Indianapolis, IN Jan 14, 2015 – International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®) launched its new GlobeHopperSM Senior product today, which provides seniors who are 65 years of age and older, with international medical insurance and emergency services while travelling outside the United States.
“GlobeHopper Senior is a unique addition to our short-term travel medical insurance portfolio,” said Amanda Winkle, Vice President of International Sales at IMG. “Applicants can select from two different plan options, Single-Trip and Multi-Trip, and can get instant quotes and apply online without medical underwriting.”
GlobeHopper Senior offers market leading, affordable travel medical insurance that bridges the gap left by other limited domestic plans that do not cover seniors when they leave the country. The product provides a range of benefits, including immediate access to emergency and non-emergency care, 24/7 customer service and support from anywhere in the world, and the option to select a hospital or doctor of the insured’s choice.
With more than 17,000 preferred physicians and medical facilities in more than 170 countries, GlobeHopper Senior ensures that seniors will not be stranded when emergencies strike. “One of our most important values,” says Brian Barwick, President and CEO of IMG, “is our dedication to protecting the health and well-being of our customers, wherever they are.”
The launch of GlobeHopper Senior kicks off the Silver Anniversary for IMG after 25 years in the international medical insurance business. “We are extremely excited to be celebrating 25 years in business, and IMG is thrilled to be kicking off the Silver Anniversary with the launch of GlobeHopper Senior” said Mr. Barwick.
Category: news
New Varicose Vein Registry Launched
The Society for Vascular Surgery Patient Safety Organization® and the American Venous Forum® launch new VQI® Varicose Vein Registry™
Chicago, IL and West Lebanon, NH Jan 13, 2015 – The American Venous Forum (AVF) and the Society for Vascular Surgery Patient Safety Organization (SVS PSO) have collaborated to launch a new Varicose Vein Registry® (VVR) for the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI). Participants will have access to user-customized reports that include anonymous benchmark comparison with other regional and national centers, and participation in regional quality group meetings to develop quality improvement projects. The SVS PSO Venous Quality Committee will analyze and compare different treatment options for differing varicose vein characteristics, in order to make recommendations regarding optimal patient and treatment selection. In addition, M2S Inc, the technology partner for the VQI, is working with vendors of EMR software systems to develop integration of their system with the VQI VVR to optimize data entry efficiency. The Registry already has contracts with 13 institutions, including both hospitals and outpatient vein centers.
Participation in the VQI allows PQRS reporting and meets the needs for maintenance of board certification and IAC vein center accreditation. The VQI has also partnered with the FDA and industry to provide a registry-based method to perform post-approval surveillance of new medical devices. The VQI VVR will allow evaluation of new treatment modalities for varicose veins, which will benefit patients, physicians, the FDA, and manufacturers of devices used to treat varicose veins.
The AVF Varicose Vein Steering Committee has developed the VQI VVR, and Chairman Jose Almeida, M.D., commented: “We need an efficient, manageable, low-cost registry that can be used by every vein center in the U.S. to meet the needs of IAC accreditation. It should interface with our vein center electronic record so we can avoid double data entry, but have access to benchmark reporting that allows us to improve our practice.”
The VVR incorporates the required CEAP and VCSS measures, and allows users to easily record different treatment modalities, including specific devices used for treatment. Committee member Thomas Wakefield, M.D., summarizes the effort: “We designed an efficient, practical registry to capture key data, including patient reported outcomes and complications. It will allow us to compare the efficacy of different treatment types and provide vein centers the data they need to improve outcomes and meet regulatory requirements.”
The VQI now includes 320 centers in 46 states, organized into 18 regional quality groups. This rapid growth has been due to a user-friendly system for data entry and reporting, created by M2S, Inc., and the availability of granular comparative data, including risk adjusted outcome and efficiency measures, which provide actionable information not otherwise available to participating centers. Importantly, VQI is available to any physician specialty type who performs procedures in a center, and has become a representative, multi-specialty group. The American Venous Forum, the Society for Interventional Radiology and the Society for Vascular Medicine endorse the VQI.
