Top Stories

• Report finds boomers' parents were healthier than they are
  A report in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals baby boomers have higher rates of hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes than their parents' generation, contributing to high costs and lower quality of life. Researchers found 13% of baby boomers rated their health as "excellent," while 32% of their parents did so. However, life expectancy continues to grow. "People are living longer sicker," said physician Andrew Adams. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3/4)     

• Study: Lung congestion raises risk of death in dialysis patients
  Dialysis patients with severe lung congestion were more likely to die and have heart attacks or other cardiac problems than those with mild or no congestion, according to a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Lung ultrasounds can detect early signs of fluid retention and could help identify at-risk patients sooner, researchers found. HealthDay News (2/28)     

Providers & Suppliers

• Study suggests lower-income patients left out of HIT advances
  A survey of more than 400 patients in low-income areas showed 78% of respondents want to communicate electronically with their physicians, but only 17% are able to interact with providers via e-mail, researchers wrote in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. "Lower-income patients from a wide variety of backgrounds want to be part of the health information technology revolution," said Dr. Adam Schickedanz. "The question is whether they will be afforded the opportunities to take part in the same way as their middle- and higher-income peers." U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News (3/1)

Medical Update

• Study finds MRSA infection linked to season, age
  Children face a higher risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection during the summer, while older people are at greater risk of infection in winter, a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed. Although the findings failed to explain the seasonal- and age-related risk patterns, researchers suggest increased antibiotic use in the winter could play a role. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News (3/1)     

• Parenting classes help curb obesity risk factors, study finds
  Children of parents who participated in an educational program consumed fewer sweets and sugary drinks and spent less time watching TV than those whose parents did not take the classes, a study indicated. However, weight and activity levels were not statistically different between the groups after a year, according to the study published in the journal Pediatrics. DailyRx.com (3/3)

Emerging Trends

• Full-field digital mammo device from Philips gets FDA OK
  The FDA has given Royal Philips Electronics 510(k) clearance to market its MicroDose SI technology for breast cancer screening. The full-field digital mammography system improves on the company's existing MicroDose devices with Single-Shot Spectral Imaging capability. HealthImaging.com (2/28)     

• App delivers fetal heart rate data to providers
  A mobile app, called Essentris Fetal, was launched by CliniComp International to deliver information from fetal heart monitors to the mobile devices of health care providers. The app will be used at the Daughters of Charity Health System in California and integrated into its EMR system. It can also deliver data on blood oxygen levels and contraction frequency. San Diego Business Journal (3/1)     

Health Insurance Plan Company News

• AHIP Coverage: New Regulation Released on ACA’s $100 Billion Health Insurance Tax

• Capital BlueCross celebrates 75 years of improving the health of the community

• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s Mobile Medicare Outreach Moves Into Monmouth County

• Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa moves into #9 spot in Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index 2012 rankings

Vendor Company News

• Alere Unveils Comprehensive Portfolio to Support Value-Based Care

• ConnectYourCare Announces Record Growth in Adoption of its Consumer-directed Healthcare Savings Platform as Health Savings Account Enrollment Accelerates

• Accenture: Most U.S. Doctors Believe Patients Should Update Electronic Health Record, but Not Have Full Access to It, According to Accenture Eight-Country Survey

• New Offering From DST Health Solutions Addresses Challenges Of Health Insurance Marketplace

• Lumeris enhances care management capabilities in transformational Accountable Delivery System Platform

• McKesson’s Better Health 2020 Gains Momentum as Health Systems Prepare for the Future

• MedeAnalytics Releases Market Research Report on Commercial, Medicare and NCQA ACO Metrics

• M*Modal and Optum Form Strategic Alliance to Enhance Clinical Documentation Improvement Efforts in Hospitals

• Walgreens Way To Well Health Tour With AARP Provides Underserved Communities With Free Health Tests

• WebMD and Qualcomm Life Launch Strategic mHealth Collaboration

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by AHIP Solutions SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• USPSTF issues recommendations on vitamin D and calcium for women (Family Practice News)

