Fall 2007

From the Chairman:

Have you and your employees had a chance to tour our new website: www.primarypc.com?  We totally revamped it over the summer with enhancements to both our employer and member portals.  One of the newest features provides ALL members with online access to their claims data and to customer service.  Healthgram subscribers have even more tools and information at their fingertips.  Here’s what you will find on this new member portal:

Please let us know what you think of the new website and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

We begin this new quarterly edition of Care Management News with an enlightening article on physicians’ views of the major U.S. health insurance companies.  A recent survey asked members of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) to grade individual health plans on 11 factors.  We’ll share the results of the study with you, as well as where Primary PhysicianCare stands on each of the issues.

Also in this edition of Care Management News: 

• Call Center Corner: Restructuring
• Washington Watch: Presidential Candidates Challenged to Manage Chronic Disease
• In the News:
  Most Americans Want More Preventive Health Services
  Decreasing Rate of Healthcare Costs Projected to End
  
• Rx Trends: FDA Conducts Safety Review of Prilosec and Nexium
• On the Case: Hospital Discharge Follow-up Program
• Workplace Wellness: Combating Stress in the Workplace
  

In addition, be sure to read the recap of our recent Health and Wellness Summits in Charlotte and Greensboro, and make plans to attend our next one in the spring of 2008.

As always, we'll look forward to receiving your feedback and suggestions for improving our service to you and to your employees.

Sincerely,

David R. Tate
Chairman and CEO

Physicians Grade Healthcare Insurers

By: Kay Jones Lewis, Staff Writer

It’s no secret that major health insurers in the United States wield a lot of power.  That’s especially apparent to physicians and medical groups that deal with third-party payers on a daily basis.  You might find it interesting, therefore, to hear how physicians across the country rate the biggest healthcare insurance companies.

Call Center Corner: Restructuring

By: Ryan D. Stewart, Call Center Manager

In this month’s Call Center Corner, we want to update our clients on recent changes within the Primary PhysicianCare Member Services Call Center.  Earlier this year, we installed a Cisco phone system and implemented new training procedures to ensure that we can provide the most accurate and efficient service to our members as our company continues to grow.

In The News: Decreasing Rate of Healthcare Costs Projected to End
By: Lance Phillips and Kay Jones Lewis, Staff Writers

For the fifth straight year, the rate of increase for healthcare costs in the United States has fallen.  In fact, according to recent research by Hewitt Associates, it’s at a nine-year low.  But the same research predicts the trend will end and projects an 8.7% average increase in 2008. Consulting firm Findley Davies forecasts an 11% average increase—nearly three times the rate of inflation.

FDA Conducts Safety Review of Prilosec and Nexium

By: CatalystRx

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a communication on new safety data regarding two products from a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors. The proton pump inhibitors reviewed were Prilosec® (omeprazole) and Nexium® (esomeprazole). Omeprazole is also contained in the over-the-counter product Prilosec OTC®, the prescription medication Zegerid®, and is available as generic prescription medication. Proton pump inhibitors work by reducing the production of stomach acid and are commonly used to treat ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Combating Stress in the Workplace
By: Danielle Messick, LPC
 
No matter what you do for a living, it’s very likely you have experienced stress in your workplace.  A recent survey by Northwestern National Life supports that assumption.  It found that 40% of the workers questioned feel their jobs are “very or extremely stressful.”