New Varicose Vein Registry Launched
The Society for Vascular Surgery Patient Safety Organization® and the American Venous Forum® launch new VQI® Varicose Vein Registry™
Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI Jan 13, 2015 – The American Venous Forum (AVF) and the Society for Vascular Surgery Patient Safety Organization (SVS PSO) have collaborated to launch a new Varicose Vein Registry® (VVR) for the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI). Participants will have access to user-customized reports that include anonymous benchmark comparison with other regional and national centers, and participation in regional quality group meetings to develop quality improvement projects. The SVS PSO Venous Quality Committee will analyze and compare different treatment options for differing varicose vein characteristics, in order to make recommendations regarding optimal patient and treatment selection. In addition, M2S Inc, the technology partner for the VQI, is working with vendors of EMR software systems to develop integration of their system with the VQI VVR to optimize data entry efficiency. The Registry already has contracts with 13 institutions, including both hospitals and outpatient vein centers.
Participation in the VQI allows PQRS reporting and meets the needs for maintenance of board certification and IAC vein center accreditation. The VQI has also partnered with the FDA and industry to provide a registry-based method to perform post-approval surveillance of new medical devices. The VQI VVR will allow evaluation of new treatment modalities for varicose veins, which will benefit patients, physicians, the FDA, and manufacturers of devices used to treat varicose veins.
The AVF Varicose Vein Steering Committee has developed the VQI VVR, and Chairman Jose Almeida, M.D., commented: “We need an efficient, manageable, low-cost registry that can be used by every vein center in the U.S. to meet the needs of IAC accreditation. It should interface with our vein center electronic record so we can avoid double data entry, but have access to benchmark reporting that allows us to improve our practice.”
The VVR incorporates the required CEAP and VCSS measures, and allows users to easily record different treatment modalities, including specific devices used for treatment. Committee member Thomas Wakefield, M.D., summarizes the effort: “We designed an efficient, practical registry to capture key data, including patient reported outcomes and complications. It will allow us to compare the efficacy of different treatment types and provide vein centers the data they need to improve outcomes and meet regulatory requirements.”
The VQI now includes 320 centers in 46 states, organized into 18 regional quality groups. This rapid growth has been due to a user-friendly system for data entry and reporting, created by M2S, Inc., and the availability of granular comparative data, including risk adjusted outcome and efficiency measures, which provide actionable information not otherwise available to participating centers. Importantly, VQI is available to any physician specialty type who performs procedures in a center, and has become a representative, multi-specialty group. The American Venous Forum, the Society for Interventional Radiology and the Society for Vascular Medicine endorse the VQI.
CSafe Announces New Product and Market Introduction at Cool Chain 2015
Dayton, OH Jan 5, 2015 – In addition to the growing need for the CSafe RKN, CSafe Global has experienced a significant increase in the global demand for their AcuTemp® brand passive packaging and courier solutions. As a result, CSafe will make a new product and market announcement during the 2015 Cool Chain conference in Frankfurt.
CEO Brian Kohr explains: “After extensive customer consultations, we will introduce a passive shipping solution and program tailored toward the challenges of biopharmaceutical shipping in the EU. This event will be another milestone in CSafe’s strategic plan for continued global growth. ”
“We are very focused on helping drive value within our customer’s temperature-controlled supply chain, be that with the superior performance of our RKN, cost initiatives utilizing our AcuTemp passive packaging solutions or with sustainability and cost savings through REPAQ, the only qualified reuse program in the industry. This is driving new business for CSafe and we are committed to do what it takes to continue to deliver value, quality and efficient temperature-sensitive shipping solutions to our customers and partners.”
VEPC authorizes $3.8 million in job creation incentives for seven companies
Employers to create 557 new full-time jobs over five years
Montpelier, VT Jan 5, 2015 — The Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) authorized incentives totaling $3.8 million under the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI) program, which will encourage the creation of 557 new, well-paying jobs for Vermonters, with an average compensation of $50,385.
2014 VEGI INCENTIVE AUTHORIZATIONS
Vermont Packinghouse, LLC Springfield $233,252
Twincraft, Inc. Winooski $532,584
G.S. Blodgett Corporation Essex $754,104
Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc. Northfield $1,505,192
Flex-A-Seal, Inc. Essex $188,858
National Hanger Company Bennington $227,668
Precyse Solutions, LLC Statewide $349,742
Total: $3,791,400
These projects will also create about $21.4 million in new full-time payroll for Vermonters, and the companies plan to invest $37.7 million in qualifying capital investments in Vermont between 2014 and 2019.
