CVS PBM's Shined Ahead of Aetna Deal Talk

Today's blog features the EBN article that highlights CVS' new drug program that aims to help their sickest patients as the specialty drug costs begin to rise. EBN reports that CVS is moving to acquire Aetna to allow them to expand the reach of its pharmacy benefit management business to millions of new customers.

To read the full article, please click HERE!

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/      

Narcan Opioid Overdose Spray Now Stocked by all Walgreen Pharmacies

Today's blog circles back to on-going opioid crisis, which was just declared a National Emergency. In order to combat the crisis, Walgreens is now stocking Narcan in spray form on their shelves in every store.

"By stocking Narcan in all our pharmacies, we are making it easier for families and caregivers to help their loved ones by having it on hand in case it is needed," said Walgreens vice president Rick Gates.

Read the full article to learn more on this headline. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV please visit their website: www.horizonhealthventures.com

IRS to Reject Returns Lacking Health Coverage Disclosure

Today's blog features the Benefits Pro article that highlights the recent announcement that the IRS for the first time, for tax returns filed electronically in 2018 will be rejected if they do not contain information about whether the filer has coverage. This includes whether the filer is exempt from the individual mandate or will pay the tax penalty imposed on by the law on those who don't buy coverage.

Marlene Satter writes, "The New York Times reports that the IRS appears to be acting in contradiction to the first executive order issued by the Trump White House on inauguration day, in which Trump instructed agencies to “scale back” enforcement of regulations governing the ACA." 

To read the full article, please click HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV please visit their website: www.horizonhealthventures.com

Consumer Misconceptions About HSAs

About half of Americans claim that they understand Health Savings Accounts according to the survey taken by LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute. Emily Payne of Benefits Pro writes that despite this confidence, many consumers have misconceptions.





A few of these misconceptions include:

• 49 percent of consumers who state they are very knowledgeable on HSAs believe they must spend the entire HSA balance by the end of the year. 
• Only 39 percent of all consumers understand the difference between an HSA and a flexible spending account. 

To learn more findings from this survey, please click HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV please visit their website: www.horizonhealthventures.com

Express Scripts to Acquire eviCore healthcare; Accelerates Company's Shift to Patient Benefit Management

Today's blog features the press release recently published by Express Scripts that highlights their new development in accelerating the company's shift to patient benefit management. As of today Express Scripts has reached an agreement to acquire privately-held eviCore healthcare, the industry leader in evidence-based medical benefit management services. This new platform has hopes to create a uniquely comprehensive patient benefit management solution.

To read the full press release, please click HERE!

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV please visit their website: www.horizonhealthventures.com

Mission Possible: Transform Healthcare

As we've been sharing with you, Telehealth is on the verge of completely transforming healthcare. With fall in the air, Jason Gorevic of Teladoic is in the midst of daily meetings and weekly conferences.

He comments, "The promotion of these events got me thinking about an article I read over the summer on Inc.com that questioned the feasibility of transformation in healthcare at the hands of technology innovation. It cautioned entrepreneurs that disruption may never happen in healthcare. But I’d contend that transformation is not only achievable, but that radical change in healthcare is occurring right now, all around us." 

Big change in healthcare IS possible. Read the full article HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/      

A New Normal? 870,000 Americans Used $50,000 Worth or More of Prescription Medicine in 2016

Today's blog features the Express Scripts press release that highlights a few shocking findings. The press release shockingly shows that 870,000 Americans exceeded a yearly medication threshold of $50,000, up 35% from 2014.

"Between 2014 and 2016, the number of people representing annual medication costs of $50,000 or greater increased by 35 percent. In 2016, about 3 out of every 1,000 people in the analysis accounted for more than 20 percent of total pharmacy spending.  Extrapolating these data to the U.S. population, an estimated 870,000 Americans accounted for $80 billion of 2016 U.S. pharmacy spend." 

There's much more on this topic. To read the full press release, please click HERE!


HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/