• Hawaii tops Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index for 4th year (USA Today)

• Millions of Americans affected by doctor shortage (BeckersHospitalReview.com)

• Cases of advanced breast cancer rise among young women in U.S. (HealthDay News)

• Support grows for early dementia screening in elderly (The Wall Street Journal)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Pharma News

• Study: Antioxidant improves quality of liver for transplant
  Injecting liver donors with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine prior to transplant procedures can improve the survival of the organ recipient, according to a single-center study in the journal Liver Transplantation. Survival rates after a year were 90% with the antioxidant and 70% without it. PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News (3/1)

• Diclofenac raises odds of cardiovascular events, study finds
  Patients who used diclofenac to relieve arthritis pain faced a 39% higher risk of heart attack and were 40% more likely to suffer cardiovascular events compared with people who did not use the drug. "When doctors prescribe [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs], they need to consider the patient's risk profile. Particularly for patients with higher risk of cardiovascular events, a doctor should either advise against NSAID use or recommend one that has a relatively low cardiovascular risk," the researchers wrote in PLoS Medicine. DailyRx.com (3/3)

Policy Watch

• EHR incentive payments reach $11.78B
  CMS announced it has released $11.78 billion in Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Advantage EHR incentives from 2011 through January of this year. The agency said almost $7.9 billion went to hospitals, while eligible doctors and other health care professionals received $3.7 billion. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (2/28)     

AHIP News

• Global thinking, plus the details. Institute 2013
  Your time is limited. So are your budgets. AHIP’s Institute 2013 is designed with that in mind. The program combines globally focused sessions, as well as those that delve into the details of our changing health care system. From marketplace innovations and business strategy to payment reform, the consumer experience, and technology, you’ll leave with information to take action and move with confidence towards 2014. Register now.     

• Tweets to learn by -- follow @AHIPEducation on Twitter
  Follow @AHIPEducaton on Twitter for daily tweets about AHIP’s educational opportunities, including conferences, online courses and webinars. View our profile.     

• DM Direct -- Helping health plans advance their DM programs
  For health plans looking to expand their DM programs, AHIP’s DM Direct is a valuable resource tool that provides access to a list of companies that offer innovative DM solutions. For example, Resolution Health, Inc. is a health care data analytics and communications company that delivers personalized patient and physician communications to help improve health care quality and reduce healthcare costs.     

Position Title Company Name Location Chief Operating Officer Health Alliance Medical Plans Urbana, IL Manager, Payor Relations The joint Commission Oakbrook Terrace, IL Vice President-Management and Performance United Health Group Nationwide, United States Vice President, Network Development and Provider Relations Louisiana Health Cooperative, Inc. New Orleans, LA Senior Director, Product Innovation and Development Cleveland Clinic Lyndhurst Campus Cleveland, OH Medicare Product Manager Regence Portland, OR Chief Executive Officer Louisiana Health Cooperative, Inc. New Orleans, LA Vice President, Clinical Care Integration Louisiana Health Cooperative, Inc. New Orleans, LA Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Louisiana Health Cooperative Inc. (LAHC) Metarie, LA Vice President, Operations & Information Technology Louisiana Health Cooperative, Inc. New Orleans, LA Associate Medical Director UCare Minneapolis, MN Integrated Market Medical Executive Kindred Healthcare Las Vegas, NV Vice President, Provider Relations & Credentialing Confidential Wyomissing, PA Vice President, Health Plan Operations Satellite Health Plan, Inc. San Jose, CA Vice President Member Group Louisiana Health Cooperative, Inc. New Orleans, LA CAQH Managing Director, Finance and Administration Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare Washington, DC Director of Product Management, UPD Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) Washington, DC CAQH CORE Manager, Education, Outreach and Participant Relations Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare Washington, DC

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SmartQuote

The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret." --Henri Frédéric Amiel, Swiss philosopher, poet and critic