MANAGED VISION LIVES INCREASE 1.8% IN 2009
Despite the down economy—or perhaps because of it—the market for vision benefits is heating

WELLS FARGO DOWNGRADES MANAGED CARE SECTOR
Analyst Matt Perry of Wells Fargo has downgraded the managed care sector to hold from buy,

CVS PBM WILL TAKE A YEAR TO RECOVER, MALLEY SAYS
The pharmacy benefit management operations of CVS Caremark – which has suffered billions of

MANAGED VISION LIVES GROW 1.8% IN 2009
Despite the down economy—or perhaps because of it—the market for vision benefits is heating up, with bid activity, sales and enrollment rising. Membership increased 1.8% in 2009, compared to 2008.

‘10 PREMIUMS TO RISE 9.6%, SURVEY SAYS
Health insurance premiums for fully funded members are expected to rise 9.6% in 2010, compared to a 6.6% increase in 2009, according to a survey from Deutsche Bank.

CVS CAREMARK RETAINS TX CONTRACT
CVS Caremark has won a two-year renewal beginning September 2010 of its contract to provide PBM services to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, a pact valued at about $1 billion.

STIFEL NICOLAUS UPGRADES WELLPOINT
Stifel Nicolaus analyst Thomas Carroll has some good things to say about WellPoint Inc., upgrading the stock to “buy” from “hold” and projecting shares in the company will rise 21% to $72.

CIOs MCCARTHY, LEVINE, LUTHER TO SPEAK AT MCO FORUM
Corporate Research Group (New York) announced that Aetna chief information officer Meg McCarthy will be the keynote speaker at the Managed Healthcare Industry Forum on Emerging Technology, Monday, March 29, 2010 in New York City.