“The VEGI program continues to encourage the creation of good paying jobs and investment in Vermont that otherwise would not occur, generating new revenue to the state to support other programs,” said Patricia Moulton, Vermont’s Secretary of Commerce and Community Development. “It is exciting to see this much investment activity by Vermont businesses.” Three of the companies received final authorization of incentives for projects that started in 2014 and will continue through 2018. These included the establishment of a slaughterhouse in Springfield by Vermont Packinghouse, LLC to service Vermont’s diversifying agricultural market, the expansion of Twincraft into the liquid soap market, and the expansion of Blodgett Ovens to accommodate the acquisition of the Market Forge Brand.
Four of the companies received initial approval of projects that start in 2015. These included an expansion of Cabot Hosiery Mills in Northfield to accommodate growth of the Darn Tough Vermont brand, expansion of Flex-A-Seal in Essex Junction and National Hanger Company in
North Bennington, and the introduction of work-at-home medical coding jobs statewide by Precyse.
“Our team is excited to partner with the State of Vermont and Vermont HITEC on this initiative to bring living-wage jobs to Vermonters,” said Chris Powell, CEO, Precyse. “This partnership will help us to enhance our medical coding services for the healthcare industry while providing
Vermont residents exciting and rewarding careers.”
“The VEGI incentive will assist us in establishing a Retail Division for small and mid-level retailers,” stated Michele Pilcher, President of National Hanger Company. “Our goal of being “The Retail Source” can now be achieved in North Bennington, site of our current operations.
We are so happy to be able to spend all our focus on expansion here in Vermont, rather than having to relocate.”
The Council approved the applications after reviewing nine program guidelines and applying a rigorous cost-benefit analysis that calculates the level of new tax revenue a project will generate for the state. The Council also determined that these projects would not occur or would occur in
a significantly different and less desirable manner (the “but for” test) if not for the incentives being authorized. Therefore, the projects generate new state tax revenues that would not have been realized. Those revenues pay the incentives and will generate $1.943 million in net new tax
revenue, even after payment of the incentives.
To earn the incentives, authorized companies must meet payroll, employment and capital investment performance requirements each year. Only if the Tax Department determines that the performance requirements are met and maintained, the incentive earned pays out to the
company in five annual installments.
GAFFEY Healthcare – Year End Message from Derek Morkel, CEO
Plano, TX and Pleasanton, CA Dec 22, 2014 The end of the year is upon us, granting the opportunity to reflect and assess the past 12 months. 2014 was an incredible year for the GAFFEY Healthcare team and we have much to be thankful for, beginning with our amazing clients.
In Retrospect
Many years ago, we declared it our company mission to help healthcare providers optimize their financial and operational performance by providing best-in-class automation technology that increases efficiency & productivity while cutting costs in the Revenue Cycle. By every measure, we held true to that goal throughout 2014. As a company, we we continued with our unprecedented growth and expanded our presence as an industry leader in Revenue Cycle. More importantly, our hospital clients continued to reap the significant cash-flow benefits and improvements across revenue cycle metrics that automation solutions like AlphaCollector, AutoStatus and Claims Management can provide.
To the Future
As we look toward 2015 and beyond, GAFFEY Healthcare remains committed to a product roadmap that not only continues to make refinements and add functionality to all of our flagship products but also one that focuses on the future, strategic needs of our customers. It’s clear that the Big Data Revolution has taken hold within healthcare, and with our newly-released business intelligence platform, AlphaAnalytics, providers will be able to leverage and make actionable the massive volumes of data that they generate.
Without a doubt, 2015 will bring its share of changes and challenges to healthcare. To our customers, we thank you for continuing to look to us as a trusted partner. To everyone else, we hope to talk soon.
Warmest Regards,
Derek Morkel
CEO, GAFFEY Healthcare
The Future of Revenue Cycle
Plano, TX Dec 18, 2014–
Substantial change within healthcare is certainly underway as it transitions to a new model at a pace never seen before. This transition presents a number of changes and challenges that can seriously disrupt the financial health of providers. Healthcare finance professionals not only need to understand the paradigm shift but also how to adapt.
This webinar will cover the various ways the revenue cycle will be disrupted as well as the technologies that can support your organization in successfully managing the transition.
By attending this webinar, attendees will:
• Gain a deeper understanding of the future state of healthcare
• Learn what tools are mission critical for the future
• Better understand the key role of data and the Enterprise Data Warehouse
GAFFEY Healthcare Webinar – The Future of Revenue Cycle
Plano, TX and Pleasanton, CA Dec 18, 2014 – Substantial change within healthcare is certainly underway as it transitions to a new model at a pace never seen before. This transition presents a number of changes and challenges that can seriously disrupt the financial health of providers. Healthcare finance professionals not only need to understand the paradigm shift but also how to adapt.
