Health Payer Press Releases

Failure to Take Medicine Linked to Unnecessary Hospital Visits, Especially for Medicare Patients Taking High Blood Pressure or H

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:19:06 -0400

ATLANTA, May 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Older patients with high cholesterol or high blood pressure are at particular risk for unnecessary hospitalizations if they don't follow doctor's orders on taking their medications, according to new research from Express Scripts (NASDAQ: ESRX) presented this week.

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Data from two studies show that patients 65 and older who did not take their medicines as prescribed had around a 30 percent higher risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease when compared to patients who took their medications as prescribed. The two studies were presented at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke 2012 Scientific Sessions.

"Many hospitalizations and emergency room visits may be avoided if you take your statin and blood pressure medications as prescribed," said Donald Pittman, PharmD, national practice leader of the Cardiovascular Therapeutic Resource Center at Express Scripts and the lead researcher for both studies. "Conditions like high cholesterol and high blood pressure are usually asymptomatic, so patients often forget how important it is to take these medicines. The failure to remain on treatment can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular-related death."

High cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart failure and heart attack are more prevalent conditions among the 65 and older population. These conditions can be well-managed with affordable prescription medications.

One study, looking at patients age 65 and older using cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins, found that the least-adherent patients had a 28 percent increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations compared with the adherent patients. The second study, looking at the 65 and older population using high blood pressure medications, showed that the least-adherent patients had a 31 percent higher cardiovascular hospitalization rate during the one-year follow-up period.

The risk of emergency room visits was also highest among the least-adherent patients in both studies, with a 43 percent higher rate for those using statin medications and a 29 percent higher rate for those using antihypertensive medications.

Additionally, the study focused on antihypertensive medications found that the greatest risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations and emergency room visits within the least-adherent group were Medicare Part D plan patients, with a 42 percent increased risk of hospitalization and a 49 percent higher risk for an emergency room visit. In both studies, patients covered by Medicare Part D had higher prevalence of hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure and diabetes than those in other prescription benefit plans.

"Even when you account for unique attributes of the Medicare population – such as a higher prevalence of co-morbidities – it's still resoundingly clear that improving adherence to these medications can help keep people healthier and avoid unnecessary cardiovascular hospitalizations," said Pittman.

Past data suggest, on average, one-third to one-half of all patients do not comply with prescribed treatment regimens. In the two new studies, one-in-four of the study subjects were nonadherent to statins, and one-in-seven members were not adherent to their hypertension medications.

"It's encouraging that the patients in these studies were actually more adherent overall than the broader population," said Dr. Woody Eisenberg, chief medical officer for Medicare and a co-author of the research. "Still, the issue of nonadherence is significant and is one that can be addressed by health care policy makers that are trying to manage Medicare costs by including pharmacists as providers of clinical care with a focus on adherence to essential medications."

Express Scripts has recently launched ScreenRx(SM), a breakthrough solution in the fight against the nation's costliest health condition: medication nonadherence.

ScreenRx is a proprietary adherence solution from the Express Scripts Research & News Solutions Lab. It detects future risk for nonadherence and tailors interventions for individual patients. Leveraging the power of predictive modeling, the tool identifies patients at highest risk for not following their doctors' orders. Once identified, patients receive personalized interventions to help them stay on their therapy.

In 2011, medication nonadherence cost the United States healthcare system $317.4 billion in treating medical complications that could have been avoided if patients had taken their medication. This amount is higher than the total medical cost of treating diabetes, congestive heart failure and cancer combined.

Details of Studies

Combined, both studies examined the pharmacy and medical claims of more than 500,000 Americans aged 65 and older using cardiovascular medications from January 2009 through June 2011. The level of medication adherence was determined by the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC) over one year, meaning the percent of days that patients had medication on hand during that time-frame. Those with a PDC of 80 percent or higher were regarded as adherent, followed by a group with a PDC ranging from 60-79 percent who were less adherent, and then a non-adherent group with a PDC less than 60 percent. The study also evaluated the co-morbidities and rates of emergency room/hospitalization visits among people covered by Medicare Part D plans and those who had prescription coverage elsewhere.

About Express Scripts

Express Scripts manages more than a billion prescriptions each year for tens of millions of people. On behalf of our clients — employers, health plans, unions and government health programs — we make the use of prescription drugs safer and more affordable. We innovate to enhance patient care, reduce pharmacy-related waste and increase therapy adherence. Building on a strong clinical foundation, we apply our understanding of the behavioral sciences — an approach we call Consumerology® — to make it easier for people to choose better health.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Express Scripts provides integrated pharmacy benefit management services, including network-pharmacy claims processing, home delivery, specialty benefit management, benefit-design consultation, drug-utilization review, formulary management, and medical and drug data analysis services. The company also distributes a full range of biopharmaceutical products and provides extensive cost-management and patient-care services.

For more information, visit www.Express-Scripts.com or follow @ExpressScripts on Twitter.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Luddy
Express Scripts
201-269-6402
jennifer_luddy@medco.com

Investor Contact:
David Myers
Express Scripts
314-810-3115
investor.relations@express-scripts.com

SOURCE Express Scripts

Tenet to Host Investor Webinar on May 16, 2012

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:19:05 -0400

Featuring Conifer Health Solutions President Stephen Mooney

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) today announced the second of its planned series of investor webinars with Stephen Mooney, president of Conifer Health Solutions, Tenet’s business process management subsidiary. The webinar is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Central Time, May 16, 2012.

Conifer has more than 30 years of experience providing hospitals with business process management solutions, which allows hospitals to focus entirely on patient care and quality while Conifer focuses on improving and sustaining their financial performance. During the webinar, Mooney will review how Conifer enhances hospitals’ patient financial services and revenue cycle efficiency allowing them to increase revenue capture and reduce their cost structure. Mooney will also discuss Conifer’s Patient Communications services, which focus on a range of services from creating a first impression to facilitating access and follow-up communications to building lasting customer relationships, and Capitation Management, a leading provider of risk assessment services that have developed deep actuarial capabilities to assess and manage clients’ financial risks.

The webcast may be accessed through the investor relations section of Tenet’s website at www.tenethealth.com/investors. A set of slides, which will be referred to during the presentation, will be available at the Company’s website at approximately 3:00 p.m. Central on May 16. It is suggested that listeners access the audio webcast 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the start time. A replay of the audio webcast will be available on the company’s website for 30 days following the date of the presentation.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a leading health care services company, through its subsidiaries operates 50 hospitals, over 100 free-standing outpatient centers and Conifer Health Solutions, a leader in business process solutions for health care providers that serves more than 300 hospital and health care entities nationwide. Tenet’s hospitals and related health care facilities are committed to providing high quality care to patients in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.tenethealth.com.

This document contains “forward-looking statements” – that is, statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Particular uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements include the factors disclosed under “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, periodic reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information contained in this release is as of the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Tenet uses its company website to provide important information to investors about the company including the posting of important announcements regarding financial performance and corporate developments.

CONTACT:

Tenet Healthcare Corporation
Media:
Rick Black, 469-893-2647
Rick.Black@tenethealth.com
or
Investors:
Thomas Rice, 469-893-2522
Thomas.Rice@tenethealth.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Texas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Practice Management Health Hospitals Professional Services Finance Managed Care

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Finity Communications, Health Partners of Philadelphia Awarded Health Care Innovation Grant

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:19:02 -0400

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that Finity Communications, in partnership with Health Partners of Philadelphia and SCIOinspire of Farmington, CT, is the recipient of a $4.9 million, three-year Health Care Innovation grant presented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). One of 26 proposals selected from over 3,000 applications nationwide, the grant will be used to improve health care for high-need populations in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Made possible by the health care law – the Affordable Care Act – this Health Care Innovation grant will support the use of health information technology and peer mentoring to empower interested Health Partners members to improve their health status.

“We are excited to bring this groundbreaking project to the Greater Philadelphia area,” said William S. George, President and CEO of Health Partners. “We believe this creative use of innovative technology, data and peer health mentors will provide a sustainable model for improving care and lowering costs for all our members, and particularly those with complex medical needs.”

This comprehensive approach to health care is expected to reduce the total cost of care through prevention, maintaining wellness, and management of disease and chronic conditions with estimated savings of approximately $8.7 million. Over the three-year period, the program will create an estimated 12 new jobs, including four in the Greater Philadelphia region. These workers will be part of a unique network of peer “health mentors,” who will be trained to conduct outreach and support lifestyle change through prevention, outreach and wellness education programs.

Some of these technologies have been available to consumers with commercial and employer health insurance, but Mr. George believes many of Health Partners’ ethnically diverse, underserved enrollees will also embrace these new, user-friendly and empowering ways to take control of their health status.

The first batch of Health Care Innovation Awards was announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “We can’t wait to support innovative projects that will save money and make our health care system stronger,” said Secretary Sebelius. “It’s yet another way we are supporting local communities now in their efforts to provide better care and lower costs.”

Preliminary awardees were chosen not only for their innovative solutions to the health care challenges facing their communities, but also for their focus on creating a well-trained health care workforce that is equipped to meet the need for new jobs in the 21^st century health system.

“We are honored to have been selected for this exciting initiative,” said Deborah Stewart, President of Finity. “By bringing together technology, integrated health profiles, and outreach through peer-to-peer health mentors, we can help individuals improve their health and reduce health care costs.”

For more information on the awards announced, go to: innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/innovation-awards/project-profiles.html.

About Health Partners: Health Partners is a not-for-profit health plan serving nearly 170,000 members in the Greater Philadelphia region. Its HealthChoices Medicaid plan consistently ranks number one in the area for member satisfaction in an annual consumer survey; is rated as “Excellent,” the highest level possible, by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA); and was the first plan in the nation to receive NCQA’s Multicultural Health Care Distinction. In 2009, the company launched KidzPartners, which provides free or low-cost health insurance to uninsured children and teens through CHIP, Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program. Founded more than 25 years ago, Health Partners is one of the few hospital-owned health plans in the country and has received national recognition for its innovations in managed care. For more information about Health Partners, please visit www.healthpart.com.

About Finity Communications: Finity Communications is a leading provider of systems-based technology and communication solutions for some of the largest health plan providers in the U.S. Finity is the creator of the EveryBODY Get Healthy closed-loop system that is the platform for the Innovation project. Our mission is to empower individuals to make conscious health and wellness decisions. For more information about Finity, please visit www.finity.com.

About SCIOinspire: Based in Farmington, Connecticut, SCIOinspire serves more than 50 health care payers, including 10 of the top 24 insurers and three of the top five insurers, who represent more than 80 million members. SCIOinspire focuses on the science of data analytics and reporting, outcomes measurement and the use of outcomes to improve healthcare services and results. Our emphasis is on using actuarial, data analytic, and economic science combined with our extensive healthcare domain experience and expertise to deliver valid and credible information to support healthcare program operations. For more information about SCIOinspire, please visit www.scioinspire.com.

CONTACT:

Health Partners of Philadelphia
Felicia R. Phillips
215-967-4580/office
215-356-7716/cell

KEYWORDS: United States North America Pennsylvania

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Data Management Health Nursing General Health Managed Care

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Extend Health Holds Job Fairs to Hire Over 300 Hundred at New Facility

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:19:03 -0400

Leading health benefits manager, Extend Health, to hire over 300 employees at new service center located in Richardson, Texas

RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Extend Health Inc., a leading provider of health benefits management services, including the nation’s largest private Medicare exchange, is holding a series of job fairs to hire over 300 employees at its new service center in the Richardson Telecom Corridor. The company is hiring full-time, seasonal benefit advisors who will work with seniors primarily by telephone to help them compare, select and enroll in private Medicare plans.

At its first job fair, yesterday, Extend Health had over 125 prospective applicants arrive and made almost 50 contingent job offers on the spot, with more to offers to follow. Said Senior Director of Human Resources Jim Kelley, “We are really excited by the enthusiastic turnout. We hope for the same response at our upcoming job fairs because we have so many positions to hire for. We’re holding two a week throughout May just to give people a chance to come in, learn more about the jobs and apply.”

More Extend Health Job Fairs in May

Location: 1350 N. Glenville Dr., Richardson, Texas, 75081
Dates and times:*
- Tuesday, May 15 — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday, May 17 — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, May 19 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 22 — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

*More job fairs are being planned.

Interested applicants can also apply online right away at the Extend Health online career center. Online applicants will receive a call back from Extend Health within 24 hours.

According to Benefit Advisor James Wilson, who was one of the early hires to the facility, “The environment here is great. The people are friendly. And Extend Health really values our input. They incorporated our opinions into technology improvements that made it more efficient for us to provide great service to our callers — which is what it’s all about. It’s a good feeling — the seniors we speak with are easy to talk to and they really appreciate the help we give them.”

At the job fair, applicants can expect an overview of the benefit advisor role and the hiring process. Applicants should bring a current resume to apply for a position. Extend Health will be making contingent job offers to candidates on the spot. The full hiring process takes two to three weeks during which candidates must satisfy the following steps:

Get health and life insurance licenses— Extend Health provides study materials and pays for all examination and licensing fees
Pass a credit check
Pass a background check

Once the hiring process has been completed, new benefit advisors start work with a five-week training program, known as Extend University, which ensures they are fluent in Medicare marketing rules and regulations, senior sensitivity best practices and navigating Extend Health’s state-of-the-art Medicare exchange tools.

Extend Health has another service center in South Jordan, Utah, which currently employs 250 people and is hiring an additional 250 seasonal benefit advisors. Corporate headquarters for Extend Health are located in San Mateo, California.

About Extend Health

Extend Health, Inc., founded in 2004, is a leading provider of health benefits management services, including the largest private Medicare exchange in the country. For more information, visit Extend Health on the web at https://www.extendhealth.com.

Extend Health is a registered trademark of Extend Health, Inc. Other names may be trademarks or servicemarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT:

Extend Health, Inc.
Melanie Meharchand, 650-292-8717
Melanie.Meharchand@extendhealth.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America California Texas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Education Continuing Technology Internet Telecommunications Health Professional Services Insurance General Health Managed Care

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Don’t be a Stooge: Protect Yourself from Injury, Illness with Disability Insurance

Fri, 11 May 2012 05:19:03 -0400

New WellPoint Survey Finds Lack of Disability Education, Savings Puts Americans at Risk

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sure, the timeless eye poking and face slapping of The Three Stooges might trigger a few good belly laughs, but most people remain unprotected in the event of a serious injury, disability or illness. May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month and there are still many myths and misconceptions that need to be addressed. A new national survey by WellPoint, Inc. revealed that two out of three Americans don’t know what’s covered by their disability plans. In addition, three quarters of the survey participants don’t have disability insurance and one in 10 actually worry that they will jinx themselves if they purchase it.

This same survey found that most Americans need more information about disability insurance and many who don’t have coverage could not survive financially if an accident happened tomorrow. At a time when many Americans are still struggling with family finances, it’s time to place more emphasis on awareness and planning for life-changing events like a disability.

“Life is unpredictable,” said Pat Murphy, president and general manager of WellPoint’s Life and Disability business. “Most people don’t have enough saved to protect themselves and their families if something happened tomorrow. It’s time to understand how disability coverage can help when Americans are out of work due to an injury or disability.”

The survey also found that two-thirds of the survey participants don’t have enough money saved to cover living expenses for three months and nearly a third still live paycheck to paycheck. Most of the survey participants have started to worry about their future health – half admit they can’t afford to be out of work due to an injury or illness. And the same number report they would not have enough to cover being out of work three to six months.

There are some simple steps everyone can take to learn more about disability insurance options. Employees should talk to their employer and employers should remind employees about disability benefits. For those who are self-employed or unemployed, doing a little research online by going to sites like disabilitycanhappen.org, and talking to friends and family can help people explore their options.

There are still many misconceptions around disability insurance. According to the survey, half of the survey participants don’t know that pregnancy can lead to needing short-term disability coverage. In fact, 20 percent of disability claims are due to normal pregnancy and 9 percent are due to complications from pregnancy. WellPoint’s life and disability companies offer short-term disability plans that include benefits for new mothers, including a variety of resources and services that are designed to help them through this exciting, but sometimes challenging time.

Four in 10 survey participants also reported that they don’t know the length of time covered by long-term disability insurance. In fact, the average long-term disability claim lasts 31.2 months. What’s more, nearly one in three women and one in four men can expect to suffer a disability that keeps them out of work for 90 days or longer at some point during their working years.

Another four in 10 Americans surveyed believe disability insurance only covers injuries or accidents. Surprisingly, about 95 percent of disabilities are caused by illnesses rather than accidents. If an employer provides disability coverage from one of WellPoint’s life and disability companies, and if an employee is unable to work due to an illness or injury, the employee can talk with one of WellPoint’s disability case managers. In addition, employees can meet face-to-face with a licensed professional counselor up to three times at no charge – which is valuable support when an employee is facing a disability claim. WellPoint’s companies also offer unlimited 24/7 telephone counseling and online resources to help people address the various issues associated with a disability.

Additional survey results regarding disability insurance found:

Three in 10 Americans who participated in the survey have taken or know someone who has taken off work because of an injury, illness or disability.
Two-thirds of parents are concerned with their future health.
- Six in 10 parents report that if they were injured tomorrow they would not have enough money to cover being out of work for three to six months.
More than half of Americans who took the survey report that they are more concerned with their day-to-day expenses than their future expenses.

The omnibus survey was conducted in April 2012 using the field services of Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). The study reached a national sample of 2,500 American adults ages 18 and older. The study also looks at findings across gender, age, parental status, and experience with disability. For the purposes of this study, parents have a child under 18. The margin of error for the national sample is ±2.0% at the 95% confidence level, meaning if the study were replicated, the study findings would be within 2 percentage points 95 times out of 100.

About WellPoint, Inc.

WellPoint works to simplify the connection between Health, Care and Value. We help to improve the health of our members and our communities, and provide greater value to our customers and shareholders. WellPoint is one of the nation’s largest health benefits companies, with nearly 34 million members in its affiliated health plans, and a total of more than 62 million individuals served through its subsidiaries. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and Wisconsin. In a majority of these service areas, WellPoint’s plans do business as Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Empire Blue Cross (in the New York service areas). WellPoint also serves customers throughout the country as UniCare and in certain California, Arizona and Nevada markets through our recently acquired CareMore Health Group, Inc. subsidiary. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com.

CONTACT:

WellPoint, Inc.
Donna Page, (404) 842-8105
Donna.page@wellpoint.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Indiana

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Hospitals Other Health Professional Services Parenting Insurance Consumer General Health Managed Care Physical Therapy

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Cigna to Acquire Great American Supplemental Benefits Group

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:19:03 -0400

Acquisition Further Extends Cigna’s Capabilities in the Individual and Seniors Market

Cigna Adds Industry Leading Supplemental Benefits Solutions Provider to Its Existing Individual and Senior Businesses
Scalable Product Portfolio and Platform Highly Aligned with Expanded Consumer Strategy in a High Growth Segment
U.S. Supplemental Market A Natural Extension of Cigna's Global Health Life & Accident Business

BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) and American Financial Group (NYSE: AFG) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement whereby Cigna will acquire Great American^® Supplemental Benefits Group, one of the largest manufacturers, distributors, and marketers of supplemental health insurance products in the United States. The transaction is expected to close during the second half of 2012 following customary regulatory approval.

“Great American Supplemental Benefits is an ideal strategic fit with Cigna's growth plans to expand our presence in the U.S. Individual and Seniors segments through a broad range of supplemental health solutions,” said Thomas Richards, President, Cigna Individual and Family Plans.

The combination provides Cigna with several significant opportunities for additional growth:

Expand individual supplemental benefits offerings to Cigna customers in the United States;
Bring a scaled offering to the highly-attractive Seniors segment, with strong capabilities in Medicare Supplement and Other Supplemental Benefits;
Extend Cigna's global direct-to-consumer retail channel; and
Further enhance Cigna's diverse distribution network of agents and brokers.

“We are excited to have Great American’s talented team, led by their President, Brad Wolfram, join the Cigna organization,” continued Richards. “Their product portfolio and distribution channels combined with Cigna's next generation retail capabilities will further enhance our U.S. and international consumer services. We will work to create substantial value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and other key stakeholders as we extend our health solutions and services across the individual and senior segments.”

