HEALTH & MEDICAL : View Posts

DUBLIN, Ohio, – Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Integrated Oncology Network (ION), a physician-led independent community oncology network, for $1.115B in cash. ION includes more than 50 practice sites in 10 states representing more than 100 providers with extensive reach into the local communities they serve. ION supports a complete continuum of care across its member sites including medical oncology, radiation oncology, urology, diagnostic testing and other ancillary services.

The transaction builds on Cardinal Health’s commitment to helping community healthcare providers maintain their independence. As part of the transaction ION practices will become members of Navista, Cardinal Health’s oncology practice alliance, and ION practice management and practice growth services will become part of Navista’s advanced services and technology offering. ION practices will also have access to Navista’s advanced analytics capabilities that leverage artificial intelligence as well as deep expertise from Specialty Networks’ PPS Analytics and SoNaR technology solutions to generate actionable clinical and business insights.

“Driving growth in specialty continues to be a top priority, and we’ve made investments to expand our offerings through both Navista and our acquisition of Specialty Networks,” said Jason Hollar, CEO, Cardinal Health. “With their proven model providing extensive support of community oncology across the cancer care continuum and healthcare ecosystem, we’re confident Integrated Oncology Network will further accelerate our oncology strategy and enable us to create value for providers and patients.”

ION’s business model and services are flexible and meet member practices where they are. Its support services include revenue cycle management, payor relations, physician recruitment, practice marketing, finance, accounting, human resources and information technology. Taken together with Navista offerings such as its technology platform and value-based care and ancillary services, ION complements and will expand Cardinal Health’s holistic suite of clinical and practice management solutions designed to support independent community oncology practices.

“Integrated Oncology Network and Cardinal Health share a mission of helping community oncology practices deliver world-class patient care and a world-class patient experience to patients and families close to home,” said Barry Tanner, CEO, Integrated Oncology Network. “This partnership will give community practices the tools and technology they need to enhance and grow that mission and make a positive impact on patient outcomes.”

“By joining forces, Integrated Oncology Network and Cardinal Health are making an exciting commitment to community oncology and, most importantly, to the patients we serve across the country,” said Jedidiah Monson, MD, founding partner and president of ION member practice California Cancer Associates for Research & Excellence (cCARE). “By joining Navista, cCARE can access the advanced services and technology we need to remain focused on providing high-quality, lower-cost patient-centered cancer care while staying independent—for the good of our patients, our practices and our communities.”

Cardinal Health’s Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions segment operates one of the largest pharmaceutical supply chains in the U.S. with strategically located distribution centers that enable fast and efficient delivery anywhere in the country. Through its Specialty business, Cardinal Health provides reliable distribution and advanced technology solutions to community-based practices across the nation.

This transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to be accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share after 12 months following close.

About Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health is a distributor of pharmaceuticals, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of performance and data solutions for healthcare facilities. With more than 50 years in business, operations in more than 30 countries and approximately 48,000 employees globally, Cardinal Health is essential to care. Information about Cardinal Health is available at cardinalhealth.com.

About Integrated Oncology Network
Integrated Oncology Network partners directly with physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers to offer the latest services and technologies to their patients. Founded in 2008, ION has grown to more than 50 centers across the country, providing a complete and integrated continuum of care including diagnostic testing, radiation oncology, medical oncology, urology and other ancillary services. For more information, visit www.ionetwork.com.

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. and ROSEMONT, Ill., – Abbott (NYSE: ABT) is partnering with the Big Ten Conference and its 18-member university athletic departments to boost the U.S. blood supply through a blood donation competition. It will put rivalry and school spirit to the test as all of the schools compete to see who can donate the most blood, positively impacting lives across the country.

“The We Give Blood Drive” initiative is designed to motivate Big Ten students, alumni and fans to donate blood by tapping into school pride and devotion to their teams.

The competition comes at a time when the U.S. is experiencing one of the biggest blood shortages in a generation, in part due to the fact that the number of younger donors has declined sharply in recent years. The initiative aims to inspire young people to become life-long donors to ensure a stable blood supply, especially as older adults become unable to donate.

Blood donations are needed for a wide variety of medical reasons, including trauma and accident victims, mothers experiencing complications after childbirth, and individuals receiving cancer treatment. One donation can save up to three lives.

“The U.S. continues to experience ongoing blood shortages, and we knew as a leader in diagnostics and testing we had to do something powerful to draw in donors,” said Robert B. Ford, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. “What better way to inspire people to donate than tapping into rivalries between Big Ten schools and offering up a friendly competition. It’s our hope we’ll give the blood supply a significant boost while inspiring a future generation of blood donors.”

The X’s and O’s
“The We Give Blood Drive” blood donation competition will run during the college football season, from Sept. 26 through Dec. 6, with the winner announced at the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis. Donation totals will be tracked live at BigTen.Org/Abbott throughout the campaign.

People who want to donate blood as part of the competition can learn more about eligibility, find participating local blood centers and validate their donation to count for their school of choice at BigTen.Org/Abbott.

Mobile blood drives for students and faculty are planned on campuses throughout the season. If someone lacks a participating center near them, they may choose to donate blood at any center across the country and upload proof of donation. Everyone who participates in the competition also will receive a free one-month subscription to B1G+, the Conference’s streaming service via an email after uploading their proof of donation. Participants will also be entered to win two tickets and a trip to the Big Ten Football Championship Game on Dec. 7.

The school credited with donating the most blood — each donation counts for 1 point — will be named “The We Give Blood Drive” champion. The winning school will receive $1 million to advance student or community health.

“We’re grateful for Abbott’s important work and partnership with the Big Ten Conference,” said Tony Petitti, Big Ten Conference Commissioner. “Students, alumni and fans of Big Ten universities are known across the country for both their competitive and community spirit, giving us confidence this campaign will inspire them to donate blood, support their favorite Big Ten school and potentially save a life.”

Abbott and the Big Ten also announced that Abbott has become the health sciences and diagnostics partner of the Big Ten Conference. Abbott’s transfusion business helps screen the world’s blood supply. Abbott has partnered with the multimedia rightsholders across each Big Ten campus – Learfield, Playfly Sports, and JMI Sports – to bring this national campaign to life.

For more information about “The We Give Blood Drive” and how to participate, visit BigTen.Org/Abbott. To download media assets, click here.

About the Big Ten Conference:
The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The Big Ten Conference sponsors 28 official sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, and the broad-based programs of the 18 Big Ten institutions provide direct financial support for more than 14,000 student-athletes. For more information, visit BigTen.org.

About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Youtube.

SOURCE Abbott

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island has been selected by the State of Rhode Island to serve Medicaid members through the Medicaid Managed Care Services (MMCS) program. UnitedHealthcare has served Rhode Islanders through the MMCS program since 1993; this contract award will continue to provide access to UnitedHealthcare coverage and services through 2030.

