News From Around the Web
> Anthem has completed its acquisition of Simply Healthcare, a managed care provider for 21,000 Medicare and 177,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Florida. Terms were not disclosed. With the acquisition, Anthem affiliates now serve more than 500,000 customers in Florida. Announcement
> A report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans suggested that non-traditional wellness benefits, widely ranging from mental health coverage to standing desks to community and charity drives, continue to take hold in employer wellness programs. Report (.pdf)
> Nonprofit CO-OP insurers face financial and sustainability challenges, but their emphasis on customer experience, digital products, telehealth and wellness programs will change the insurance industry even if the CO-OPs themselves cannot, according to Healthcare Payer News. Article
Health Policy News
> From the moment that President Barack Obama introduced his Precision Medicine Initiative in his State of the Union address, there's been a flurry of debate over the possibilities--and possible pitfalls--associated with using patients' genes to design targeted disease treatments. Article
Health Leadership News
> Healthcare executives who seek to successfully integrate doctors into their organization may find the task easier said than done, but taking steps to build physicians' trust is a good start. Article
And finally … This cat hates winter. Photos