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, and other related products including group disability, life, and accident coverage. Cigna has sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, with approximately 70 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

CONTACT:

Cigna Corporation
Diana Sousa, 860-226-2103
Diana.Sousa@cigna.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Professional Services Insurance Managed Care

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NFP Health & hCentive to Present at AHIP Institute 2012 Exchange Conference

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:19:03 -0400

Expert Session: "How the Supreme Court Decision Will Impact Private Exchanges"

BOSTON, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NFP Health & hCentive, Inc. announced today that Jeff Rich, CEO of NFP Health and Sanjay Singh, CEO of hCentive, will co-present a session titled 'How the Supreme Court Decision Will Impact Private Exchanges' at the AHIP Institute 2012 Exchange Conference in Salt Lake City, UT on June 20, 2012. NFP Health, a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Financial Partners Corp. (NYSE: NFP), a leading provider of benefits, insurance and wealth management services, is a pioneer in the design, implementation and delivery of Health Benefits Exchanges. hCentive is in the business of simplifying the complex world of health insurance.

The session will discuss the challenges and opportunities arising out of health care reform and the potential impact the U.S. Supreme Court decision will have on "private" health insurance exchanges ("Private Exchanges"). It will also address questions regarding investment and capabilities required by health plans to create and run successful Private Exchanges.

Commenting on today's announcement, Mr. Rich said, "Now is a very interesting time for health plans, looking to evaluate the marketplace for better business opportunities. While the impending reforms promise some significant business opportunities for insurers, it is important to consider how the Supreme Court judgment will impact these Exchanges."

Mr. Singh added, "Insurers are keen to understand the potential impact that the Supreme Court decision will have on the emergence of Private Exchanges. Having interacted with a wide variety of insurers and policymakers, hCentive brings critical insight into the situation and how insurers can make the most of the ever-changing landscape."

Chris Condeluci, an expert on the legal aspects of PPACA, ERISA, and State insurance law and how these laws may impact Private Exchanges, will also participate in the panel discussion. Mr. Condeluci said, "Private Exchanges are the future. I believe that regardless of whether PPACA is upheld, modified, or halted by a Supreme Court decision, Private Exchanges will play a critical role in any new health care marketplace. With NFP Health's long-standing experience with Private Exchanges and hCentive's deep expertise, Jeff and Sanjay are uniquely positioned to shed some light on the direction that Private Exchanges will take moving forward."

Details
What: AHIP Institute 2012 Exchange Conference
Topic: How the Supreme Court Decision Will Impact Private Exchanges
Where: Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
When: June 20, 2012

About NFP Health
As a pioneer in the design, implementation and delivery of Health Benefits Exchanges, NFP Health has a long record of operating one of the largest and most successful Benefits Marketplaces in New England: HSA Insurance. With its HSA Insurance division, NFP Health operates the leading independent and full service insurance exchange, covering over 150,000 lives with a full scope of products and services. NFP Health (a "d/b/a" of Massachusetts Business Association, LLC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Financial Partners Corp. (NYSE: NFP). For more information, visit www.nfphealth.com.

About hCentive
hCentive is in the business of simplifying the complex world of health insurance. hCentive provides technology solutions for health insurers and state health agencies. These solutions help them reduce cost and administrative complexity, while enhancing relationships with their customers. hCentive is the first organization to build an exchange solution from the ground-up post the PPACA. hCentive has developed a deep understanding of the healthcare reform and have created solutions and services that align with federal and state regulations and meet or exceed all industry standards. For more information, visit www.hcentive.com.

About NFP
National Financial Partners Corp. (NYSE: NFP), and its benefits, insurance and wealth management businesses provide diversified advisory and brokerage services to companies and high net worth individuals, partnering with them to preserve their assets and prosper over the long term. NFP advisors provide innovative and comprehensive solutions, backed by NFP's national scale and resources. For more information, visit www.nfp.com.

Contact:
Nick Koulopoulos
+1-781-228-2135
nkoulopoulos@nfp.com

SOURCE NFP Health

Health Insurance Outlet: Health Insurance 101

Thu, 10 May 2012 14:19:03 -0400

Fast, Free and Secure Online Health Insurance Quotes for Individuals, Families and Small Businesses. You can apply directly online at www.healthinsuranceoutlet.com

LOS ANGELES, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Navali & Company, insurance agency and parent company of Health Insurance Outlet, educates consumers about individual health insurance. Through our website, www.healthinsuranceoutlet.com, consumers can click on "Health Insurance 101" and learn more about what to look for when buying California health insurance.

There are many types of California health insurance plans out there. Here are some basic things to know before buying individual health insurance:

What Types of Plans Should I Look For?

There are way too many plans to choose from and it can become very intimidating. Let us try to break down the basics of the types of plans in California that you might come across.

HMOs (Health Maintenance Organization). These types of plans are one of the most affordable in the marketplace. This is primarily because of the managed network structure that is in place.
PPOs (Preferred Provider Organization). This is also another affordable individual health insurance plan that gives people access to all health care providers within the network. Additionally, you can also go out of network and most plans will cover you for care as well.
HSAs (Health Savings Account). The HSA is primarily used for tax-free strategies so individuals can save some extra money during tax time. Also, HSAs have high-deductible plans which are primarily used as "just-in-case" insurance, or catastrophic coverage for those unfortunate emergency events.

Understanding What Costs Are Associated With Your Plan

Premiums. This is the monthly cost that you have to pay to maintain your individual health insurance plan. Some plans also offer quarterly payment structures as well.
Deductibles. This is the amount of money that you are responsible for before co-insurance kicks in on your individual health insurance plan. Usually, the lower the deductible, the higher your monthly premium.
Co-Pays. This is the amount you have to pay to visit the doctor's office for routine check-ups, sore throats, etc.
Co-Insurance. This percentage is what your insurance carrier will pay after you have met your deductible.
Out-Of-Pocket Maximums. This is an important number. This is the most that can come out of your pocket in any one given year for your health insurance, then it resets.

About Navali & Company:

Navali & Company is a full service insurance agency working with individuals and small businesses across California. The company offers health insurance plans from all the major insurance carriers in California and has been saving money for consumers and small businesses for many years. Please visit www.navalicompany.com for more information.

SOURCE Navali & Company

Aetna and Banner Health Expand Accountable Care Relationship to Support More Than 200,000 Patients

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:19:02 -0400

-- Aetna Implementing Integrated Technology to Support Clinical Integration, Population Health Management and Patient Services --

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today it is expanding its relationship with Banner Health Network to include full technology support for population health management and patient services for more than 200,000 patients. The agreement includes support for the 50,000 Medicare fee-for-service patients covered under the Pioneer ACO shared savings program and members in Aetna’s ACO relationship with Banner Health Network.

Aetna will fully implement its broad “technology stack” and care management services to support greater care quality, coordination and convenience for these Banner Health doctors and their patients. The agreement includes implementation of the following capabilities from Aetna companies:

Health information exchange technology from Medicity to enable the secure, two-way exchange of health information across a patient’s entire care team, including hospitals, physicians, labs, pharmacies and other ambulatory services;
Active CareTeam^SM from Active Health Management to give physicians access to CareEngine^®-powered, point-of-care clinical decision support services and a desktop-based workflow tool to track, monitor, coordinate and report on patient health outcomes; and
Smartphone and online appointment setting and pre-registration services for patients through iTriage, one of the most downloaded health and fitness apps in both the iTunes® App store and Android™ Market.

“In order to succeed in the delivery of high quality, high experience, affordable care, we must integrate clinical activities across the patient’s continuum of care. This requires data sharing among our providers, and the workflow integration that can result,” said Dr. Tricia Nguyen, Chief Medical Officer for Banner Health Network. “Actionable data is the currency for change in healthcare.”

“Today’s traditional electronic medical records have limited value in providing the level of clinical insights needed to succeed in accountable care organizations,” said Charles Kennedy, MD, chief executive officer for Aetna Accountable Care Solutions. “Aetna technologies marry clinical and claim information to create a broader patient record available to the entire care team. Then we bring evidence-based intelligence, workflow tools and care management services to help physicians monitor, measure, coordinate and improve patient care.”

Banner Health Network is an Arizona patient care and business partnership between Arizona Integrated Physicians, the Banner Medical Group, the Banner Physician Hospital Organization and Banner Health. More than 2,600 Banner-affiliated physicians in the Phoenix metro area are part of the Banner Health Network. In December 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center announced it had selected the Banner Health Network as one of 32 organizations participating in the new Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) initiative. The Pioneer ACO Model began January 1, 2012, and is one of several initiatives underway at CMS designed to support the formation of ACOs.

The combination of technology and services from Medicity, ActiveHealth and iTriage, all Aetna subsidiaries, represents the largest implementation of Aetna’s robust provider and patient technologies to date. The combined Aetna technologies will complement existing Banner technology to power a new level of clinical integration and convenience in health care for these patients. The capabilities offered through the Aetna companies are part of the Aetna Accountable Care Solutions suite of services.

In November, Aetna and Banner announced the first stage of their accountable care collaboration, which included the introduction of Aetna Whole Health^SM, an ACO-based, commercial health care product for small and middle market employers. Members in the Aetna Whole Health plan will receive the same health IT-supported services, including the iTriage appointment and pre-registration service.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.1 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services and health information technology services. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.

CONTACT:

Aetna
Sherry Sanderford, 904-351-4592
sanderfords@aetna.com
or
Anjie Coplin, 214-200-8056
coplina@aetna.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Practice Management Health Hospitals Other Health Managed Care

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CEO of MDS Consulting to Discuss Hospital and Physician Integration at California Association of Physician Groups’ A

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:19:02 -0400

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Phil Dalton, president and CEO of MDS Consulting, will discuss the growing prevalence of hospital and physician partnerships at the annual meeting of the California Association of Physician Groups (CAPG) on May 19 in Palm Desert, California.

“Hospitals now account for more than half of all employed physicians, and the movement toward accountable care organizations is a call for even further collaboration,” said Dalton. “This changing environment makes it more important than ever for physicians and medical group leaders to fully understand the options before them and to determine their role in the evolving healthcare marketplace.”

With more than a quarter of a century of experience in healthcare strategy, business development, marketing, policy and planning, Dalton has worked with hundreds of healthcare organizations and is one of the industry’s best-known thought leaders regarding physician/ hospital integration and evolving healthcare business models.

In his presentation at CAPG, Dalton will provide a snapshot of medical practice ownership trends over the past decade, review how California business patterns are evolving, and share examples of successful California physician/hospital alignment models. He will also discuss the emergence of accountable care organizations and provide attendees with eight steps and strategies to consider to successfully prepare for healthcare reform. “It is important that medical groups make a thoughtful assessment regarding partnering with hospitals and health plans vs. going alone,” said Dalton.

Joining Dalton in his presentation will be Bill Gil, CEO of Facey Medical Foundation. The foundation is the MSO for Facey Medical Group, which employs over 175 healthcare providers in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley and San Gabriel Valleys.

The California Association of Physician Groups (CAPG) is the nation’s largest professional association representing physician groups practicing in the managed care model. Its more than 150 member groups employ and/or contract with physicians who in turn provide healthcare services to approximately 13 million Californians. More than 50 percent of California’s healthcare is delivered by physicians employed by/or contracted with CAPG members. CAPG supports its members through public advocacy, educational services and collaboration with other stakeholders in California healthcare.

MDS Consulting is a national healthcare consulting firm that helps hospitals, medical groups, health systems and other healthcare organizations achieve their goals for development, growth and profitability. The MDS team of executive level professionals provides individualized solutions and creative insights in such areas as physician/hospital alignment, medical group management, health reform/accountable care, financial assessments, hospital/healthcare strategic planning and implementation, and regulatory compliance. Further information may be obtained at www.mdsconsulting.com.

CONTACT:

for MDS Consulting:
Ross Goldberg
818-597-8453, x-1
ross@kevinross.net

KEYWORDS: United States North America California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Practice Management Health Hospitals Other Health Professional Services Consulting General Health Managed Care

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Aetna Helping to Create Safer Birth Days for Moms and Babies

Thu, 10 May 2012 10:19:02 -0400

-- New educational tools and hospital programs are aimed at reducing the number of high-risk, elective deliveries --

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Parents are predisposed to protect their child’s well-being. However, evidence suggests that for a variety of non-medical reasons, too many babies are delivered by cesarean section (C-section) or their birth dates are selected too early -- before the recommended 39 weeks of pregnancy. To help parents and babies avoid that preventable risk, Aetna (NYSE: AET) is helping providers and moms-to-be recognize and avoid the complex combination of issues that contribute to early elective delivery and medically unnecessary C-sections.

“Thankfully, advances in medicine have greatly increased survival rates for babies who must be delivered early or by C-section for medical reasons. But early delivery and C-section still have risks. With early delivery, for example, babies are at increased risk for infection, respiratory distress and development problems. They also are more likely to need care in neonatal intensive care unit,” says Joanne Armstrong, M.D., an Ob-Gyn, senior medical director and head of Women's Health at Aetna. “We hope our collaboration with health care providers and outreach to members can help reduce this unnecessary risk for mothers and babies.”

Planning while waiting for baby

For expectant parents, Aetna recently launched “Waiting for Baby,” an educational video to help with labor and delivery decisions. The video includes information on the importance of waiting a full 39 weeks of pregnancy before scheduling delivery, as well as information on the ways to avoid medically unnecessary C-section delivery.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), The March of Dimes, and many obstetricians and pediatricians have advocated against early elective deliveries. Organizations such as the International Cesarean Awareness Network also work to inform parents of the realities of C-sections. Still, many expectant mothers may not be aware of the significant health issues associated with early elective delivery or elective C-sections, Armstrong says. Compared to a C-section, vaginal birth has benefits such as faster recovery time, shorter hospital stay, prevention of potential complications of surgery including blood loss, infection, anesthesia risks, injury to bowel and urinary tract, and blood clots in the leg. Additionally, elective deliveries that occur before 39 weeks and medically unnecessary C-sections also increase preventable costs for new families and the health care system overall.

In addition to being available online at Aetna.com, the “Waiting for Baby” DVD will be mailed to expectant Aetna members. The video was produced by the award-winning health education group Vida Health Communications.

Collaborating with Health Care Providers

While progress has been made, rates of early delivery and elective C-sections are still high in several parts of the country. To help address a financial factor, Aetna is now introducing “blended” hospital payment rates for vaginal and C-section deliveries. A blended payment structure pays hospitals the same amount for vaginal and C-section deliveries, rather than a higher amount for C-sections. Equalizing the payment by increasing rates for vaginal delivery and slightly decreasing rates for C-section, recognizes physicians’ efforts required to support vaginal deliveries while neutralizing any financial incentive for delivery by C-section.

Last year, Aetna expanded efforts with the March of Dimes and The Leapfrog Group to encourage hospitals to adopt policies to limit electively scheduled deliveries until at least 39 weeks of pregnancy. Aetna recognizes facilities that have established safety guidelines for electively scheduled deliveries prior to 39 weeks, as well as quality improvement programs. Qualifying hospitals are designated as having an Elective Delivery Infant Safety Program in Aetna’s DocFind® online provider directory. Nearly 300 hospitals have received this designation, and Aetna members who are expectant mothers are informed of hospitals in their area who have achieved this recognition.

“Having a baby is an extremely special time for families. We want to help ensure moms and all the little bundles of joy have the safest and healthiest birth days possible,” Armstrong says.

About Aetna

CONTACT:

Aetna
Tammy Arnold, 713-721-7891
ArnoldTD@aetna.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Women Practice Management Health Professional Services Children Parenting Insurance Consumer General Health Managed Care

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SYMBICORT® (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Long-Term Study Shows Similar Safety Profile When Compared to

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:19:03 -0400

52-week Safety Data Published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) today announced the publication of data demonstrating that SYMBICORT Inhalation Aerosol 320/9 µg twice daily had a safety profile similar to budesonide pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI)* 320 µg twice daily in a 52-week study in African-American patients with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma. The most common adverse events, regardless of study drug relationship, were headache, nasopharyngitis, sinusitis, and viral upper respiratory tract infection. No unexpected patterns of abnormalities were observed in laboratory, electrocardiographic, or Holter monitoring assessments. These data have been published in the May 1^st online edition of The Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (JACI).

More than 22 million Americans are living with asthma, including 2.3+ million African Americans.

“These findings provide important information about the use of SYMBICORT in African-American patients with persistent asthma, and may help guide healthcare professionals considering treatment therapies for their appropriate patients with asthma,” said Frank Trudo, Associate Medical Director, AstraZeneca. "This trial is part of AstraZeneca's commitment to studying SYMBICORT in patient populations with disproportionate asthma prevalence."

There have been few prior long-term studies evaluating combination inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting β₂-adrenergic agonist (LABA) combination medications in specific ethnic populations with moderate to severe persistent asthma not adequately controlled on ICSs alone. Results from this 52-week study are commensurate with safety data from the TITAN study, a 12-week study of SYMBICORT in African-American patients, and with previous SYMBICORT studies that included Hispanic and Caucasian patients.

Cardiovascular safety sub-analysis results from the present study will be presented at the International American Thoracic Society Conference, being held May 18^th-23^rd in San Francisco, CA (Abstract #31858).

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION, INCLUDING BOXED WARNING

• WARNING: Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists (LABA), such as formoterol, one of the active ingredients in SYMBICORT, increase the risk of asthma-related death. A placebo controlled study with another LABA (salmeterol) showed an increase in asthma-related deaths in patients receiving salmeterol. This finding with salmeterol is considered a class effect of LABA, including formoterol. Currently available data are inadequate to determine whether concurrent use of inhaled corticosteroids or other long-term asthma control drugs mitigates the increased risk of asthma-related death from LABA. Available data from controlled clinical trials suggest that LABA increase the risk of asthma-related hospitalization in pediatric and adolescent patients

• When treating patients with asthma, prescribe SYMBICORT only for patients not adequately controlled on a long-term asthma control medication, such as an inhaled corticosteroid or whose disease severity clearly warrants initiation of treatment with both an inhaled corticosteroid and LABA. Once asthma control is achieved and maintained, assess the patient at regular intervals and step down therapy (eg, discontinue SYMBICORT) if possible without loss of asthma control, and maintain the patient on a long-term asthma control medication, such as an inhaled corticosteroid. Do not use SYMBICORT for patients whose asthma is adequately controlled on low or medium dose inhaled corticosteroids

SYMBICORT is NOT a rescue medication and does NOT replace fast-acting inhalers to treat acute symptoms.

It is possible that systemic corticosteroid effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may occur, particularly at higher doses. Particular care is needed for patients who are transferred from systemically active corticosteroids to inhaled corticosteroids. Deaths due to adrenal insufficiency have occurred in asthmatic patients during and after transfer from systemic corticosteroids to less systemically available inhaled corticosteroids.

Patients who are receiving SYMBICORT should not use additional formoterol or other LABA for any reason.

Due to possible immunosuppression, potential worsening of infections could occur. A more serious or even fatal course of chickenpox or measles can occur in susceptible patients.

Excessive beta-adrenergic stimulation has been associated with central nervous system and cardiovascular effects. SYMBICORT, like all products containing sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with convulsive disorders, thyrotoxicosis, and cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension. Beta-adrenergic agonist medications may produce hypokalemia and hyperglycemia in some patients. As with other inhaled medications, paradoxical bronchospasm may occur with SYMBICORT. Use with caution in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Long-term use of orally inhaled corticosteroids, such as budesonide, a component of SYMBICORT, may result in a reduction in growth velocity and/or a loss of bone mineral density.

Glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, and cataracts have been reported following the inhaled administration of corticosteroids, including budesonide, a component of SYMBICORT.

In rare cases, patients on inhaled corticosteroids may present with systemic eosinophilic conditions.

SYMBICORT should be administered with caution to patients being treated with MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents. Caution should also be exercised in patients on long-term ketoconazole and other known potent CYP3A4 inhibitors.

The most common adverse reactions ≥3% reported in clinical trials included nasopharyngitis, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngolaryngeal pain, sinusitis, influenza, back pain, nasal congestion, stomach discomfort, vomiting, and oral candidiasis.

INDICATIONS

SYMBICORT is indicated for the treatment of asthma in patients 12 years and older (also see Boxed WARNING).

SYMBICORT is NOT indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm and should not be initiated in patients during rapidly deteriorating or potentially life-threatening episodes of asthma.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING.

About the Study

The 52-week, randomized, double-blind Phase IIIb safety study included 742 self-reported African-American patients 12 years of age and older with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma previously receiving medium to high-dose inhaled corticosteroids. After two weeks of receiving twice-daily budesonide 320 µg pMDI, patients were randomized to receive twice-daily SYMBICORT 320/9 µg or twice-daily budesonide pMDI 320 µg.

Adverse events (AEs) were recorded in electronic diaries and assessed by investigators for a causal relationship to the study medication. Designed as a safety study, no single efficacy variable was considered primary. Spirometric variables, including predose FEV₁ and forced vital capacity (FVC), were performed according to American Thoracic Society guidelines (at screening; randomization; days 14 and 45; months 3, 6, 9, and 12) at least 6 hours after albuterol use and approximately 12 hours after study medication use. Daily diary-based measures of asthma control included morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) (L/min), rescue medication use (via inhaler or nebulizer), rescue medication–free days, symptom-free days, and asthma control days (no asthma symptoms or rescue medication use).