Rhode Island’s MMCS program includes Rite Care, expansion, ABD populations, children in foster care and individuals receiving long-term support services. UnitedHealthcare will offer a wide range of benefits and services to its members, including access to primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals and prescription drugs.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to continue to care for Medicaid Managed Care Services plan members in Rhode Island,” said Mike Florczyk, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island. “We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the State and look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality health care.”

In 2023, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awarded UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island with its Health Equity Accreditation, which recognizes organizations that lead the market in providing culturally and linguistically sensitive services, and work to reduce health care disparities. One example of this work was UnitedHealthcare’s donation of $500,000 to Rhode Island nonprofits to expand access to care and address social drivers of health across the state.

UnitedHealthcare serves more than 250,000 people in Rhode Island enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare and Medicaid benefit plans, with a network of 12 hospitals and more than 9,500 physicians and other care providers statewide.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.6 million physicians and care professionals, and 8,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow UnitedHealthcare on LinkedIn.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced the first-ever Licensure Portability Grant Program investment in a multi-state social worker licensure compact. State licensure compacts allow states to come together on a common approach to licensing health care providers, allowing providers to practice across state lines without having to apply for a license in each state. Streamlining licensure while maintaining quality standards improves access to services both by better facilitating hiring and by easing pathways to utilizing telehealth. The announcement was made at HRSA’s National Telehealth Conference, the largest federal conference on telehealth issues.

“Social workers are essential to expanding access to behavioral health care services, a top priority of the Biden-Harris Administration,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. “HRSA is leading the way in growing the behavioral health workforce both by training more providers and by breaking down barriers to allow the workforce to make mental health and substance use disorder services more accessible across the country.”

HRSA’s new $2.5 million investment in licensure compacts will support the work to launch a social worker compact as well as HRSA’s ongoing support for building and sustaining primary care, psychology, and podiatry compacts. HRSA identified behavioral health as a priority in its state licensure compact work. Since HRSA began investing in licensure compacts, the Interstate Medical Licensing Compact and the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) have each grown to include 40 states, Washington, D.C., and one territory.

“Social workers are on the frontlines in responding to the Administration’s priorities, including meeting children’s mental health needs, responding to the opioid epidemic, and addressing maternal depression,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “Today’s announcement is a critical step in helping social workers serve people in need, particularly in rural and underserved communities across the country.”

Today’s awards will support the Association of Social Work Boards, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, and the Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards in working with state licensing boards to develop and implement state policies that reduce barriers to telehealth and allow for practice across state lines.

HRSA’s National Telehealth Conference brings public and private sector leaders together to discuss telehealth best practices to expand services in underserved and rural communities. This year, over 2,000 individuals registered to explore the future of telehealth including innovation, policy, and licensure issues.

To learn more about the Licensure Portability Grant Program, visit the Licensure Portability Grant Program Awardees webpage .

For more information on HRSA’s telehealth health work, visit the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth webpage .

###

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) announced the opening of its two new Workforce Innovation Talent Centers (WITCs) and one Community Resource Center in Oklahoma City. These centers, situated at the Oklahoma Human Services’ Workforce Community Hope Center and within Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma headquarters located at 777 NW 63rd Street in Oklahoma City, will improve access to workforce training and services to the community. Each participant will also have access to comprehensive health and supportive services at the company’s new Community Resource Center to help them take proactive steps toward a healthier future.rnrnThese WITCs will transform people’s lives in the Oklahoma City community, like Romeo Spears, whose path started with attending a Work Ready Oklahoma informational session that placed him in a CVS Health shadowing program. With his mother and brother working within the pharmacy technician field, Romeo credits his strong family ties that propelled him to explore how he could receive help to reach his goal of working within this field.rnrnAs a pharmacy technician at CVS Health for nine months now, Romeo shares, “I had an amazing experience with CVS. Through their program, I learned to be empathetic with customers and developed strong service skills. The best part of my new role is being able to help people. These new centers will greatly benefit future pharmacy technicians in Oklahoma City.”rnrnEach new center will train individuals in collaboration with Oklahoma Human Services’ initiative, Work Ready Oklahoma seeking employment as pharmacy technicians, customer service associates, call center associates, and retail associates. A simulated retail store within each location will offer hands-on job training and each participant who completes the program can apply for a position at CVS Health.rnrn“Many studies show that creating pathways to career opportunities in communities can help people focus on their health,” said Sheryl Burke, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer at CVS Health. “Our collaboration with Oklahoma Human Services and Work Ready Oklahoma will further help eliminate any barriers to employment opportunities and improve health outcomes for the Oklahoma community.”rnrnIn addition to workforce training, all participants will receive access to the company’s Community Resource Center to help workforce development participants succeed outside their work. Located within Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma’s headquarters, the Community Resource Center services include health needs assessments and education, assistance navigating their health benefits, access to computers and state-of-the-art teleconferencing, and connections to a network of local health care providers. This comprehensive approach ensures participants have the tools and resources to thrive in all aspects of their lives.rnrn“Oklahoma Human Services is incredibly proud of the partnership between its Work Ready Oklahoma initiative and CVS Health and the many ways it amplifies our efforts to help clients create pathways to their goals and remove barriers to their success,” said Deb Smith, Deputy Director of Oklahoma Human Services. “This innovative training model and the support provided by our agencies beautifully complement the intent and purpose of our Workforce Community Hope Center and will provide an even deeper level of service to the community. We are excited to be part of the team cheering clients to success in their new careers.”rnrnAs CVS Health opens its latest workforce centers, the company is actively exploring opportunities to expand this programming to serve the surrounding Oklahoma City community. CVS Health’s workforce programming has already created pathways to employment in more than 1,150 communities across the U.S. over the past decades. In 2023, in collaboration with federal, state and local agencies, nonprofit, faith-based and career development organizations, the company streamlined access to meaningful employment for more than 1,400 individuals.rnrn“CVS’s commitment to their staff and the communities they serve aligns well with Work Ready Oklahoma’s focus to help families access opportunities for self-sufficiency,” said Shane Phillips, Senior Manager of Strategic Engagement and Workforce Systems at Work Ready Oklahoma. “They have outstanding career opportunities and are committed to building up their staff as well as the communities they serve. This investment in OKC will have longstanding impacts, and Work Ready Oklahoma is excited to collaborate with CVS and the Community Hope Center to help bring this resource to our city.”rnrn###rnrnAbout CVS Health rnCVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues — including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health — whether that’s managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system — and their personal health care — by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.

CINCINNATI, OHIO­­ — GE HealthCare (Nasdaq: GEHC), University of Cincinnati (UC), UC Health, and Cincinnati Children’s are establishing a new collaboration with the goal to accelerate MRI innovation. The collaboration intends to create a co-located MRI Research and Development (R&D) center of excellence on UC’s medical campus to foster interaction between clinical investigators and GE HealthCare scientists.

