News

Arizona approves tax break that will benefit Apollo Group Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:22:00 +0000 - Arizona has approved a new tax break that helps University of Phoenix and its Apollo Group parent company. Gov. Jan Brewer signed Arizona Senate Bill 1046 into law Tuesday. The measure allows Arizona businesses with operations in other states to choose between state income tax formulas to determine their tax bills. Brewer vetoed a similar bill last year but approved this year’s legislation. Last year’s decision upset the folks over at UOP/Apollo. The company threatened to move jobs out of the state after the veto... Read more

Via Christi says 2011 community benefit reached $82M Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:58:48 +0000 - Via Christi Health contributed $82 million during fiscal year 2011 in community benefits for the areas it serves in Kansas and northeast Oklahoma. That total, the health system says, includes $45.3 million in traditional charity care; almost $19.8 million in unreimbursed costs of Medicaid services and $16.9 million in other community benefits. This Via Christi news release details more about its community contributions last year: WICHITA, KAN. (Feb. 22, 2012) – Via Christi Health contributed $82 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2011 to the communities it serves in Kansas and northeast Oklahoma... Read more

With Centene's win, Molina loses 78,000 members in Missouri Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:56:28 +0000 - Centene Corp.’s new contract with the state to cover Missouri Medicaid beneficiaries is a loss for California-based Molina Healthcare Inc. As of Sept. 30, 2011, Molina covered around 78,000 members in Missouri. A spokeswoman for the company said Molina’s contract with the state expires June 30, 2012. In a statement, Molina officials said: “We were informed by the State of Missouri that we were not selected for contract negotiations to provide services under MO HealthNet Managed Care. However, we will continue to serve Molina Healthcare of Missouri members and providers and partner with the state in a manner that is consistent with our core values, never losing sight of our mission to provide quality health services to those who need it most and are least able to afford it... Read more

Maryland awards $297M Medicaid contract to CSC Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:29:05 +0000 - The state’s spending board approved Wednesday a $297 million contract with a Virginia-based IT company that is expected to improve Maryland’s process for paying tens of millions of dollars in Medicaid claims each month. The contract with Computer Sciences Corp. (NYSE: CSC) is being hailed by some of the state’s health care leaders as Maryland’s long-awaited move into a new high-tech age for determining the eligibility of the state’s Medicaid members. But the work also will result in the loss of about 80 jobs within the state’s health department... Read more

State gets $26M for health-insurance exchange Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:07:34 +0000 - The state said Wednesday it has received a $26 million grant to continue work on a health-insurance exchange that will help consumers compare health care coverage options. The state already received federal grants for $1 million in February 2011 and $4.2 million in August. The most-recent funding came from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and will be administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the state said in a news release. The exchange is mandated by the 2010 U.S... Read more

Heritage Valley opens sixth clinic Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:46:13 +0000 - Heritage Valley Health System has opened a ConvenientCare walk-in medical clinic in Moon Township, the sixth such center for the Beaver-based hospital network. The Thorn Run Road facility is staffed by nurse practitioners who provide treatment for minor illnesses and injuries seven days a week. Also available within the Moon complex are diagnostic imaging, lab draw and outpatient rehabilitation services. “As a community health system, we’re always looking for new ways to meet the needs of people seeking health care services in the communities we serve,” Heritage Valley President and CEO Norm Mitry said in a prepared statement... Read more

Highmark: Justice probe is routine Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:45:17 +0000 - A civil investigation of Highmark’s acquisition of the West Penn Allegheny Health System will wrap up within six weeks without a hitch, Highmark Executive Vice President of Health Services Deborah Rice predicted on Tuesday. “This is a typical process,” she said. “We expect it to conclude soon with no objections.” “We believe it’s pro-competition.” The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has been ordered to produce contracts and other documents related to a U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust investigation of the Highmark-WPAHS deal by Feb... Read more

California health plans improve in diabetes, heart care: Report Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:31:23 +0000 - California health plans have improved on several quality measures, including diabetes care and heart care, according to a new report card released Wednesday by the Office of the Patient Advocate. But health maintenance organization plans and preferred provider plans performed below the national average in a number of areas, including flu shots for adults, treatment for alcohol and drug dependence, testing for lung disease, appropriate treatment for children with throat infections and treatment for children with attention deficit disorder... Read more

Farmers Insurance plans to hire agents in wake of storms Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:12:57 +0000 - Farmers Insurance wants to hire more than 25 new insurance agents in central Alabama, partially due to the increased demand created by recent tornadoes. According to an email from Gregg Danielson, agency development manager for the company, Farmers has a goal of hiring 27 new agents. Farmers District Manager Al Scofield said the storms and tornadoes that hit the area in April 2011 and January 2012 created an immediate need for agents in the region. The company is hosting two introductory career seminars on Feb... Read more

PMSI strikes sponsorship deal with Risk & Insurance Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:35:03 +0000 - PMSI is now the exclusive sponsor of the digital edition of Risk & Insurance magazine. Financial terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed in a statement from PMSI announcing the deal. PMSI will feature an editorial focused on key industry issues in the publication’s digital and online editions, accompanied by a short video on the topic, the statement said. Related links and other material also can be accessed through the Risk & Insurance digital edition. Risk & Insurance is one of the most important publications in the workers’ compensation industry, Shelia Reed, PMSI’s vice president of marketing, said in the statement... Read more