Global Health Voyager Enters into Worldwide Memorandum of Understanding For Global Roll-Out of Personal Health Record …
Posted: August 8, 2012 at 2:15 pm
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. and SINGAPORE, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Global Health Voyager, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GLHV), a US based full service international medical management company, offering access to a vast worldwide network of highly accredited facilities and providers offering healthcare surgical dental and wellness procedures, announced today that it entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Janus Medical Systems of Singapore.This MOU grants Global Health Voyager with exclusive global rights to market, sell and distribute Atreya, a dynamic personal health record management system, to be used by consumers for medical record organization and information distribution to their personal physicians. The Atreya product has a multitude of features and functions, including the storage of medical documents, x-rays, previous procedures, prescription information, calendar of dosage, appointments and other vital information. The product takes care in security, is HIPAA compliant, and even has features that allow your physicians permissions to see your prior health history.
"This MOU, once fully executed in the form of definitive agreement, is a game-changing technology for global medical management," said Ali Moussavi, CEO of Global Health Voyager. "The Atreya product will allow individuals to manage their personal health records online and via mobile applications. The uses of this product are vast; a few key categories are global travelers, chronically ill individuals, and newborns."
As early as 2006, the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics issued a report to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, specifically stating, "the greatest opportunities for improving health and health care lie in enabling information exchange between the three dimensions (areas) of the national health information infrastructure. The full potential of PHR (personal health records) systems will not be realized until they are capable of widespread exchange of information with EHRs and other sources of personal and other health data." The report went on to say, "the Federal government can offer vision and strategic leadership for PHR development and dissemination across its many roles in the health sector. NCVHS believes that HHS can encourage and actively participate in a public/private partnership that facilitates standards-based approaches in a harmonized legal and regulatory environment across geopolitical boundaries."
"Knowing that the federal government supports this technology advancement is one of the many catalysts for Global Health Voyager to get it's partnered Atreya product to market without delay, and to the full satisfaction of the consumers who register and use it," said Moussavi.
"We're looking forward to a productive and effective partnership with Global Health Voyager," noted Seema Singh, President of Janus Medical. "We believe Global Health Voyager, has the footprint and business plan needed to properly roll out this technology worldwide. The Atreya product is extremely intuitive for the consumer. In plain language it can manage all of your health records, making your trips to the doctor and hospital less stressful and much more organized.
A definitive agreement is expected to be signed between the two parties by the September 1, 2012. Terms of the MOU were not disclosed.
About Global Health Voyager
Global Health Voyager, Inc. (GLHV) is a publicly traded international medical tourism company. It offers technology solutions, medical tourism consulting services, and access to a worldwide network of highly accredited medical facilities and providers to patients seeking healthcare, surgical, dental, and wellness procedures.
Through established relationships with these international providers, the company has already completed the groundwork to verify the accreditation and experience of the provider organizations it partners with. For more information visit the company's website at http://www.GlobalHealthVoyager.com.
Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance, or achievement expressed or implied in these statements to vary.
Almost Family Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results
Posted: at 2:15 pm
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Almost Family, Inc. (AFAM), a leading regional provider of home health nursing and personal care services, announced today its financial results for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2012.
Second Quarter Highlights:
Comments on Results
William Yarmuth, Chief Executive Officer, commented on the results: "We're pleased with our results for the quarter as we continue to adjust our operations to meaningful Medicare rate cuts and an apparent slowing in the Medicare home health market. During the first half of 2012, our staff and management have been intensely focused on improving our operational performance. I'm pleased with the extent to which we've improved our results. Our charge for the second half of 2012 is to leverage the progress achieved in both segments, while turning a more substantial part of our focus toward improving the organic growth of our business."
Second Quarter Financial Results
Almost Family reported second quarter results that included: i) the favorable impact of our Cambridge Home Health Care Holdings, Inc. (Cambridge) acquisition, which closed in early August of 2011, ii) the unfavorable impact of higher than normal workers compensation costs which lowered EPS by $0.04 and iii) the unfavorable impact of the 2012 Medicare reimbursement rate cut in the Visiting Nurse (VN) segment. The Medicare rate changes reduced revenue and operating income by $2.8 million and earnings per diluted share by $0.18.