As part of this academic-industrial collaboration, GE HealthCare will receive assistance in the form of an R&D grant from JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development corporation, to support engineering and manufacturing job growth at its Aurora, OH, MRI coils facility, as well as new clinical and scientific roles at the Cincinnati R&D center of excellence facility.

“We are excited to launch a collaboration with our partners at UC, UC Health, and Cincinnati Children’s to bring technical knowledge from our GE HealthCare MR Applied Science Lab team together in the field with clinical expertise from these renowned health institutions to develop MRI methods for the next era of healthcare,” said Anja Brau, Ph.D., general manager of MR Clinical Solutions and Research Collaborations at GE HealthCare. “We find this model of ‘real world’ collaboration effective to leverage collective strengths of industry and academia and accelerate the translation from prototype to clinical reality.”

The collaboration would build upon GE HealthCare’s strong presence in Ohio, including its MRI RF coil R&D and manufacturing facility in Aurora, home to the award-winning AIR™ Coils that improve patient comfort, positioning flexibility, and image quality in MRI exams. With an infrastructure of excellence that includes University of Cincinnati, a Carnegie Commission Research 1 institution and a Top-35 public research university according to the National Science Foundation; UC Health, Greater Cincinnati’s adult academic health system and Level I trauma center; and Cincinnati Children’s, ranked No. 1 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 listing of Best Children’s Hospitals and the second-largest recipient of NIH grants with over one-third of staff actively involved in research, the collaboration would leverage Ohio-based healthcare innovators to advance imaging technologies to benefit patients in Ohio and beyond.

“GE HealthCare’s decision to choose Ohio for its next Research center launches a research partnership that would validate the bold vision of establishing the Cincinnati Innovation District in 2020,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “The shared effort between GE HealthCare and the Cincinnati Innovation District collaborators would advance MRI technology, demonstrating Ohio’s leadership in improving the lives of pediatric and adult patients globally.”

Studies are intended to be conducted at the Research facility that would help to develop and validate next-generation MRI technology with the goal of 1) increasing accessibility and productivity of MRI scanners and 2) increasing precision and personalization of MRI exams. Many of the projects would build upon AIR™ Coil technology designed and manufactured in Ohio.

“We are excited to embark on a new research collaboration with GE HealthCare,” said Mary Mahoney, MD, Ben Felson chair and professor in the University of Cincinnati Department of Radiology at the College of Medicine and chief of imaging services at UC Health. “Together, we could make a profound impact on our medical center, our community and most importantly, our patients. Through our collective efforts, we would be able to push the boundaries of knowledge, discover innovative solutions, and improve the lives of those we serve. The University of Cincinnati and UC Health fully embrace this opportunity to advance imaging science and help develop and build the workforce of technologists, engineers, and scientists in health imaging for Ohio.”

The Research center on the UC campus would house GE HealthCare’s most powerful 3.0T wide-bore MRI scanner, the SIGNA™ Premier. This MRI platform features GE HealthCare’s innovative hardware technologies, including AIR™ Coils, and its latest AI software technologies, such as AIR™ Recon DL and Sonic™ DL deep-learning reconstruction applications, which can improve image quality and scan times. The scanner’s advanced suite of imaging capabilities has led to its adoption by many academic sites for imaging studies spanning neurology, oncology, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal applications in both adult and pediatric populations.

“This distinction of hosting a GE HealthCare Research center in our midst elevates the Cincinnati region, bolstering our already-leading edge innovation and research in healthcare and life sciences,” said Kimm Lauterbach, president and CEO of REDI Cincinnati. “GE HealthCare and UC Health establishing a research center amplifies the expansive ecosystem being created by the Cincinnati Innovation District and our strategic collaboration with JobsOhio, Cincinnati Children’s and the University of Cincinnati medical campus.”

“Research is a core mission of Cincinnati Children’s department of Radiology. In terms of peer-review publications, funding, and faculty size, we are one of the highest-ranked pediatric radiology departments in the country,” Brian Coley, MD, Radiologist-in-Chief at Cincinnati Children’s says. “We maintain one of the premier imaging research teams, and a collaboration with GE HealthCare, along with their significant investment to support research, development and clinical translation of better imaging strategies, will ultimately accelerate advancements and improve pediatric care.”

DEERFIELD, Ill. & SAN FRANCISCO, JUNE 11, 2024 – Walgreens and Greater Than HIV, a public information initiative of KFF, are teaming up with health departments and community organizations to offer free rapid HIV testing in more than 550 Walgreens stores on June 27 in the largest coordinated National HIV Testing Day event.

Additionally, to address the rising rates of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), free rapid syphilis and/or hepatitis C testing will also be offered by partners this year in many locations.

“This unique public-private partnership brings free rapid HIV and STD testing directly to communities in a familiar setting and connects individuals to trusted local prevention and treatment service providers in their area,” said Tina Hoff, senior vice president, KFF.

A list of participating Walgreens stores and hours when free HIV and STD testing will be offered is available here; no appointment needed. Testing is provided by local partners, in a private area of the store or mobile unit, with results available in 20 minutes or less. Counselors can also answer questions about HIV and STDs and provide the latest on prevention and treatment options, including referrals for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), FDA-approved medications that are highly effective in preventing HIV, and other needed care.

“This program is instrumental in reaching people in community settings, making HIV prevention and treatment options more equitable, accessible and convenient,” said Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer, Walgreens. “In addition to providing services to help prevent and treat HIV for more than 40 years, Walgreens invests in training its pharmacy team members to address the specific challenges faced by people living with HIV – including confidential medication counseling, information on prevention options and how to apply for financial assistance programs.”

Major HIV rapid test manufacturers including Abbott Laboratories, BioLytical Laboratories, ChemBio Diagnostics, and OraSure Technologies donated tests to support this year’s effort. Additionally, ChemBio Diagnostics and Diagnostics Direct donated rapid syphilis tests.

Since 2011, KFF’s Greater Than HIV and Walgreens National HIV Community Partnership has provided more than 82,000 free HIV tests through the in-store NHTD program, including over 15,000 self-tests distributed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the 14th year of the partnership and marks the highest level of participation – both in terms of testing partners and stores – in the program’s history.

About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is included in the U.S. Retail Pharmacy and U.S. Healthcare segments of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader. True to its purpose of “more joyful lives through better health,” Walgreens has a more than 120-year heritage of caring for communities and providing trusted pharmacy services, and today is playing a greater role as an independent partner of choice offering healthcare services that improve care, lower costs, and help patients. Operating nearly 9,000 retail locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Walgreens is proud to serve nearly 9 million customers and patients daily. The company’s pharmacists are playing a more critical role in healthcare than ever before, providing a wide range of pharmacy and healthcare services, including those that drive equitable access to care for some of the nation’s most underserved populations. Walgreens offers customers and patients a true omnichannel experience, with fully integrated physical and digital platforms designed to deliver high-quality products and healthcare services. Within the U.S. Healthcare segment, Walgreens portfolio also includes businesses in primary care, multi-specialty, post-acute care, urgent care, specialty pharmacy services, population health and provider enablement.