*Budesonide pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) is a product that is allowed for use as a clinical study comparator but is not approved for commercialization.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

For more information about AstraZeneca in the U.S. or our AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com or call 1-800-AZandMe (292-6363).

1805204 5/12

CONTACT:

AstraZeneca
Media Inquiries US
Elizabeth Renz, +1 302-885-1936
Elizabeth.Renz@astrazeneca.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Delaware

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology Cardiology Pharmaceutical Consumer African-American Managed Care

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Centene Corporation Awarded Medicaid Contract in New Hampshire

Thu, 10 May 2012 07:19:05 -0400

ST. LOUIS, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today the Governor and Executive Council of New Hampshire have given approval for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to contract with Granite State Health Plan, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene, to serve Medicaid beneficiaries in New Hampshire. Granite State is one of three plans selected. The initial term of the contract will be three years with an optional contract extension for one additional two-year period for a total contract term of five years. Operations are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2012.

This contract award marks Centene's entry into its 17th state. Under the new contract, Granite State Health Plan will provide coordinated healthcare, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision and transportation services to members. The populations covered under the state's new Care Management Program will include TANF, CHIP, ABD, and voluntary dual eligibles and Foster Care participation in Step One; Step Two will expand coverage to include mandatory dual eligibles and Foster Care, as well as waiver services and long term care services; Step Three includes further expansion to additional eligibles as identified as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"We are pleased to be selected as part of a competitive procurement process to work with the state of New Hampshire as it transitions from a fee-for-service delivery system to an integrated care management program," said Jesse Hunter, Executive Vice President of Operations of Centene. "The goals of the state's new Care Management Program closely align with Centene's goals and experience in providing accessible, integrated care at a lower cost."

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and long-term care, in addition to other state-sponsored programs, and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). Centene's CeltiCare subsidiary offers states unique, "exchange based" and other cost-effective coverage solutions for low-income populations. The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, and pharmacy benefits management. More information regarding Centene is available at www.centene.com.

The information provided in this press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to future events and future financial performance of Centene. Subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company disclaims any obligation to update this forward-looking financial information in the future. Readers are cautioned that matters subject to forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may cause Centene's or its industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from projections or estimates due to a variety of important factors, including Centene's ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses, competition, membership and revenue projections, timing of regulatory contract approval, changes in healthcare practices, changes in federal or state laws or regulations, inflation, provider contract changes, new technologies, reduction in provider payments by governmental payors, major epidemics, disasters and numerous other factors affecting the delivery and cost of healthcare. The expiration, cancellation or suspension of Centene's Medicaid Managed Care contracts by state governments would also negatively affect Centene.

SOURCE Centene Corporation

MAXIMUS Call Centers Recognized for Superior Performance

Thu, 10 May 2012 07:19:03 -0400

– MassHealth and Georgia Families Customer Service Operations Designated as Certified Call Centers of Excellence by BenchmarkPortal –

RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MAXIMUS (NYSE: MMS), a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced today that its Massachusetts Health Benefits (MassHealth) Customer Service and Georgia Families call center operations have once again been recognized as “Certified Centers of Excellence” by BenchmarkPortal in collaboration with the Center for Customer-Driven Quality (CCDQ) at Purdue Research Park.

Both call centers received the award certification following a rigorous review by BenchmarkPortal. To earn the Center of Excellence designation, the call centers had to meet objective and quantitative criteria, as well as pass audits conducted by BenchmarkPortal researchers. The call centers were evaluated across several key indicators, including operational efficiency, service level standards, process management, customer satisfaction, leadership resources and employee training.

MAXIMUS has provided services for MassHealth participants since 1998. Through its Boston-based call center, the Company enrolls Medicaid participants into managed care health plans, processes provider claims, enrolls and credentials providers, and maintains self-service online options for both providers and participants. The Company has operated the Georgia Families Program for the Georgia Department of Community Health since 2005, facilitating program enrollment for eligible members of Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids, Georgia’s Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“Efficient and effective call center operations are a critical component to connect consumers to health insurance coverage. Our customer care representatives provide choice counseling to help Medicaid and CHIP participants evaluate and select the health insurance plan that best meets their needs,” commented Bruce Caswell, President and General Manager of the MAXIMUS Health Services Segment. “We are pleased to see that our MassHealth and Georgia Families customer service operations are once again recognized for providing a superior level of service to public health insurance program participants.”

About MAXIMUS

MAXIMUS is a leading health and human services administrator for governments in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The Company delivers administrative solutions to improve the cost effectiveness, efficiency and quality of government-sponsored benefit programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Health Insurance BC (British Columbia), as well as welfare-to-work and child support enforcement programs across the globe. The Company's primary customer base includes federal, provincial, state, county and municipal governments. Operating under its founding mission of Helping Government Serve the People^®, MAXIMUS has more than 8,800 employees located in more than 270 offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.maximus.com.

About BenchmarkPortal, Inc.

BenchmarkPortal is the custodian of the Purdue University Center for Customer-Driven Quality database of contact center metrics, the largest in the world. It provides reports, products and services for contact centers in the areas of operational metrics, customer satisfaction measurement and agent satisfaction measurement. For further research information, visit www.BenchmarkPortal.com.

CONTACT:

MAXIMUS
Lisa Miles, 703-251-8637
or
Blake Travis, 703-251-8398

KEYWORDS: United States North America Georgia Massachusetts Virginia

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Consumer Health Professional Services Consulting Human Resources Insurance Consumer General Health Managed Care

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New Hampshire Approves Meridian Health Plan Medicaid Contract

Wed, 09 May 2012 23:19:03 -0400

DETROIT, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A contract to provide managed health services to Medicaid beneficiaries between Meridian Health Plan and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was approved 3-2 on May 9. Meridian will operate as Granite Care-Meridian Health Plan in the Granite State.

In January 2012, DHHS officials selected Meridian Health Plan as one of three managed care organizations to administer the state's Medicaid program. This is the largest set of contracts in New Hampshire state history, totaling up to $2.2 billion through 2015.

"We are thrilled with the contract approval and excited for the opportunity to serve New Hampshire residents," said Dr. David B. Cotton, President and CEO of Meridian Health Plan. "Meridian is eager to offer our members accessible, high-quality health services."

On March 28, the state's five-member Executive Council voted to table the contracts until April 18. Voting on the contracts was pushed back again on April 18 when the Council postponed voting until May 9.

"We worked closely with state officials to ensure they had comprehensive information to be confident in their vote and we are delighted with the outcome," said Raymond Pitera, Chief Development Officer at Meridian Health Plan.

Meridian Health Plan is a physician-owned and -operated Medicaid HMO with corporate headquarters in Detroit. Dedicated to continuously improving the quality of care in a low resource environment, Meridian has extensive experience in care management of Medicaid enrollees through its subsidiaries in Michigan, Iowa and Illinois. Currently Meridian Health Plan serves over 300,000 Medicaid members.

For more information, visit www.mhplan.com.

SOURCE Meridian Health Plan

Humana Appoints Bruce D. Perkins President of Health and Well-being Services Segment

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:19:01 -0400

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today that Bruce D. Perkins, the company’s Senior Vice President of Health Care Delivery Systems and Clinical Processes, has been promoted to the new role of President, Health and Well-being Services segment for Humana.

Under Perkins’ leadership, the segment will have a dual focus: to provide leverage for Humana’s Employer Group and Retail core businesses, and to offer products and services to individuals and groups outside Humana’s core businesses, maximizing new growth opportunities. Perkins will continue reporting to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer James E. Murray.

The Health and Well-being Services segment at Humana will include Health Care Services and Clinical Analytics; the company’s Health Care Guidance Organization; Humana Pharmacy Solutions; Health Care Provider Development; Concentra, the nation’s pre-eminent provider of occupational health and worksite medical services; and the Humana Chronic Care Program.

“Humana is making great progress aligning our organization around specific customer relationships, most recently in the Retail segment, Employer Group segment, and Government and Other Businesses group. We’re delighted to appoint Bruce to this new role as leader of our Health and Well-Being Services segment,” Murray said. “Over the course of his Humana career, Bruce has made significant contributions to the organization and is uniquely qualified for this role.”

Perkins has spent his entire career at Humana, joining the company in 1976. During the past 12 years, he has overseen the development of Humana’s provider networks including the nation’s largest network of providers who serve Medicare beneficiaries. He has also overseen the growth of Humana Pharmacy Solutions into the fourth-largest Pharmacy Benefit Manager in the U.S.; and the development of Humana Cares, which provides chronic care support services for more than 200,000 Humana members.

Recently, Humana appointed Thomas J. Liston President of the company’s Retail segment, Elizabeth D. Bierbower as President of the Employer Group segment, and Tim S. McClain as President of Humana’s Government and Other Businesses group. Perkins’ appointment completes the process of leadership appointments for each of the company’s four groups.

The following leaders will report to Perkins:

Marsden Connolly will lead Health Care Services and Clinical Analytics. She joined the company in 1987.
Dr. Philip Painter will lead Humana’s Health Care Guidance Organization. He joined the company in 2006.
William Fleming will continue to lead Humana Pharmacy Solutions. He came to Humana in 1994.
Peter Edwards will lead Provider Development. He joined the company in 1991.
Jim Greenwood will continue to lead Concentra, which provides medical care, physical therapy, and wellness services to patients through more than 600 walk-in medical centers and worksite clinics in 43 states. He came to Humana as part of the company’s Concentra acquisition in 2010.
Dr. Ahmed Ghouri will continue leading AnvitaHealth, Humana’s best-in-class clinical analytics subsidiary. Humana acquired Anvita in 2011.
Kathryn Minx will lead Finance, Planning and Administration in the segment. She joined the company in 2011.

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is a leading health care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. By leveraging the strengths of its core businesses, Humana believes it can better explore opportunities for existing and emerging adjacencies in health care that can further enhance wellness opportunities for the millions of people across the nation with whom the company has relationships.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

Annual reports to stockholders
Securities and Exchange Commission filings
Most recent investor conference presentations
Quarterly earnings news releases
Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
Calendar of events (including upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
Corporate Governance information

CONTACT:

Humana Corporate Communications
Tom Noland, 502-580-3674
tnoland@humana.com
or
Humana Investor Relations
Regina Nethery, 502-580-3644
rnethery@humana.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Kentucky

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Professional Services Insurance Managed Care

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Aetna to Offer Life Insurance to Student Health Customers

Wed, 09 May 2012 13:19:04 -0400

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A college education can be one of the biggest investments a student will make in their future. For older students, a college education is an investment in the future wellbeing of their families as well. To help provide members with financial security and peace of mind, Aetna (NYSE: AET) Student Health announced today that they are now offering Group Term Life Insurance* to students at participating schools.

“Although students may not be thinking about life insurance, it’s important for them to understand the coverage it can provide their family in the event of the unexpected,” says Chekesha Kidd, head of Aetna Student Health. “We have a significant number of members who are graduate students with their own families, and Aetna Student Health Group Term Life Insurance coverage can help protect the long-term financial security of the people who matter most to our members.”

Aetna Student Health Group Term Life Insurance coverage runs through the whole year, including the summer. If a student leaves school or loses eligibility, he or she can continue or convert the coverage by paying Aetna directly.

For schools that offer the Group Term Life Insurance benefit, the plan is available to any student who is eligible for Aetna Student Health medical coverage, regardless of whether they enroll in a medical plan. Enrollment dates will coincide with the school’s medical open enrollment period. The plan may offer coverage to part-time students, if the school has elected to offer part-time students at that school Aetna Student Health medical coverage.

“We speak directly with our student members, and we consistently hear from college students of all ages that financial planning is a priority for themselves and their families,” Kidd said. “The Aetna Student Health Group Term Life Insurance plan is a direct response to student feedback and demonstrates that a relatively small investment can go a long way in helping to prevent unexpected events from threatening the financial security of our members’ families.”

About Aetna

* Policies are offered by Aetna Life Insurance Company

CONTACT:

Aetna
Matt Wiggin, 860-273-4857
wigginm@aetna.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Consumer Practice Management Health Hospitals Professional Services Insurance Teens Consumer Family Managed Care

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Meridian Health Awarded a Multi-Year Medicare Demonstration Project

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:19:05 -0400

Redesigning palliative care to increase quality of care and satisfaction to patients and their families.

NEPTUNE, N.J., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When patients are diagnosed with a serious illness, they, along with their families, face a host of decisions about the type of care and treatment to be administered. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS) recently awarded Meridian Health, a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, with a multi-year demonstration project to determine the positive effects of an expanded and fully integrated palliative care program for patients and families facing the challenges of serious and advanced chronic disease.

The Meridian CMS demonstration project will focus on patients, 65 years or older, with advanced cardiac disease, end stage renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, metastatic cancer, advanced forms of liver disease, dementia, stroke or any combination of these conditions. The goal of the project is to improve the care provided to these chronically ill patients through coordinated pain and symptom management, patient education, specialist consultation and home care services. An emphasis will be placed on clear communication between patients and their physicians in an effort to create collaborative care plans. These patient-centered care plans will ensure that the treatment patients receive matches personal values, goals and preferences.

With a focus on providing services across the continuum of care, the Meridian CMS demonstration project will follow patients between hospital, nursing or rehabilitation facility and home, providing an extra layer of support when patients and their families need it the most. The expectation is that care directed by a patient's primary care physician, based on the patient's own informed choices and enhanced by an interdisciplinary palliative care team, will lead to better satisfaction and an improved quality of life for those with a chronic illness.

The 2010 census indicated that more than 207,000 residents over the age of 65 live in Ocean and Monmouth counties. "As the largest health care provider in these counties, Meridian serves 43% of the region's Medicare population and feels it is our responsibility to provide this community with a comprehensive approach to the management of advanced illness," said Richard Scott, M.D., senior vice president of clinical effectiveness and medical affairs for Meridian Health. "Providing coordinated care to the most sick and vulnerable population will result in higher quality and satisfaction for both patients and their families."

"In this study we intend to demonstrate that shared decision making between providers and patients improves quality, safety and efficiency, and may even extend the life of the patient," said Dr. Scott. "We look forward to providing our physicians and their patients with the expanded resources available through this project in mid-2012."

Employing more than 12,000 team members, Meridian serves Monmouth and Ocean counties with 6 hospitals and Meridian Partner Companies that include home health services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care, ambulance services, and outpatient centers.

About Meridian Health
Meridian Health (www.meridianhealth.com) is a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, comprising Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, and Meridian Partner Companies that include home health services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care, ambulance services, and outpatient centers. Meridian Health has consistently been rated among the top performing health systems in New Jersey for clinical quality, is one of the FORTUNE "100 Best Companies to Work For", and is the recipient of numerous state and national recognitions for patient care and nursing excellence, including the distinction of being the first health system in the country to receive Magnet designation for nursing.

Contact:
Robert Cavanaugh
Manager, Public Affairs
Meridian Health
P: 732-751-3451
E: rcavanaugh@meridianhealth.com

SOURCE Meridian Health

EveryMove Raises $2.6 Million to Help Consumers Reduce Health Costs

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:19:03 -0400

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EveryMove Inc., an innovator in health rewards-based marketing and incentives, announced today that it secured $2.6 million in Series A Financing from Premera Blue Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners (managed through Sandbox Industries), and angel investors including Founders Co-op, Summit Capital, Jonathan Sposato, Geoff Entress, Matt Shobe, William Lohse, Andy Liu, Ken Kuntz, Josh Hug and others. Proceeds from the financing will be used to build a high-performing team and launch its product into the market with four health plans in 2012-2013.

EveryMove is building an interactive online and mobile platform that helps people connect and organize their health and fitness activities and turn those lifestyle actions into rewards and incentives from their health plan. Health plans are looking to build closer relationships with consumers by partnering with them to encourage actions that positively impact their long-term health and pocketbook.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care costs comprise a bigger portion of America’s household budgets year over year, as expenses continue to rise and incomes remain stagnant. In an effort to counteract these rising costs, many Americans are making positive lifestyle choices, and EveryMove will work directly with health plans to ensure individuals are rewarded for their healthy actions.

“It is time to make room at the table for consumers to be part of the conversation around their health. Technology is enabling consumers to more easily demonstrate the value of their lifestyle activities and that is empowering. At EveryMove, individuals will have an opportunity to turn their lifestyle activities into real value for their actions. With this funding, we bring together significant strategic partners in support of our efforts,” said EveryMove’s Co-founder and CEO Russell Benaroya. “The healthcare industry is recognizing that the future is in how we engage with and empower consumers to impact overall health costs,” he added.

Early support from Premera Blue Cross of EveryMove adds to initiatives currently underway that align with the interests of its members and the community at large. “Key to helping meet both employer and individual needs, is our ability to offer health plans that provide customized incentives for leading a healthy lifestyle. Programs such as EveryMove can help us support the specific interests of our members and reward them for their actions as they improve their health,” said Kent Marquardt, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Premera Blue Cross.

Sandbox Industries has been on the leading edge of investments in consumer health innovations.

“We are thrilled to be working with the EveryMove team to build a market-leading incentives and rewards platform for consumers who are making healthy decisions. They have the capabilities and strategic alignment to achieve this vision and in turn help health plans create new and exciting products for the future generation of healthcare consumers,” said Anna Haghgooie, Managing Director of Sandbox Industries, the fund manager of BCBS Venture Partners.

The company is currently in private beta and plans to launch more broadly in Q3 2012.

About EveryMove

EveryMove is building a mileage rewards plan for health to help consumers turn their healthy lifestyle activities into valuable rewards from their insurance plan, employer and brands. EveryMove is leveraging the proliferation of health tracking applications and devices on the market today and turning that into value that consumers can understand and appreciate. The Company was co-founded in 2010 by Marcelo Calbucci and Russell Benaroya. For more information visit www.everymove.com.

CONTACT:

EveryMove Inc.
Russell Benaroya, 206-779-1359
Russell@everymove.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Washington

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Women Health Fitness & Nutrition Professional Services Insurance Consumer General Health Men Managed Care

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Anesthesia Business Consultants Submits Comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Medicare S

Wed, 09 May 2012 10:19:02 -0400

JACKSON, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For the first time in its 32-year history, Anesthesia Business Consultants, LLC (ABC) has filed formal comments on a “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Proposed Rule in question would modify the requirements for physicians and hospitals to demonstrate “meaningful use” of certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology. Meaningful users of certified EHRs are able to earn Medicare bonuses of up to $44,000 or Medicaid bonuses of up to $63,750 per physician. Just as important, eligible professionals who fail to become meaningful users will be subject to payment penalties beginning in 2015.

The objectives and the associated performance measures that physicians must meet, in order to earn the incentive and to avoid the penalty, are designed for primary care. The addition of a few specialty care measures for Stage 2 of the Program does not help anesthesiologists, who would have to change their clinical practice in many unhelpful respects in order to demonstrate meaningful use. The proposal for a new exception from the payment penalty, therefore, for physicians who have minimal consultative or follow-up encounters with their patients and who have little influence over the EHR technology selected by their hospitals, is very important. ABC’s comment letter to CMS focuses on the necessity for this exception.

At the same time, ABC has urged CMS to ensure a mechanism for anesthesiologists to report that they have in fact made meaningful use of certified EHR technology in the rare cases where they might be able to do so.

ABC provides practice management and billing services to more than 350 anesthesia groups across the country. The majority of the more than 8,000 individual providers in those groups use Health Information Technology to a greater or lesser extent. Over the past year ABC has developed an integrated software platform, OneSourceAnesthesia, that interfaces with EHR technology, and we have partnered with another company whose anesthesia EHR appears to be the most effective for anesthesia practices. Client interest in HIT is strong and ABC is proceeding quickly to meet their various needs—including, as of now, the need to communicate with the government when clarification of an issue would protest the interests of our clients and their patients.

About Anesthesia Business Consultants

ABC, established in 1979, is one of the largest billing and practice management companies dedicated to the complex and intricate specialty of anesthesia and pain management. It is both an American Society of Anesthesiologists Practice Management Supporter, and an Anesthesia Quality Institute Preferred Vendor. ABC employs industry leaders, operates under proven efficient processes, and utilizes technology advances to easily adapt to the ever-changing regulatory environment.

If you would like more information about this topic, please go to info@anesthesiallc.com.

CONTACT:

Anesthesia Business Consultants
Tony Mira, 517-787-6440
info@anesthesiallc.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Michigan

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Surgery Technology Data Management Software Practice Management Health Hospitals Public Policy/Government Public Policy Professional Services Finance Insurance Managed Care

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University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital receives $12.7 million Health Care Innovation Award From Centers for M

Tue, 08 May 2012 16:19:02 -0400

Proposed Health Care Delivery Model to Transform Care for Children in the U.S.

