| February 12, 2013 | America's Health Insurance Plans |
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- Reducing sodium intake could save 500,000-plus lives, study finds
Cutting back on salt intake from current levels to 2,300 milligrams a day -- the upper end of the federal guideline -- could save 500,000 to 850,000 lives over the next 10 years, according to research published in the journal Hypertension. Even a more gradual reduction in salt content among restaurant and processed foods could save 280,000 to 500,000 lives in 10 years, largely by reducing the risks of heart attack and stroke. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News
(2/11)     
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| | Save on Rx after Brand-Generic Maxed — Download Savings Calculator
Health care payers attempting to reduce Rx spending may have exhausted their potential to switch members from brand to generic. One solution is to move members from their current brand drugs to less expensive alternative brands with equivalent therapeutic intent. Calculate potential savings here. | |
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- Group releases recommendation for better post-discharge care
The American Medical Association has released five patient safety principles for transitioning patients from inpatient to outpatient care. "Patients leaving the hospital too often return to ambulatory care settings that are not well connected to the hospital team and this can result in inefficient, confusing and sometimes unsafe conditions," the report's authors wrote. Evaluating patient heath, supporting self-management and medication management, as well as goal-setting were among the responsibilities outlined in the report. HealthLeaders Media
(2/11)
| Medical Update | | |
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- Endovascular therapy doesn't improve outcomes for stroke survivors
Endovascular therapy plus intravenous tissue plasminogen activator treatment showed little advantage over IV tPA alone in terms of promoting independent living 90 days after a stroke, a study found. However, endovascular therapy was more effective than tPA alone in removing clots and re-establishing blood flow. The findings appear in the New England Journal of Medicine. Nurse.com
(2/10)
- Physician perceptions affect obesity counseling, study finds
Physicians who believe that overeating is the main driver of obesity were more likely to tell patients to cut back on portion sizes and calorie consumption, while those who believe sugary drinks are the primary culprit were more likely to urge patients to reduce intake, a study found. The results in Preventive Medicine suggest that doctors' perception of obesity causes may influence their weight-loss advice, and that education for physicians may help improve the nutritional counseling they provide. HealthDay News
(2/8)
| Emerging Trends | | |
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- Optovue scores 510(k) clearance for OCT system database
Optovue has been cleared by the FDA to incorporate a normative database into the firm's iVue spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device. The iVue SD-OCT technology can use the database to enable the quantitative comparisons of the optic disc and other areas of the eye, as well as tailor OCT scans according to a patient's age, optic disc size and other factors. Healio
(2/8)
| Health Insurance Plan Company News | | |
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| Pharma News | | |
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- Aspirin plus clopidogrel lowers risk of stroke recurrence
Data on 5,170 minor stroke or transient ischemic attack survivors showed those who received aspirin and clopidogrel were 32% less likely to suffer a second stroke in 90 days than those who took aspirin alone. The two groups both had comparably low rates of intracerebral bleeding, death and myocardial infarction, researchers reported at the International Stroke Conference. MedPage Today (free registration)
(2/10)
| Policy Watch | | |
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- Biosimilars bills fail in Miss.
Bills that would have restricted pharmacists' ability to substitute biosimilar drugs for brand-name therapies failed to advance out of committees in the Mississippi House and Senate. Proponents say that pharmacists should be allowed to substitute only a biosimilar FDA-approved as "interchangeable" with the brand-name biologic drug for the specific indication and that doctors' orders to dispense as written should override payer policies. Opponents say the federal Public Health Service Act allows automatic substitution and the Mississippi legislation and other bills like it are simply an effort to protect drugmaker profits. Pharmalot.com/Pharma Blog
(2/8)
| AHIP News | | |
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Strengthening services and support for dually eligible beneficiaries
As your organization joins stakeholders working to best serve the needs of dual eligibles, attending AHIP's Dual Eligibles Summit: Improving Care, Coverage, and Cost, March 12 in Washington, D.C., can help inform your approach. You’ll enjoy learning from experts, including Melanie Bella, Director, Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service. Learn more and register.
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Keep up with AHIP news—follow @AHIPEducation on Twitter
Follow @AHIPEducation on Twitter for updates related to AHIP’s various educational offerings, including conference news, upcoming webinars and the latest online health insurance courses. View our profile.
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Webinar: Practical Advice for Automating Value-Based Reimbursement
Join us from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 to learn about the latest solutions to the concern of moving to innovative care without being hindered by claims processing systems limitations. While each plan will set its own claims processing policies and structures, moving to integrated approaches to innovative care will require thinking on both a policy and a systems level. Register now.
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| Position Title | Company Name | Location |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| CAQH Managing Director, Finance and Administration | Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare | Washington, DC |
| Asst Director, Medicare Prod. Analytics/Rev. Mgmt | Cambia | Portland, OR |
| Director of Sales & Marketing | Hometown Health | Reno, NV |
| Marketing/Communications Data Analyst | America's Health Insurance Plans | Washington, DC |
| Media Relations Coordinator | America's Health Insurance Plans | Washington, DC |
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| Click here to view more job listings. |
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| SmartQuote | | |
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--John Steinbeck,
American author
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| AHIP Solutions Team |
Managing Editor, Online Publishing:
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| | Recent AHIP Solutions SmartBrief Issues:
- Monday, February 11, 2013
- Friday, February 08, 2013
- Thursday, February 07, 2013
- Wednesday, February 06, 2013
- Tuesday, February 05, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Melissa Turner
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