About KFF
KFF is the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. Its mission is to serve as a nonpartisan source of information for policymakers, the media, the health policy community, and the public.

KFF’s Greater Than HIV initiative is a leading public information response focused on HIV in the U.S. Through localized Greater Than HIV campaigns, KFF works with health departments and community partners to reach those most affected and in need with the latest on testing, prevention and treatment. This public-private partnership model helps extend the reach of limited resources in high need areas.

In the shift to value-based care, Medicare plans are rewarded for good clinical performance and penalized for poor performance. To help increase the quality of the prescription drug benefit while keeping cost-sharing and premiums affordable for beneficiaries, Medicare plans can elect networks of pharmacies participating in Express Scripts performance-based networks that feature a bonus pool. This bonus pool pays higher-performing pharmacies based on improved clinical outcomes such as improved adherence rates.

In response to drug price inflation by pharmaceutical manufacturers, industrywide disruptions earlier this year, and feedback from pharmacies, Express Scripts is modifying its current Medicare Part D bonus pool process. Express Scripts will no longer collect bonus pool fees from pharmacies for claims on or after June 14, 2024. Express Scripts will accelerate reimbursement for the entirety of bonus pool fees collected from pharmacies on claims with a service date of January 1, 2024, through June 13, 2024. Additionally, Express Scripts will fund the bonus pool to continue driving pharmacy focus on improved clinical outcomes.

“We view financial incentives for pharmacies as an effective way to drive performance around beneficiary adherence and reward those that consistently exhibit high performance around the metrics CMS has identified as important indicators of quality,” said Charlie Parker, vice president, Retail Network and Contracting, Express Scripts.

CMS has not raised compliance concerns with utilizing a bonus pool structure to incentivize clinical performance for improving patient outcomes. CMS has requested the payments of the bonus pool be reported according to CMS guidelines and is supportive of the adjustment Express Scripts is making. The contributions made to date by pharmacies in the Medicare bonus pool have been separated from pharmacy reimbursement and dispensing fees. No portion of these fees were ever retained by the Part D sponsor or Express Scripts.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) announced today that its Board of Directors approved an increase to its quarterly dividend, to $0.5056 per share, out of the Company’s capital surplus. The dividend will be payable on July 15, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 1, 2024.

About Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health is a distributor of pharmaceuticals, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of performance and data solutions for health care facilities. With more than 50 years in business, operations in more than 30 countries and approximately 48,000 employees globally, Cardinal Health is essential to care. Information about Cardinal Health is available at cardinalhealth.com.

Contacts
Media: Erich Timmerman, erich.timmerman@cardinalhealth.com and 614.757.8231
Investors: Matt Sims, Matt.Sims@cardinalhealth.com and 614.553.3661

SOURCE Cardinal Health

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas has been selected by the State of Kansas as one of three managed care organizations to administer KanCare, the statewide Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

UnitedHealthcare was already serving KanCare beneficiaries, and will continue to work closely with the state, providers and community-based organizations to expand access to care and address social drivers of health. The collective goal is to support KanCare members in achieving health, wellness and independence for a healthier Kansas.

“We are honored to continue our work with the state to build a program that provides high-quality, equitable care,” said Kevin Sparks, chief executive officer, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas. “We will continue to leverage data, deploy innovative initiatives and expand capacity for our partners through community investments to increase access to care and reduce health disparities throughout the state.”

UnitedHealthcare has over 10 years of experience serving KanCare members. Along with its parent company UnitedHealth Group, it currently employs more than 2,100 people in Kansas. It works with local organizations and nonprofits across the state to improve access to vital health care and community resources that help people live healthier lives.

Over the last 18 months, UnitedHealthcare has invested more than $1.5 million in grants to community-based organizations for programs that raise standards of care, improve health outcomes and help the members of the most underserved communities, including those living in rural and frontier parts of the state.

UnitedHealthcare currently serves more than 570,000 people in Kansas enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare and Medicaid benefit plans, with a network of 150 hospitals and over 22,000 physicians and other care providers statewide.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.6 million physicians and care professionals, and 8,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow UnitedHealthcare on LinkedIn.

GENEVA, – During the World Health Assembly today, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced it will donate $6.5 million to the United States Fund for UNICEF to expand UNICEF’s work to improve the health outcomes of millions of children and youth at risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) living in resource-limited settings in India. This will bring the company’s total commitment since 2022 to more than $20 million.

With this additional funding, UNICEF will seek to improve efforts to address NCD risk factors, strengthen health systems, enhance the ability of health workers to care for people and support millions of children and their families challenged by diseases like type 1 diabetes, respiratory illnesses, rheumatic and congenital heart disease, and sickle cell disease in resource-limited areas in India.

“UNICEF will work with governments and partners to strengthen health systems to effectively manage NCDs in children and young people. This will help integrate efforts into maternal, newborn, and child health programs, emphasizing prevention and management of childhood NCDs,” says Luigi D’Aquino, chief of health, UNICEF India.

Noncommunicable diseases place a significant burden on economies while being closely linked to poverty, poor social and economic development, and other inequities. This burden is disproportionately felt by low-income countries, communities, and the most vulnerable people, including children and adolescents. Childhood NCDs can have substantial, lifelong implications for children and their families, including disabilities, chronic pain and reduced quality of life.

According to the World Health Organization’s NCD database, in 2019, NCDs accounted for 66% of all deaths in India, 22% of which were premature. Average life expectancy is 70.79 years in India, slightly less than the world average of 73.40 years. Seventy percent of the preventable adult deaths from NCDs are linked to risk factors that start in adolescence, providing a key opportunity for prevention.

“UNICEF and Lilly share a similar goal – to make life better for millions of people around the world,” said Lilly’s Head of Social Impact, Cynthia Cardona. “These efforts are critical to working towards changing the global landscape of NCDs and improving health outcomes for children and adolescents living in resource-limited areas in India.”

In 2022, UNICEF launched an initiative in Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, the Philippines and Zimbabwe with support from Lilly’s $14.4 million contribution to the United States Fund for UNICEF, enabling it to focus on NCD prevention, detection, treatment and support in these countries. Since then, UNICEF has screened hundreds of children for NCDs, trained more than 2,000 health workers, and reached more than 350,000 families with awareness messages on NCD prevention.

UNICEF aims to improve health outcomes for millions of children and adolescents living in resource-limited areas in India by 2030, working towards ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all, which is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Lilly’s support aligns with its Lilly 30×30 initiative to improve access to quality health care for 30 million people in resource-limited settings annually by 2030.

About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook.

UNICEF does not endorse any company brand, product or service.

About Lilly
Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We’ve been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 51 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world’s most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer’s disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we’re motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/news, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. I-LLY

Geneva,– WHO on Tuesday launched an Investment case that lays out the Organization’s essential contribution to global health and seeks investment in its 2025–2028 strategy to save 40 million lives and improve the health of 6 billion people.

