Managed Care Weekly Digest

Disability - New program developed to bring disability knowledge to managed care industry

Regulatory Issues - Report finds problems with regulated premiums proposal in California

Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance - Older workers choose managed care, study finds

Healthcare Access - Report says 36 million Americans are medically underserved

Hypercholesterolemia - Outcome improvement program designed to lower LDL cholesterol levels

Allergy Medicine - New research on the treatment of anaphylaxis presented 2004 AAAAI meeting

Asthma - Greater acetaminophen use associated with newly diagnosed asthma in women

Behavioral Healthcare - Firms join forces to focus on quality initiatives

Business & Finance - Healthcare International Inc. secures Texas contract

Business & Finance - Pharmaceutical company exploring strategic financial alternatives

Business & Finance - XGear Technologies processes millionth transaction

Business Update - Agreement creates health insurance program for local government in southern NH

Business Update - Agreement will bring disease management services to PPO's customers

Business Update - Blue Cross wins $125 million state contract from BlueShield

Business Update - Co-marketing agreement enhances health plans' online service capabilities

Business Update - Hanger Orthopedic Group enters managed care arena, forms subsidiary

Children's Insurance - Texas CHIP could drop thousands for nonpayment

Collaborations - Aetna signs 3-year agreement with Inova Health System

Colorectal Cancer - Simple changes may help improve colorectal cancer screening rates

Contraception - Legislation would require New Jersey insurers to pay for birth control

Depression - Employees with depression view illness as roadblock to career success

Depression - Physicians watch for increased suicide risk in children on antidepressants

Dermatology - VeriCenter to manage online teledermatology platform

Diagnostic Imaging - Advanced technology a factor in health costs

Diagnostics - IMPATH announces distribution agreement for QCA system

Diet & Nutrition - Program boosts rate of breastfeeding by mothers of very low-birth-weight babies

Digital Medicine - Number of electronically integrated doctors has grown by 48,000 in 2004

Disabilities - Insurer lowers prices on disability benefits purchased with medical coverage

Disability - New program integrates medical, disability, behavioral health, pharmacy data

Disability Coverage - New CIGNA study uncovers relationship of disabilities to total benefits costs

Disease Management - Chronic disease healthcare initiative launched in Missouri

Disease Management - Prescription requirement for OTC medicines aimed to help Nez Perce tribe

Electronic Medical Records - EMRs prove to pay at a higher rate than paper claims

Electronic Medical Records - H-Quotient announces OB/GYN contract

Electronic Medical Records - Massachusetts General Hospital selects Misys Pharmacy and Misys Insight

Employee Assistance Program - Coaching program enhances EAP, behavioral offerings

Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance - Businesses take new approach to rising costs

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - High cost of alcoholism in pregnant women can be prevented

Finance - California physician groups to promote chronic disease care

Finance - Four Neoforma executives enter into rule 10b5-1 trading programs

Finance - Healthcare firm ranked as Ohio's top company

Finance - Independent PPO releases 2003 year-end results

Finance - Mariner Health Care reports improved 2003 fourth quarter results

Finance - National Home Health Care revenues decrease 7% for the quarter

Finance - Omega Healthcare announces sale of senior notes and common shares

Finance - PPO reports second-quarter diluted earnings, revenue increase

Finance - Technology company's 10-K filing reflects revisions

Fitness - Health Options to offer SilverSneakers Fitness Program

Fitness - New study directly links physical fitness to work performance

Geriatrics - New Jersey's Governor orders provides more health care options for seniors

Geriatrics - Project aims to help nursing homes residents live on their own

Health Insurance - Enrollment in consumer-directed health plans growing rapidly

Healthcare & Politics - Missouri governor slams proposed state Medicaid cuts

Healthcare & Politics - Poll: Rhode Island voters want cheaper healthcare

Healthcare Coverage - Blue Shield of California offers tax deductible savings account

Healthcare Coverage - Commission: More data needed on hospital care for minorities

Healthcare Coverage - Company announces additional reimbursement coverage for suspected Crohn disease

Healthcare Coverage - HMO enrollment in Wisconsin drops as employers seek other options, report shows

Healthcare Coverage - Health department says Hispanics straining Durham, North Carolina, resources

Healthcare Coverage - Insurer introduces health benefit plans for Maine small business

Healthcare Coverage - Kentucky Governor's insurance bill passes Senate

Healthcare Coverage - Low-income workers in Oregon might lose health insurance

Healthcare Coverage - Lutheran Medical Center outsources ambulance billing operation to Accordis

Healthcare Coverage - MCOs re-evaluating role of OTCs in healthcare plans

Healthcare Coverage - New PPO plans offered for individuals, families in Pennsylvania, Delaware

Healthcare Coverage - Onyx introduces Group Enrollment Manager for health insurance market

Healthcare Coverage - Oxford Health Plans and Middlesex Professional Services announce agreement

Healthcare Coverage - PPOs employ diverse approaches of preventive care, study shows

Healthcare Coverage - SCAN to offer Medicare Drug Discount Card program

Healthcare Coverage - UNICARE announces new health plan option for Iowa Medicare beneficiaries

Healthcare Economics - Atlanta's Grady Hospital lays off 226 employees to cut costs