Drug Sales, Approvals Declining

December 2007

Prescription drug sales in the United States are projected to grow at their slowest rate since 1963. According to The Wall Street Journal, the slowed growth stems in part from slowed production of newer medications.

» View the December Newsletter

The Uninsured in America

October 2007

Vimo just published its brief on "The Uninsured in America." Using U.S. Census data, the report shows some surprising statistics about the uninsured. Children make up the fastest growing segment of the uninsured population. Many of these children already qualify for SCHIP but are un-enrolled. And many come from families that earn more than enough to pay for health insurance.

» View the October Newsletter

Shopping for a Candidate

September 2007

The Council for Affordable Health Insurance has published a comprehensive guide to the 2008 Presidential candidates' stands on health care reform. The document is being updated frequently, as some candidates have yet to come up with clear stands on health care.

» View the September Newsletter

New Online Drug Guide

August 2007

Vimo just introduced its online Drug Guide, featuring detailed descriptions of thousands of drugs and supplements. Plus, Kaiser and Blue Cross Blue Shield have topped Consumer Reports' latest ranking of the nation's best health plans.

» View the August Newsletter

Procedure Price and Quality: No Real Connection

July 2007

A Pennsylvania health care agency has found that at 60 hospitals performing heart-bypass surgery, there is little if any relationship between the quality of care or the price. Researchers say the reason is that there's no financial incentive in the present system for hospitals to provide care that leads to better outcomes or lower payments. Maybe that will start to change with the price transparency being delivered by Vimo.com.

» View the July Newsletter

Lower Your Drug Costs: Compare Before You Buy

June 2007

A new study reveals that patients are 58 percent more likely to switch to a more cost-effective prescription drug or a lower-cost pharmacy channel when they can comparison shop for drugs.he analysis, conducted by Medco Health Solutions, Inc., found that patients are willing to price shop on prescription drugs when presented\ with clear information on their clinical alternatives, channel options and overall savings - critical member- engagement insights to successfully manage health care costs.

» View the June Newsletter

Survey: Patients and Doctors Disagree On Some Essential Issues

March 2007

Patients and doctors disagree on some essential issues according to three new surveys conducted by Consumer Reports National Research Center. The survey of 39,090 patients and 335 primary-care physicians revealed discrepancies between doctors’ and patients’ perceptions of following medical advice, the role of prescription drug ads in the exam room, and the value of online research of medical conditions.

» View the March Newsletter

Top 7 Health Trends of '07

February 2007

The report also includes findings of a nationwide survey of 1,000 Americans about their perceptions of the U.S. healthcare system. The survey identified significant differences between what consumers and industry believe to be key issues. The survey found that only one in six (17 percent) agrees that a very important way to reduce the cost of healthcare in the United States is for consumers to share more of the cost, which is the strategy behind high-deductible health plans with Health Savings Accounts. More than half of those surveyed (51 percent) believe that better, more advanced medical technology and diagnostics provide the answer.

» View the February Newsletter

The Tech-Savviest Health Programs

December 2006

Health care consumers are benefiting from the latest efforts of health plans to integrate health information technology and develop high-quality health care programs. The National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH), a non-profit organization of employer-based health coalitions, honored four plans in November during its annual employer conference held recently in New Orleans. The 2006 eValue8 Innovation Awards identify and recognize the innovative and creative work of health plans. The 2006 eValue8 Health Plan Innovation Award winners are...

» View the December Newsletter

Health Insurance: Just the Numbers

November 2006 Vol.2

The number of people with health insurance coverage increased by 1.4 million to 247.3 million between 2004 and 2005, and the number without such coverage rose by 1.3 million to 46.6 million (from 15.6 percent in 2004 to 15.9 percent in 2005).

» View the November Newsletter Vol.2

Health Insurance with a Twist

November 2006 Vol.1

One of the more interesting health insurance products on the market today is HealthMiles Plus, launched by Richard Branson's Virgin Life Care and Humana Inc. in Texas this September. Similar in concept to frequent flyer programs, HealthMiles Plus is a first-of-its-kind rewards program with incentives designed to motivate people to lead healthier lives and take a preventive approach to health care.

» View the November Newsletter Vol.1

Measuring the Financial Value of Health Savings Accounts(HSAs) Fairly

September 2006

OThere is a clear need for analytical techniques that make the benefits of HSA-based plans demonstrable to everyone involved. In order to address this need, in the coming months Vimo will provide visitors with a free web-based application that helps users better visualize how their HSAs work, grow and compare to other types of healthcare coverage.
This article and the series that will follow will provide a detailed discussion of Vimo´s HSA Simulator™ application and its underlying technology, using actual case studies. Vimo's goal is to increase awareness and understanding of this new class of health coverage, especially for those that are actively in the market for new insurance.

» View the September Newsletter