The Investment case underpins WHO’s Investment Round, which kicked off on Sunday and has gained many robust expressions of support, commitments from countries to co-host, and a number of initial pledges that build momentum toward the Investment Round’s culmination later this year.

Statements of support and funding commitments came from Member States, and the European Union during Tuesday’s launch event at a strategic roundtable of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly (WHA77).

“I thank Brazil, which will host the Investment Round as President of the G20, alongside co-hosts France, Germany and Norway, and Mauritania in its capacity as Chair of the African Union,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking at Tuesday’s event. “I also thank the G7 finance ministers, who recently called for increased funding for WHO through the Investment Round. And I thank all Member States and other donors for their voluntary contributions, especially those who already provide predictable and flexible funding.”

The 40-page Investment case is rich in data and examples of WHO’s achievements – from women’s health to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to the elimination infectious diseases – showcases how the Organization amplifies the impact of its work to generate a return of US$ 35 for every US$ 1 of investment and sets out what can be achieved if WHO is sustainably financed.

WHO’s strategy for global health, the General Programme of Work (GPW14), approved on Tuesday, calls for deep collaboration with Member States and partners across a wide domain of health needs in a time of climate change, geopolitical turbulence, mass migration and other complex challenges.

Expressions of support, funding pledges
With the Investment Round, WHO is not asking for more funds, but rather voluntary contributions in advance of the four-year strategy to ensure that it can be fully implemented. Member States’ membership dues cover only a portion of the costs of WHO’s approved activities; the Investment Round is fundraising toward a gap of US$ 7.1 billion.

During the event, Singapore’s Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung announced the country’s contribution of US$ 24 million (US$ 18 million) to the Investment Round. Ireland’s Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly announced that the country would immediately bring forward its assessed contribution to 2028–2029 levels by committing additional flexible funds.

The European Union also reaffirmed its commitment to WHO.
“We want to see a WHO which is sustainably financed, accountable and effective. I am proud today to announce, as part of the WHO Investment Round, a contribution by the European Commission of more than €250 million,” said Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen in a video address.

On Sunday, at the launch of the Investment Round, the Institute of Philanthropy pledged US$ 1.2 million for the health of migrants and displaced populations affected by climate change.

What WHO will deliver over 2025–2028
The Investment case breaks down how the activities outlined in GPW14 will save 40 million lives by focusing on health emergencies, AMR, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases, vaccination, the effects of climate change, and risk factors including tobacco, alcohol, physical activity and diet.

WHO’s strategy for 2025–2028 is built around the Organization’s continuing pledge to promote, provide and protect health; in text, data and graphics, the Investment case provides examples of the activities that will support that pledge over the next four years.

These include bringing solar electrification to 10 000 health facilities to make them fully functional; supporting 55 countries in educating and employing 3.2 million health workers; increasing the number of vaccines delivered to priority countries; providing access to health services to more than 150 million people in humanitarian settings in 30 countries; helping 84 countries reach targets for eliminating malaria, mother-to-child HIV transmission and other diseases; detecting and taking action against 30 health threats per month; strengthening access to timely and reliable health data; and prequalifying 400 health products per year.

Over the past five years, WHO has helped countries apply the latest science and health practice with measurable results: 1.2 billion people are living healthier lives through reduced risks and healthier environments; nearly 430 million more people are covered by essential health services without financial hardship; and 600 million people are better protected from health emergencies. These results were achieved with an annual budget of US$ 2.75 billion – or less than US$ 0.35 per person.

Each year, on the third Thursday of May, CVS Health® joins organizations around the world to celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The goal of this event is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital accessibility, inclusion and the more than one billion people worldwide with disabilities.

At CVS Health, we believe that accessibility enables inclusion. We work to provide our consumers, members, patients and colleagues with disabilities meaningful access to the health and wellness services we offer. We value the insights of our team members from the disability community who help embed empathy and understanding into everything we do.

Inclusion is a north star that guides our work — to see everyone, to welcome everyone, to design for everyone. We’ve built strong collaborations with disability communities and organizations across the country. These collaborations help ensure that we are continuously striving to create inclusive experiences that serve the needs of the greatest possible number of consumers and colleagues.

We are committed to:

Educating colleagues and partners on accessibility standards and best practices

Enabling the design, production and delivery of accessible products and services

Empowering people with disabilities and their allies

We do this through caring and collaboration. We do this together. We do this because everyone’s path to healthier should be barrier-free.
Spoken Rx ® talking prescription label
We’re proud of our digital innovations, such as Spoken Rx. Developed in collaboration with the American Council of the Blind, Spoken Rx is a breakthrough feature that reads certain prescription information aloud in English or Spanish via radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. This is an important feature for patients with complete blindness, significant visual impairment, literacy or language difficulties, or dyslexia. It is the first in-app prescription reader to be developed by a national retail pharmacy and is available at no extra cost to patients. To register for Spoken Rx, call your pharmacist, visit a CVS Pharmacy® location or register at CVS.com.

Open-source accessibility tools & resources
Over the past year, we’ve also made it a priority to find new ways to contribute to the accessibility community. The Digital Accessibility and Inclusive Design teams released the following free accessibility open-source software projects aimed to help educate, enable and empower accessibility professionals across the industry:

Accessibility Techniques for iOS SwiftUI

Accessibility Techniques for Android View

Accessibility Techniques for Android Compose

CVS Health Inclusive Design Annotation kit for iOS

CVS Health Inclusive Design Annotation kit for Web

Testaro & Testilo

Community engagement
CVS Health is a proud sponsor of the GAAD Foundation and supports their impactful work evangelizing digital accessibility and disability inclusion across the globe.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day was founded by Los Angeles-based web developer Joe Devon, and Jennison Asuncion, who is now head of accessibility engineering evangelism at LinkedIn and a member of the CVS Health National Health Equity Advisory Board.

RAHWAY, N.J.– Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that Merck for Mothers, the company’s global maternal health initiative, has reached more than 30 million women through programs promoting safe, high-quality, respectful care, surpassing its goal of reaching 25 million women by 2025.

Merck for Mothers supports the company’s work in expanding access to health and accelerating progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. More specifically, the initiative is focused on creating a world where no woman has to die while giving life by helping to address the first target under SDG 3, reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

“I am so proud of our company’s long-standing commitment to our Merck for Mothers initiative, which is dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes around the world,” said Allison Goldberg, president, Merck Foundation. “Through Merck for Mothers, we have now helped more than 30 million women access high-quality, life-saving care around pregnancy and childbirth – surpassing our goal of reaching 25 million women by 2025. This milestone serves as a reminder that much work is left to be done, and we remain committed to helping create a world where no woman has to die while giving life.”

