Collaboration News:
athenahealth and Humana Collaborate to Improve Healthcare Outcomes for its Members
athenahealth, Inc. (@athenahealth), a provider of network-enabled software and services for medical groups and health systems nationwide, and Humana Inc. (@Humana), a health and well-being company, announced that the two companies have entered into a multi-year agreement to deliver value-added member insights through athenahealth’s electronic health record (EHR) software, athenaClinicals.
Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway And JP Morgan Health Care Partnership Fails
NPR reports that Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase created a splash three years ago when they announced a health care partnership. Haven, as the company was known, was meant to disrupt health care in the U.S. Well, it failed to do that. And just three years after promising to shake up the health insurance industry, Haven announced it is shutting down after February. So what went wrong? Well, joining us to help us understand that is Erin Brodwin. She’s a health tech correspondent at Stat News.
CareSource Partners with MetroHealth Foundation to Address Social Determinants of Health
CareSource (@caresource) announced a partnership with the MetroHealth Foundation and a donation of $600,000 to fund programming within the Institute for H.O.P.E.TM The programming will include innovations such as, the School Health Program and Food as Medicine Clinic. The overall goal of this partnership is to provide additional support and benefits to children and famliies who have emerging or existing chronic health conditions.
Product News:
UnitedHealthcare Expands Access to Virtual Care, Including a New Virtual Primary Care Offering
UnitedHealthcare (@UnitedHealthGrp) has expanded the availability of virtual care with local physicians for members enrolled in employer-sponsored plans, and also introduced a new Virtual Primary Care service designed to enable access to medical services in a simpler and more convenient way. Through both efforts, eligible members may be able to visit virtually with health care providers for various types of care, including wellness, routine and chronic condition management.
New Mobile App Offered by Capital BlueCross Focuses on Mental Wellness
As part of its commitment to offering members the best healthcare experience, Capital BlueCross (@capbluecross) has expanded its innovative wellness resources to include a new mobile app focused on mental wellness needs. NeuroFlow is a self-guided mobile app – available on iOS or Android – that can help users improve their mental wellness and better address anxiety, depression, and other mental health needs.
New Cigna Study Shows Integrated Medical, Pharmacy and Behavioral Benefit Design Delivers Better Health Outcomes and Improves Affordability
Taking a whole-person approach to health by integrating Cigna medical, pharmacy and behavioral benefits drives better health engagement, outcomes and lowers total health care costs, according to Cigna’s fifth annual Value of Integration study, recently released. This year’s findings are based on a two-year analysis of more than 2.2 million customer medical claims from Cigna customers who receive coverage through their employer.
Financial News:
Integrity Acquires Connexion Point, One of the Nation’s Largest Senior Health Insurance Call Centers Focused on Serving the Medicare Market
In an industry-transforming move, Integrity Marketing Group, LLC (@IntegrityMG), an independent distributor of life and health insurance products, announced it has acquired Connexion Point, one of the largest contact centers in the country.
Humana Inc. to Release Fourth Quarter 2020 Results on February 3, 2021
Humana Inc. will release its financial results for the fourth quarter 2020 (4Q20) on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 6:30 a.m. Eastern time. The company will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time that morning to discuss its financial results for the quarter and earnings guidance for 2021.
Cigna Corporation’s Fourth Quarter 2020 Earnings Release Details
Global health service company Cigna Corporation (@cigna) will release its fourth quarter 2020 financial results on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, and will host a conference call the same day.
CVS Health Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividend
CVS Health Corporation (@cvshealth) announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.50 (50 cents) per share on the corporation’s common stock.
To Read:
If JP Morgan, Amazon and Berkshire Hathaway Can’t Reform Health Care, Who Can? by Les Williams from Risk Cooperative – The U.S. political discord of 2020 that spilled into 2021 will continue to dominate the headlines well into the New Year and for the foreseeable future. Disagreements over pandemic-driven mask mandates, foreign trade, stimulus checks and the election results themselves are indelible themes that will resonate throughout U.S. history.
‘Health insurance or food’: Americans face difficult choices amid pandemic from The Guardian – People with chronic illnesses are being forced to make hard decisions about delaying vital care or sacrificing basic necessities in order to pay for health insurance.
AHIP Statement: Final Rule on Prior Authorization and Patient’s Electronic Access to Health Information Misses Mark in Improving Health Care from the AHIP Blog – Matt Eyles, president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (@ahipcoverage), issued this statement following the release by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the “Reducing Provider and Patient Burden by Improving Prior Authorization Processes and Promoting Patients’ Electronic Access to Health Information” final rule.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Statement on Suspension of Contributions to Lawmakers Voting Against Accepting Electoral College Results from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association – Blue Cross Blue Shield Association President and CEO Kim Keck issued the following statement today in response to the attack on the United States Capitol and the actions of some members of Congress voting against accepting Electoral College results.
Appointments:
Anthem Inc. Names Stephen Tanal Vice President, Investor Relations
Anthem, Inc. (@AnthemInc) announced Stephen Tanal has been named Vice President, Investor Relations. Mr. Tanal will provide strategic leadership and execute investor relations programs that support the company’s growth strategies and enhance Anthem’s reputation with the investment community.
CVS Health names Michelle Peluso as first-ever Chief Customer Officer
CVS Health announced that Michelle Peluso will join the company as Chief Customer Officer. In this newly created executive leadership role, Peluso will be responsible for transforming the consumer experience and accelerating CVS Health’s digital strategy.