CLEVELAND, May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- University Hospitals Case Medical Center's Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital (UH Rainbow) will receive $12.7 million of the $122.6 million awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) this week for sustainable plans to improve care, lower costs and improve the overall health and wellness of children. UH Rainbow is among 26 other preliminary awardees announced today to receive a federal Health Care Innovation Award from more than 3,000 applicants nationwide.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) opened a grant competition late December of 2011 for ideas that can deliver quick benefits to the Medicare and Medicaid program in terms of cost savings and higher-quality care. The competition called the Health Care Innovation Award, funded by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will provide three-year grants of $1 million to $30 million to health care providers, payers, local government entities, and public-private partnerships, including collaborative efforts among multiple payers.

UH Rainbow submitted a proposal to deliver CMMI's three goals -- better health, improved care, and lower costs -- through the implementation of a multidisciplinary workforce that the children's hospital calls the Physician Extension Team (PET). The PET model is designed to create collaborations with primary care providers, hospitals and managed care and health educators in order to provide children with the highest quality of care at significantly reduced costs to the health care system.

"We are changing the health care delivery system for all pediatric patients and improving child health overall," said Leona Cuttler, MD, UH Rainbow's Director of the Center for Child Health and Policy, Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and Professor of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "Our goal with the PET model is develop a sustainable coordinated system that improves the quality of outpatient care for children, increases their access to physicians, improves pediatric behavioral health services, decreases unnecessary emergency visits and hospitalizations and advances the health and functionality of children with complex chronic conditions."

UH Rainbow's PET model will target over 68,000 children with Medicaid insurance as well as include children with other insurance in several counties across northeastern Ohio.

The PET Model includes three core programs:

Practice-tailored Facilitation: Health care professionals will provide customized education, training, and enrollment in quality improvement initiatives to primary care offices. PET will collaborate with primary care physicians to improve access.

Telehealth: The PET program will provide 24/7 access to nurses and physicians who provide advice, referrals, and care coordination through an extensive system of telephone triage, community-based telehealth facilities and instant alert devices that connect homes to on-call personnel..

Support Services: Multidisciplinary teams including health care professional advocates will assist primary care physicians in providing their patients with medical evaluations and home-based assessments, mental health support as well as align social services.

"We believe this new model will provide better health care at a more appropriate level," said Andrew Hertz, MD, Medical Director for the UH Rainbow Care Network and Assistant Clinical Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "The PET model represents an innovative way to deliver integrated care and we believe it can be easily replicated nationally with high impact savings to the Medicaid and other insurance systems," added Dr. Hertz "All children receive a greater level of care and their primary care physician maintains overarching care coordination."

The PET model will be implemented in stages during the course of six months. More than 50 health professionals will be either hired or trained to implement the PET model.

The preliminary awardees announced today expect to reduce health spending by $254 million over the next three years.

"We can't wait to support innovative projects that will save money and make our health care system stronger," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "It's yet another way we are supporting local communities now in their efforts to provide better care and lower cost."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the health care and social assistance sector will gain the most jobs between now and 2020.

About University Hospitals Case Medical Center's Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

For 120 years, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital has been dedicated solely to the care of children. As one of the most renowned pediatric medical centers and a principal referral center for Ohio and the region, UH Rainbow physicians will receive more than 200,000 patient visits annually. The 244-bed hospital is home to 850 pediatric specialists and 40 special care centers including Centers of Excellence in oncology, neonatology, pulmonology, cardiology, neurology and endocrinology. There is a full complement of pediatric surgical specialists who focus on minimally invasive techniques as well as an outstanding program in bloodless surgery. As the primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, UH Rainbow trains more than 100 pediatricians each year and consistently ranks among the top children's hospitals in research funding from the National Institutes of Health.

SOURCE University Hospitals Case Medical Center’s Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital

Aetna Helps Members Keep Cash in Their Wallets by Keeping Their Care In-Network

Tue, 08 May 2012 15:19:03 -0400

-- National program alerts members when referred for out-of-network surgeries to raise awareness of costs and choices --

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aetna (NYSE: AET) is reaching out to members and their doctors to alert members when a referral for an outpatient surgical procedure may take them out of the Aetna network – and cost them much more money. An Aetna analysis has shown that half of members who received a referral to a surgery center did not know the referral would take them out of their health plan network. When those members were informed by Aetna and chose to stay in the network, the average medical bill was reduced by $5,000 per incident, which means members have much lower out-of-pocket costs.

A key advantage of having an Aetna benefit plan is the discount on the price of care provided by the carefully credentialed doctors, hospitals and other medical providers who participate in the Aetna network. In addition to these discounts, most Aetna health plans pay for a greater share of the cost when members receive care within the network.

“The intent of this national program is to help members avoid a surprisingly high medical bill. When Aetna can save a member thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses, we truly are delivering substantial savings and real value,” said James D. Cross, M.D., Aetna’s head of National Medical Policy and Operations. “We want members to understand the real cost they face when they choose to have care outside of the Aetna network. At the same time, we are respecting the doctor-patient relationship by letting members know about quality, credentialed in-network medical facilities where their doctor is allowed to practice.”

Since August 2010, Aetna has found nearly 38,000 occasions nationwide when an in-network doctor referred an Aetna member to an out-of-network ambulatory surgery center. People often go to ambulatory surgery centers for out-patient surgical, scoping or other procedures. Remarkably, in nearly 60 percent of those cases, Aetna was able to tell the member and their doctor about a less expensive, in-network facility or hospital at which the member’s referring doctor had privileges.

The Aetna program is based on a precertification process that requires doctors to alert Aetna when they make a referral to an out-of-network free-standing ambulatory surgical facility for care. Based on certain guidelines, Aetna will follow up with the doctor and the member to ensure the member is aware that the referral will take them out of their network, which can often mean higher billed charges and lower benefit levels. In cases where members have no coverage for care outside of the network, except for emergencies, the referral goes through a separate review to determine if in-network care is available.

“People always have the choice in where they seek care,” said Paul Marchetti, Aetna’s head of National Care Management. “But we want to help our members avoid surprise bills. We encourage doctors and facilities, whether or not they participate in a health plan network, to join us in making sure patients ‘know before they go.’ All care providers should want to ensure the service they intend to perform is affordable for the patient, and we urge them to clearly and specifically share their prices with patients before they provide care.”

The letter sent to members includes information about Aetna’s online provider directory, DocFind, and refers members back to their health plan information, available on Aetna’s secure member website, Aetna Navigator, to ensure they know the details of their benefit plan’s coverage. On Aetna Navigator, members can also take advantage of Aetna’s on-line Member Payment Estimator tool, which is available to help members calculate a personalized estimate, specific to their benefit plan, for the cost of the care they plan to receive.

About Aetna

CONTACT:

Aetna
Susan Millerick, 860-273-0536
MillerickS@aetna.com
or
Tammy Arnold, 713-721-7891
ArnoldTD@aetna.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Surgery Practice Management Health Hospitals Professional Services Insurance General Health Managed Care

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Health IT Now Coalition Encourages CMS, ONC to Strengthen Meaningful Use Standards

Tue, 08 May 2012 15:19:02 -0400

Advocates for policies that support interoperability for electronic health records systems

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Health IT Now Coalition encouraged the Department of Health and Human Services to revise its Meaningful Use standards to promote robust interoperability and adoption of electronic health records (EHR) technology in comments filed last night with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology.

In its comments, the Coalition commended CMS and ONC for taking steps to facilitate interoperability and information exchange, but suggested that standards for the Meaningful Use program can and should be strengthened to enhance and make more attractive the tools providers need to dramatically improve quality and outcomes, while reducing overall costs.

“Without a common set of mature, consensus-based standards that take into account both those who are adopting EHR technology for the first time as well as those that have been using EHR systems for decades, providers will not be able to effectively serve their patient populations,” said Joel White, executive director of the Health IT Now Coalition. “Interoperability is critical in this regard. You cannot coordinate care effectively and efficiently without systems that talk to each other. Those who say we cannot do better are really saying we can settle for a lower bar. Considering the challenges we face in health care, this is not acceptable.”

The Coalition outlines suggested modifications it believes will enhance interoperability and capitalize on the legislative intent of the program: improving patient outcomes and lowering health costs. Recommendations include:

Adopting more robust interoperability standards, including allowing Meaningful Users to attest using exchange standards that are backwards compatible to the Direct Protocol;
Ending information exchange blocking;
Promoting greater patient engagement;
Coordinating standards across Medicare and Medicaid to facilitate care coordination and clinical exchange;
Identifying a core set of data elements for use in every summary of care record to better meet the needs of patient populations; and
Aligning standards across programs to facilitate care coordination and clinical exchange.

The full comments to both agencies are available on the Health IT Now Coalition website.

To schedule an interview with Health IT Now Coalition executive director Joel White, contact Lindsay Murphy at (202) 715-7853.

Health IT Now is a coalition of 65 patient, provider, employer and payer organizations that support the rapid adoption and use of heath information technology (health IT) to improve care, lower costs and enhance patient safety. Health IT will benefit patients and health care consumers while supporting health practitioners to make smart decisions about patient care while saving money. For more information, visit www.healthitnow.org.

CONTACT:

Health IT Now Coalition
Lindsay Murphy, 202-715-7853

KEYWORDS: United States North America District of Columbia

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Data Management Software Practice Management Health Public Policy/Government Healthcare Reform Public Policy White House/Federal Government Managed Care

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InstaMed Releases 2011 Trends in Healthcare Payments Annual Report

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:19:06 -0400

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- InstaMed, the leading Healthcare Payments Network, has announced the release of the 2011 Trends in Healthcare Payments Annual Report. This report features healthcare payment-related trends and data from the InstaMed Network, which powers healthcare payments for over 200,000 providers nationally.

“Our second annual report shows our commitment to educating the market and promoting awareness, change and greater efficiency across the industry,” said Bill Marvin, President and CEO of InstaMed. “By leveraging data from the InstaMed Network, we are able to present comprehensive data, representing all constituents of the healthcare payments process from all 50 states. We believe that sharing our data, knowledge and insight into healthcare payments is important to the communities of providers, payers, patients and service providers.”

The data released in this report demonstrates the changes impacting the healthcare industry, as the rise of consumerism and healthcare reform drives higher patient responsibility and the need for greater administrative efficiency. As the industry evolves, there will be an increasing need for participants to utilize different payment methods, including electronic payer and patient payments, to reduce bad debt and to operate more efficiently.

The report also features trends based on qualitative data obtained from healthcare providers, payers and patients nationwide. The 2011 Trends in Healthcare Payments Annual Report is available to the public free of charge at www.instamed.com.

About InstaMed

InstaMed’s Healthcare Payments Network transforms the business of healthcare by connecting healthcare providers, payers and patients for highly secure and mission critical communications, administrative transactions and payments. Leveraging a single, integrated network in its private cloud, InstaMed supports healthcare clearinghouse, eligibility, estimation, patient and payer payment and patient billing transactions. InstaMed’s solutions deliver payment assurance to providers, enable payers to disburse payments at a lower cost with fewer incidents of fraud, and give patients a simple, convenient and secure way to pay. The InstaMed Network powers healthcare payments for over 200,000 providers nationally with tens of billions of dollars in healthcare payments processed. Visit InstaMed on the web at www.instamed.com.

CONTACT:

InstaMed Public Relations
Jillian Longpre, 215-789-3685
jillian.longpre@instamed.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Pennsylvania

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Data Management Networks Software Practice Management Health Hospitals Other Health Professional Services Banking Insurance General Health Managed Care

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Cigna Corporation Announces Appearance at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Health Care Conference

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:19:03 -0400

BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) announced today that Matt Manders, President of Regional and Operations, will present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Health Care Conference on May 15, 2012 in Las Vegas, NV.

Cigna's presentation is expected to begin at approximately 8:20 a.m. EDT. Investors, analysts, and the general public are invited to listen to the presentation free over the Internet via webcast by visiting http://www.cigna.com and clicking on Investors, then the Investor Events link.

To listen to this presentation live on the Internet, visit http://www.cigna.com at least 15 minutes prior to the presentation (to download and install any necessary audio software).

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America, Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York and their affiliates. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, and other related products including group disability, life, and accident coverage. Cigna has sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, with approximately 70 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

CONTACT:

Cigna Corporation
Ted Detrick, 215-761-1414
Edwin.Detrick@cigna.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut Nevada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Professional Services Banking Finance Insurance Managed Care

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Tenet Reports First Quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $314 Million

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:19:03 -0400

2.8% Growth in Adjusted Admissions

6.6% Increase in Surgeries

5.2% Growth in Emergency Department Visits

Confirms Increased 2012 Adjusted EBITDA Outlook

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC) today reported Adjusted EBITDA of $314 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, and confirmed all disclosures provided in its earnings preview dated April 26, 2012. These previously released results included net operating revenues of $2.350 billion, an increase of 2.2 percent compared to the first quarter of 2011, and net income attributable to common shareholders of $58 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to $73 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2011.

“Our volume growth metrics again rank among the very strongest in the investor-owned sector,” said Trevor Fetter, president and chief executive officer. “It is especially encouraging that much of our volume growth is concentrated in the service lines we targeted for growth, including orthopedic and spinal surgeries, major trauma, and gastrointestinal disorders. The quarter’s performance makes it abundantly clear that when individuals need immediate medical care they are increasingly turning to their local Tenet hospital. This is evidenced by the 5.2 percent increase in emergency department visits we achieved in the quarter. Our solid first quarter performance allowed us to raise our 2012 Outlook for Adjusted EBITDA by an additional $25 million. This was our second Outlook increase this year.”

Discussion of Results (Percentage changes compare Q1’12 to Q1’11, unless otherwise noted.)

Adjusted admissions increased by 2.8 percent. Total admissions were approximately flat, declining by 0.1 percent, but normalized for a weak flu season, total admissions grew by 0.2 percent. Surgeries increased by 6.6 percent and Emergency Department visits increased by 5.2 percent.

Net operating revenues were $2.350 billion, an increase of $51 million or 2.2 percent, compared to net operating revenues of $2.299 billion in the first quarter of 2011. Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2012 included $77 million from an industry-wide Medicare inpatient prospective payment settlement. This $77 million contribution to the first quarter 2012 Adjusted EBITDA is roughly comparable to the $75 million incremental revenue from the California and Pennsylvania Provider Fee programs that contributed to Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2011.

Net patient revenue per adjusted patient day was $2,518, an increase of 1.6 percent. This pricing increase reflects improved terms in our contracts with commercial managed care payers, partially offset by an adverse shift in payer mix and very strong growth in obstetrics deliveries.

Selected operating expenses, which is defined as the sum of salaries, wages and benefits, supplies and other operating expenses, increased by 1.9 percent per adjusted admission. Supply costs were extremely well-controlled, declining 2.2 percent per adjusted admission.

Bad debt expense was $193 million, an increase of 6.0 percent, as compared to $182 million in the first quarter of 2011. Bad debt expense as a percent of revenues before provision for doubtful accounts was 7.6 percent, an increase of 30 basis points compared to 7.3 percent in the first quarter of 2011.

Cash and cash equivalents were $104 million at March 31, 2012, a decrease of $9 million from $113 million at December 31, 2011. Cash use in the first quarter of 2012 included the use of $26 million to repurchase 5.3 million shares of the Company’s common stock. Capital expenditures were $136 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $116 million in the first quarter of 2011.

Outlook for 2012 Adjusted EBITDA

On April 26, Tenet raised its 2012 Outlook for Adjusted EBITDA to a new range of $1.250 billion to $1.375 billion, an increase of $25 million. The pattern of earnings in 2012 is expected to be weighted toward the second half of the year, largely the result of two sizable items which are expected to be recorded in earnings in the fourth quarter: (1) approximately $120 million in net revenues from the California Provider Fee 30-Month Program and (2) approximately $35 million from Health Information Technology incentive payments. Consistent with this pattern, our Outlook range for Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2012 is $225-250 million.

Tenet’s statements with regard to its outlook constitute forward-looking information and are subject to the qualifications set forth at the end of this release.

Repurchase of $299 Million of Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock

On April 26, Tenet announced the repurchase of $299 million of mandatory convertible preferred stock. This preferred stock would have converted into approximately 51 million shares of the Company’s common stock on October 1, 2012, based on the most recent closing share price. This most recent transaction, plus the 81 million shares repurchased as part of the $400 million common share repurchase program initiated in May, 2011, and completed in January, 2012, resulted in an aggregate reduction of 132 million fully diluted shares. In total, these two actions achieved a reduction in fully dilutive shares of approximately 25 percent. Following this transaction, the Company has 411 million primary weighted average shares outstanding and 434 million weighted average shares on a fully diluted basis.

In a related financing, the Company issued $150 million of 8% senior notes due August 1, 2020 and 141.2 million of 6.25% senior secured notes due November 1, 2018. Both S&P and Moody’s reaffirmed, and Fitch upgraded, their ratings on Tenet’s debt following these transactions.

Management’s Webcast Discussion of First Quarter Results

Tenet management will discuss the Company’s first quarter 2012 results on a 10:00 AM (ET) webcast on May 8, 2012. This webcast may be accessed through Tenet’s website at www.tenethealth.com/investors.

Additional information regarding Tenet’s quarterly results of operations, including detailed tabular operational data, is contained in its Form 10-Q report, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and posted on the Tenet investor relations website before today’s webcast. This press release includes certain non-GAAP measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Tenet common shareholders is included in the financial tables at the end of this release.

This document contains “forward-looking statements” – that is, statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Particular uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements include the factors disclosed under “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2011, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, periodic reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Tenet uses its company web site to provide important information to investors about the company including the posting of important announcements regarding financial performance and corporate developments.


TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

(Dollars in millions except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			%		2011			%		Change

Net operating revenues:
Net operating revenues before provision for doubtful accounts	$	2,543				$	2,481				2.5	%
Less provision for doubtful accounts		193					182				6.0	%
Net operating revenues		2,350		100.0	%		2,299		100.0	%	2.2	%
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits		1,078		45.9	%		1,035		45.0	%	4.2	%
Supplies		406		17.3	%		404		17.6	%	0.5	%
Other operating expenses, net		553		23.5	%		506		22.0	%	9.3	%
Electronic health record incentives		(1	)	—	%		(25	)	(1.1	) %	(96.0	) %
Depreciation and amortization		104		4.4	%		101		4.4	%	3.0	%
Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, and restructuring charges, net		3		0.1	%		8		0.3	%
Litigation and investigation costs		2		0.1	%		11		0.5	%
Operating income		205		8.7	%		259		11.3	%
Interest expense		(98	)				(118	)
Investment earnings		1					1
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes		108					142
Income tax expense		(42	)				(51	)
Income from continuing operations, before discontinued operations		66					91
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from operations		1					(15	)
Income tax benefit		—					6
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		1					(9	)
Net income		67					82
Less: Preferred stock dividends		6					6
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		3					3
Net income attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	$	58				$	73

Amounts attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	$	57				$	82
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		1					(9	)
Net income attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	$	58				$	73

Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders
Basic
Continuing operations	$	0.14				$	0.17
Discontinued operations		—					(0.02	)
	$	0.14				$	0.15
Diluted
Continuing operations	$	0.13				$	0.16
Discontinued operations		—					(0.02	)
	$	0.13				$	0.14
Weighted average shares and dilutive securities outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		411,373					486,902
Diluted		484,873					565,181


TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

	March 31,			December 31,
(Dollars in millions)	2012			2011
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	104		$	113
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts		1,417			1,278
Inventories of supplies, at cost		157			161
Income tax receivable		5			7
Current portion of deferred income taxes		411			418
Assets held for sale		2			2
Other current assets		386			378
Total current assets		2,482			2,357
Investments and other assets		153			156
Deferred income taxes, net of current portion		342			374
Property and equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization		4,324			4,350
Goodwill		738			736
Other intangible assets, at cost, less accumulated amortization		506			489
Total assets	$	8,545		$	8,462

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	288		$	66
Accounts payable		640			760
Accrued compensation and benefits		338			376
Professional and general liability reserves		63			75
Accrued interest payable		103			112
Accrued legal settlement costs		56			64
Other current liabilities		352			362
Total current liabilities		1,840			1,815
Long-term debt, net of current portion		4,295			4,294
Professional and general liability reserves		335			337
Accrued legal settlement costs		2			2
Other long-term liabilities		526			506
Total liabilities		6,998			6,954
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		16			16
Equity:
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock		334			334
Common stock		27			27
Additional paid-in capital		4,403			4,407
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(49	)		(52	)
Accumulated deficit		(1,376	)		(1,440	)
Common stock in treasury, at cost		(1,879	)		(1,853	)
Total shareholders’ equity		1,460			1,423
Noncontrolling interests		71			69
Total equity		1,531			1,492
Total liabilities and equity	$	8,545		$	8,462


TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in millions)	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			2011
Net income	$	67		$	82
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		104			101
Provision for doubtful accounts		193			182
Deferred income tax expense		38			35
Stock-based compensation expense		8			7
Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, and restructuring charges		3			8
Litigation and investigation costs		2			11
Fair market value adjustments related to interest rate swap and LIBOR cap agreements		—			19
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs		5			8
Pre-tax (income) loss from discontinued operations		(1	)		15
Other items, net		(4	)		(13	)
Changes in cash from changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(326	)		(278	)
Inventories and other current assets		(10	)		(113	)
Income taxes		3			(14	)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(110	)		(44	)
Other long-term liabilities		16			12
Payments against reserves for restructuring charges and litigation costs		(11	)		(7	)
Net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations, excluding income taxes		(19	)		(13	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(42	)		(2	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment—continuing operations		(136	)		(116	)
Purchases of businesses or joint venture interests		(3	)		(18	)
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities, long-term investments and other assets		3			5
Net cash used in investing activities		(136	)		(129	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of borrowings under credit facility		(455	)		—
Proceeds from borrowings under credit facility		658			—
Repayments of other borrowings		(4	)		(1	)
Repurchases of common stock		(26	)		—
Cash dividends on preferred stock		(6	)		(6	)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests		(3	)		(2	)
Other items, net		5			2
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		169			(7	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(9	)		(138	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		113			405
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	104		$	267
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	$	(102	)	$	(97	)
Income tax payments, net	$	(2	)	$	(24	)


TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
SELECTED STATISTICS – CONTINUING HOSPITALS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in millions except per patient day, per
admission and per visit amounts)	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			2011			Change

Net inpatient revenues	$	1,640		$	1,653		(0.8	) %
Net outpatient revenues	$	781		$	733		6.5	%

Number of acute care hospitals (at end of period)		50			50		—		*
Licensed beds (at end of period)		13,509			13,457		0.4	%
Average licensed beds		13,472			13,457		0.1	%
Utilization of licensed beds		51.1	%		53.3	%	(2.2	) %	*
Patient days		626,940			645,166		(2.8	) %
Adjusted patient days		961,509			963,039		(0.2	) %
Net inpatient revenue per patient day	$	2,616		$	2,562		2.1	%
Admissions		133,193			133,349		(0.1	) %
Adjusted patient admissions		205,900			200,353		2.8	%
Net inpatient revenue per admission	$	12,313		$	12,396		(0.7	) %
Average length of stay (days)		4.71			4.84		(2.7	) %
Surgeries		94,596			88,754		6.6	%
Outpatient visits		1,052,551			1,010,848		4.1	%
Net outpatient revenue per visit	$	742		$	725		2.3	%

Sources of net patient revenue
Medicare		26.6	%		23.2	%	3.4	%	*
Medicaid		7.4	%		11.6	%	(4.2	) %	*
Managed care		55.8	%		54.4	%	1.4	%	*
Indemnity, self-pay and other		10.2	%		10.8	%	(0.6	) %	*


* This change is the difference between the 2012 and 2011 amounts shown

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP term, is defined by the Company as net income (loss) attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders before (1) cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle, net of tax, (2) net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, (3) preferred stock dividends, (4) income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, (5) income tax (expense) benefit, (6) investment earnings (loss), (7) gain (loss) from early extinguishment of debt, (8) net gain (loss) on sales of investments, (9) interest expense, (10) litigation and investigation (costs) benefit, net (11) hurricane insurance recoveries, net of costs, (12) impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill and restructuring charges, net of insurance recoveries, and (13) depreciation and amortization. The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to EBITDA reported by other companies.

The Company provides this information as a supplement to GAAP information to assist itself and investors in understanding the impact of various items on its financial statements, some of which are recurring or involve cash payments. The Company uses this information in its analysis of the performance of its business excluding items that it does not consider as relevant in the performance of its hospitals in continuing operations. In addition, from time to time we use this measure to define certain performance targets under our compensation programs. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of liquidity, but is a measure of operating performance that management uses in its business as an alternative to net income (loss) attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders. Because Adjusted EBITDA excludes many items that are included in our financial statements, it does not provide a complete measure of our operating performance. Accordingly, investors are encouraged to use GAAP measures when evaluating the Company’s financial performance.

The reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders, the most comparable GAAP term, to Adjusted EBITDA, is set forth in the first table below for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.


TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
Additional Supplemental Non-GAAP Disclosures
Table #1 - Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income Attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation Common Shareholders
(Unaudited)

(Dollars in millions)	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			2011
Net income attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	$	58		$	73
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(3	)		(3	)
Preferred stock dividends		(6	)		(6	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		1			(9	)
Income from continuing operations		66			91
Income tax expense		(42	)		(51	)
Investment earnings		1			1
Interest expense		(98	)		(118	)
Operating income		205			259
Litigation and investigation costs, net		(2	)		(11	)
Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, and restructuring charges		(3	)		(8	)
Depreciation and amortization		(104	)		(101	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	314		$	379

Net operating revenues	$	2,350		$	2,299

Adjusted EBITDA as % of net operating revenues (Adjusted EBITDA margin)		13.4	%		16.5	%


Table #2 - Reconciliation of Outlook Adjusted EBITDA to Outlook Net Income Attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation Common Shareholders for Year Ending December 31, 2012
(Unaudited)

(Dollars in millions)	Low			High

Net income attributable to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	$	210		$	305
Less:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(15	)		(10	)
Preferred stock dividends		(12	)		(12	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(10	)		(5	)
Income from continuing operations		247			332
Income tax expense		(158	)		(213	)
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes		405			545
Interest expense, net		(410	)		(390	)
Operating income		815			935
Litigation and investigation costs, net		(10	)		(5	)
Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, and restructuring charges		(15	)		(5	)
Depreciation and amortization		(410	)		(430	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	1,250		$	1,375

Net operating revenues	$	9,425		$	9,725
Adjusted EBITDA as % of net operating revenues (Adjusted EBITDA margin)		13.3	%		14.1	%


Table #3 - Reconciliation of Outlook Adjusted EBITDA to Outlook Normalized Income from Continuing Operations for Year Ending December 31, 2012
(Unaudited)

(Dollars in millions)
	Low			High

Adjusted EBITDA (from Table #2)	$	1,250		$	1,375

Depreciation and amortization		(410	)		(430	)
Interest expense, net		(410	)		(390	)
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes		430			555
Income tax expense^(a)		(168	)		(216	)
Income from continuing operations		262			339
Preferred stock dividends		(12	)		(12	)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(15	)		(10	)
Income from continuing operations net of tax ^(a)	$	235		$	317

Weighted average shares outstanding (in millions)		436			436
Earnings per share – continuing operations ^(a)	$	0.54		$	0.73

^(a) Uses tax rate of 39 percent

CONTACT:

Tenet Healthcare Corporation
Media:
Rick Black, 469-893-2647
Rick.Black@tenethealth.com
or
Investors:
Thomas Rice, 469-893-2522
Thomas.Rice@tenethealth.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Texas

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Practice Management Health Hospitals Managed Care

MEDIA:

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McKesson Breaks New Ground with InterQual 2012

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:19:03 -0400

Latest Release Further Supports Payer-Provider Partnerships in Evidence-Based Decision Making and Administrative Cost Reduction

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- McKesson has released the 2012 update of its InterQual^® clinical criteria and software, market-leading solutions that help payers and providers determine the appropriate use of healthcare resources and improve the quality of care. Enhancements this year include the extension of a “condition-specific” model to the full InterQual Acute Care suite, driving the further efficiency and effectiveness of care management processes, as well as a comprehensive set of criteria for the use of oncology drugs and biologics, in partnership with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®), to help address the skyrocketing costs of cancer treatment.

“Each year, we listen carefully to our clients and work to introduce the type of enhancements that will help payers and providers more easily collaborate to achieve better clinical and financial outcomes,” explained A. Jacqueline Mitus, MD, senior vice president of clinical development and strategy for McKesson Health Solutions. “Solutions that support more holistic care management, reduce gaps in payer-provider communications, create more efficient workflows, help address oncology drug costs, and ultimately yield better decisions were all significant achievements this year.”

The InterQual suite helps payers, providers and other organizations share a common language for determining the evidence-based clinical appropriateness of both medical and behavioral health patient services, ranging from care settings to diagnostics and treatments. Combining clinical decision support criteria with innovative, flexible technology to bring that criteria directly to the point of decision making, InterQual solutions are used by over 300 health plans, over 3,900 provider organizations and leading government entities, representing 76 percent of all U.S. admissions and 95 percent of all reasons for admissions, procedures, and imaging studies.

The 2012 release continues to create a more proactive, intuitive and collaborative review process that can help ensure clinically appropriate admissions and manage lengths of stay while lowering administrative costs. All InterQual Acute Criteria now utilize a “condition-specific” approach, which organizes the criteria by primary condition and then integrates a wealth of additional information designed to address relevant complications, co-morbidities and guideline standard treatments. This condition-oriented model presents criteria for all levels of care in one workflow, combines severity and intensity criteria for admission and continued stay review, and incorporates unique “response to treatment” assessments.

In addition, in partnership with NCCN, McKesson has introduced a comprehensive set of oncology criteria to its InterQual Specialty Rx Criteria product offering. This newly developed Specialty Rx Oncology criteria set includes on-label use of oncology drugs and biologics as well as off-label use based on the NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium (NCCN Compendium^®). The full Specialty Rx Oncology criteria set is available via McKesson’s workflow technology, CareEnhance^® Review Manager and Clear Coverage™. This authoritative, scientifically derived information helps physicians and health plans more readily collaborate in applying evidence-based standards to the use of drugs and biologics for treating cancer, improving the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of oncology services.

The 2012 release also gives hospitals and health plans greater flexibility in creating and modifying clinical criteria, as well as improves access to this customized criteria directly in their InterQual-based software applications. The InterQual Content Customization Tool helps organizations address local or regional variations in care management guidelines, implement their own medical and business policies, or add guidelines for emerging healthcare services. At the same time, all utilization management criteria can be stored in one location and used in automated workflows, minimizing misinterpretation, increasing efficiency and supporting sound care decisions.

Finally, organizations can now electronically share medical necessity reviews and additional patient information (e.g., diagnosis codes, patient/member identifies), thus rendering the review process more efficient, reducing administrative costs and improving decision making. Review Transmission, an enhancement to the CareEnhance Review Manager software for automating care reviews, facilitates concise dialog between payer and provider organizations while cutting down on manual, repetitive data entry, the errors inherent in that process, and the miscommunication that can result.

About McKesson

McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 14th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better. We partner with payers, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson helps its customers improve their financial, operational and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, healthcare information technology, and business and clinical services. For more information, visit http://www.mckesson.com.

CONTACT:

McKesson Health Solutions
Sandy Cummings, 617-273-2890
sandra.cummings@mckesson.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Massachusetts

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Data Management Software Practice Management Health Other Health Professional Services Insurance General Health Managed Care

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Health Care REIT, Inc. Reports First Quarter Results

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:19:02 -0400

1Q12 normalized FFO per share increased 24%, FAD per share increased 26%
1Q12 same store cash NOI increased 4.2%

TOLEDO, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE:HCN) today announced operating results for the company’s first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

“Our relationship investment strategy is working,” commented George L. Chapman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Health Care REIT. “We have completed $1.3 billion of investments year-to-date, including $753 million in the first quarter. Nearly 90% of our first quarter investments were derived from existing relationships, with the remainder primarily representing a new investment with Senior Lifestyle Corporation, the 10^th largest seniors housing operator in the country. Our steady stream of investments over the past year generated excellent 24% FFO per share and 26% FAD per share growth. Finally, our capital transactions lowered our blended cost of capital, reduced overall leverage, and provided significant liquidity to support our investment program throughout the remainder of 2012 as we continue to deliver strong total returns for our shareholders.”

Recent Highlights

1Q12 normalized FFO of $0.87 per share, an increase of 24% versus 1Q11
1Q12 normalized FAD of $0.78 per share, an increase of 26% versus 1Q11
Increased 1Q12 same-store cash NOI by 4.2%, including 10.3% growth in our seniors housing operating portfolio
Completed gross new investments totaling $753 million in 1Q12 including acquisitions totaling $654 million
Received $33 million in proceeds on property sales and loan payoffs, generating $0.8 million in gains
Reduced debt to undepreciated book capitalization to 41% at end of 1Q12 from 46% at end of 4Q11
Issued 20.7 million shares of common stock, generating $1.1 billion of proceeds in February
Issued 6.5% Series J preferred stock, generating $287.5 million of proceeds in March
Completed redemptions of $100 million 7.875% Series D and $175 million 7.625% Series F preferred stock in April
Issued $600 million of 4.125% senior unsecured notes in April
Completed redemptions of $126 million 4.75% convertible senior unsecured notes and extinguishments of $185 million of secured debt with a weighted average interest rate of 4.25% through April
Invested $509.5 million in transaction with Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT in May
Declassified Board of Directors in May

Dividends for First Quarter 2012 As previously announced, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 of $0.74 per share, as compared to $0.715 per share for the same period in 2011, representing a 3.5% increase. The cash dividend will be paid on May 21, 2012 and will be the company’s 164^th consecutive quarterly dividend payment. The declaration and payment of quarterly dividends remains subject to review by and approval of the Board of Directors.

First Quarter Investment Highlights

During the quarter the company completed $426 million in medical office building investments at a blended yield of 6.7%. The investments include the previously announced acquisition of 11 medical office buildings for $298 million, one additional acquisition, and one development conversion. Each building is affiliated with a health system. The average occupancy is 94%. The 12 buildings acquired total one million rentable square feet, for an average size of 83,000 rentable square feet. The development conversion represents our second project with Virtua Health and is comprised of a 292,000 rentable square foot building on the campus of Virtua Health’s flagship hospital in Voorhees, New Jersey. Virtua Health is a large, non-profit health system based in New Jersey. The project is currently 98% leased.

During the quarter the company completed $119 million in seniors housing triple-net lease investments at a blended yield of 7.6%. The investments include the acquisition of three facilities operated by Senior Lifestyle and one development conversion. Senior Lifestyle, headquartered in Chicago, is the 10^th largest seniors housing provider in the U.S., operating almost 10,000 units across 21 states. Senior Lifestyle is a new relationship to the company that is expected to grow in the future. The three facilities are primarily private pay, include 562 units and offer a continuum of care in a rental model.

As previously announced, during the quarter the company completed the acquisition of six communities, in partnership with Belmont Village, for $210 million at a blended yield of 6.8%. The acquisition represents the second transaction with Belmont Village. The communities are 100% private pay and include 756 units located in California (1 community in San Diego), Georgia (2 communities in Atlanta), Tennessee (1 community in Memphis; 1 community in Nashville) and Texas (1 facility in Houston). Consistent with our investment strategy, the communities are located in attractive metropolitan markets, which we expect to support annual NOI growth of 4% to 5%. The communities will be owned by the company’s existing RIDEA partnership with Belmont Village and will continue to be managed by Belmont Village.

Outlook for 2012 The company is updating its 2012 guidance to reflect investment and financing activity announced year-to-date and certain normalizing items (see Exhibit 1), and to increase its disposition guidance from $200 million to $300 million which consists primarily of non-strategic, Medicaid-oriented skilled nursing facilities. Primarily due to increased disposition guidance, normalized FFO has been revised to a range of $3.50 to $3.60 per diluted share from $3.53 to $3.63 per diluted share and normalized FAD has been revised to a range of $3.08 to $3.18 per diluted share from $3.11 to $3.21 per diluted share. Net income attributable to common stockholders has been revised to a range of $1.09 to $1.19 per diluted share from $1.26 to $1.36 per diluted share.

The company’s guidance does not include any additional 2012 investments beyond what has been announced, nor any additional transaction costs, capital transactions, impairments, unanticipated additions to the loan loss reserve or other additional one-time items, including any additional cash payments other than normal monthly rental payments. Please see the exhibits for a reconciliation of the outlook for net income available to common stockholders to normalized FFO and FAD.

Conference Call Information The company has scheduled a conference call on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its first quarter 2012 results, industry trends, portfolio performance and outlook for 2012. Telephone access will be available by dialing 888-346-2469 or 706-758-4923 (international). For those unable to listen to the call live, a taped rebroadcast will be available beginning two hours after completion of the call through May 22, 2012. To access the rebroadcast, dial 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406 (international). The conference ID number is 71285482. To participate in the webcast, log on to www.hcreit.com 15 minutes before the call to download the necessary software. Replays will be available for 90 days.

Key Performance Indicators
	1Q12		1Q11		Change
Net income (loss) attributable to common
stockholders (NICS) per diluted share	$	0.19	$	0.15	27%
Normalized FFO per diluted share	$	0.87	$	0.70	24%
Normalized FAD per diluted share	$	0.78	$	0.62	26%
Dividends per common share	$	0.74	$	0.69	7%
Normalized FFO Payout Ratio		85%		99%
Normalized FAD Payout Ratio		95%		111%

Quarterly Earnings
	NICS					FFO					FAD
	1Q12		1Q11		Change	1Q12		1Q11		Change	1Q12		1Q11		Change
Per diluted share	$	0.19	$	0.15	27%	$	0.81	$	0.46	76%	$	0.73	$	0.41	78%
Includes impact of:
Gain (loss) on property sales⁽¹⁾	$	-	$	0.17
Impairment of assets⁽²⁾	$	-	$	-
Other items, net⁽³⁾	$	(0.05)	$	(0.24)		$	(0.05)	$	(0.24)		$	(0.05)	$	(0.24)
Prepaid/straight-line rent receipts⁽⁴⁾											$	0.01	$	0.02
Per diluted share - normalized^(a)						$	0.87	$	0.70	24%	$	0.78	$	0.62	26%

(a)	Amounts may not sum due to rounding
	(1)	$769,000 and $26,156,000 of gains in 1Q12 and 1Q11, respectively.
	(2)	$0 and $202,000 of impairments in 1Q12 and 1Q11, respectively.
	(3)	See Exhibit 1.
	(4)	$1,014,000 and $3,612,000 of receipts in 1Q12 and 1Q11, respectively.

Supplemental Reporting Measures The company believes that net income attributable to common stockholders (NICS), as defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP), is the most appropriate earnings measurement. However, the company considers funds from operations (FFO) and funds available for distribution (FAD) to be useful supplemental measures of its operating performance. Historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with U.S. GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time as evidenced by the provision for depreciation. However, since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors and analysts have considered presentations of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient. In response, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) created FFO as a supplemental measure of operating performance for REITs that excludes historical cost depreciation from net income. FFO, as defined by NAREIT, means net income, computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, excluding gains (or losses) from sales of real estate and impairments of depreciable assets, plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated entities. Normalized FFO represents FFO adjusted for certain items detailed in Exhibit 1. FAD represents FFO excluding net straight-line rental adjustments, amortization related to above/below market leases and amortization of non-cash interest expenses and less cash used to fund capital expenditures, tenant improvements and lease commissions at medical office buildings. Normalized FAD represents FAD excluding prepaid/straight-line rent cash receipts and adjusted for certain items detailed in Exhibit 1. The company believes that normalized FFO and normalized FAD are useful supplemental measures of operating performance because investors and equity analysts may use these measures to compare the operating performance of the company between periods or as compared to other REITs or other companies on a consistent basis without having to account for differences caused by unanticipated and/or incalculable items. The company’s supplemental reporting measures and similarly entitled financial measures are widely used by investors and equity analysts in the valuation, comparison and investment recommendations of companies. The company’s management uses these financial measures to facilitate internal and external comparisons to historical operating results and in making operating decisions. Additionally, they are utilized by the Board of Directors to evaluate management. The supplemental reporting measures do not represent net income or cash flow provided from operating activities as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as alternative measures of profitability or liquidity. Finally, the supplemental reporting measures, as defined by the company, may not be comparable to similarly entitled items reported by other real estate investment trusts or other companies. Please see the exhibits for reconciliations of supplemental reporting measures and the supplemental information package for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, which is available on the company’s website (www.hcreit.com), for information and reconciliations of additional supplemental reporting measures.

About Health Care REIT, Inc. Health Care REIT, Inc., an S&P 500 company with headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, is a real estate investment trust that invests across the full spectrum of seniors housing and health care real estate. The company also provides an extensive array of property management and development services. As of March 31, 2012, the company’s broadly diversified portfolio consisted of 956 facilities in 46 states. More information is available on the company’s website at www.hcreit.com.

Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors This document may contain “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements concern and are based upon, among other things, the possible expansion of the company’s portfolio; the sale of facilities; the performance of its operators/tenants and facilities; its ability to enter into agreements with viable new tenants for vacant space or for facilities that the company takes back from financially troubled tenants, if any; its occupancy rates; its ability to acquire, develop and/or manage facilities; its ability to make distributions to stockholders; its policies and plans regarding investments, financings and other matters; its ability to successfully manage the risks associated with international expansion and operations; its tax status as a real estate investment trust; its critical accounting policies; its ability to appropriately balance the use of debt and equity; its ability to access capital markets or other sources of funds; and its ability to meet its earnings guidance. When the company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. The company’s expected results may not be achieved, and actual results may differ materially from expectations. This may be a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the status of the economy; the status of capital markets, including availability and cost of capital; issues facing the health care industry, including compliance with, and changes to, regulations and payment policies, responding to government investigations and punitive settlements and operators’/tenants’ difficulty in cost-effectively obtaining and maintaining adequate liability and other insurance; changes in financing terms; competition within the health care, seniors housing and life science industries; negative developments in the operating results or financial condition of operators/tenants, including, but not limited to, their ability to pay rent and repay loans; the company’s ability to transition or sell facilities with profitable results; the failure to make new investments as and when anticipated; acts of God affecting the company’s facilities; the company’s ability to re-lease space at similar rates as vacancies occur; the company’s ability to timely reinvest sale proceeds at similar rates to assets sold; operator/tenant or joint venture partner bankruptcies or insolvencies; the cooperation of joint venture partners; government regulations affecting Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates and operational requirements; regulatory approval and market acceptance of the products and technologies of life science tenants; liability or contract claims by or against operators/tenants; unanticipated difficulties and/or expenditures relating to future acquisitions; environmental laws affecting the company’s facilities; changes in rules or practices governing the company’s financial reporting; the movement of U.S. and Canadian exchange rates; and legal and operational matters, including real estate investment trust qualification and key management personnel recruitment and retention. Finally, the company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements.



HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.
Financial Exhibits

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
(in thousands)
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Assets
Real estate investments:
Land and land improvements	$	1,146,099		$	819,622
Buildings and improvements		13,575,137			8,707,973
Acquired lease intangibles		497,389			347,620
Real property held for sale, net of accumulated depreciation		165,736			71,126
Construction in progress		150,750			353,812
		15,535,111			10,300,153
Less accumulated depreciation and intangible amortization		(1,272,922	)		(867,050	)
Net real property owned		14,262,189			9,433,103
Real estate loans receivable⁽¹⁾		298,868			447,351
Less allowance for losses on loans receivable		-			(1,524	)
Net real estate loans receivable		298,868			445,827
Net real estate investments		14,561,057			9,878,930
Other assets:
Investments in unconsolidated entities		239,254			250,111
Goodwill		68,321			51,207
Deferred loan expenses		57,252			48,620
Cash and cash equivalents		469,217			2,667,995
Restricted cash		83,499			38,722
Receivables and other assets⁽²⁾		381,134			322,459
		1,298,677			3,379,114
Total assets	$	15,859,734		$	13,258,044

Liabilities and equity
Liabilities:
Borrowings under unsecured lines of credit arrangements	$	5,000		$	-
Senior unsecured notes		4,436,103			4,427,850
Secured debt		2,353,856			1,711,973
Capital lease obligations		83,020			8,813
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		393,202			334,259
Total liabilities		7,271,181			6,482,895
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		34,535			4,546
Equity:
Preferred stock		1,297,917			1,010,417
Common stock		213,529			176,563
Capital in excess of par value		8,088,573			6,280,906
Treasury stock		(17,265	)		(13,480	)
Cumulative net income		1,952,320			1,708,248
Cumulative dividends		(3,134,255	)		(2,538,601	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		(11,642	)		(10,295	)
Other equity		7,208			6,383
Total Health Care REIT, Inc. stockholders’ equity		8,396,385			6,620,141
Noncontrolling interests		157,633			150,462
Total equity		8,554,018			6,770,603
Total liabilities and equity	$	15,859,734		$	13,258,044

(1)		Includes non-accrual loan balances of $12,956,000 and $9,478,000 at March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
(2)		Includes net straight-line receivable balances of $129,434,000 and $88,405,000 at March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.



Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2012			2011
Revenues:
Rental income		$	267,358		$	159,937
Resident fees and service			158,174			71,286
Interest income			8,141			11,709
Other income			1,686			2,824
Gross revenues			435,359			245,756

Expenses:
Interest expense			92,712			56,902
Property operating expenses			129,268			63,563
Depreciation and amortization			125,955			70,743
General and administrative expenses			27,751			17,714
Transaction costs			5,579			36,065
Unrealized loss on derivatives			555			-
Provision for loan losses			-			248
Total expenses			381,820			245,235

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
and income from unconsolidated entities			53,539			521

Income tax (expense) benefit			(1,470	)		(129	)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities			1,532			1,543
Income (loss) from continuing operations			53,601			1,935

Discontinued operations:
Gain (loss) on sales of properties			769			26,156
Impairment of assets			-			(202	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net			3,088			3,921
			3,857			29,875
Net income (loss)			57,458			31,810
Less:	Preferred dividends		19,207			8,680
	Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(1,056	)		(242	)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		$	39,307		$	23,372

Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic			199,661			154,945
Diluted			201,658			155,485

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per share:
Basic		$	0.20		$	0.15
Diluted		$	0.19		$	0.15

Common dividends per share		$	0.74		$	0.69



Normalizing Items		Exhibit 1
(in thousands, except per share data)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
Transaction costs	$	5,579⁽¹⁾	$	36,065
Special stock compensation grants		4,316⁽²⁾		-
Unrealized loss on derivatives		555⁽³⁾		-
Provision for loan losses		-		248
Held for sale hospital operating expenses⁽⁴⁾		215		829
Total	$	10,665	$	37,142

Average diluted common shares outstanding		201,658		155,485
Net amount per diluted share	$	0.05	$	0.24

Notes:	(1)	Primarily costs incurred with the medical office building and seniors housing operating acquisitions during the quarter.
	(2)	Represents impact of special non-cash retention and performance based stock awards for executive officers.
	(3)	Related to a currency hedge executed at time of commitment to Chartwell transaction to lock the exchange rate on the cash portion of the transaction.
	(4)	Represents expenses incurred in connection with a hospital classified as held for sale.



Funds Available for Distribution Reconciliation		Exhibit 2
(in thousands, except per share data)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	39,307		$	23,372
Depreciation and amortization⁽¹⁾		127,422			74,768
Impairment of assets		-			202
Loss (gain) on sales of properties		(769	)		(26,156	)
Noncontrolling interests⁽²⁾		(4,489	)		(3,836	)
Unconsolidated entities⁽³⁾		837			1,191
Gross straight-line rental income		(11,139	)		(5,030	)
Prepaid/straight-line rent receipts		1,014			3,612
Amortization related to above (below) market leases, net		(252	)		(658	)
Non-cash interest expense		3,693			3,716
Cap-ex, tenant improvements, lease commissions		(8,585	)		(8,141	)
Funds available for distribution		147,039			63,040
Normalizing items, net⁽⁴⁾		10,665			37,142
Prepaid/straight-line rent receipts		(1,014	)		(3,612	)
Funds available for distribution - normalized	$	156,690		$	96,570

Average diluted common shares outstanding		201,658			155,485

Per diluted share data:
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	0.19		$	0.15
Funds available for distribution	$	0.73		$	0.41
Funds available for distribution - normalized	$	0.78		$	0.62

Normalized FAD Payout Ratio:
Dividends per common share	$	0.74		$	0.69
FAD per diluted share - normalized	$	0.78		$	0.62
Normalized FAD payout ratio		95	%		111	%

Notes:	(1)	Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation and amortization from discontinued operations.
	(2)	Represents noncontrolling interests' share of net FAD adjustments.
	(3)	Represents HCN's share of net FAD adjustments from unconsolidated entities.
	(4)	See Exhibit 1.



Funds From Operations Reconciliation		Exhibit 3
(in thousands, except per share data)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	39,307		$	23,372
Depreciation and amortization⁽¹⁾		127,422			74,768
Impairment of assets		-			202
Loss (gain) on sales of properties		(769	)		(26,156	)
Noncontrolling interests⁽²⁾		(4,990	)		(4,160	)
Unconsolidated entities⁽³⁾		2,887			3,027
Funds from operations		163,857			71,053
Normalizing items, net⁽⁴⁾		10,665			37,142
Funds from operations - normalized	$	174,522		$	108,195

Average diluted common shares outstanding		201,658			155,485

Per diluted share data:
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	0.19		$	0.15
Funds from operations	$	0.81		$	0.46
Funds from operations - normalized	$	0.87		$	0.70

Normalized FFO Payout Ratio:
Dividends per common share	$	0.74		$	0.69
FFO per diluted share - normalized	$	0.87		$	0.70
Normalized FFO payout ratio		85	%		99	%

Notes:	(1)	Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation and amortization from discontinued operations.
	(2)	Represents noncontrolling interests' share of net FFO adjustments.
	(3)	Represents HCN's share of net FFO adjustments from unconsolidated entities.
	(4)	See Exhibit 1.



Outlook Reconciliations: Year Ended December 31, 2012	Exhibit 4
(in thousands, except per share data)
	Prior Outlook						Current Outlook
	Low			High			Low			High
FFO Reconciliation:
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	1.26		$	1.36		$	1.09		$	1.19
Depreciation and amortization⁽¹⁾		2.27			2.27			2.36			2.36
Funds from operations		3.53			3.63			3.45			3.55
Normalizing items, net⁽²⁾		-			-			0.05			0.05
Funds from operations - normalized	$	3.53		$	3.63		$	3.50		$	3.60

FAD Reconciliation:
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	1.26		$	1.36		$	1.09		$	1.19
Depreciation and amortization⁽¹⁾		2.27			2.27			2.36			2.36
Net straight-line rent and above/below amortization⁽¹⁾		(0.20	)		(0.20	)		(0.22	)		(0.22	)
Non-cash interest expense⁽¹⁾		0.06			0.06			0.06			0.06
Cap-ex, tenant improvements, lease commissions⁽¹⁾		(0.28	)		(0.28	)		(0.26	)		(0.26	)
Funds available for distribution		3.11			3.21			3.03			3.13
Normalizing items, net⁽²⁾		-			-			0.05			0.05
Funds available for distribution - normalized	$	3.11		$	3.21		$	3.08		$	3.18

Notes:	(1)	Amounts presented net of noncontrolling interests' share and HCN's share of unconsolidated entities.
	(2)	See Exhibit 1.

CONTACT:

Health Care REIT, Inc.
Scott Estes, 419-247-2800
Jay Morgan, 419-247-2800

KEYWORDS: United States North America Ohio

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Hospitals Professional Services REIT Banking Construction & Property Commercial Building & Real Estate Residential Building & Real Estate Other Construction & Property General Health Managed Care

MEDIA:

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GTx Announces Removal of Full Clinical Hold By FDA for Capesaris® In Advanced Prostate Cancer

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:19:04 -0400

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI) announced today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed its Full Clinical Hold on the Company’s Investigational New Drug application for Capesaris^® following the review by the FDA of the Company’s complete response and its new Phase II clinical protocol. GTx plans to initiate during the third quarter this Phase II open label clinical study of 75 men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer to test three lower doses of Capesaris (125 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg) sequentially in cohorts of 25 patients each.

The Phase II clinical study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Capesaris as secondary hormonal therapy in men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. The study will assess the effect of oral daily doses of Capesaris on serum prostate specific antigen response and prostate cancer progression in men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer maintained on primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The study is also designed to provide confirmation of the mechanism of drug action for Capesaris on lowering serum free testosterone levels by increasing serum SHBG. Other key endpoints that will be evaluated in the study include effects on the levels of adrenal androgen precursors, as well as the incidence and frequency of hot flashes and bone loss, which are estrogen deficiency related side effects of ADT. The safety and tolerability of these lower doses of Capesaris will also be evaluated in these subjects, including the incidence of venous thromboembolic events.

Conference call

There will be a conference call today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss this press release and to provide a Company update. To listen to the conference call, please dial 800-299-6183 from the United States or Canada or 617-801-9713 from other international locations. The access code for the call is 32206083. A playback of the call will be available from approximately 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time today through May 22, 2012 and may be accessed by dialing 888-286-8010 from the United States or Canada or 617-801-6888 from other international locations and referencing reservation number 74903062. Additionally, you may access the live and subsequently archived webcast of the conference call from the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://www.gtxinc.com.

About GTx

GTx, Inc., headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecules that selectively target hormone pathways for the treatment of cancer, cancer supportive care, and other serious medical conditions.

Forward-Looking Information is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty

This press release contains forward-looking statements based upon GTx's current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and include, but are not limited to, statements relating to its planned clinical trial of Capesaris^® (GTx-758). GTx's actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, the risks (i) that GTx will not be able to commercialize its product candidates if clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and efficacy in humans; (ii) that GTx may not be able to obtain required regulatory approvals to commercialize its product candidates in a timely manner or at all; (iii) that clinical trials being conducted by GTx may not be completed on schedule, or at all, or may otherwise be suspended or terminated; or (iv) that GTx could utilize its available cash resources sooner than it currently expects and may be unable to raise capital when needed, which would force GTx to delay, reduce or eliminate its product candidate development programs or commercialization efforts. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. GTx’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2012 contains under the heading, "Risk Factors," a more comprehensive description of these and other risks to which GTx is subject. GTx expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

CONTACT:

GTx, Inc.
Marc Hanover, President, 901-523-9700

KEYWORDS: United States North America Tennessee

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology Clinical Trials Oncology Pharmaceutical Other Health Research Other Science FDA Science General Health

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Metropolitan Health Networks Reports First Quarter 2012 Results

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:19:04 -0400

Focus on Growth Continues with Increased Customer Count and Doubling of Revenues

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc. (NYSE: MDF), a leading provider of health care services in Florida, today announced the financial results for their first quarter ended March 31, 2012. With the Continucare Corporation (“Continucare”) acquisition completed in the fourth quarter of 2011, highlights for the first quarter include the following:

Revenue of $195.2 million compared to $94.7 million in 2011,
Gross profit of $37.9 for the quarter, compared to $19.2 million in 2011,
Operating income of $21.3 million compared to $12.8 million in the first quarter of 2011,
Medical expense ratio (“MER”) for the quarter of 80.6% compared to 79.7% last year,
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $26.1 million compared to $13.9 million, an 88% increase, and,
Customer count of 78,700 compared to 34,800 in quarter one of 2011.

First Quarter Financial Highlights:

As a result of the Continucare acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2011, Metropolitan achieved significant increases in almost all aspects of its financial results in the first quarter of 2012. The addition of the Continucare customer base, coupled with our 9.7% increase in new customers from December 31, 2011, were primary reasons for the Company’s 106% growth in revenue to $195.2 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $94.7 million in the first quarter of 2011. The increase in our customer base also resulted in an increase in total medical expense from $75.5 million in the first quarter of 2011 to $157.4 million in the first quarter of 2012. The Company’s MER increased moderately to 80.6% as compared to 79.7% in the first quarter of 2011.

Operating income was $21.3 million in the first quarter of 2012 as compared to $12.8 million for the same period in 2011. Income before income taxes was $13.0 million for the first quarters of both 2012 and 2011. The first quarter of 2012 included $8.2 million of interest expense resulting from the financing used to complete the Continucare acquisition. Net income for the first quarter of 2012 was $7.9 million or $0.19 per basic share and $0.18 diluted, as compared to $8.0 million or $0.20 per basic share and $0.19 diluted for the same quarter last year.

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations amounted to $26.1 million for the 2012 first quarter as compared to $13.9 million in the 2011 period. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is not defined under U.S. GAAP and it may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Customer Information:

Customers at March 31, 2012 totaled 78,700 which compares to 34,200 at March 31, 2011 and 71,700 at December 31, 2011. The 78,700 customers at March 31, 2012 are comprised of 70,300 customers cared for under risk arrangements and 8,400 under non-risk arrangements. Of the total number of customers reported at the end of the quarter, 61,800 were Medicare Advantage, 13,300 were Medicaid, and 3,600 were commercial customers. Total customer months, the combined total customers for each month of the quarter, was 236,300 in the first quarter of 2012, up from 102,800 in the first quarter of 2011.

Balance Sheet Highlights:

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at March 31, 2012 totaled $35.5 million compared to $18.3 million at December 31, 2011. The Company had working capital of $48.3 million as of March 31, 2012, compared to $43.2 million as of December 31, 2011. Stockholders’ equity increased to $114.1 million compared to $104.6 million at December 31, 2011.

Commenting on the results of the quarter, Michael Earley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc., stated, “The first quarter of 2012 was perhaps the most interesting quarter in the history of Metropolitan. Although difficult to compare with the first quarter of 2011, it was nevertheless a record setting quarter for our organization from virtually every aspect, driven in great part by the impact of the completion of the Continucare acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2011.”

Earley continued, “As has been our history, we continue to invest for the future, believing that our customer-focused, primary care-centric model of care is the right one today and for the future. In addition to the Continucare customers we acquired, we saw our customer base grow by 7,000 Medicare Advantage risk customers from December 2011, a 12.8% increase in Medicare Advantage customers served. We entered a new market this year, in Florida’s panhandle, serving Medicare Advantage customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.”

“With the dynamic changes in our industry over the past twenty four months, we could not be more pleased with the investments we have made and the direction we are taking. Reform is forcing consolidation of less efficient providers in the market place. Being of sufficient size and scale to invest in resources to better coordinate the delivery of care to our customers, we believe we are ideally suited to be active participants in the future of health care. We will continue our drive for prudent and strategic growth in market areas that we feel have good prospects both in Florida and outside of the state,” Earley concluded.

Conference Call Information:

Metropolitan Health Networks will hold a conference call to review its first quarter 2012 results on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The call will be hosted by Michael Earley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Interested parties may access the conference call by dialing the following numbers: (888) 680-0860 (domestic) or (617) 213-4852 (international), pass code # 41786684. The call will also be available via web cast at www.metropolitanhealthnetworks.com, http://www.streetevents.com, or http://www.fulldisclosure.com

Participants may pre-register for the call at:

https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PL6RUCK83

Pre-registrants will be issued a pin number to use when dialing into the live call which will provide quick access to the conference by bypassing the operator upon connection.

If you are unable to participate, an audio replay of the call will be available beginning two hours after the call and will be available until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2012, by dialing (888) 286-8010 (domestic) or (617) 801-6888 (international) using confirmation pass code 95948138.

About Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc.:

Metropolitan is a growing health care company that provides and coordinates comprehensive health care services for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and other customers in Florida through its primary care-centric businesses, MetCare of Florida, Inc. and Continucare Corporation. Metropolitan currently owns and operates 33 medical centers and contracts with a network of independent primary care practices. To learn more about Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc. please visit its website at www.metropolitanhealthnetworks.com.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA is not defined under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and it may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Metropolitan uses Adjusted EBITDA, along with other GAAP measures, as a measure of profitability because Adjusted EBITDA helps Metropolitan’s management to compare Metropolitan’s performance on a consistent basis by removing from Metropolitan’s operating results the impact of its capital structure, the accounting methods used to compute depreciation and amortization and the effect of non-cash stock-based compensation expense and the impairment charge. Metropolitan’s management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors as it is a widely used measure of performance and the adjustments made to Adjusted EBITDA provide further clarity on Metropolitan’s profitability. Metropolitan removes the effect of non-cash stock-based compensation from its earnings, which can vary based on share price, share price volatility and expected life of the equity instruments Metropolitan grants. In addition, this stock-based compensation expense does not result in cash payments by Metropolitan. Metropolitan also removes the effect of impairment charges since this is a non-cash expense that does not result in cash payments. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as a profitability measure in that it does not include the interest expense on Metropolitan’s debts, provisions for income taxes, the effect of expenditures for capital assets, the effect of non-cash stock-based compensation expense and the effect of asset impairments. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income is included in the accompanying tables.