Through wide-ranging approaches, Merck for Mothers harnesses the power of public-private collaboration to strengthen health systems and mobilize solutions to address the diverse and unique needs of moms, babies and families worldwide. The initiative’s milestone of 30 million women reached reflects the combined total impact of the programs and partnerships it supports in more than 70 countries, including:

India, where Merck for Mothers collaborated with the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and a consortium of stakeholders across the country to launch Manyata, a quality improvement and certification initiative specifically designed for private maternity providers. This initiative has supported quality improvements in 25 states and Union Territories across India and trained more than 23,000 providers in 2,800 maternity hospitals, delivering quality care to more than 1 million women.

Brazil, where Merck for Mothers worked with the Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein, a leading hospital network, and the Ministry of Health, to implement a new curriculum to train health providers on maternity care protocols. This effort trained 250 health providers and resulted in a 54% decline in the maternal mortality rate in two years in the Pernambuco State.

Kenya, where, in response to a high unmet need for post-pregnancy family planning (PPFP), Merck for Mothers partnered with Jhpiego, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, to fund a research study – PPFP Choices – facilitating greater access to evidence-based PPFP services throughout Kenya. PPFP Choices led to a 24% increase in PPFP uptake at participating sites.

Nigeria – the country with the most maternal deaths worldwide – where with Pathfinder Nigeria, PharmAccess Foundation and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Merck for Mothers created the Saving Mothers, Giving Life project (SMGL 2.0). This project improved the quality of maternal health care in 25 private health facilities and led to a decrease in maternal and perinatal deaths by 60% and 16%, respectively.

United States – the only high-income country in which maternal mortality is on the rise – where Merck for Mothers supports a variety of programs to address racial inequities in maternal health outcomes. For example, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, Merck for Mothers created the Hear Her campaign to disseminate critical information on pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, reaching more than 1.5 million people to date across the campaign’s website and social media channels. To learn more about Merck for Mothers and stay informed on how the initiative is continuing to expand access to high-quality maternal care, please visit MerckforMothers.com.

About Merck
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Merck for Mothers
Merck for Mothers is Merck’s $650 million global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life. Applying Merck’s business and scientific resources, the initiative collaborates with partners to improve the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. For more information, visit www.merckformothers.com.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., — Express Scripts, the pharmacy benefits management business of Evernorth, a subsidiary of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), today announced several actions to further evolve its pharmacy benefit management (PBM) model. The new solutions and capabilities will increase access to affordable medicines, and drive greater transparency and predictability. As part of its long-standing commitment to accelerate pharmacy care and lower the cost of prescription drugs for more than 100 million Americans, Express Scripts is further aligning incentives across the pharmaceutical supply chain, consumers, and clients, with new products available starting in summer 2023.

Driving Down Costs for Consumers
Express Scripts is introducing a new and innovative solution, the Copay Assurance plan, which caps consumer out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs under a client’s prescription drug benefit. This means customers enrolled in the program will pay no more than $5 for generics and specialty generics, $25 for preferred brand drugs, and $45 for preferred specialty brand drugs every time they fill a prescription. The program will immediately guarantee these lower out-of-pocket rates — customers will not have to wait to meet any deductible levels.

“A prescription drug doesn’t work if it’s priced out of reach. Reducing out-of-pocket costs for consumers is the single best thing we can do to improve the health of those we serve,” said Adam Kautzner, Pharm.D., President of Express Scripts. “Express Scripts was first to deliver a $25 price cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin and other diabetic treatments, which has saved consumers more than $45 million in two years. Our new Copay Assurance plan builds on this success and aggressively expands our efforts across medications to treat all diseases — providing millions more people with predictability and peace of mind at the pharmacy counter.”

Additionally, Express Scripts is working with employer and health plan clients to offer consultative options to bring better affordability and predictability. This includes: adopting the broadest lists of preventive prescription drugs that are either fully covered or covered at a discount, lower premiums and deductibles, and increased Health Savings Account contributions for lower- income consumers based on IRS income requirements.

Offering Clients a New Level of Transparency
Express Scripts’ new ClearCareRx offers employer, health plan, and government employer clients the option of a transparent economic model by providing clear and predictable costs for prescription drug benefits:

Clients receive 100% of drug rebates that Express Scripts obtains by negotiating with pharmaceutical companies.
Clients pay one simple fee to cover the administration of pharmacy benefits, PBM product services, reporting and analytics, and is 100% auditable.

“Expanding on our proven track record of driving transparency, ClearCareRx drives greater simplicity, with strategies to further reduce costs and improve health and pharmacy care. If we don’t deliver on a client’s goals, they pay less, guaranteed,” Kautzner added. “We are built to work on our clients’ terms. That means constantly coming to the table with innovative pharmacy benefits and tailored approaches that do more for them and the unique needs of their people.”

Enhanced Disclosures and Clarity
Express Scripts is further evolving its transparency to consumers and clients and enhancing its disclosure practices, including:

Demonstrating the value consumers and clients can expect from their pharmacy benefit services: Starting in 2024, prescriptions will include an easy-to-understand digital pharmacy benefits statement for consumers — sharing drug price information, out-of-pocket costs, and the value delivered by Express Scripts. This benefit will be implemented across all 65,000 pharmacies in Express Scripts’ networks, including Accredo® specialty pharmacy, and Express Scripts Pharmacy.

Enhanced financial and fee disclosure for clients utilizing spread pricing: Express Scripts offers different PBM pricing options that clients can select based on their unique needs. Some of these options include spread pricing, a value-sharing arrangement for the discounts Express Scripts negotiates with retail pharmacies for prescription medications. Beginning with the 2023 plan year, Express Scripts will provide clients enhanced financial and fee disclosure regarding their spread pricing arrangements for Form 5500 reporting and other plan administration functions. The Form 5500 Series is a compliance, research, and disclosure tool for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), other Federal agencies, Congress, as well as for plan participants and beneficiaries, and the private sector to assess employee benefit, tax, and economic trends and policies. Express Scripts will provide the same level of increased disclosure to its non-ERISA clients to help support them in understanding the services Express Scripts provides.

Launch of a microsite providing disclosures, and filings with the SEC: Concurrent with the release of first quarter earnings by The Cigna Group, Express Scripts will launch a new microsite that will provide additional information about the Express Scripts model. The Cigna Group will also provide additional disclosures regarding its PBM business in its upcoming SEC 10-Q filing.

“Our mission is simple: lower the cost of prescription drugs for the one in three Americans we serve. Today’s actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to that mission, and helps clients and consumers see the value of their pharmacy benefits at work more quickly in their daily lives. Because at the end of every prescription is a consumer and client putting their trust in us — that’s a responsibility that drives us each day,” Kautzner said.

As a leader in innovative solutions designed to drive meaningful consumer and client outcomes and performance, the initiatives announced today represent Express Scripts’ long-standing commitment to advance the PBM model. Previous programs include SafeGuardRx®, Embarc Benefit Protection®, and the Patient Assurance Programsm — which combined with effective negotiation and medical management, saved consumers and clients more than $56 billion in 2022.

