News in brief - Nov. 21, 2011

Government to launch 5-year survey on privacy and security issues

The Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology is launching a five-year initiative to gather opinions from the public on the privacy and security of electronic medical records and health information exchanges.

The organization wants to find the percentage of people who are concerned about the privacy and security of EMRs; who have kept any part of their medical history from their doctor due to privacy concerns; and who are concerned that an unauthorized person would see their medical information if it is sent electronically. It will assess whether those numbers change over five years.

The ONC plans to interview 100 people for the pretest survey, then 2,000 people annually for five years starting in 2012. The ONC also is organizing a two-year campaign to educate the public about the privacy and security of electronically exchanged health data.

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United now largest insurer by membership and revenue

With revenue of $25.3 billion for the third quarter of 2011, UnitedHealth Group kept its place as the largest shareholder-owned health plan by revenue. But its reported membership growth for the quarter meant it overtook Blues giant WellPoint as largest by membership as well.

United now claims 34,395,000 medical members compared with 34,355,000 medical members for WellPoint.

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Humana CEO to retire; outsider named successor

Humana will have a new top boss in the next 12 to 18 months, the Louisville, Ky.-based company announced Nov. 4. Michael McCallister, 59, has served as chief executive officer since 2000.

The company's new chief will be Bruce Broussard, 49, former CEO for McKesson Specialty Health. Broussard was named president Nov. 4, but McCallister will remain chair and CEO until his retirement, at which point Broussard will become CEO, the announcement said. McCallister noted Broussard's experience working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a key qualification for the top job at Humana.

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Wisconsin hospitals generate $28 billion in economic activity

Hospitals in Wisconsin supported 110,000 jobs, or 9% of all employment in the state in 2009, according to a new report. It was issued Nov. 3 by the University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics in Madison and the Wisconsin Hospital Assn.

Hospitals also created $28 billion in financial enterprise and indirectly led to jobs through the purchase of goods and services from other companies.

"This study shows that health care is much more to Wisconsin than hospitals, doctors and clinics," said WHA President Steve Brenton. "The ripple effect of the health care sector in our state's economy is enormous. Hospitals are not only tied to the physical health of our communities, they are also directly connected to the state's economic health."

Similar documents published by other health care organizations, which are used to argue against decreases to public funding or support other issues on the legislative agenda, also have reported the significant financial impact of this sector of the economy. The "Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Communities" report is available online (www.wha.org/data/sites/1/pubarchive/reports/healthyhospitals_appendix_2011.pdf).

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