Forward Looking Statements:

Except for historical matters contained herein, statements made in this press release are forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as “may”, “will”, “to”, “plan”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “could”, “would”, “estimate”, or “continue” or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Investors and others are cautioned that a variety of factors, including certain risks, may affect our business and cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These risk factors include, without limitation: (i) the impact of our significantly increased levels of indebtedness on our funding costs, operating flexibility and ability to fund ongoing operations with additional borrowings, particularly in light of ongoing volatility in the credit and capital markets; (ii) our ability to operate pursuant to the terms of our debt obligations; (iii) our ability to integrate the acquired operations of Continucare and to realize the anticipated revenues, economies of scale, cost synergies and productivity gains in connection with the merger and any other acquisitions that we may undertake, as and when planned, including the potential for unanticipated issues, expenses and liabilities associated with those acquisitions and the risk that Continucare fails to meet its expected financial and operating targets; (iv) the potential for diversion of management time and resources in seeking to integrate Continucare’s operations, (v) our ability to successfully establish a presence in new geographic markets (vi) our ability to meet our cost projections under various provider agreements with Humana; (vii) our failure to accurately estimate incurred but not reported medical benefits expense; (viii) pricing pressures exerted on us by managed care organizations and the level of payments we indirectly receive under governmental programs or from other payors; (ix) our still limited ability to predict the direct and indirect effects of the health care reform laws adopted in 2010; (x) future legislation and changes in governmental regulations; (xi ) the impact of Medicare Risk Adjustments on payments we receive for our managed care operations; and (xii) a loss of any of our significant contracts or our ability to increase the number of Medicare eligible patient lives we manage under these contracts. Metropolitan is also subject to the risks and uncertainties described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, which is expected to be filed shortly.

Financial Tables to Follow


METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
		March 31, 2012			December 31,
		(unaudited)			2011
		(in thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and equivalents		$	34,446		$	17,277
Investments, at fair value			1,005			1,003
Accounts receivable from customers, net			565			688
Due from HMOs, net			33,918			40,241
Deferred income taxes			906			949
Prepaid income taxes			-			3,717
Prepaid expense and other current assets			4,029			4,248
Current assets held for sale			4,588			4,017
	TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		79,457			72,140

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net			20,285			20,296
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net			95,544			98,731
GOODWILL			262,610			262,610
DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS			9,079			9,882
OTHER ASSETS			1,173			1,100
NON-CURRENT ASSETS HELD FOR SALE			4,480			4,987
	TOTAL ASSETS	$	472,628		$	469,746

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable		$	625		$	907
Accrued payroll and payroll taxes			3,720			6,488
Income taxes payable			962			-
Accrued expenses			4,285			5,575
Accrued interest payable			6,717			2,434
Current portion of long-term debt			13,626			12,538
Current liabilities held for sale			1,212			956
	TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		31,147			28,898

LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion and original issue discount of $11.4 million and $12.1 million shares at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

			288,115			296,025
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES			39,227			40,175
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE			3			4
	TOTAL LIABILITIES		358,492			365,102

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, par value $.001 per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; Series A preferred stock, stated value $100 per share; 5,000 issued and outstanding

			500			500
Common stock, par value $.001 per share; 80,000,000 shares authorized; 44,088,000 and 43,751,000 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

			44			44
Additional paid-in capital			38,461			36,740
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)			(256	)		(110	)
Retained earnings			75,387			67,470
	TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY		114,136			104,644
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY		$	472,628		$	469,746


METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2012			2011
	(unaudited)			(unaudited)
	(in thousands, except share data)
REVENUE	$	195,248		$	94,666

MEDICAL EXPENSE
Medical claims expense		142,621			71,130
Medical practice costs		14,732			4,355
Total Medical Expense		157,353			75,485
GROSS PROFIT		37,895			19,181

OPERATING EXPENSES
Payroll, payroll taxes and benefits		8,992			4,102
General and administrative		4,304			2,143
Marketing and advertising		155			68
Amortization of intangible assets		3,187			93
Total Operating Expenses		16,638			6,406
OPERATING INCOME		21,257			12,775
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME:
Interest expense		(8,226	)		-
Investment income		3			182
Other expense		(3	)		(5	)
Total Other (Expense) Income		(8,226	)		177
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES		13,031			12,952
INCOME TAX EXPENSE		5,029			4,987
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS		8,002			7,965
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, net of income tax benefit of $54		(85	)		-
NET INCOME		7,917			7,965
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS, net of tax benefit of $92		(146	)		-
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$	7,771		$	7,965

EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Basic
Income from continuing operations	$	0.19		$	0.20
Loss from discontinued operations		-			-
Net income	$	0.19		$	0.20
Diluted
Income from continuing operations	$	0.18		$	0.19
Loss from discontinued operations		-			-
Net income	$	0.18		$	0.19


Metropolitan Health Networks Non-GAAP Reconciliation
	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2012		2011
Income from continuing operations	$	8,002	$	7,965
Income tax expense		5,029		4,987
Net interest expense (income)		8,223		(182	)
Depreciation and amortization		4,064		431
Stock-based compensation		764		700
Adjusted EBITDA From Continuing Operations	$	26,082	$	13,901

CONTACT:

Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc.
Michael Earley, Chairman & CEO, 561-805-8500
mearley@metcare.com
or
Al Palombo, SVP Corporate Communications, 561-805-8511
apalombo@metcare.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Florida

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Practice Management Health Hospitals General Health Managed Care

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Molina Healthcare Named to 2012 Fortune 500 List

Tue, 08 May 2012 06:19:03 -0400

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH) announced today that it has been named to the 2012 FORTUNE 500 list, the magazine’s annual list of the largest U.S.-based companies, ranked by total revenue. The Company makes its debut as #500 on the list, which can be found in the latest edition of FORTUNE and available on newsstands this week.

“More than 30 years ago Molina Healthcare started with a single clinic and a commitment. That commitment was to provide better health care to those most in need and least able to afford it. Today, we are proud to have expanded from that one neighborhood clinic to approximately 1.8 million members in 10 states,” said J. Mario Molina, M.D., chief executive officer of Molina Healthcare, Inc. “I am pleased with our management team and our employees, who have worked hard to help shape and grow our company. I would also like to thank our state agency partners for working with us to serve the Medicaid beneficiaries in their communities. We are indeed honored to be included on this renowned list for the first time and are excited and optimistic about our future.”

Molina Healthcare became a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2003. At that time, the company had approximately $500 million in annual revenue. In 2011, Molina reached approximately $4.6 billion in annual revenue.

About Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides quality and cost-effective Medicaid-related solutions to meet the health care needs of low-income families and individuals and to assist state agencies in their administration of the Medicaid program. Our licensed health plans in California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin currently serve approximately 1.8 million members, and our subsidiary, Molina Medicaid Solutions, provides business processing and information technology administrative services to Medicaid agencies in Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey, and West Virginia, and drug rebate administration services in Florida.

CONTACT:

Molina Healthcare, Inc.
Juan José Orellana
Investor Relations
562-435-3666 ext. 111143
or
Sunny Yu
Public Relations
562-901-1039

KEYWORDS: United States North America California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Practice Management Health Professional Services Insurance General Health Managed Care

MEDIA:

American Family Insurance partners with Assurant Health to provide customers major medical health insurance options

Mon, 07 May 2012 17:19:03 -0400

Assurant Health named exclusive provider of major medical health insurance products by American Family

MILWAUKEE, May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Assurant Health, a leading provider of individual and small group health insurance, and American Family Insurance today announced an agreement naming Assurant Health the exclusive provider of individual major medical health insurance products sold by American Family Insurance.

Effective immediately, American Family Insurance customers will have access to Assurant Health's entire suite of products, including individual Major Medical plans, Short Term Medical, Assurant Supplemental Coverage, products that offer additional coverage for dental, accident and critical illness, and Assurant Health Access(SM), a unique fixed-benefit product that offers affordable access to everyday health services with no deductibles. Previously, American Family agents offered Assurant Health's small group major medical products to meet the insurance needs of business customers.

"Our new agreement with American Family Insurance underscores our commitment to customers in the individual and small group markets," said Adam Lamnin, president and chief executive officer of Assurant Health. "We're excited to provide American Family customers access to our high-quality, affordable health care coverage, as well as services to help them get the most value from their health plan."

This agreement allows the 3,500 agents of American Family Insurance to offer their customers a variety of affordable plan choices to meet their unique needs. These agents also will be able to access Assurant Health's innovative online quoting and sales platform, as well as its agent-client management system.

"American Family Insurance provides top-quality products and services to the customers who prefer a 'one-stop' insurance shopping experience," said Greg Gisi, American Family Insurance vice president of enterprise strategy and risk alliances. "Assurant Health brings to market the expertise and buying power of companies that specialize in health insurance, and we are very pleased to make Assurant Health products available to our customers through this agreement."

About Assurant Health
Assurant Health is the brand name for a family of health insurance products focused on providing a variety of affordable plan choices to consumers. The portfolio of health care products includes major medical, supplemental and fixed-benefit plans for individuals, families and small employers. Assurant Health is committed to providing access to convenient health care delivery, easy-to-understand products and value-added services that help customers better manage their health care dollars and get the most out of their coverage—ultimately seeking to protect not only financial security but also the health and well being of its customers. Assurant Health's products are underwritten and issued by John Alden Life Insurance Company, Union Security Insurance Company and Time Insurance Company, which has been in business since 1892. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Assurant Health employs approximately 2,000 employees. www.assuranthealth.com

Additional Company Information
Assurant Health is part of Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North America and select worldwide markets. Assurant, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ. Assurant has approximately $27 billion in assets and $8 billion in annual revenue. www.assurant.com

About American Family
Based in Madison, Wis., American Family Insurance offers auto insurance, homeowners insurance, life insurance, health insurance, business and farm/ranch insurance in 19 states. The company employs approximately 7,800 people and sells its products through 3,457 independent contractor exclusive agents. American Family Insurance is the nation's third-largest mutual property/casualty insurance company and ranks 358th on the Fortune 500 list. Web: www.amfam.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter: www.twitter.com/amfam.

SOURCE Assurant Health

Humana Appoints Elizabeth D. Bierbower President of Employer Group Segment

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:19:02 -0400

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today that Elizabeth D. Bierbower, most recently the company’s Specialty Benefits leader, has been promoted to the new role of President, Employer Group segment for Humana. In this role, Bierbower now leads all of Humana’s Employer-focused business, including Large Group and Small Group sales, distribution and market operations, Specialty Benefits, Group Medicare, Humana’s new Health and Productivity Solutions area, and National Sales.

Before today’s announcement, Bierbower has – since 2009 – led Humana’s Specialty Benefits area, including dental, vision, life, disability and workplace voluntary benefits. In this role, she has helped the Specialty organization grow, in part by increasing Specialty’s dental and vision networks from a multi-regional to a national footprint. Today, enrollment in Humana Specialty products is approximately 7.7 million.

Bierbower started her career at Humana in 2001. As Product Innovation leader she drove the consumer strategy that included development of new products and services that helped position Humana as a leader in consumerism. She now reports to Jim Murray, Humana’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

“Humana’s realignment of our business around specific customer relationships – such as the employer relationship – is intended to result in an enhanced overall customer and member experience,” Murray said. “Beth has done a great job leading Humana Specialty Benefits and is ideally suited to lead Humana’s Employer Group segment. Her experience and expertise will enable Beth to ensure that Humana’s employer-customers and their employees have a great experience with Humana.”

Bierbower has published a book titled Engage! A Guide to Involving Your Consumers in their Health. She earned a master’s degree in public management, graduating with highest honors, from Carnegie Mellon University.

Effective immediately, the following Humana Employer Group segment leaders report to Bierbower:

Pattie Dale Tye now leads Large Group. Tye joined Humana in 2005 as Market President of the company’s Houston Commercial operations. In 2010, she assumed additional leadership responsibilities for Humana’s Dallas-Fort Worth Commercial market.
Jerry Ganoni will continue to lead Small Business. Additionally, Ganoni will now oversee Humana’s National Sales Organization and guide Small Business through health reform. He came to Humana in 1990.
Rick Remmers now leads Sales and Distribution across the Employer Group segment, including both Commercial and Group Medicare products and offerings. Remmers joined the company in 1987.
Sean Slovenski now leads a new function within the Employer Group segment known as Health and Productivity Solutions. Slovenski is responsible for a differentiated, integrated wellness solution that brings together and leverages all of Humana’s wellness, medical and specialty offerings. Slovenski will also continue to lead HumanaVitality and non-clinical services at Humana’s LifeSynch subsidiary. He joined Humana in 2010.
Susie Couch will lead financial operations for the Employer Group Segment. She joined Humana in 1998.

In addition to these appointments, Humana’s Bill Tait will now lead Strategic Distribution Partner and Customer Initiatives as well as Corporate Sponsorships, also reporting to Murray.

About Humana

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

Annual reports to stockholders
Securities and Exchange Commission filings
Most recent investor conference presentations
Quarterly earnings news releases
Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
Calendar of events (including upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
Corporate Governance information

CONTACT:

Humana Corporate Communications
Tom Noland, 502-580-3674
tnoland@humana.com
or
Humana Investor Relations
Regina Nethery, 502-580-3644
rnethery@humana.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Kentucky

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Other Health Professional Services Insurance

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Minnesota Connected to Abbott Labs’ Payment of $1.5 Billion to the Government in Fraud Case

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:19:01 -0400

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Halunen & Associates, a Minneapolis law firm, represents one of the whistleblowers in the $1.5 billion settlement with Abbott Laboratories announced today by the Department of Justice in a case involving government fraud. The case alleged illegal sales of Abbott’s anti-epilepsy drug, Depakote in violation of federal and state False Claims Acts. The company was accused of marketing the drug off-label, including for nursing home patients, persons with schizophrenia, and children, and providing kickbacks to medical providers who prescribed the drug. The $1.5 billion settlement is the second largest payment by a drug company in the history of the False Claims Act. Abbott has pled guilty to a criminal misdemeanor violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for misbranding and will pay a $700 million criminal penalty. Abbott will also pay $800 million to resolve civil claims under the federal False Claims Act and various state laws.

Attorneys Clayton Halunen and Susan Coler of Halunen & Associates represent one of the six “relators” who filed lawsuits against Abbott and participated in the Government’s prosecution of the case. Coler remarked “the government can’t root out all corporate fraud by itself. Our firm takes pride in assisting courageous whistleblowers to blow the whistle on corporations, large and small, who are cheating the government and, in effect, U.S. taxpayers.” Federal and State False Claims Acts allow individuals with personal knowledge of fraud to bring an action, some times called a qui tam case, on behalf of the governments and to assist in recovering dollars stolen from the government. Whistleblowers who bring forth evidence of fraud in a successful case are entitled to a statutory reward of 15 to 30% of the amount recovered. In this case, the relators will share 15% of the civil recovery. Halunen further commented, “False Claims Acts, including the one recently passed in Minnesota, are powerful tools to deter fraud in health care, education, defense and other government contracts. These cases are not easy, but they are gratifying for our clients and the firm. They right a serious wrong and help to make sure that U.S. taxpayer money is used for the purposes for which it was intended.”

The Department of Justice press release may be found at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/May/12-civ-585.html.

About Halunen & Associates
HALUNEN & ASSOCIATES is a Minneapolis law firm that exclusively represents whistleblowers, employees, and consumers in individual and class actions. Further information about the firm is available at www.halunenlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Halunen & Associates
Susan Coler
coler@halunenlaw.com
612-548-5284
612-850-6844

KEYWORDS: United States North America Minnesota

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Practice Management Health Hospitals Pharmaceutical Other Health Professional Services Legal FDA Nursing General Health Managed Care

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Dossia Allies with City of New York to Launch Pilot for Community-Based Health Promotion Initiative

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:19:02 -0400

Leading Personal Health Management System Provider offers Personal Health Manager to community organizations to better manage health promotion programs among local communities

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dossia, a leading Personal Health Management System provider, announced the successful launch of a partnership with the Primary Care Information Project (PCIP) of the NYC Health Department and the health ministries of five Brooklyn churches. The five churches, Mamre Seventh Day Adventist, God’s Battalion of Prayer, Christian Fellowship Seventh Day Adventist, Berean Baptist and House of the Lord Pentecostal Church. Dossia was selected through a competitive selection process and the project is funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.

Each of these churches currently offers regular monitoring and screening programs to members for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure. Starting in March, church members have had the opportunity to track their health outcomes using the Dossia Personal Health Management System. Volunteer lay health workers in the health ministries will have access to an application, built by NexJ Systems, that is integrated with the Dossia platform, such that, with the congregants’ consent, screening and monitoring results are available to both the health ministries and congregants. This will help lay health workers identify congregants with poor health for regular follow-up, and to track community-level outcomes. Pastor Baldwin Barnes of Christian Fellowship said, “As one of our core values, we promote health for our community and hope that this program of tracking blood pressure & BMI will inspire our members to take on new health enhancing behaviors."

Thomas Cannell, Director of Community Projects at PCIP, said, “Electronic Health Records are changing the face of medicine, but the health of the public depends, just as much, on people having the power to eat well, be physically active and regularly take prescribed medications. The Dossia Personal Health Management System supports lay health workers to consistently target health teaching and counseling, and to see the impact of their work, empowering a community, such as a church, to come together to overcome barriers to good health.”

“Community-based health initiatives play an imperative role in improving the overall health and wellness in communities across the country,” said Dossia CEO Michael Critelli. “We’re very excited that the Dossia Health Management System has been selected for this pilot, as we believe that Dossia’s solution will enable these community-based programs to have a greater impact within their communities.”

About Dossia

Dossia is a organization consisting of several large U.S. employers who have united under a common vision: to empower their employees to make smarter more informed decisions about their healthcare. Through Dossia, they will leverage their combined influence to break down barriers to health information, which will help drive consumer-initiated change. The Dossia Founders group includes AT&T, Applied Materials, BP America, Cardinal Health, Intel, NantWorks, Pitney Bowes, sanofi-aventis, Vanguard Health Systems and Walmart. For more information, visit www.dossia.org.

About New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) is a department of the Government of New York City responsible for public health along with issuing birth certificates, dog licenses, and conducting restaurant inspection and enforcement. For more information, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/.

CONTACT:

Dossia
Shelley Harrison, 617-621-7677
shelley.harrison@dossia.org

KEYWORDS: United States North America Massachusetts New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Religion Technology Data Management Software Practice Management Health Hospitals Professional Services Insurance Consumer General Health Managed Care

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CHOICE Administrators’ CEO to Discuss Health Insurance Exchanges at Meeting of the Los Angeles Association of Health

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:19:04 -0400

ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ron Goldstein, president and chief executive officer of CHOICE Administrators, will discuss the national movement toward health insurance exchanges and its potential impact on the California market at the “University Day” meeting of the Los Angeles Association of Health Underwriters (LAAHU) on May 9 in Woodland Hills.

Health insurance exchanges create an online, one-stop shopping mall where employers, consumers, insurance brokers and others can easily view competing health plans side by side, comparing benefits, costs, provider networks and other features. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandates that all U.S. states and territories establish and launch their own health insurance exchange by January 1, 2014, or default to a federal fallback program.

Goldstein has been one of the nation’s champions and leading spokespersons on the value of health insurance exchanges for nearly two decades. As the president and CEO of CaliforniaChoice, Goldstein oversees the nation’s most successful small-group private exchange, currently working with 10,000 employers and more than 150,000 members in California.

In his remarks before the LAAHU, Goldstein will discuss the state of exchanges nationwide based on his conversations with nearly all 50 states over the past nine months. He will also frame health insurance exchanges within the context of the pending Supreme Court decision on the individual mandate contained in the PPACA.

“Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, the development of health insurance exchanges will in all likelihood continue as employers and individuals will still be looking for a vehicle that provides affordable health insurance that meets their needs while providing choice and security,” believes Goldstein. “The brokers who will be most successful are those who position themselves as the “go-to” person with their existing customers and who are comfortable discussing those elements critical to health insurance exchanges, including defined contribution, multi-carrier programs and Medicaid subsidy eligibility.”

Since its founding in the 1930s, the LAAHU has provided its members professional growth and a powerful voice at the local level by delivering valuable networking and educational opportunities. Its May 9 meeting will be held at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills. For information and registration go to www.laahu.org.

CHOICE Administrators is the nation’s leader in developing and administering health insurance exchanges. Currently serving more than 10,000 employers and more than 150,000 members, it is part of The Word & Brown Companies, the nation’s leading developer and administrator of consumer-choice exchange models. Among the exchanges currently operated by CHOICE Administrators are the CaliforniaChoice^® small group (2-50 employees) and mid-market (51-199 employees) private exchanges; HSA California; Choice Builder, the nation’s first ancillary benefit exchange; and Quotit, one of the nation’s largest individual/family proposal and online enrollment systems that generated 6.8 million individual health quotes in 2011. Other CHOICE Administrators products include Kaiser Permanente Choice Solution and Contractors’ Choice. Further information is available at www.choiceadminexchanges.com.

