-app-chinas-biggest-investment-healthcare-startup/A program to provide home-based primary care for Medicare recipients resulted in lower spending, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Okay, what is the world coming to? First a smart toothbrush that tracks our dental hygiene, now a smart cup that checks our beverage consumption? Mark One, which makes the Vessyl, has raised $3 million for its product, with the investors clearly needing something that tracks what they are smoking, eating or drinking. What's next, a toilet that measures our excretory capabilities?
http://wearableworldnews.com/2014/08/21/vessyl-smartcup-drinks-3-million-investment/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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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.