Net service revenues for the second quarter grew to $86.9 million, a 6% increase from $81.7 million reported in the second quarter of 2011, as a result of the Cambridge acquisition, partially offset by the VN segment's Medicare rate cut.
Net income for the second quarter of 2012 was $4.5 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, down from second quarter of 2011 net income of $5.0 million, or $0.53 per diluted share.
Diluted EPS for the quarter was increased by $0.07 as compared to the second quarter of 2011 as a result of the Cambridge acquisition. Unallocated corporate overhead included approximately $0.2 million of transitional expenses related to the Cambridge home office which is expected to wind down during the remainder of 2012. Diluted EPS for the quarter includes a $0.01 for transaction related costs, similar costs in the prior year quarter totaled $0.02. Our effective tax rate for the quarter declined to 39.5% from 40.2% in the prior year quarter, primarily due to a lower state tax rate from the Cambridge acquisition.
Second Quarter Segment Results
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Almost Family Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results
Do You Need Rugs Cleaned or Air Ducts Cleaned? – Video
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Do You Need Rugs Cleaned or Air Ducts Cleaned? - Video
In Need of a Blockbuster Drug Now
Posted: at 2:14 pm
By Jordo Bivona - August 7, 2012 | Tickers: ABT, BMY, PFE, SNY | 0 Comments
Jordo is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE)recently reportedresults for the second quarter and showed a decline of 9% in revenue to $15.1 billion in line with the expectations of analysts but, surprisingly, showed a 25% increase in net income to $3.2 billion. The decline in sales had been expected because of the loss of patent protection on its best-selling drug Lipitor in November, but the strengthening of the US dollar also affected international revenues. The bottom line was however increased because of the reduced expenditure on research and development. Pfizer, which is in the business of pharmaceuticals, animal health, consumer healthcare and nutrition, is going to divest its non-core businesses to focus on pharmaceuticals.
The company entered the year 2012 without exclusivity for Lipitor and sales declined more than 50% to $1.2 billion in the second quarter from $2.6 billion for the same quarter in the previous year. In the United States, the decline in sales was 75% to an insignificant $296 million. There was loss of patent protection on other drugs such as Geodon. Primary drugs such as Celebrex and Lyrica and specialty drugs such as Enbrel and Prevenar showed encouraging growth. International sales declined because of the problems in Europe but, excluding the 6% impact of currency translation, emerging market growth was 14% being driven by Russia and China. International sales now account for some 60% of total sales. Animal and healthcare sales grew by 7% and 11% respectively and the company is preparing to spin off the animal business while the divestiture of the healthcare business is in progress. The company has been cutting costs aggressively to counteract declining sales, but it was a little surprising to see an almost 20% decline in research and development expenditure. In addition to Lipitor, the company will lose exclusivity to several other drugs in 2012 such as Viagra, Enbrel and Detrol and badly needs to find a new blockbuster drug.
Thelast partof the company's plan to focus on new drugs has now been put into place and the separation of the animal health business will start soon. Part of its agenda is to make it better at new drug development following the loss of exclusivity for Lipitor. The company has three drugs under development which could be in the market next year and each one has the potential to generate over $1 billion each in revenues. In addition to treatments for heart disease, Alzheimer's and rheumatoid arthritis, Eliquis, a blood thinner, could receive approval in the first half of 2013. In August, Pfizer will start the process of selling up to 20% of its animal care business in an IPO. In addition to cost-cutting, the company is also maintaining earnings per share through stock buybacks which amounted to $9 billion in the last year and is expected to total $5 billion in the current year. The company has plenty of cash and can satisfy its investors through dividends and stock buybacks till the R&D initiative produces results.
