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'Case' in Point: Patient Control of Data Critical Catalyst for Online Health Care Revolution
Friday, May 16, 2008
Revolution Health CEO: 'We need to get the system out of the way'
ORLANDO, Fla., May 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Internet visionary turned
e-health entrepreneur Steve Case predicts that converging trends in public
policy, technology and consumerism in health care will combine to effectively
"shake the snow globe," simultaneously creating disruption and opportunity,
and leading to a revolution in American health care.
The America Online co-founder, who now serves as chairman and CEO of
Revolution Health, says in-part that consumers need to overcome security
paranoia -- as they did in online financial transactions.
"Consumers must be in control of the electronic health record, as there is
far too much focus on 'who possesses the electronic storage cabinet,'" Case
said, adding that in addition to trusting the technology, consumers must also
preserve trusted relationships. "One of the most sacred relationships is
between physicians and patients. We need to get 'the system' out of the way."
Case delivered his comments in a keynote address to hundreds of attendees
at Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) 2008 Drug Trend "Predictions"
Symposium.
Drawing comparisons between the skeptics of wired health care today and
those who downplayed the development of the Internet in the mid 1980s, Case
argued that once a secure, ubiquitous system is in place, patients and payors
alike will be drawn to the financial efficiencies and clinical benefits of
connected care.
"The conventional wisdom 15-20 years ago was that consumers wouldn't want
interactivity, and most people didn't believe in eCommerce, because they
didn't think anyone would want to share their credit card information," said
Case. "Turns out the key to uptake was interactivity and convenience; not only
did consumers share their credit card information, but they even allowed
companies to store that information online and advise them on purchases based
upon their personal purchasing habits."
Similarly, Case says empowering and engaging health care consumers to more
actively manage their own care is key to accelerating what has been to date
the painfully slow adoption of technology across health care.
"It's crazy to think that consumers have exceptional tools to manage their
financial portfolios and fantasy football teams, but lack valuable tools to
effectively manage their health care," said Case. "We need to get consumers
much more engaged to be successful."
Case called for a user-friendly platform on which systems can operate
across the health care spectrum, which will in turn stimulate innovation and
launch a sweeping systemic change.
Case offered the following additional observations and assessments:
-- On consumer engagement: "The health care system is really disease
care, and is not much of a system. We need to move from a static
situation -- when the patient has a problem -- to a more engaging
application that will bring them back to online health resources more
habitually."
-- On web-based disease communities: "The community aspects of disease
management present a huge untapped opportunity that has been sorely
underdeveloped. Simply look at the success of Alcoholics Anonymous:
the single greatest way to drive compliance is to create a
community-based structure in which patients can communicate, support
one another, and be accountable."
-- On physician adoption of health care information technology:
"Providing incentives will encourage adoption of health care
information technology among physicians and other providers, but there
are larger generational implications at play, with a natural embrace of
technology by physicians who grew up on technology."
Case has taken a highly public position in advocating for increasing
access to health care information for consumers as a means to improve care and
lower costs. In 2005, Case was joined by other influential leaders including
General Colin Powell, USA (Ret.) in launching Revolution Health Group, a
business venture to transform how people approach their overall health and
wellness.
About Medco
Medco Health Solutions, Inc., (NYSE: MHS) is the nation's leading pharmacy
benefit manager based on its 2007 total net revenues of more than $44 billion.
Medco's prescription drug benefit programs, covering approximately one-in-five
Americans, are designed to drive down the cost of pharmacy health care for
private and public employers, health plans, labor unions and government
agencies of all sizes, and for individuals served by the Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Program and those served by its specialty pharmacy segment,
Accredo Health Group. Medco, the world's most advanced pharmacy(TM), is
positioned to serve the unique needs of patients with chronic and complex
conditions through its Medco Therapeutic Resource Centers(R), including its
enhanced diabetes pharmacy care practice through the Liberty acquisition.
Medco is the highest-ranked independent pharmacy benefit manager on the 2008
Fortune 100 list. On the Net: http://www.medco.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ
materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking
statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from
those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should
be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our
business, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
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