Medical travel company Companion Global healthcare added Min-Sheng General hospital in taiwan to its network of international hospitals that offer surgery and other care. Min-Sheng is a state-of-the-art, 600-bed facility that holds Joint Commission International accreditation. With 106 physicians certified in a variety of specialties, it becomes the 11th hospital to join Companion Global Healthcare’s network. Companion Global Healthcare serves uninsured and underinsured individuals, as well as employers and insurance companies. All BlueCross BlueShield and BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina members have access to its services. www.CompanionGlobalHealthcare.com, www.e-ms.com.tw/gin_kwo/intro_english.html
DMAA: the Care Continuum Alliance has launched a website of information and tools for health plans, employers, physicians, consumers, and others in the fight against obesity and its associated conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. The DMAA Obesity Resource Center, at orc.dmaa.org, features the DMAA Obesity Toolkit, a collection of research documents to design benefits specific to obesity treatment and management. The toolkit includes the DMAA approach to designing an obesity benefit, Value-Based Benefit Design for Obesity and Comorbidities, announced earlier this year.
Fringe Benefit Group, a provider of limited medical health insurance plans and health benefits administration, launched a limited medical insurance plan, Framework Passage, designed specifically to layer under a HSA-qualified high deductible health plan (HDHP) and alleviate some financial concerns for members. It provides 1st dollar coverage for employees enrolled in a HDHP and gives members the ability to defray out-of-pocket costs covered by their limited medical insurance plan while they grow their available fund balance inside their HSA toward payment for their deductible. The only preexisting condition limitations are for critical illness. There are no copays or deductibles and no waiting periods, and none of the plan’s benefits inhibit or impair the tax-favored status of the HSA. Cost starts at $33.75 per employee per month. Framework Passage is underwritten by Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, a member of the IHC Group (NYSE: IHC). www.frameworkhealthplan.com
G2 Microsystems recently introduced a fully-contained Wi-Fi chip, module, and software that will make it fast and affordable to add Wi-Fi connectivity to almost any device, including those that are alkaline battery-powered. Current G2 customers are using first generation technology for nurse call buttons and health care services. www.g2microsystems.com