However, the regulators may delay approval for tofacitinib, a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and the drug is expected to compete with Humira, the blockbuster fromAbbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT). Bapineuzumab, a drug for Alzheimer's disease which is being developed withJohnson & Johnson (JNJ)and Elan, has not passed the first of four crucial, final-stage clinical trials; results from the next trial will be available later this month. The company is looking for marketing clearance for Eliquis, a blood thinner being developed with New York-basedBristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY).The application was rejected by the FDA in June and more information from clinical trials was sought from the companies. According to one analyst, sales from the drug, if approved, would be as much as $2.5 billion by the year 2015.
It will be interesting to see how thenew drug development modelwill work out because the new drug pipeline is a vital part of the business as existing products lose exclusivity and patent protection. Pfizer has had clinical trial failure, the latest example of which is bapineuzumab and the high rate of failure is attributed because of the lack of knowledge about the behavior of these molecules in patients suffering from the disease. The problem is being sought to be remedied by partnerships with university scientists who research the behavior of molecules. In the past 1 1/2 years, Pfizer has created 21 such partnerships. The whole pharmaceutical industry is shifting focus because acquisitions have proven ineffective at boosting in-house drug development. Other pharmaceutical companies are shifting focus as well.Novartis (NVS)is partnering with biotechs to develop drugs whileSanofi (NYSE: SNY)is investing in start-up businesses. Sanofi andMerck (MRK)have also initiated partnerships with universities and research scientists. Crucially for Pfizer, these low-cost partnerships fit in well with the company's cost-cutting plans.
The bad news for Pfizer shareholders is that Wall Street is not particularly kind to companies with low growth rates and it is difficult to see how the current new drugs under development are going to spur substantial growth. After all, the company is the largest pharmaceutical company in the world by revenues and has some $60 billion in existing sales. Aggressive cost-cutting may see growth in profitability, but a big win is required in terms of one or two blockbuster drugs. Pfizer is not substantially undervalued at the moment, unlikeSanofiorTeva (TEVA). It is nevertheless a solid company and may suit you if you are looking for a relatively low-risk investment and are content with slow and steady gains. If you have an existing investment, continue to hold because of the limited downside and the rewards will follow, even if slowly.
Jordo Bivona is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network
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Reply.com Expands Marketplace to Include Education and Insurance Categories
Posted: at 2:13 pm
SAN RAMON, CA--(Marketwire -08/08/12)- Reply!, the leading provider of locally-targeted consumer traffic, today announced the expansion of its Marketplace to include two major online categories -- education and insurance. The company's advertisers can now purchase education and insurance prospects on a cost-per-Enhanced Click or cost-per-lead basis. The company's Marketplace, which already serves many of the world's largest companies and brands in the automotive, real estate and home improvement verticals, offers unparalleled targeting and pricing controls.
The company also announced today that it has hired two industry veterans to lead teams focusing on education and insurance. Rod Pasion, who has joined Reply! as the Director and GM of Education, most recently led the National Accounts Team at ClassesUSA. Hunter Ingram, who has joined Reply! as the Director and GM of Insurance, was previously CEO of HometownQuotes, a pioneer in the insurance vertical.
"We are excited to have Rod and Hunter on the team and leading our efforts for the education and insurance verticals. In the short time they have been with us, we have made great progress developing these categories within the Marketplace," said Sean Fox, COO of Reply!, Inc. "Through this expansion, we've applied our patented technology platform to many diverse verticals and will continue to do so until all major local categories are available on the Marketplace."
About Reply!, Inc.Reply!, Inc. operates the leading marketplace for the acquisition of locally-targeted online consumer traffic. Reply!'s platform provides advertisers of all sizes with a simple and scalable solution for locally-targeted marketing. Reply! owns and operates many destination sites including iMotors.com, Contractors.com and MerchantCircle.com, which is the largest online network of local business owners in the nation with over 1.3 million member merchants and 15 million monthly local consumer visits. To learn more about Reply!, please visit http://www.reply.com.
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Reply.com Expands Marketplace to Include Education and Insurance Categories
American Public Education Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results
Posted: at 2:13 pm
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) parent company of online learning provider American Public University System (APUS), which operates through American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU) announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2012.