About Evernorth Health Services
Evernorth Health Services creates pharmacy, care and benefits solutions to improve health and increase vitality. We relentlessly innovate to make the prediction, prevention and treatment of illness and disease more accessible to millions of people. Evernorth capabilities are powered by our businesses, including Express Scripts, Express Scripts® Pharmacy, Accredo, eviCore and MDLIVE, along with holistic Evernorth platforms and solutions that move people and organizations forward. All Evernorth solutions are serviced and provided by or through operating affiliates of Evernorth Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), or third-party partners. Learn more at evernorth.com.

Increasing health care costs, issues accessing and navigating care, and a growing need for convenience are driving people to demand a better experience as they seek care that meets their needs and preferences. At the same time, data and technology are powering a health care transformation with the potential to increase innovation, drive greater access and engagement, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs for the employers who provide health insurance to employees and their families. 

With those factors in mind, Cigna HealthcareThis link will open in a new tab. has published a research paperThis link will open in a new tab. outlining six top health care trends and how they will impact U.S. employers and their workforces. These trends illustrate the ways employers can play a crucial role in driving progress by investing in innovative approaches, leveraging data and technology, and advocating for change. By embracing these trends, employers can foster a health care system that is more accessible, more efficient, and more equitable.

1. An evolution in health care delivery and navigation
A third of Americans This link will open in a new tab. lack a primary care physician, and 80% of physiciansThis link will open in a new tab. say they are overextended. Digital tools, virtual care options, and remote health monitoring technologies allow patients to seek nontraditional care for minor conditions and some chronic and specialty conditions, enabling in-person providers to focus on higher-risk patients and more acute conditions. Another issue is the fragmentation of the health care system, which can make it difficult for patients to navigate. Personalized support can help them find care when they need it, before their health issues escalate into more serious and more costly conditions. Further, value-based careThis link will open in a new tab., which comes in many shapes and sizes, holds tremendous potential for improving health while reducing unnecessary costs and advancing a more sustainable health care system.

2. Population health and health equity
Understanding social determinants of health (SDOH) is crucial for achieving health equity and ensuring that all employees have the same opportunities to achieve their full health potential, regardless of social, economic, or environmental circumstances. We expect to see a growing effort among employers of all sizes, working with their health insurance and health services partners, to build equitable benefit plans that cater to each unique workforce. By leveraging data insights on employees’ daily challenges both in and outside of work, employers can identify SDOH factors affecting their employees and better support their diverse workforce.

3. A focus on access, experience, and outcomes to improve behavioral health care
Behavioral health continues to be a significant concern, with limited access and awareness keeping many people from receiving the care they need and driving up overall health care costs. About one in five American adults have a diagnosed behavioral health condition, yet they account for a disproportionate 41% of total health care spend, according to researchThis link will open in a new tab.. And, 50% of patients with a diagnosed behavioral health condition don’t get any treatment. This year, we will see growing interest in identifying innovative ways to connect people with behavioral health providers, such as by using data-driven identification models and real-time outreach to proactively identify those in need of support and guide them toward appropriate care.

4. Plan and benefits design
Healthy employees equate to a healthy business. And compensation alone doesn’t build the kind of engagement and sense of belonging that come from a well-designed benefit and wellness program. That’s why we expect to see increased investment from employers in benefit plan design as a tool in retaining talent.  Voluntary bene­fits, such as supplemental health plans, are an area to watch closely, as they can help offset patient costs and alleviate the ­financial stress and anxiety of a serious injury or critical illness.

5. Health care’s human-tech synthesis
Over the next year, we also expect to see a greater focus on holistic health care, which combines in-person care with digital well-being experiences (such as digital health coaching, remote patient monitoring, and apps that enable healthy habit tracking) to enable personalized experiences that provide real-time insights and greater opportunity to engage people in their own health and well-being. A hybrid approach that blends technology with human-centered support is essential. Employers must invest in tools and services that offer a pathway between health care providers and patients, melding the irreplaceable expertise of doctors with the power of technology.

6. Curbing increasing pharmacy costs
Rising prescription drug prices have become a significant concern for patients and plan sponsors. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)This link will open in a new tab. are frequently called to task, but the truth is that drug manufacturers set prices, while PBMs are working to lower net prices for employers and other clients and their members. In 2024, employers and health plans will need to address the complexities of drug pricing while ensuring access to necessary medications. Employers can help lower pharmacy costs by advocating for the approval and adoption of biosimilars (which are clinically equivalent alternatives to expensive biologic medications), optimizing plan design, integrating cost-control tools like site-of-care redirection, and partnering with independent pharmacists.

IRVING, TX, Registration is now open for McKesson ideaShare in New Orleans from June 23–26, 2024. The annual event is the destination for community pharmacists to come together to strengthen the overall health of pharmacy and elevate the role they play in people’s lives. Attendees can expect a comprehensive lineup of educational sessions, networking opportunities, and hands-on exhibit experiences. McKesson ideaShare will culminate by celebrating the Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year ahead of a closing concert headlined by Harry Connick, Jr.

“New Orleans is known for its strength and resilience as is our community pharmacy industry. McKesson ideaShare’s collaborative environment will celebrate our industry while addressing key challenges head-on,” said Scott Miller, president, Strategic, Community, and Specialized Pharmacy, McKesson. “With an emphasis on community impact and profitability, pharmacy teams will share ideas with thousands of their colleagues. And they’ll walk away with the latest clinical and business expertise in pharmacy operations.”

Prioritizing Profitability
Conference leaders recognized the unique cash flow challenges that pharmacies are facing and reduced the cost of admission this year. McKesson ideaShare is making it easier for attendees to access expert-led sessions and effective solutions that attendees can implement to boost their bottom line and thrive in the face of financial challenges, brought to life by a profitability general session on Monday, June 24.

Comprehensive Continuing Education
McKesson ideaShare will feature three days of educational sessions on the topics critical to pharmacy teams, such as maximizing reimbursements, diversifying revenue streams, and advocating on behalf of the pharmacy profession. With more than 30 continuing education courses led by pharmacists and pharmacy owners, attendees can earn up to 11 credit hours of evidence-based education. The courses are designed to help pharmacists and pharmacy technicians enhance their knowledge and learn tangible skills to help their pharmacy thrive in today’s environment.

Solutions to Drive Performance

Tools to help community pharmacies provide the best care possible to patients, as well as financial and operational support solutions, will be highlighted at this year’s meeting. Two highlighted solutions include:

Attendees will discover Foster & Thrive’s line of aluminum drug product packaging to help reduce some plastic pharmaceutical containers. The bottle is designed to be highly recyclable, making it a mission-driven addition to any storefront.
Pharmacists will be able to participate in hands-on activities to learn about the new Health Mart Marketing Edge platform, a refreshed program offering training, media and creative resources designed to increase store traffic and give owners a competitive edge in their market.
Attend and Save on Generics

McKesson ideaShare attendees can qualify to earn a 2% rebate on generics up to $6,000 for up to five stores from August through November 2024. By registering before April 15, pharmacies can earn an extra month (December) in which to earn the rebate. This exclusive benefit is extended on behalf of McKesson to support independent pharmacy success in local communities across the U.S.

