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 17 2014

This is not, I repeat, not a joke.  A company called Beam Technologies has raised $5 million for its "smart" toothbrush, which apparently has an IQ higher than the people making this investment.  The toothbrush can help users track their dental hygienie.

http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/blog/2014/08/louisville-based-beam-technologies-moving.html?page=all
Aug 15 2014

WageWorks, a vendor of health plan administrative services, has acquired Conexis from Word & Brown Companies for $118 million.

http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20140805/NEWS03/140809924?tags=%7C307%7C65%7C74%7C285
Aug 15 2014

Tract Manager, a provider of contract management services for health systems, is buying MDBuyline, which offers purchasing assistance to the same market.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/aug/06/tractmanager-purchases-md-buyline/
Aug 15 2014

CareDox, which offers cloud-based storage solutions for health documents, has raised $3.1 million.

http://medcitynews.com/2014/08/new-york-digital-health-startup-caredox-raising-3-1m/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=02a2f0fc77-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-02a2f0fc77-67677117
Aug 15 2014

Molina is acquiring First Coast's Medicaid business in Florida.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=137837&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1957184&highlight=
Aug 15 2014

According to a Parks Associates survey, in the last year 38% of consumers looked up health information online, 27% used a doctor's or insurer's website, and 26% used a website to make an appointment or check on lab results.

http://www.parksassociates.com/events/connected-health/media/pr-july2014-telehealth
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/