Recent Highlights:
Financial and Other Results:
Total revenues for the second quarter of 2012 increased 23% to $74.6 million, compared to total revenues of $60.8 million in the second quarter of 2011. Income from operations before interest income and income taxes in the second quarter of 2012 increased to $15.0 million, compared to $14.9 million in the same period of 2011. Stock-based compensation expense reduced operating income by $917,000 in the second quarter of 2012 and $746,000 in the second quarter of 2011.
Net income for the second quarter of 2012 increased to $9.2 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, which includes $0.03 per diluted share in stock-based compensation expense, net of tax. This compares to net income of $9.0 million, or $0.49 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2011, including $0.02 per diluted share in stock-based compensation expense, net of tax. The weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the second quarter of 2012 and 2011 were approximately 18.2 million and 18.3 million, respectively.
For the six months ended June 30, 2012, total revenues were $150.4 million, an increase of 26% compared to total revenues of $119.5 million in the same period of 2011. Income from operations before interest income and income tax for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased to $29.9 million, compared to $28.0 million in the same period of 2011. Stock-based compensation expense reduced each period's operating income by $1.9 million and $1.6 million, respectively.
Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 to $18.3 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, which includes $0.07 per diluted share in stock-based compensation expense, net of tax. This compares to net income of $16.8 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, in the same period of 2011, including $0.05 per diluted share in stock-based compensation expense, net of tax. The weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were approximately 18.2 million and 18.4 million, respectively.
Total cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2012 were approximately $116.7 million with no long-term debt. Cash from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was approximately $22.7 million, compared to $25.7 million in the same period of 2011. Capital expenditures were approximately $18.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, compared to $6.8 million in the prior year period. Depreciation and amortization was $5.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and $4.3 million for the same period of 2011.
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macProVideo.com Acquires AskVideo.com – Two Pioneers Of Online Education Unite
Posted: at 2:13 pm
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --macProVideo.com today announces the purchase of online software training website, AskVideo.com. The deal includes AskVideo.com's full catalogue, brand, and other operational assets.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120808/SF53952LOGO)
macProVideo.com was founded in February of 2005 to produce and distribute online training for Apple software applications like Logic, Final Cut Pro, iMovie, and GarageBand. The company's library quickly expanded to include training for over 40 different software applications, including Photoshop and the Adobe CS Suite, Microsoft Office, and all major audio applications from Ableton Live to Propellerhead Reason. Their training catalogue currently boasts over 1200 hours of online software courses and more than 22,000 tutorial-videos.
According to macProVideo.com's Founder and CEO, Martin Sitter, "Until now, macProVideo.com has been the place 'Where Mac Users Learn.' With the acquisition of AskVideo.com, we have purchased a great brand with over 8 years of experience in online training. AskVideo will become our primary portal for bringing our trademarked NonLinear Educating System to the larger world of Windows PC users."
The NonLinear Educating System features HD tutorial-videos that play in web browsers, on desktops, and through iOS devices. There are also advanced search features that make it easy to find topics of interest, as well as tools for bookmarking videos, taking notes, and progress tracking that displays the viewer's progress through each online course.
Users can watch free courses by creating an AskVideo.com account, or gain access to the entire AskVideo Library by purchasing a Library Pass. Educational and corporate site licenses are available for universities and companies that need to train students/staff on the use of creative software applications for audio engineering, video editing, web design, and the graphic arts.
"We are particularly excited about the potential AskVideo has for the wider corporate and educational markets," continues Martin, "our full-featured site licensing system is not only cost-effective, but also provides teachers and administrators with full analytics so they can see what their students and staff are watching, and when they watched it. With our excellent support for iOS, students and staff can watch titles on their iPad or iPhone while commuting, at lunch, or any other time that's convenient. This is true NonLinear Educating."
For more information visit http://www.AskVideo.com. Martin Sitter is available for comments and interviews.
