Innovations Briefs
November - December 2010
Express Scripts Establishes Industry’s Most Comprehensive Specialty Benefits Organization
Express Scripts, Inc. announced the formation of Express Scripts Specialty Benefit Services, the industry’s most comprehensive specialty benefits organization. Express Scripts now delivers plan sponsors a first-in-the-industry offering that enhances patient care across the pharmacy-medical spectrum, and guarantees savings on the specialty medical drug spend. The new organization expands the company’s long-standing commitment to enhancing patient care and reducing wasteful expenses associated with chronic, high maintenance health conditions and specialty medications. Express Scripts is the first PBM to bring together the three functional areas needed to comprehensively manage specialty benefits: 1) pharmacy benefit management, 2) specialty pharmacy and distribution and 3) medical benefit management. The vital third component—medical benefit management—is delivered through the company’s long-standing subsidiary, Care Continuum. By integrating core PBM and pharmacy services with expanded capabilities through Care Continuum, Express Scripts offers an unprecedented solution to specialty patient care and trend management across both pharmacy and medical benefits.
Lighthouse1 Launches Lighthouse1 OnDemand 2011
Lighthouse1, a recognized technology leader in the consumer-driven health care market (CDHC), has launched Lighthouse1 OnDemand 2011 through a live web event. Lighthouse1 OnDemand is a cloud computing solution that enables nearly 100 leading nationwide third party administrators, financial institutions and health plans to serve more than 20,000 employers and 2.5 million consumers on a single, hosted platform. Lighthouse1 OnDemand 2011 includes more than 100 enhancements that empower, extend and innovate the Lighthouse1 solution for partners, employers and consumers. Because of the solution’s innovative architecture, new enhancements can be released during the plan year with little to no interruption to user experiences or service levels. The launch—which was attended in person or via the Internet by hundreds of Lighthouse1 partners, CDHC industry influencers and Lighthouse1 team members—highlighted key product and technology enhancements and outlined the upcoming product roadmap, including the continually evolving Lighthouse1 Mobile. Mobile devices represent the next stage in consumer self-service, and Lighthouse1 Mobile enables consumers to access and upload information about their health care account, 24/7/365 from anywhere, via their smart phone. Dozens of time-saving administrative features in Lighthouse1 OnDemand 2011 help partners expand their HSA, HRA, FSA and Wellness businesses while increasing operational efficiencies as well as the user satisfaction of employers and consumers.
Milestone Document Calls for Inclusion of Chiropractic in Patient-Centered Models of Value-Based Design
The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress is pleased to announce that the Center for Health Value Innovation (CHVI), experts in value-based design who link superior health outcomes to improved business performance, has released a landmark document: Outcomes-Based Contracting: The Value-Based Approach for Optimal Health with Chiropractic Services. Cyndy Nayer, CEO of CHVI and the voice of value-based design, along with leaders from the Center, point to chiropractic intervention as one area in which new analysis may define the placement in the care continuum. “The Foundation asked us to consider the insertion of chiropractic into the value-based benefit designs for low back and neck pain based upon a recently published study,” noted Nayer, citing the 2009 study Do Chiropractic Physician Services for Treatment of Low Back and Neck Pain Improve the Value of Health Benefit Plans? conducted by Niteesh Choudhry, M.D., PhD, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Arnold Milstein, M.D., MPH, which concluded that chiropractic care could be an effective and cost-efficient service for relief of pain and reduction in disability.
Innovative Program Helps to Increase Medication Compliance
Imagine having to face the daily struggle of taking four or more different medications a day to manage multiple chronic health conditions; add to this the worry of missing or taking a dose incorrectly. For members of UniCare Health Plan of Kansas (UniCare), that daily struggle will now be simplified to help increase medication adherence and reduce medication errors. UniCare will now offer members the opportunity to enroll in the DailyMed Pharmacy program. This new program, a first in Kansas, eliminates the guesswork when taking complex or multiple prescriptions by providing members with a 30-day supply of their medications, delivered to their homes, in pre-sorted packets marked with the day, date and time the medications should be taken. An estimated 2,600 members are eligible to participate in this innovative program. In addition, because individuals who take more medications can find it difficult to adhere to their medication regimens, members will benefit from a team of DailyMed pharmacists who will provide coordinated care and phone consultations to closely monitor the safety, efficacy and compliance of their medication therapy. In fact, a recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine cited that better adherence to high blood pressure medication alone, could prevent 89,000 premature deaths in the country annually.
