| February 19, 2013 | America's Health Insurance Plans |
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- Diabetes patients show improvements in disease care
Nineteen percent of diabetes patients in 2010 met or exceeded three measures of good disease care, compared with only 2% in previous decades, according to a study in Diabetes Care. Researchers found nearly 53% of patients attained an A1C of less than 7%, while 51% were able to achieve their blood pressure goals and 56% met their cholesterol goals in 2010. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News
(2/15)     
- Study links cardiometabolic risk factors to premature death
Researchers looked at data on 9,245 people ages 12 to 39 and found that cardiometabolic risk factors such as central obesity, smoking and hyperglycemia were associated with a higher risk of death before age 55. Analysis also showed a higher risk of all-cause death related with hypertension and high total and non-HDL cholesterol in women, but not in men. The study appeared online in the journal Pediatrics. MedPage Today (free registration)
(2/18)
| Providers & Suppliers | | |
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| Medical Update | | |
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- Task force examines open-angle glaucoma treatments
Medical and surgical treatments help reduce intraocular pressure and optic nerve damage in patients with open-angle glaucoma, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force analysis. However, it is still unclear which of the available therapies works best, researchers wrote in Annals of Internal Medicine. Comments on the agency's draft Recommendation Statement for OAG will be accepted through March 18. PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News
(2/18)
- IVF doesn't increase women's cancer risk, study finds
In vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments yielded similar odds of developing breast or endometrial cancer, according to a study in the journal Fertility & Sterility. Researchers found that exposure to IVF treatments were linked to a slightly raised risk of ovarian cancer, but the difference wasn't large enough to rule out chance as a cause. Reuters
(2/17)
| Emerging Trends | | |
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- FDA gives Dako nod on rapid cancer diagnostic test
Dako has received approval from the FDA to market its HER2 IQFISH pharmDx test, which is used to cut the turnaround time for cancer diagnosis from the industry standard of two days to three and a half hours. The test, which identifies the HER2 gene in breast cancer diagnosis, is the first FDA-approved test that works with Dako's IQISH system, the company said. GenomeWeb Daily News (free registration)
(2/15)
- Lombard Medical gets FDA OK for aneurysm device
The FDA has granted Lombard Medical Technologies approval for use of its Aorfix stent in treating abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with up to 90 degrees of angulation at the neck of the aneurysm. The approval gives Lombard access to the U.S. endovascular repair market, which represents over half of the global market. Reuters
(2/15)
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| Pharma News | | |
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| Policy Watch | | |
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 | Connections, Convergence, and Collaboration.
The way individuals, clinicians, purchasers, and others think about health coverage, services, and personal responsibility is changing as our health care system is transformed. These changes have far-reaching consequences that will reverberate for decades. Learn to navigate these changes at Institute 2013, June 12 to 14 in Las Vegas. Register Now.
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| AHIP News | | |
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Less than one month away – AHIP’s National Policy Forum
Register now for AHIP’s 2013 National Policy Forum, March 13 and 14, Washington, D.C. We have an outstanding lineup of speakers who will address the health policy issues that will have an impact on health plans. You’ll leave armed with actionable knowledge about the key challenges facing your organization and what longer-term factors should be considered. Register now.
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“AIS's Directory of Health Plans: 2013” shipping soon
Available in print or CD, “AIS’s Directory of Health Plans: 2013” allows you to make smart decisions based on solid data. Use the directory to identify market trends, gain insight into health plan models, determine which networks may best serve for your organization, develop benchmarks and more. Visit the AHIP Store to reserve your copy today.
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How Analyzing Customer Interactions is Key to Navigating ACA
Join us from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 26 to learn how to navigate ACA changes and how to respond quickly using Interaction Analytics. Understanding why members contact you, and how you handle their inquiries, gives you direct insight into the member experience. Register now.
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| Position Title | Company Name | Location |
| 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 |
| Manager, Payor Relations | The joint Commission | Oakbrook Terrace, IL |
| Government Relations and Compliance Officer | Louisiana Health Cooperative, Inc. | Metarie, LA |
| Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Louisiana Health Cooperative Inc. (LAHC) | Metarie, LA |
| Asst Director, Medicare Prod. Analytics/Rev. Mgmt | Cambia | Portland, OR |
| 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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| Click here to view more job listings. |
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| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Everything that lives, lives not alone, nor for itself."
--William Blake,
British poet and painter
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| AHIP Solutions Team |
Managing Editor, Online Publishing:
Yvonne Chanatry
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| | Recent AHIP Solutions SmartBrief Issues:
- Monday, February 18, 2013
- Friday, February 15, 2013
- Thursday, February 14, 2013
- Wednesday, February 13, 2013
- Tuesday, February 12, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Melissa Turner
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