PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A newly published Independence Blue Cross (IBC) study shows that by choosing integrated medical and pharmacy benefits for their employees, employers can lower their medical costs while helping employees enjoy better overall health. This information is especially helpful as many cost-conscious employers continue to seek ways to reduce medical expenses.
To save on benefits costs, some employers choose a "carve-out" model and work directly with a pharmacy benefits manager to provide prescription drug benefits to their employees, which they combine with medical benefits from a health insurance carrier. IBC's study, published in the February 2012 issue of Benefits Magazine, shows that integrated medical and prescription drug benefits can provide significant medical savings to employers. IBC examined outcomes of clients who "carve out" pharmacy benefits for their employees and compared them to IBC's customers who have integrated medical and prescription drug benefits.
The study's findings indicate that an integrated approach to pharmacy and medical benefits results in lower use of hospital and emergency room services. The number of hospital admissions was 19 percent lower and the number of ER visits was 28.6 percent lower for plan participants who had integrated pharmacy and medical benefits compared to those members without integrated benefits.
"The findings of our study show that the integration of IBC's medical and pharmacy benefits promotes better member health and lowers employers' medical costs," said Frank Ferry, M.D., IBC medical director. "By using the pharmacy claims data provided to us on a daily basis by our pharmacy benefits manager, FutureScripts, we are able to more quickly identify members who have chronic illnesses and provide those members and their doctors with information to help them more effectively and most efficiently manage those conditions."
"Over three years, IBC's integrated management of pharmacy services resulted in medical cost savings of $19.76 per member per month, which equates to more than $237,000 in medical cost savings per 1000 employees," said Ginny Palmieri, IBC's vice president of ancillary services. "That is significant for a business's bottom line."
Dr. Ferry explained that the costs of inpatient and emergency room admissions were 9.3 percent lower with customers who offered their employees IBC's integrated program. Theoretically, these types of savings are achieved through IBC's stronger care coordination and management of health care services and benefits when the benefits are integrated.
"The study supports the integrated approach to pharmacy and medical benefits, showing that lower use of health care services and higher medication compliance rates contribute to medical cost savings," said Aaron Smith-McLallen, Ph.D., IBC researcher and author of the study.
Integrating pharmacy and medical benefits at IBC can also increase productivity at the workplace. The study, which examined claims from over 765,000 total members, shows that members with integrated pharmacy and medical benefits were more likely to be compliant with their drug therapy, meaning they were more apt to take their medication as directed by their doctors.
The value of an integrated benefit may be especially important for members with chronic conditions for whom the right care management relies on them adhering to appropriate medication regimens. Generally, healthier employees who have fewer hospital admissions and ER visits and who are compliant with their medication regimen are more productive at work than less healthy employees.
"Employers are advised to carefully evaluate all of their options when selecting the medical and pharmacy benefits plans for their employees," said Palmieri. "It is clear that the choice to integrate pharmacy benefits with medical benefits offers substantial medical savings while also offering better health outcomes for employee wellness, based on the experience of our current customer groups over three years' time."
Palmieri also explained that IBC's integrated program analyzes employers' medical and prescription drug claims together to identify members with gaps in care, provide timely intervention, and perform targeted member outreach through disease management and wellness programs. The program also works to maximize the value of customers' health care dollars by offering key cost savings controls such as a highly effective formulary program and other utilization management programs, as well as continued promotion of generic prescription drugs over brand name drugs.
About Independence Blue Cross Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.1 million people. For 74 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals. Independence Blue Cross's HMO and PPO health care plans have consistently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit us at ibx.com. Fan us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @ibx.
CONTACT: Karen Burnham
215-435-2171
Karen.Burnham@ibx.com
Source: Independence Blue Cross
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Are you looking for a taxi service in Los Angeles that you can count on to show up on time, get you to your destination without a hassle, and provide professional service from point A to point B on a consistent basis? Are you frustrated with the low standards at so many of the cab companies in this town? If so, you're in for a pleasant surprise. One company is dedicated to raising standard and exceeding expectations, and that is the Beverly Hills Cab Company.
The Beverly Hills Cab Company has surveyed the landscape and has discovered there is plenty of room for a taxi service in Los Angeles that offers consistency, quality, and professionalism. Indeed, Los Angeles natives and visitors alike are craving for someone to raise the bar on the taxi industry, and so far the Beverly Hills Cab Company is leading the way. With consistently clean and well-maintained cabs, combined with highly trained and personable drivers, this company has made it easier, more affordable, and more enjoyable than ever before to use a taxi in Los Angeles.
