CDC and Humana Partner to Create Next Generation of Public Health; Alliance to Leverage Private-Sector Resources to Address Chronic Diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), the nation’s leading consumer-oriented health benefits company, have entered a partnership with the aim of expanding on traditional private- sector approaches to population health management. The partnership will leverage Humana’s resources and technologies, including the ability to discover, target and intervene on individual health risks and the expansion of that capability to the entire U.S. population.
“As an industry we need to make a greater commitment to addressing chronic diseases and the costs they impose on our healthcare systems and individual well-being,” said Dr. Jonathan Lord, Humana’s senior vice president and chief innovation officer. “Among the initiatives we will focus on are ways to use public health data to predict and identify those at risk for diabetes and other chronic diseases.”
The University of Miami–Humana Health Services Research Center will lead the research effort with an initial focus on health screening tools and chronic disease interventions using voice activated technology, mobile phone applications and social and community-based interactions. A particular focus will be on expanding current work being conducted at the Center that correlates the effects of wellness programs to reductions in weight, increased activity levels and lower medical claims costs for employer groups.
The partnership will expand upon that body of work by further analyzing Humana’s rich medical and lifestyle data to refine the CDC’s Healthy Workforce USA program, a new initiative from the CDC Office of Innovation that will define best practice metrics and program components for promoting workforce wellness in the United States.
“We believe this partnership with Humana will help us further our understanding of how to help employers and people improve their health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Bradley Perkins, chief strategy, and innovation officer for CDC. “We know that health screenings, exercise, and other steps can be taken to prevent many chronic diseases, including diabetes. However, we also know that many more people need to take these steps if we want to significantly improve the health and well-being of our communities and the nation. Employers need to be an active part of that effort, and we hope our Healthy Workforce USA project can provide them with the tools, resources, and encouragement they need.”
About the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves. The CDC applies research and findings to improve people’s daily lives, responds to health emergencies, and is committed to achieving true improvements in people’s health.
! I had Humana and I had co-pays EVERYTIME my doctor set me up for tests!! For a sleep study I had to pay $380. Before they would even schedule me for the test! They did that to me 4 different times! AND I had no idea Every time I went in for bloodwork, they charged me $25.!!
I am a recent widow; my hubby took care of all of that stuff. It finally hit me, that, isn’t that why I have insurance?! So, when October sign-up comes up, I’m going to go with Traditional Medicare!! Thank you, Sir. for opening my eyes!! God Bless!
We live in Florida and our Medicare Advantage plan is Humana and we have zero monthly bill. About six months after signing up my aortic valve went bad and had to be replaced. The health event cost us around $4800 but the initial bill was $340,000. Of course, Humana negotiated the bill down to $236,000. We were happy that we only had to pay the $4800 considering what the total gross bill was. We are sure we walked away with a great deal.