Press Contact: Kim Bowie Kim@macprovideo.com +1 604.563.5007
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Tips for staying stylish and cool for hot yoga
Posted: at 6:11 am
Hot yoga studios have been popping up all over the place, a testament to the practice's growing popularity.
But, what makes hot yoga different than a regular yoga class? The temperature and humidity of the room are key; hot yoga classes are held in studios heated to 40.5 C with 50-per-cent humidity. The increased heat warms the muscles to achieve a deeper yoga practice and cleanses the body by causing it to sweat away toxins.
The situation presents a unique fashion challenge: how do you find something that (a) is stylish, (b) keeps you cool, and (c) keeps you relatively covered at the same time?
Here are some dos and don'ts for getting geared up for hot yoga:
Don't pull out an old cotton T-shirt. Cotton is notoriously bad for sucking in moisture and will be drenched with sweat and become cumbersome within minutes.
Do opt for dri-fit or performance fabrics. They will not only help wick away sweat and keep you cool, but the nanotechnology behind them also kills bacteria and prevents odours that can develop over time.
Don't wear just any old gym shorts; they aren't designed to move with you through all the various yoga poses and bends. Given the tight quarters in most yoga studios, you don't want to give the person behind you more of a show than they bargained for.
Do find a length of bottom that works for you. Not everyone can pull off tiny spandex shorts, even if they might keep you cooler. Just make sure that whatever bottom you choose has some stretch.
Don't opt for white or other light colours; they show sweat and can become transparent when wet. Instead opt for dark colours; they hide sweat marks and make you look slimmer.
Do go for fitted garments. They will move with you as you flow through the various poses and won't drag you down when they become wet. Yoga teachers also like their students to wear fitted garments, as it helps them analyze body position during class.
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Tips for staying stylish and cool for hot yoga
Obama’s health-care law: The fitness and wellness provisions you may have missed
Posted: at 5:13 am
Perhaps youve had a mammogram recently, or taken a child for an immunization or consulted with a specialist about a weight problem. Since late 2010, those visits to health care providers have carried an additional benefit: Theyre free. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law 28 months ago and upheld in June by the Supreme Court, its illegal for insurers to charge consumers a co-payment for a long list of health care services designed to prevent disease.
In fact, while they have been largely overshadowed by the furor over the requirement that everyone carry health insurance, there are many provisions in the law designed to encourage wellness, fitness and prevention. Its an effort to improve health and reduce the ever-escalating cost of health care.
Some measures have been in effect for nearly two years and escaped cancellation when the Supreme Court preserved the law. Others are on the way. Just last week, the controversial regulations on free contraceptives and other preventive care for women took effect.
A large portion of health-care costs are attributable to preventable disease. Federal statistics show, for example, that more than one-third of American adults are obese a condition that carries all manner of health risks, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. The health-care law tilts heavily toward preventive services and developing new prevention policies.
When you remove cost barriers, people are much more likely to use services and thats been demonstrated for many, many years, said Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation who specializes in health-care reform and private insurance.
The benefits kick in when your health insurance plan changes or is updated. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 54 million people have received free services under the law that previously would have cost them at least a co-payment.
Workplace benefits
Most people will receive the greatest tangible impact of the new law where they work. That only makes sense. Its where most of us get our health insurance, and employers increasingly have been turning to wellness programs to cut costs anyway.
A 2010 study by Harvard University researchers, published in the journal Health Affairs, concluded that medical costs fall by about $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs and that absenteeism costs fall by about $2.73 for every dollar spent. It remains difficult, however, to pinpoint which wellness programs produce the greatest bang for employers buck.
Beginning in 2014, the health-care law will allow employers to increase incentives for participation in programs that require an employee to achieve an agreed-upon wellness goal, such as giving up tobacco or losing a certain amount of weight. The incentive can be as much as 30 percent of an employees insurance costs, and in some cases as much as 50 percent. That is up from 20 percent allowed by law now.
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Obama’s health-care law: The fitness and wellness provisions you may have missed
Retirement Worries Good News for Advisors, Says Accenture – Video
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Retirement Worries Good News for Advisors, Says Accenture - Video