This webinar will cover the various ways the revenue cycle will be disrupted as well as the technologies that can support your organization in successfully managing the transition.
By attending this webinar, attendees will:
• Gain a deeper understanding of the future state of healthcare
• Learn what tools are mission critical for the future
• Better understand the key role of data and the Enterprise Data Warehouse
Oasis Outsourcing Gives Back This Season
West Palm Beach, FL Dec 15, 2014 – Oasis Outsourcing, one of the nation’s largest Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs), is geared up for a festive and charitable holiday season. Several years ago, Oasis employees chose to forego a formal holiday party in favor of a holiday luncheon and to instead donate the money saved to help local nonprofit charities. The tradition has continued and Oasis was proud to announce at its West Palm Beach holiday luncheon on December 5th, that it is donating a total of $10,000 to five worthy nonprofit organizations.
Oasis is also hosting the annual “Can You Can It” food drive at its corporate headquarters. All employees are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items by bringing them directly to work during the first three weeks of December. All donations will be given to the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
In addition to the holiday-specific events, Oasis encourages employees to participate in charitable events year-round. Several times a year, Oasis invites the blood mobile onsite to provide added convenience for those employees who would like to donate. Annually, Oasis employees participate in a bowl-a-thon to raise money for Junior Achievement. And this year, Oasis’ CEO and two EVPs participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge raising a few thousand dollars for that important cause.
“I’m proud of the spirit of giving that is prevalent at Oasis,” said Debra Bathurst, Vice President, Human Resources for Oasis. “The added component of charitable donations to our local communities gives additional meaning to our holiday events.”
Precyse Renews HFMA Peer Review Designation
Chicago, IL Dec 15, 2014 — The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) announced that Precyse, industry leader in Health Information Management (HIM) performance solutions, continues to achieve the “Peer Reviewed by HFMA®” standard for its HIM Technology & Services Suite.
The Precyse HIM Technology & Services Suite includes:
- • Transcription – a combination of transcription technology, processes, and services that accelerate turnaround time, reduce cost, minimize capital outlay, and transform dictation into meaningful clinical information.
- • Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Services and precyseCDI™ – evaluate the physician’s current clinical documentation practices, identify inefficiencies, and offer strategies for improved clinical documentation. Additional CDI technology solution helps track and maintain documentation accuracy and efficiency.
- • Coding – a convenient and timely solution that delivers accurate and quality results for your coding needs, whether onsite or remote.
- • Coding Audit & Compliance Services – help identify risk areas, offer specific audit improvements, and education for operational enhancements and compliance requirements.
- • PrecyseCode™ Computer Assisted Coding (CAC) – an integrated platform that supports multiple HIM roles across an organization driven by natural language processing (NLP) for embedded intelligence, supporting inpatient and outpatient coding needs.
- • Precyse University – with more than 1.6 million learners, this on-site, online, and mobile healthcare education solution is designed to prepare all healthcare populations for the transition to ICD-10.
- • HIM Strategic Sourcing – a solution combining technology and services that help hospitals or physician practices optimize their effectiveness, and advance their capabilities and functions to successfully operate under a more challenging reimbursement environment.
- • HIM Interim Management & Consulting – a professional HIM department director or manager takes responsibility for every challenge including monitoring, measuring, and reporting on key metrics critical to success.
- • Cancer Registry & Oncology Data Management – includes backlog abstracting and operational assessments, interim management, consulting, software selection, and American College of Surgeons pre-survey assessment.
“We are very proud to continue our HFMA Peer Review designation,” said Precyse CEO Chris Powell. “We value the positive feedback from our clients. This recognition is a testimony to Precyse’s ongoing commitment to excellence, and the exceptional and consistent quality of technology and services provided to our clients.”
HFMA’s Peer Review process provides healthcare financial managers with an objective, third-party evaluation of products and services used in the healthcare workplace. The rigorous, 11-step process includes a Peer Review panel review comprised of current customers, prospects who have not made a purchase, and industry experts. The Peer Review status of the product or service and its performance claims are based on effectiveness, quality and usability, price, value, and customer and technical support.
“We’re pleased to have Precyse renew their HFMA Peer Reviewed designation,” says HFMA President and CEO Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA. “The HFMA Peer Review process assures our members, through a rigorous evaluation, that the reviewed product or service meets an objective third-party assessment of overall effectiveness, quality, and value.”