January 17, 2013-Hottest IT jobs are in health care

Payer Advisory Weekly Top Stories

1. Texas Health Resources, BCBS to partner on ACO
2. UnitedHealth Group makes waves at CES
3. Highmark names former Aetna exec as executive VP, chief strategy officer
4. WellPoint Names Patrick Blair Chief Marketing Officer
5. Hottest IT jobs are in health care
6. Bill Clinton uses Humana Challenge tie to preach an active path to well-being
7. Wal-Mart exploring priv.ate health policy exchange for small biz
8. Mahindra Satyam, TechMatrix in pact for healthcare services
9. UnitedHealth Group to add 300 jobs in Jacksonville call center

Seeking to improve quality and lower the cost of medical care, Texas Health Resources and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas said Monday they are joining forces to offer what they say will be one of the largest accountable care organizations in the country. “We’ll start with 50,000 enrollees and… DallasNews (01/14) Share: Forward | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

From its colorful booth in the exhibit hall to its participation in the Digi.tal Health Summit, UnitedHealth Group is making its presence known at the 2013 International CES. The insurer is pushing a theme of behavior change and incentives to improve America’s troubled healthcare system – and, more importantly, the American patient. It’s a battle that Reed Tuckson, MD, UnitedHealth’s executive vice president and chief of medical affairs, says won’t be easy. “We are now trying to turn a battleship… HIMSS (01/11) Share: Forward | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

Highmark Inc. has named former Aetna executive Jayanth “Jay” Godla as its executive vice president and chief strategy officer. A news release said Godla will be responsible for leading the Pittsburgh-based insurer’s long-range strategic planning efforts and identifying future growth and affiliation options. “Highmark continues to evolve from a health insurer to a diversified health services company that includes the delivery of care, and the successful exec.ution of our business strategy… CENTRALPENNBUSINESS (01/14) Share: Forward | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

WellPoint, Inc. (NYS: WLP) announced today that Patrick Blair has been named senior vice president and chief marketing officer. In this role, Blair will be responsible for leading all marketing initiatives and partnering with WellPoint’s leadership group to drive profitable growth across all WellPoint’s business segments including Commercial, Medi-care, Medic-aid and Specialty. Blair is an industry veteran who has more than 15 years experience and a proven trackrecord of success in corporate… DailyFinance (01/15) Share: Forward | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

Software engineer Steve Sloka has a telecom background but when the 30-year-old was searching for a new work last year, it was the health care sector, not another telecommunications firm, that won his talents. Since July, he has been working at UPMC’s technology development center in Bakery Square, building software that is “helping to improve billing and co.ding” between hospitals, doctors and insurers, he said. In the same Larimer building, another UPMC tech group is… Post-Gazette (01/09) Share: Forward | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

Listen to former President Bill Clinton discuss his involvement at the Humana Challenge, and it can be difficult to figure out which he’s more excited about, the health care conference he hosts or the PGA Tour golfevent. “I loved it and I really thought it went well. It was just terrific,” Clinton said of his first involvement in the Humana Challenge in partnership with the William J. Clinton Foundation last year. “I am really excited about this year. We’ve got another good fi.eld coming back. We’ve got the PGA supporting… MyDesert (01/12) Share: Forward | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

Wal-Mart is exploring the idea of building a priv.ate health policy exchange tailored to offer cheaper health policy to small businesses. Marcus Osborne, vice president of health and wellness payer relations for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT), told the Orlando Business Journal after his keynote speech at the Foundation of Associated Industries of Florida’s 2013 Health Care Affordability Summit, that Wal-Mart wants to work with insurers and managed care companies to find new, low-cost… American City Business Journals (01/14) Share: Forward | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

Mahindra Satyam today said it has signed a partnership agreement with Japan’s TechMatrixCorp to jointly address strategic growth areas in the healthcare market and provide cloud-based healthcare solutions in ASEAN region. Ichigo LLC, a TechMatrix subsidiary, will provide its Teleradiology network infrastructure product line and Nobori, its Cloud service for Medical and Healthcare information, according to press release from Mahindra Satyam. The Indian IT company in turn… TheEconomicTimes (01/15) Share: Forward | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

UnitedHealth Group is expanding and plans to hired 300 employees in Jacksonville by the end of the year. The health care company signed a lease in December to remodel 47,000 square feet of a building at 7159 Corklan Drive that will house a call center, the Florida Times-Union reports. OptumRx, UnitedHealth’s parent company, will shed about $1.5 million on the project…. American City Business Journals (01/10) Share: Forward | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN

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