Many people are already using this Los Angeles taxi company for everything from errands to doctors visits, senior services, fun-filled days and nights out on the town, sightseeing tours, reliable airport pick-up and drop-off, and hotel transportation. What's more, those people are recommending Beverly Hills Cab Company to their friends, family members, and colleagues, creating an immense amount of positive buzz that is driving more customers to this increasingly popular taxi service in Los Angeles.
The Beverly Hills Cab Company is committed to customer satisfaction, and that means continuing to come up with new and innovative ways to improve their service. This company has recently gotten government funds for improved wheelchair access – just one of many ways in which they are working hard to be the number one choice for a Los Angeles taxi service for people from all walks of life.
PR submitted by www.Cyberset.com
SOURCE Beverly Hills Cab Company
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation (NASDAQ: IPCC) expects to release its fourth quarter 2011 results on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 before the market opens. The earnings release will be available shortly thereafter on Infinity's website at http://www.infinityauto.com.
In connection with its earnings release, Infinity will hold a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter 2011 results on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 11:00 am ET. There are two alternative communication modes available to listen to the call. Telephone access will be available by dialing 1-888-680-0860 and providing the confirmation code 32299485. Please dial in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. You may also pre-register for the conference call. By pre-registering, you will be provided immediate access to the call on February 28, without waiting in queue to speak with an operator. To pre-register and obtain a PIN number, please go to https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PFM47A793 and fill out the brief registration form. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet. To listen to the call via the Internet, go to Infinity's website, http://www.infinityauto.com, click on Investor Relations and follow the instructions at the webcast link. A replay of the conference call will be available following the completion of the call, at around 1:00 pm ET and will run until 11:59 pm ET on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. To listen to the replay, dial 1-888-286-8010 and provide the confirmation code 47086418. The archived webcast will be available on Infinity's website for one year.
Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation is a national provider of personal automobile insurance with a concentration on nonstandard auto insurance. Its products are offered through a network of approximately 12,500 independent agencies and brokers. For more information about Infinity, please visit http://www.infinityauto.com.
SOURCE Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- We have all had bad experiences with auto repair in Los Angeles. We've all dealt with rude, inattentive, or shifty mechanics. We've all been left out of the loop on the status of our vehicle, and had to resort to calling incessantly to get answers and an ETA on the repair's completion. We've all waited for an overdue repair, only to get the vehicle back and find that the job wasn't performed as promised. Don't we deserve better? Isn't there a company providing auto body repair in Los Angeles that holds itself to a higher standard? The answer, thankfully, is yes. One company has dedicated itself to offering its customers more for less, and that company is 818 Auto Body.
At 818 Auto Body, they have combined a team of highly skilled, experienced, and passionate professionals with the most cutting-edge technology available in the auto repair industry today. Whether you are looking for auto paint in Los Angeles, or your car needs full-body work after a serious collision, the experts at 818 Auto Body have a proven track record of success. Their consistently superior results have earned them heaps of praise from loyal customers who go on to recommend their services to friends, family members, and colleagues. Now 818 Auto Body is riding high on a wave of positive word-of-mouth, and yet they are not content to rest on their laurels. This premier company is always looking for innovative ways to offer their valued customers more for less, by cutting down on overhead with state-of-the-art technology and passing those savings on in the form of better deals. And yet despite their emphasis on affordability, 818 Auto Body has managed to avoid sacrificing an iota of the quality you should expect from a first-class auto body repair shop. No wonder they are enjoying business from a large and still-growing base of loyal customers.
The diligent work done on a daily basis at 818 Auto Body has significantly contributed to their solid reputation, but so too has their commitment to exceptional customer service. They offer a clear estimate before they ever begin, and they go out of their way to take the initiative and keep customers in the loop about the progress of repairs.
To learn more about auto repair at extremely competitive prices, contact 818 Auto Body at 818-990-5555, or visit online at http://www.818autobody.com.
PR submitted by www.Cyberset.com
SOURCE 818 Auto Body
NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Victor Cruz, of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, cut the ribbon to officially open Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center this afternoon. Cruz was joined by Stephanie Winston-Wolkoff, Director of Fashion at Lincoln Center, Peter Levy, SVP and Managing Director at IMG Fashion, Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton, Naeem Khan, this season's Mercedes-Benz Presents Designer, and Lisa Holladay, Manager of Brand Experience Marketing, Mercedes-Benz USA. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is owned and operated by IMG Worldwide.
