| February 21, 2013 | America's Health Insurance Plans |
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- Choosing Wisely: Societies list more tests and meds to question
The American Academy of Pediatrics formally recommended against prescribing antibiotics for sinusitis, bronchitis or other viral respiratory illnesses. The American Academy of Ophthalmology said antibiotics should not be prescribed for conjunctivitis, and the American Geriatrics Society said older type 2 diabetes patients should not use drugs to keep their blood glucose levels within tight limits. The recommendations are part of a broad update to the Choosing Wisely campaign to reduce unneeded medical treatments. MedPage Today (free registration)
(2/21), Reuters
(2/21)     
- Alcohol use linked to cancer deaths, study finds
Alcohol consumption is linked to 3.5% of all U.S. cancer deaths, and even low levels of consumption are associated with risk, according to research from the National Cancer Institute. Esophageal cancer is among the cancers responsible for the majority of alcohol-attributable deaths in men, while breast cancer topped the list for women. "For most alcohol users, therefore, reducing alcohol consumption would likely improve their health in many ways in addition to reducing cancer risk," the study team said. Medscape (free registration)
(2/19)
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| | Download Case Study: Reduce Rx Costs and Improve Member Health
Denying high-priced Rx claims may contain costs in the short term, but this practice can lead to poor adherence and complications for patients. Download this case study to learn how health plans can reduce drug spend with more affordable medication alternatives and provider and member education. | |
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| Providers & Suppliers |  |  |
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- How do parents choose a pediatrician?
A survey by the University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital revealed most parents still consider word-of-mouth advice when choosing a pediatrician, but online reviews are gaining prominence, with younger parents and women more likely to consider online assessments important. Insurance, a doctor's experience and the practice's location were also important factors. HealthDay News
(2/20)
- EHR adoption lags among U.S. physicians, study finds
One in 6 U.S. physicians are making sufficient use of electronic health record systems to attest to meaningful use, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers said costs and productivity concerns play roles in low EHR adoption rates. "My guess is that more people are on the journey [to using electronic records] than have attested to it. But, there are still some physicians who haven't started using electronic health records at all," said researcher Adam Wright. HealthDay News
(2/20)
| Medical Update | | |
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- Study shows high prevalence, low awareness of type 2 diabetes
According to a Harris Interactive/HealthDay survey, 1 in 8 Americans report being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, while more than one-third of respondents either had the disease themselves or had an immediate family member with diabetes. Researchers also found 35% of diabetes patients said their condition was only "somewhat" controlled, while 5% reported having poorly controlled diabetes. HealthDay News
(2/20)
- More robotically assisted hysterectomies are performed in U.S.
The use of robotic-assisted hysterectomy for endometriosis, bleeding or fibroids increased substantially between 2007 and 2010, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The robotic procedure was more expensive and did not appear to have better outcomes or to reduce complications, including the need for transfusion, the study found, researchers said. Reuters
(2/19)
| Emerging Trends | | |
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- Wristwatch allows caregivers to track individuals with disabilities
ILoc Technologies has developed a wristwatch that helps caregivers track individuals whose conditions, such as autism, cause them to wander off. The TriLoc Personal Locator Device has built-in GPS and wireless Internet and Bluetooth capabilities that communicate with mobile-device applications and computers for tracking at close range and in public places. Other features include a lockable strap and alarms to help the wearer remember tasks. eWeek
(2/19)
| Health Insurance Plan Company News | | |
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
McKesson Webinar: Practical advice for automating value-based reimbursement. Register here.
Interested in learning more about advertising with SmartBrief? Click here for detailed industry information and media kits.
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| Policy Watch | | |
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- FDA issues draft guidance on third-party device review program
The FDA has released draft guidance on changes to its program to accredit third-party entities to review certain medical device applications. The draft guidance, based on the International Medical Device Regulators Forum's proposal to create a unified program for med-tech auditors, covers compliance with the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, including a provision regarding third-party firm accreditation. Firms must seek reaccreditation every three years. Clinica (subscription required)
(2/19)
 | Time for Affordability
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will help millions of people get coverage for the first time, but the new health insurance tax, costly benefit requirements, and age rating restrictions will drive up the cost of coverage for millions of consumers and employers. Check out AHIP.org/Affordability to learn more about the factors driving health insurance premiums.
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| AHIP News | | |
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Education, networking and value at AHIP’s Institute 2012
Thousands of health care professionals attend the AHIP Institute every year for unsurpassed networking opportunities and insightful general, workshop, concurrent and breakfast sessions. Institute 2013, June 12 to 14 in Las Vegas, is the perfect conference to connect, converge and collaborate on our changing health care system. Register now.
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Save $500 on connecting with health plans
Becoming an AHIP Affiliate Organization Member is a great way to showcase your solutions to health plans. View a video on the many benefits of membership -- now at $500 off through Friday, March 15, 2013. Just use the discount code AffiliateOrg13 when you contact a member of AHIP’s Business Development Team at BusinessDevelopment@ahip.org or 866-707-AHIP (2447).
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| Position Title | Company Name | Location |
| Associate Medical Director (Part-Time) | UCare | Minneapolis, MN |
| Vice President Member Group | Louisiana Health Cooperative, Inc. | New Orleans, LA |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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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 | Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed."
--Maria Montessori,
Italian physician and educator
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| AHIP Solutions Team |
Managing Editor, Online Publishing:
Yvonne Chanatry
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| | Recent AHIP Solutions SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, February 20, 2013
- Tuesday, February 19, 2013
- Monday, February 18, 2013
- Friday, February 15, 2013
- Thursday, February 14, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Melissa Turner
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