CONTACT:

Ross Goldberg
818-597-8453, x1
ross@kevinross.net

KEYWORDS: United States North America California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Internet Health Professional Services Insurance Managed Care

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Community Leaders, Funding Partners Celebrate Groundbreaking for Myers Place – a New $13.2 Million Housing Development in

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:19:04 -0400

Illinois Housing Development Authority, UnitedHealthcare of Illinois and Enterprise Community Investment provide $13.2 million in funding for Mount Prospect project
Other partners include Village Bank & Trust, the Housing Authority of Cook County and Regional Housing Initiative

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Community leaders, project partners and local residents today celebrated the groundbreaking for Myers Place, a new $13.2 million mixed-use supportive housing development in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Myers Place, located in Mount Prospect, will offer affordable housing for individuals who are disabled, mentally ill or formerly homeless, who have the ability to live independently. The property will feature 21 one-bedroom and 18 studio furnished apartments, a state-funded supportive services program for residents and 3,560 square feet of commercial space. The property also includes a community room with kitchen, laundry facilities and offices for case managers.

The project is being developed by Daveri Development Group, a Chicago-based company with more than 30 years of experience revitalizing and creating affordable housing throughout the Midwest. Kenneth Young Center, a leading provider of social services in the Chicago area, will provide onsite case management, counseling and coordination with health care providers.

“Myers Place will be an important asset for this northwest suburb of Chicago because it will provide affordable housing for people with some of the greatest needs in our community,” said Jessica Berzac, vice president for Acquisitions and Development at Daveri Development Group. “We are so grateful for the support from our partners and the community for helping make today’s groundbreaking ceremony a reality.”

UnitedHealthcare is providing $8.1 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity to help build Myers Place through a partnership with Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise), a national leader in the affordable-housing and community-development industry. The UnitedHealthcare and Enterprise partnership was designed to provide up to $50 million to finance affordable-housing developments in targeted communities throughout the United States.

“Myers Place is an example of how the private and public sectors are working together to build stronger communities in Illinois,” said Tom Wiffler, president and CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, which provides health care benefits and services to more than 1.1 million Illinois residents. “UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to be a partner in the development of Myers Place and to lend our support to such an important endeavor.”

Additional major funding partners include the Illinois Housing Development Authority (LIHTC allocation and $2 million); Enterprise ($1.7 million in LIHTC equity); and Village Bank & Trust, which is providing construction phase financing and $1 million in permanent financing. Other community partners that have been integral to the project include the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity ($100,000), Corporation for Supportive Housing, the Housing Authority of the County of Cook, and the Regional Housing Initiative.

“We are celebrating this groundbreaking today due in large part to the support from the residents of Mount Prospect and the partners who have embraced our vision and helped fund the project,” said Mitch Bruski, CEO of Kenneth Young Center. “That support has been so important, and when completed, Myers Place will be a model for affordable housing and community development for the future.”

Several community leaders and project partners, including Mount Prospect Mayor Irvana Wilks, Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider, Hugh Brady of National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) Illinois and state Representative David Harris, attended the groundbreaking ceremony. They spoke about the importance of the project and the opportunities it will create for its residents, Mount Prospect and the surrounding community.

On behalf of Governor Pat Quinn’s administration, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) provided the critical allocation of federal tax credits that generated more than $10 million in private equity and $2 million in Community Development Block Grant financing in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). IHDA has been instrumental in supporting affordable housing projects that provide independent living for people living with disabilities or who have been homeless.

“Myers Place furthers Governor Pat Quinn’s commitment to increasing safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities so more people with disabilities can live independently in a community setting,” said Mary R. Kenney, IHDA executive director. “This project demonstrates how we work together with our private partners to create housing that will enable people with special needs to lead more active, dynamic lives.”

UnitedHealthcare invests with Enterprise and other groups in a variety of affordable housing projects like Myers Place by providing important equity for development. “Enterprise is proud to partner with UnitedHealthcare of Illinois to provide critical financing equity for Myers Place,” said Charlie Werhane, president and CEO of Enterprise Community Investment. “Once completed, Myers Place will offer the type of safe, affordable housing needed to create stability and opportunity for the most vulnerable people in our community.”

According to DDG and Kenneth Young Center, Myers Place is expected to open its doors to serve the people in the northwest suburbs of Chicago beginning in summer 2013. The mixed-use complex is being built on a vacant lot on the corner of Busse and Dempster roads in Mount Prospect. Village officials unanimously approved the project in November 2011.

“Myers Place will stand as a shining example for other municipalities to ease their fears if they are asked to approve similar developments,” said Hon. Irvana K. Wilks, mayor of Mount Prospect. “The quality of the building’s architecture allows us to have a nice development on undeveloped property. Then the services to be provided will help us address a special needs population. All of the various partners allowed the Mount Prospect Village Board to have confidence that this will be a true triumph at every level.”

About Daveri Development Group: The mission of Daveri Development Group (DDG) is to revitalize and create affordable housing across the Midwest. Based in Chicago, DDG has over 30 years of combined experience, which allows the company to address the need for affordable housing in diverse communities while creating high quality, attractive, and eco-friendly living spaces for residents. For more information go to www.daveridevelopment.com.

About Enterprise: Enterprise is a leading provider of the development capital and expertise it takes to create decent, affordable homes and rebuild communities. For 30 years, Enterprise has introduced neighborhood solutions through public-private partnerships with financial institutions, governments, community organizations and others that share our vision. Enterprise has raised and invested more than $11 billion in equity, grants and loans to help build or preserve nearly 300,000 affordable rental and for-sale homes to create vital communities. Visit www.EnterpriseCommunity.org to learn more about Enterprise’s efforts to build communities and opportunity.

About the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA): IHDA is a self-supporting state agency that finances the creation and the preservation of affordable housing across Illinois. Since its creation in 1967, IHDA has allocated more than $11.1 billion and financed approximately 221,000 affordable units across the state. IHDA accomplishes its mission through a number of federal and state funding sources. IHDA is also a bonding authority, and independently sells bonds, based on its own good credit, to finance affordable housing in Illinois. For more information go to www.ihda.org.

About Kenneth Young Center: Kenneth Young Center is a not-for-profit, comprehensive provider of mental health and senior citizens’ support services. Its mission is to help people “feel good, do better and find solutions” by providing counseling for adults, children, and families; assessment, stabilization, and linkage for adults and children in psychiatric crisis; treatment, support, and psychiatric rehab for those with serious mental illness; service coordination and in-home services for frail elderly persons; and volunteer opportunities. For more information, visit www.kennethyoung.org.

About UnitedHealthcare: UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 650,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

CONTACT:

Daveri Development Group (DDG)
Jessica Berzac, 312-870-4747
jessica@daveridevelopmentgroup.com
or
UnitedHealthcare
Kevin Shermach, 312-399-4530
kevin.shermach@uhc.com
or
Enterprise Community Partners
Jon Searles, 202-649-3916
jsearles@enterprisecommunity.org

KEYWORDS: United States North America Illinois

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Mental Health Professional Services Urban Planning Insurance Construction & Property Residential Building & Real Estate General Health Managed Care

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ADP Survey Finds Health Care Reform And Increasing Compliance Complexity May Drive Outsourcing Of Benefits Administration

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:19:05 -0400

Companies Say Regulatory Changes Make them More Likely to Outsource

ROSELAND, N.J., May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new ADP^® survey shows that health care reform and compliance complexity are leading more companies to re-think how they administer benefits and to consider outsourcing the function.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55804-adp-survey-regulatory-changes-outsourcing-benefits-administration

Part of this shift is being driven by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Forty-five percent of HR/benefits decision makers in midsized companies and 54 percent in large companies report that regulatory changes have made them more likely to outsource some or all of their benefits administration, as health care reform increases both the complexity and time required to administer benefits.

The online survey conducted in December 2011 by the ADP Research Institute, a specialized group within ADP that provides insights to leaders in both the private and public sectors around issues in human capital management, employment trends and workforce strategy, includes input from 504 HR/benefits decision makers in U.S. enterprises. These respondents include 254 participants from midsized organizations (those with 50-999 employees) and 250 from large organizations (those with 1,000 or more employees).

Ensuring compliance is one of the top reasons survey respondents said they outsource benefits administration (54 percent of midsized and 49 percent of large). Employers also cited the need to access subject matter knowledge and expertise (50 percent of midsized and 41 percent of large) and reduce the administrative burden on internal staff (43 percent of midsized and 50 percent of large) as other key reasons for outsourcing.

"It's likely that outsourcing will become more common as compliance becomes increasingly complex with new health care regulations in the mix," said Tim Clifford, President, Benefits Services at ADP, a leading provider of human resource management, payroll and benefits administration services. "Our study shows that many employers view outsourcing as a viable option to help them successfully cut through this complexity."

Clifford added that it is not just in the area of health care reform that compliance is becoming more demanding. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), to name only a few, have also increased administrative complexity in benefit plans for most employers. As new regulations are issued or prior ones are amended and modified, this trend is likely to continue.

Nearly 3 out of 10 midsized companies (28 percent) and 4 out of 10 large companies (42 percent) report that they are planning to outsource more services in the next 24 months.

The vast majority of HR/benefits decision makers in midsized and large companies report that their outsourcing provider or providers have met or exceeded expectations (88 percent of midsized and 92 percent of large). Additionally, HR/benefits decision makers (80 percent of midsized and 91 percent of large) report that outsourcing at least some elements of benefits administration provided real value for employers and that outsourcing achieved several of their key goals.

Most employers of all sizes continue to handle at least some elements of benefits administration internally ― although large employers are more likely to outsource a greater number of tasks than midsized employers.

Forty-one percent of HR/benefits decision makers in midsized companies (compared to 21 percent in large companies) report that they are most likely to administer benefits in-house because they believe it is easier to do so. HR/benefits decision makers in large companies have a different priority, with almost half (48 percent of large compared to 29 percent of midsized) reporting that they are most likely to administer benefits in-house because they want to maintain control over the process.

Other findings of the survey include:

COBRA administration, Flexible Spending Account (FSA) administration and 401(k) administration are among the most highly outsourced functions.
Almost two-thirds of companies say that allowing internal staff to focus on more core business or strategic issues is a key advantage of outsourcing benefits administration functions (65% of midsized and large).
Cost of services is the most important criterion when identifying an outsourced provider (71 percent of large and 72 percent of midsized).

For greater detail about the survey and findings, please go to www.adp.com/pulsesurvey0512.

ADP will present a webinar titled "To Manage Benefits Administration Internally or Outsource? That IS the Question" on May 17, 2012 from 1-2 p.m. ET. To register for the webinar, go to www.hr.com/stories/1334609844610.

About the Survey

The ADP Research Institute conducted the ADP HR/Benefits survey in December 2011. The respondents include 254 participants from midsized organizations (those with 50-999 employees) and 250 from large organizations (those with 1,000 or more employees). The resulting data achieved statistical reliability at the 95% confidence level both overall and in each of the size groups. Respondents had to be key decision makers (evaluators, recommenders, final decision makers) for employee benefits policy or major benefits system or service purchases within their enterprises. Forty-six percent of midsized respondents and 36 percent of large respondents were the actual heads of HR or employee benefits within their organizations.

About the ADP Research Institute

The ADP Research Institute is a specialized group within ADP that provides insights to leaders in both the private and public sectors around issues in human capital management, employment trends, and workforce strategy.

About ADP

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADP), with about $10 billion in revenues and approximately 570,000 clients, is one of the world's largest providers of business outsourcing solutions. Leveraging over 60 years of experience, ADP offers a wide range of human resource, payroll, tax and benefits administration solutions from a single source. ADP's easy-to-use solutions for employers provide superior value to companies of all types and sizes. ADP is also a leading provider of integrated computing solutions to auto, truck, motorcycle, marine, recreational vehicle, and heavy equipment dealers throughout the world. For more information about ADP or to contact a local ADP sales office, reach us at 1.800.225.5237 or visit the company's Web site at www.ADP.com.

SOURCE ADP

Cigna Recognizes and Supports Moms during Maternal Depression Awareness Month

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:19:05 -0400

Depression can make it difficult to feel the joy of motherhood and may interfere with a mother’s ability to care for a baby
Cigna supports employee who founded California Maternal Mental Health Collaborative
Access Cigna's free online toolkit on maternal depression, including interactive depression assessment

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A mother’s emotional health is as important as her physical health during pregnancy and after delivery. That’s why, during May, Maternal Depression Awareness Month, Cigna (NYSE: CI) is encouraging soon-to-be and new mothers to get screened and understand the symptoms of prenatal and postpartum depression.

“Having a new child is a very exciting and emotional time for the entire family,” said Dr. Doug Nemecek, senior medical director for Cigna's behavioral health business. “While mood swings or bursts of crying are often caused by ‘the baby blues,’ it’s important for new parents to identify more serious mental health issues like postpartum depression or birth-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Depression is often not diagnosed or treated - talk to your doctor about preventive screening and treatment.”

Postpartum depression occurs in approximately 10 to 20 percent of women either during pregnancy or in the first year after childbirth, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Some of the signs of postpartum depression are feeling very sad, hopeless or empty; feeling afraid to be alone with the baby; loss of pleasure or interest in daily activities; loss of appetite or losing weight; difficulty sleeping, or an inability to concentrate.

In recognition of Maternal Depression Awareness Month, Cigna is sponsoring the California Maternal Mental Health Collaborative (CMMHC) and American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) conference today in Sacramento, Calif. at the Capitol. Founded by Joy Burkhard, a Cigna employee, CMMHC is an organization dedicated to increasing awareness, screening and treatment of maternal mental health disorders. It convenes doctors, legislators, organizations and experts to focus on issues around maternal depression.

“We are extremely proud of Joy Burkhard for founding the California Maternal Mental Health Collaborative and for her commitment to raise awareness about depression in new mothers,” said Dr. Nemecek. “It is part of Cigna's mission to encourage and support employees like Joy who are so passionate about helping the local community, which in turn helps people live their healthiest life.”

Cigna also offers a free online toolkit, including education about postpartum depression, questions to ask the doctor and a short assessment women can take to determine if they should seek professional help. Customers enrolled in plans that include Cigna's Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Babies® maternity program have access to screening for stress and possible depression during pregnancy, as well as two to five days following delivery and again in three weeks after delivery to help to identify postpartum depression. Cigna also offers a free depression screening tool on its website for physicians.

Dr. Nemecek offers ten tips for pregnant women and new mothers:

Review your emotional and physical health with your doctor at each visit
Get plenty of sleep without interruption
Schedule alone time to relax or do something that makes you feel good
Share how you feel and surround yourself with family or friends who will listen
Look for local moms groups or join an online community
Take credit for small things you are able to accomplish throughout the day, don’t be hard on yourself if you miss a deadline or forget to do something
Make time to exercise and establish healthy eating habits
If your employer offers an employee assistance program (EAP), use it. An EAP is usually free to the employee, it’s a great resource for coping with stress and depression, and can also help with child care resources for a new mother
Seek professional help if you continue to feel stressed or sad
Ask your doctor about preventive screenings

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has approximately 70 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

CONTACT:

Cigna Corporation
Sarah Lindsay, 215-761-1948
Sarah.Lindsay@cigna.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Pennsylvania

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Women Health Alternative Medicine Hospitals Mental Health Other Health Professional Services Baby/Maternity Insurance Consumer General Health Managed Care

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Unhealthy State of the Union: New Study Reveals Roots of Americans’ Unhealthy Lifestyles

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:19:04 -0400

New research from Humana and Reader’s Digest reveals:

Only 26 percent of Americans eat 3-5 servings of vegetables a day
Only 14 percent of Americans eat 3-5 servings of fruit a day
Only 1 in 10 drink the recommended 8 glasses of water per day

Seniors making different lifestyle choices when compared to the rest of U.S. population

LOUISVILLE, Ky. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), one of the nation’s leading health and well-being companies, and Reader’s Digest, one of America’s most recognized brands, today announced results of a nationwide survey that highlights an intriguing fact about health in America – despite our best intentions, Americans continue to make unhealthy choices.

According to the study, which looked at behaviors among different age groups, seniors were one group that ranked having good health as most important to them – more important than having a close-knit family or financial security. With a commitment to help people achieve lifelong well-being, Humana understands that while seniors’ healthy choices are important and critical to independent living and aging in place, Americans can’t wait until they turn 65 to make healthy choices. To effectively prevent chronic conditions, Americans of all ages must begin making healthier choices today.

Humana and Reader’s Digest surveyed 1,000 people nationwide about their health and well-being. Questions ranged from lifestyle tendencies – nutrition, hygiene, sleep and exercise – to feelings about happiness and the value of health today.

Americans know how to make healthy choices, but still do not make them

While it’s widely understood that vegetables and fruits have health benefits and that everyone should drink water, most people eat too few veggies and fruits and drink too little water. The Humana and Reader Digest’s study found that:

Only 26 percent of Americans eat 3-5 servings of vegetables a day
Only 14 percent of Americans eat 3-5 servings of fruit a day
Only 1 in 10 drink the recommended 8 glasses of water per day

Also, one third of Americans do not eat fruit as part of their overall diet, one in 10 Americans drink no water during the day, and one in 10 Americans have four or more meals from a fast food restaurant over the course of each week. Equally as concerning, Americans are sedentary for slightly more than 7 hours a day – more time than is typically spent sleeping.

“As a physician, I have an understanding that all patients don’t follow ‘doctor’s orders’ to get enough sleep, exercise and eat right,” said Philip Painter, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Humana’s Health Guidance Organization. “However, having this view of the unhealthy choices that so many Americans are making is alarming and makes it clear how focused we need to be about helping people take those small, meaningful steps, for example, ordering water instead of soda or picking up an apple as a snack.”

“These results highlight an important issue, primarily that while we understand the negative effects of certain health behaviors, we do little to make positive, impactful changes,” said Tom Liston, President of Humana’s Retail Segment, which includes health plans sold directly to individuals, such as Medicare plans. “Through this research we hope to better understand the state of health in America today and further Humana’s dream of helping people achieve lifelong well-being.”

Seniors value good health … and some habits reflect this outlook

The survey segmented demographic groups into sub-categories, allowing for a more comprehensive snapshot of different age groups. Similar to most Americans, many seniors are making questionable diet and fitness choices. Most seniors are still not managing to get the recommended 3 to 5 servings of both fruits and vegetables daily. In addition, seniors are drinking less water than Americans overall and few exercise regularly. In fact, 42 percent of seniors (compared to 29 percent of Americans overall) engage in no physical activity that raises their heart rate over the course of a week.

40 percent of seniors (people 65 and older) believe “good health” equates to being happy, while 46 percent of Americans overall define good health as being in better physical shape. The survey also found:

44 percent of seniors eat a full three meals per day compared to 36 percent of Americans overall.
Seniors also sleep more, getting 7.3 hours of sleep a night compared to 7.0 hours for Americans overall.
87 percent of seniors are more likely than Americans overall (77 percent) to have gotten a general physical exam within the past year.

This contrast in what we should do and what we actually do demonstrates a need for new approaches to help motivate people across various age groups to make healthy choices based on what is important to them.

Other key findings of the survey include:

Working moms are more likely (58 percent) to participate in regular daily physical activities (e.g. taking walks, using stairs, going to a gym) than working dads (37 percent).
Four in five Americans say they would choose receiving $5,000 over losing 10 pounds.
Nearly four of five seniors (79 percent) rate their health positively.

Information from this study will be published in upcoming issues of Reader’s Digest, starting with the May issue.

“We’re excited to partner with Humana on this study. The objective of this research is to inform people about the state of health in America, and in a simple and direct way, help people simplify and enrich their everyday lives by deciding to make healthier choices,” said Dan Lagani, President, Reader’s Digest North America. “In upcoming issues of Reader’s Digest, we will highlight the important results of this study along with suggestions on ways people can alter their health habits for the better.”

The study was conducted by third-party research vendor, Global Strategy Group, in December 2011. The margin of error on the overall sample is +/- 3.1 percent. The margin of error on subgroups is greater.

About Humana

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

Annual reports to stockholders
Securities and Exchange Commission filings
Most recent investor conference presentations
Quarterly earnings news releases
Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
Calendar of events (including upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
Corporate Governance information

About Reader’s Digest

Reader’s Digest simplifies and enriches consumers’ lives by discovering and expertly selecting the most interesting ideas, stories, experiences and products in health, home, family, food, finance and humor. Recognized by 99% of American adults, Reader’s Digest is available in print; online at ReadersDigest.com; via digital download on iPad, mobile apps, Kindle, Kindle Fire, Nook, Sony Reader and Zinio; books and home entertainment products; Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets. Obtain a subscription at www.ReadersDigest.com or on your favorite digital download device.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50267302&lang=en

CONTACT:

Humana Corporate Communications
Jim Turner, 502-580-3221
jturner2@humana.com
or
Reader’s Digest North America
Gary Davis, 646-293-6206
gary_davis@rd.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Kentucky New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Seniors Women Health Fitness & Nutrition Professional Services Insurance Communications Publishing Consumer Men

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