About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation is a diversified healthcare services leader dedicated to advancing health outcomes for patients everywhere. Our teams partner with biopharma companies, care providers, pharmacies, manufacturers, governments, and others to deliver insights, products and services to help make quality care more accessible and affordable. Learn more about how McKesson is impacting virtually every aspect of healthcare at McKesson.com and read Our Stories.

About Health Mart

Health Mart® is the nation’s fastest-growing independent pharmacy franchise with approximately 4,700 community pharmacies across all 50 states. Health Mart pharmacists provide personalized care and take the time to help patients understand their prescription-drug coverage, how to safely manage multiple medications, and how to take advantage of lower-cost medication options. Patients can find a Health Mart pharmacy by visiting healthmart.com.

As an important member of the healthcare team, Health Mart pharmacists possess strong clinical knowledge and collaborate with patients and other healthcare providers to help patients manage and improve their health. The Health Mart franchise is owned by Health Mart Systems, Inc., which is part of McKesson Corporation. Pharmacists and pharmacy owners interested in learning more can explore join.healthmart.com.

PR Contact
Melissa Seekely
Public Relations
Melissa.Seekely@McKesson.com

DUBLIN, Ohio, March 15, 2024 — Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) today announced that the company has received approval by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its near-term science-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets. Targets are considered science-based if they align with what the latest climate science says is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

“We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and contributing to a more sustainable world,” said Megan Maltenfort, Cardinal Health’s VP of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). “We value our work with SBTi and will continue taking proactive steps to address climate change and to reduce the environmental impact of our products and processes.”

With the SBTi approval, Cardinal Health commits to the following science-based targets:

reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 50% by fiscal 2030 from a fiscal 2019 base year.*
75% of its suppliers by spend, covering purchased goods and services and upstream transportation and distribution, will have science-based targets by fiscal 2028.
These approved targets represent an expansion of the company’s current goal of reducing Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions, announced in September 2021; the inclusion of Scope 3 emissions from our supply chain has made the goal more ambitious.

“As we work to achieve our targets, we will collaborate with partners along our supply chain to collectively address the impacts of climate change,” Maltenfort said.

By the end of fiscal 2023, Cardinal Health had reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 13% from a fiscal 2019 base year. In addition, the company continues to invest in energy efficiency opportunities in its distribution and manufacturing sites and is looking to expand its use of renewable energy across the enterprise. Cardinal Health reports on progress toward its climate goals in its annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science. It is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments.

*The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.

About Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health is a distributor of pharmaceuticals, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of performance and data solutions for healthcare facilities. With more than 50 years in business, operations in more than 30 countries and approximately 48,000 employees globally, Cardinal Health is essential to care. Information about Cardinal Health is available at cardinalhealth.com.

DUBLIN, Ohio, Feb. 29, 2024 — Today, Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) released its 2024 Biosimilars Report: insights on a pivotal year of evolution and expansion, an analysis of key recent economic, competitive, legislative and societal developments in biosimilars. The publication highlights legislative developments and new treatments, including adalimumab biosimilars. The report also provides the perspectives of retina specialists on biosimilars, ahead of the expected launch of multiple new biosimilars for retinal diseases.

“It is more important than ever that all stakeholders of the healthcare ecosystem understand the significant benefits biosimilars offer to patients, providers, practices and payers alike,” said Fran Gregory, PharmD, MBA, VP, Cardinal Health Emerging Therapies. “The savings generated by biosimilars will play an increasingly important part in creating a balance between funding innovative new treatments and reducing the overall financial burden on the healthcare system. This report offers critical context on this rapidly changing clinical and market landscape, and the role biosimilars will play in increasing the accessibility and affordability of care.”

The report examines a year of major developments in biosimilars, offering expert commentary and provider perspectives on a rapidly changing industry landscape. Featuring new research derived from surveys and expert interviews, the report offers new insights into market growth, drivers of biosimilar adoption and remaining barriers to widespread uptake.

With 2024 expected to be a critical year for retina biosimilars, Cardinal Health surveyed providers in ophthalmology to obtain perspectives that may influence adoption while highlighting continued obstacles to wider use of biosimilars. Nearly 80% of survey participants said they are “extremely” or “very” familiar with biosimilars, though fewer than 60% have prescribed a biosimilar for the treatment of a retinal disorder. 82% of retina specialists said they would be “very” or “somewhat” more likely to prescribe biosimilars if they became a payer’s preferred drug. Notably, the research also suggests widespread belief in biosimilars’ potential impact on healthcare system sustainability, with 75% of participants agreeing that biosimilars can improve healthcare system sustainability.

In addition to this new research, the report also includes in-depth analysis of:

The evolving payer landscape
Emerging best practices for managing biosimilar inventory
How biosimilars are promoting access and healthcare system sustainability
The biosimilars product pipeline
The report can be accessed at www.cardinalhealth.com/biosimilarsreport

About Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health is a distributor of pharmaceuticals, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of performance and data solutions for healthcare facilities. With more than 50 years in business, operations in more than 30 countries and approximately 48,000 employees globally, Cardinal Health is essential to care. Information about Cardinal Health is available at cardinalhealth.com.

Media contact: Tori Simmons, Victoria.Simmons@cardinalhealth.com

UnitedHealthcare of California’s commercial HMO plan has been awarded Health Equity Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. This accreditation is granted to organizations that lead the market in working to reduce health care disparities by providing culturally appropriate and quality improvement interventions that serve diverse populations.

“Our statewide health plan is genuinely committed to ensuring that our commercial members across California have access to quality, equitable health care,” said Steve Cain, chief executive officer, Employer & Individual, UnitedHealthcare of California. “We are so honored to be recognized with an NCQA Health Equity Accreditation highlighting our team’s dedication to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone.”

Health Equity Accreditation is a nationally recognized accreditation that purchasers, regulators and consumers can use to distinguish organizations that meet rigorous standards in serving a diverse population. These NCQA standards include:

Building an internal culture that supports the organization’s external health equity work.
Collecting data that help the organization create and offer language services and provider networks mindful of individuals’ cultural and linguistic needs.
Identifying opportunities to reduce health inequities and improve care.
“The prevalence of racial and ethnic disparities has been a barrier to improving the quality of health care of many Americans for too long,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Organizations achieving Health Equity Accreditation are leaders in closing this gap, and NCQA commends them for their dedication.”

In California, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 2.7 million people enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare plans, with a network of 468 hospitals and nearly 140,000 physicians and care providers statewide.

To learn more about UnitedHealth Group’s commitment to addressing health equity, visit uhg.com. For more information about NCQA, visit www.ncqa.org.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.6 million physicians and care professionals, and 8,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow UnitedHealthcare on LinkedIn.

About NCQA
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on X at @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.