"It's an honor to be here to help kick off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York," said Cruz. "It's been quite an incredible week for the City—our Super Bowl win, the great homecoming parade yesterday, and now the beginning of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I'm very grateful to my fans that came out to support us yesterday and today and looking forward to checking out some shows this week."
"Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center is internationally recognized as the premier industry event to showcase cutting-edge fashion," said Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Director, Fashion at Lincoln Center. "We're excited to open our doors and show the world all the innovative new designs that will hit the runways this season."
"IMG and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week continue to put the world's leading fashion designers and brands center stage in New York City the fashion capital of the world," said Peter Levy, SVP and Managing Director, IMG Fashion Worldwide. "It's great to have a huge star like Victor Cruz join us to launch the week and help us in welcoming all our guests. As New Yorkers we're tremendously proud of the Giants' Super Bowl victory and can't wait to see Victor sitting front row at some shows this week."
"I was incredibly honored to help Victor kick off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week today and celebrate his and his team's incredible success on Sunday," said Naeem Khan, this season's Mercedes-Benz Presents designer. "I'm very excited to present my collection this season and this is a great way to get it all underway."
"It's such an honor to be here at the opening of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week," said Kate Upton. "Fashion Week in New York is such an iconic event; it's great to be a part of it."
"Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is always exciting and having Victor here along with our Presents Designer Naeem Khan to get things underway is a special moment," said Lisa Holladay, Manager of Brand Experience Marketing at Mercedes-Benz USA. "The month of February is a ball of energy for the Big Apple and that continues as we kick off the fashion festivities at Lincoln Center and the start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week."
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is New York's largest media event, welcoming designers, celebrities, industry experts, models and the world's fashion elite to Lincoln Center each September and February to see what's in store for the next fashion season. Designers featured this season include Nicholas K, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Kaelen, Richard Chai, Honor, Tadashi Shoji, Candela, Chadwick Bell, Joseph Abboud, PARKCHOONMOO, The Greenshows - Collection Previews, Concept Korea, General Idea, Rebecca Taylor, Brandon Sun, Rebecca Minkoff, Tommy Hilfiger Men's, Nicole Miller, Katya Leonovich, Charlotte Ronson, Academy of Art University, Popluxe, Ruffian, Lacoste, Porter Grey, Jill Stuart, Son Jung Wan, Mara Hoffman, Rafael Cennamo, Herve Leger by Max Azria, Vantan Tokyo, Tibi, Monique Lhuillier, L.A.M.B., Venexiana, Lorena Sarbu, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Tracy Reese, Joy Cioci, Custo Barcelona, Diane von Furstenberg, Falguni & Shane Peacock, Y-3, Carmen Marc Valvo, Mathieu Mirano, Timo Weiland, Jenny Packham, Negarin, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Zang Toi, Emilio Cavallini, Donna Karan New York, Reem Acra, Yeohlee, Bibhu Mohapatra, Betsey Johnson, Leather Japan 2012, Prete & Bruno, Norisol Ferrari, Tory Burch, J.Crew, Badgley Mischka, Vera Wang, Diesel Black Gold, Fotini, Naeem Khan, Dennis Basso, Pamella Roland, Haus Alkire, Narciso Rodriguez, EMERSON, Whitney Eve, Michael Kors, Rochambeau, Nanette Lepore, Ports 1961, Joanna Mastroianni, J. Mendel, Levi's, Suzanne Rae, Milly by Michelle Smith, Farah Angsana, Anna Sui, Nomia, Vivienne Tam, b michael America, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein Collection.
Photos and video footage from the ribbon cutting ceremony are available via the links below:
http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=138611959 (photos)
http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=138641193 (video)
Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is joined by DHL, American Express®, Maybelline New York, TRESemme, W Hotels Worldwide, Diet Pepsi, Fiber One® Bars, WGSN, ideeli and Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits as well as the following media outlets: The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily and Getty Images.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is an IMG event.
The Fall 2012 Collections will take place February 9-16, 2012.
Official schedule is available at newyork.mbfashionweek.com/schedule
For more information please visit us online at newyork.mbfashionweek.com
Follow us on Twitter @mbfashionweek and on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Facebook!
SOURCE IMG Fashion
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