Tango Health Completes $3 Million Series A Equity Financing Round
Tango Health, Inc. announced it raised more than $3 million in Series A equity capital from S3 Ventures and several angel investors in order to accelerate the nationwide rollout of its innovative web-based Health Savings Account (HSA) management service. The complete solution developed by Tango Health is making it easy for employers and employees to set up, manage and fund HSA accounts, and capture tax savings even if qualifying expenses are paid from another account or credit card. The Tango Health Series A financing round was led by S3 Ventures and included participation from angel investors Mike Turner, founder and CEO of Waveset (acquired by Sun Microsystems); John Hime, former senior marketing executive at Tivoli Systems, MIPS Computers and Sun Microsystems; and Kevin Cunningham, Co-Founder and president of SailPoint.
Sun Life Financial launches ‘YOU’ Enrollment Campaign
The Employee Benefits Group division of Sun Life Financial, Inc. announced the launch of the “YOU” enrollment marketing campaign created to help employers educate and engage their employees during voluntary benefit enrollments. The campaign’s theme, “It’s time for you to take control of your benefits,” is designed to present product features and benefits to employees in plain language, free of acronyms and insurance jargon. In addition to the new campaign, Sun Life ramped up enrollment efforts by expanding their enrollment organization, enhancing online enrollment, personalizing enrollment booklets, and conducting their second annual voluntary enrollment survey. The Voluntary Benefits: Key Factors Influencing Employee’s Choices Study examines employees’ decision-making process when electing voluntary benefits at work.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Introduces Anthem Health Rewards
Rising health care costs are prompting many employers to seek new health benefits solutions that will encourage healthier behaviors in their employees. In
response to customers’ needs, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is introducing a new product designed to increase engagement in health and wellness activities,
resulting in healthier and more productive employees. Known as Anthem Health Rewards, the product enables Anthem customers to provide their employees with a variety of rewards - for example, gift cards, premium contribution discounts and account deposits—when they complete a health risk assessment and/or participate in health and wellness programs offered by Anthem, such as FutureMoms and care management programs for people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Health Dialog Announces New Product Suite
Health Dialog has launched a new suite of products to address the changing marketplace for population health management—services that help people stay well, prevent illness, manage chronic disease, and make important decisions about their treatment. The new product suite is designed to clearly communicate the company’s unique approach and portfolio of capabilities, products, and solutions post U.S. health care reform. The suite is built on Health Dialog’s core capabilities of analytics, whole person coaching, evaluation, and decision support.This new product suite reflects the evolution of Health Dialog’s services, including features such as guaranteed engagement levels required by employer groups, advanced reporting or the greater integration of physicians with care management offered by health plans, and new financial arrangements that reduce risk for health plans.
People On the MoveNovember - December 2010
BriefsNovember - December 2010
High Stakes Yield High Returns: A worksite Wellness Success Story from WindstreamSky-rocketing health care costs and a generally unhealthy workforce have led numerous forward-thinking companies across the country to take serious action through the implementation of sophisticated and comprehensive health management programs.
Digital Health Coaching – An Effective Tool in Reaching Employees with DepressionDepression can significantly impact an employer’s health care costs and worker productivity, yet many organizations still utilize traditional mental health management approaches that may not identify a large number of employees who are suffering from mental health conditions.
Using Data Analytics to Cut Medical CostsPrior to World War II, employers had very little to do with their employees’ health insurance. A federally-imposed wage freeze after World War II drove employers to offer fringe benefits, including health insurance, to differentiate their companies and attract workers.
Enhance wellness and ROI with personally meaningful incentivesConsumer Driven Health Plans Surge as Employers Demand More For LessA DataPath Advertorial
Practical Tools, Timely Information Enable Thompson Machinery to Boost CDHP, Control CostIn 2003, Thompson Machinery, a Caterpillar equipment dealer for middle and western Tennessee and northern Mississippi, did what only a handful of innovative companies had done when it successfully implemented a consumer-directed health plan (CDHP) for employees.
Employers Becoming Proactive About Tackling Health Care CostsAs a busy 2010 comes to a close, highlighted by the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and America showing their disapproval of the new law by the results of the November election, employers are reduced to the role of Nostradamus.
Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protections Award-Winning Finalists NamedWinners for the 2010 Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection Awards competition will be announced Oct. 5-7 in Chicago among 30 finalists
Prescription Solutions, A UnitedHealth Group CompanyInnovative online software puts clients in the driver’s seat and simplifies pharmacy benefit process: Take control of the many choices available
NBGH Honors 66 U.S. Employers for Healthy LifestylesA record number of U.S. employers have been honored by the National Business Group on Health for their continuing commitment to promoting healthy work environments and encouraging workers to choose healthier lifestyles
Plan Changes Met Favorably by City EmployeesDuring these difficult economic times, governments are faced with making tough decisions on benefits coverage that affects their most valuable assets—employees
Enrollment Soared to 82% with $10 Million Saved in Two YearsSeveral years ago, the Land O’Lakes benefits team, launched a multiyear strategy to transition its workforce to a more market competitive benefit offering, a significant undertaking for a company that had traditionally offered benefits with minimal employee cost-sharing
Leader Communicates Benefits, Including Savings, Despite Higher DeductibleWhen it comes to effecting positive change throughout the organization, Mary Bradley, director of Healthcare Benefits at Pitney Bowes, is a true leader
Participation High in Incentive ProgramThe city of Fort Smith, AR, under the guidance of Human Resources Director Richard Jones, M.A., strongly believes in a proactive approach to health care
Medical, Dental Tourism Entices EmployeesWhen Blue Lake employees require major surgery, their medical destination could be at a Companion Global Healthcare network facility outside of the United States. The company added a medical travel plan in 2008, followed by a dental travel plan the next year
Consumerology Tracks, Improves Customer SatisfactionPersonal Touch Speeds Adoption of HDHPEach member of the human resources team at Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., which operates under the Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes banners, is a superstar for their outstanding efforts to roll out a new high-deductible health plan
Wellness Program Participation SoarsBecause of its diverse locations and various businesses, Saint-Gobain Corp. has developed a corporate-wide model that encourages local ownership and adoption of corporate wellness programs
Benefits Team Lowers Financial StressAetna’s financial benefits team, headed by Carol Klusek, believes that employee wellness should encompass the fiscal as well as the physical
Success Continues with Enhanced Benefits CoverageRobert Ihrie has helped Lowes create a comprehensive wellness program that fosters a culture of health and demonstrates real-life results for Lowe’s employees and bottom-line success for the company
Customer Service Improves with Innovative SolutionsDiscovery Benefits leverages the expertise of its employees along with leading-edge technology to successfully create new opportunities.
Flexibility, Tax Advantages Offered in Lower Cost Health PlansSouth Carolina-based financial services company First Federal has stepped out of the traditional role of a branch bank to offer unparalleled health savings account (HSA) services to account holders, employers, and benefit brokers.
Clients Come First as Software Solves Communication IssuesAccording to Servant Insurance Services, a servant is one who puts the needs of others before self and is willing to go the extra mile to help others.
High Stakes Yield High ReturnsNov/Dec 2010
Online Tools Help Employers Control Health CostsEmployers concerned about the impact of the rising cost of health coverage on their businesses and employees are searching for more aggressive, proactive solutions that can help rein in costs while still offering employees high-value, quality health care
The Benefits of Card Integration For Employers and EmployeesVisa Healthcare cards are helping employers balance the delicate task of offering a cost-effective benefits package that also resonates with and remains attractive to employees
Editor's and Publisher's Letter June/July 2010 IssueWe’re Your Source for Health Reform Information
CDHC Solutions June/July 2010 InnovationsCDHC Solutions June/July 2010 BriefsBenefits Enrollment Stays in Sync with Changing Times Ja’Nene R. Kane Vice President, Sales and Operations Benefitsconnect
Dental Health Linked to Overall HealthBy David Guarrera, DDS Vice President MetLife Dental Product Management
Stay on Course Through Waters of Health Care ReformRon Bachman and Kevin McKechnie bring their unique perspectives to what ramifications the new health care law will have.
Incentives Make Wellness Programs More RewardingBy Anne Platt Senior Director of Marketing Services Best Buy
Health Incentives Accomplish More: Immediate, Intermediate, Long-term Methods of Incentives ProgramsBy Michael G. Dermer President and CEO, IncentOne
Employees Don't See What They Are Missing Without Vision BenefitsBy Wendy Marshall Assistant Vice President, Corporate Benefits Medstar Health Inc.
Constant Change and New OpportunitiesTSYS has a plan on how to best deal with the changes coming to health care.
Bridging the Financial Gap of Today’s Health Care.A message HSAs from Sanders McConnell, President of My HSA Rewards
Health Care Reform: What Does it Mean for Card-Based Benefit Accounts?Master Card has some ideas on how card-based benefit accounts may take advantage of the new health care law
Health Care Payments Made SimpleA new solution from AmeriFlex
Health Care Reform Law Changing Delivery SystemsBy John Hickman Partner, Alston & Bird LLP
‘Free’ Saves Members Money: Consumers Alter Behavior on PrescriptionsBy Dr. Thomas A. Kellenberger Vice President and Co-Founder, BidRx LLC
COBRA Continues to ChangeBy John Jenkins, President and CEO, Benaissance
Find Answers on Health Care ReformsBy Scott Leavitt, President Scott Leavitt Insurance & Financial Services
Vision Coverage a Clear BenefitJun/July 2010
Population Health & Wellness Trending UpwardAug/Sept 2010