|
|
|
| 
June 30, 2005
|
MHMR June 30, 2005; Volume 13, Number 12
SPECIAL REPORT: Medicare Vision...Vision competition stiffens...Davis, Luxottica, Spectera, VSP, OptiCare, ECCA, PacifiCare...Aetna to buy HMS for $400 MM...Health Net stung by jury award...United to buy Neighborhood...MCO stocks trounce market...Best affirms UnitedHealth ratings...Humana to reaffirm ’05 outlook...Molina names Bracciodieta CMO...Cigna names international head...WellChoice wins conversion suit...HMO stocks rise 2%...Services stocks rise 1%...Caremark names McLure COO...WellChoice wins conversion suit...Coventry, Rite Aid in Part D pact...Serono teams with Priority...and more...
|
|
AETNA TO BUY HMS FOR $390 MILLION
Aetna Inc. (Hartford, CT) has dramatically expanded its PPO presence in Michigan and Colorado through the acquisition of HMS Healthcare (Denver) for $390 million in cash.
|
|
HEALTH NET STUNG BY $117 MM JURY AWARD
Health Net (Woodland Hills, CA) was hit with a $117.4 million jury verdict in a lawsuit brought by receivers who in 2002 had taken control of three bankrupt health plans in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
|
|
UNITED TO ACQUIRE NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH
UnitedHealth Group (Minnetonka, MN) announced an agreement to acquire Neighborhood Health Partnership (Miami), which serves about 135,000 members mostly in Dade County, FL, but also in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
|
|
MCO STOCKS TROUNCE BROADER MARKET—ONCE AGAIN
Shares in leading managed care organizations continued to beat the broader stock market, with 14 publicly traded companies delivering a 17% total return through the first six months of 2005.
|
|
BEST AFFIRMS UNITEDHEALTH DEBT RATINGS
A. M. Best (Oldwick, NJ) said it had affirmed the debt ratings of all UnitedHealth subsidiaries, citing the company’s good capital position, solid earnings and strong operating cash flow.
|
|
HUMANA TO REAFFIRM 2005 EARNINGS OUTLOOK
Humana Inc. (Louisville, KY) said it expects to reaffirm its previously announced 2005 earnings projection of $2.23 to $2.25 per share ($365.7 million to $369 million based on 164 million diluted shares).
|
|
MOLINA NAMES BRACCIODIETA CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Molina Healthcare Inc. (Long Beach, CA) has named William Bracciodieta, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer. He was most recently chief medical officer of Health Net (Woodland Hills, CA).
|
|
WELLCHOICE WINS SUIT OVER FOR-PROFIT CONVERSION
It took three years, but WellChoice Inc. (New York) has finally emerged victorious in a lawsuit brought by the Consumers Union (New York) over the use of funds from the for -profit conversion of its primary operating unit Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield.
|
|
COVENTRY, RITE AID TO FORM PART D OUTREACH EFFORT
Coventry Health Care (Bethesda, MD) and Rite Aid Corp. (Camp Hill, PA) announced an agreement to jointly coordinate community outreach and education activities for Medicare Part D eligibles beginning in the fourth quarter of 2005. The program will include in-store experts to help Rite Aid customers understand their Part D options.
|
|
SERONO TAPS PRIORITY FOR FERTILITY DRUGS
Serono Inc. (Rockland, MA) has tapped Priority Healthcare Corp. (Lake Mary, FL) as the preferred specialty pharmacy for fulfillment of fertility products dispensed in the U.S. The company will also jointly develop fertility awareness and patient education programs to be offered through Serono’s Fertility LifeLines. Financial terms of the arrangement weren’t disclosed.
|
|
|
|
