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RADNOR, Pa., July 24 /PRNewswire/ — HTH Worldwide, a global health and safety services company, today announced that it will begin offering its CityHealth(R) Profiles to Living Abroad.com and its multi-national employer clients. HTH’s CityHealth Profiles are fact-filled online guides to trusted medical care in hundreds of destinations around the world. Living Abroad offers online tools and destination-driven information for those living overseas or about to be assigned abroad on topics such as health services, schools, housing, neighborhoods as well as local transportation, culture and customs.
Through a new partnership with HTH, Living Abroad is distributing profiles of hospitals, clinics and pharmacy practices in over 700 international locations to dozens of multi-national corporations seeking to reduce the strain of relocating abroad and to improve the likelihood of assignments succeeding. Living Abroad offers online tools and databases to help international employees make good choices when it comes to housing, schools and healthcare providers. HTH’s CityHealth Profiles database, which also covers emergency numbers, vaccination requirements and health risks — is the featured content in Living Abroad’s health services section of its International Resource Center.
“Our clients look to us for accurate, up-to-date information on local health providers and health risks all around the world,” said Michael Cadden, Managing Director of Operations for Living Abroad LLC. “HTH Worldwide’s dedication to creating a comprehensive and up-to-date database of global health and safety information gives our clients an important new resource. We are confident in the quality of this carefully researched data and look forward to a long and beneficial partnership with HTH.”
“Living Abroad is an organization with an excellent reputation for providing high-quality online resources to those overseas on extended assignments,” said Angelo Masciantonio, Chief Executive Officer of HTH Worldwide. “We are pleased to provide them with the best global health and safety information.”
About Living Abroad
Founded in 1990, Living Abroad provides comprehensive, quality and up-to-date country information, resources and tools to help long-term international assignees assimilate into their host country environment with ease and excitement. First as a publisher of printed country information, Living Abroad, LLC went online in 1997 and has steadily expanded the number of destinations available and added new online tools for their clients and their assignees. Living Abroad, LLC is privately held and has offices in Norwalk, CT, USA and Belgium.
About HTH Worldwide
HTH Worldwide provides health insurance plans and global medical assistance services for business and leisure travelers as well as students abroad. HTH programs are distinguished by a contracted community of over 5,000 hospitals and doctors in 180 countries. HTH combines its health and safety research, advanced Internet applications, and extensive experience in designing and delivering international health insurance plans to ensure customers’ health, safety and peace of mind. HTH was recently named one of North America’s fastest growing companies in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500. For more information, visit .
Contact: Cass Oryl
215.564.3200 x116

HTH Worldwide

EAGAN, Minn., July 10 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) wants more Minnesotans to reap the benefits of “pedal power” this summer. The health plan’s do Campaign has teamed up with Minnesota bicycle shops to create a new “do cycle” program where people can earn a range of free and discounted merchandise, based on the number of miles ridden.
“Minnesota has more miles of paved bike trails than any other state, and Minneapolis ranks second behind Portland, Oregon for having the highest percentage of people who bike to work,” explained Jill Chamberlain, health improvement project manager with Blue Cross. “So, we’re excited to be working with the various bike shops on this program. Whether you’re an avid rider or need to dust off that bike sitting in the garage, we want to encourage people of all ages to get pedaling,” added Chamberlain.
To get started in the “do cycle” program, sign up at . Follow the instructions online and pick one of the 20 participating bike shops. Once registered, cyclists go to their selected bike shop to record their bike’s current computer/odometer mileage (bikes need to be equipped with a mileage-tracking device and can be purchased for as little as $20, not including installation costs). Cyclists can redeem their miles once they reach any of the following milestones:
— 50 miles — earns a free do water bottle
— 100 miles — earns 10 percent off purchase at the selected bike shop
— 200 miles — earns 10 percent off purchases at the selected bike shop,
plus either a free pair of do cycle socks or a do water bottle
— 400 miles — earns 10 percent off purchases at the selected bike shop,
plus either a free do cycle T-shirt, pair of do cycle socks or do water
bottle

Participating bike retailers include all Minnesota locations of Erik’s Bike Shop, Freewheel Bike, and Penn Cycle & Fitness.
“Daily physical activity can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other illnesses. Bicycling is not only fun, it’s also a very easy way to become more physically active,” said Dr. Marc Manley, vice president and medical director for population health at Blue Cross. “Whether commuting to school or work or just for recreation, time spent on a bike is a good investment in improving your health.”
Physical inactivity and unhealthy eating, combined, are the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and are responsible for millions of dollars in health care costs in Minnesota annually. To address this problem, Blue Cross developed the do Campaign, which encourages Minnesotans to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The do Campaign is part of Blue Cross’ Prevention Minnesota initiative and is funded entirely by Blue Cross’ settlement proceeds from its historic lawsuit against the tobacco companies. Prevention Minnesota tackles preventable heart disease and cancer by addressing their root causes — tobacco use, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating. For information about Prevention Minnesota visit .
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota’s first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A nonprofit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.9 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 16 /PRNewswire/ — Emdeon Business Services, a leading provider of revenue cycle management and clinical communication solutions, announced today that the company has processed its one billionth pharmacy claim for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) through the Pharmacy Data Transaction Service (PDTS). Emdeon has been providing services to the DoD as a subcontractor to CSC , the DoD’s primary contractor, since 1999.
PDTS, created by Emdeon exclusively for the DoD, is a centralized data repository of drug claims information that has substantially benefited the Military health System’s pharmacy services. PDTS is scalable, robust and secure and is an example of Emdeon’s ability to develop solutions for major healthcare organizations. Emdeon’s milestone of one billion processed claims comes after nearly a decade of providing quality service and expertise to the DoD. PDTS has achieved Defense Information Technology Security Certification and Accreditation (DITSCAP), and has been awarded the Air Force Certificate of Networthiness.
“One billion claims processed is proof that Emdeon’s PDTS is one of the Department of Defense’s most successful custom-built systems,” said Raymond E. Henry, president of CSC’s North American Public Sector Government health Services division. “This service has now proven itself many times over to be a vital tool for the Military health System — allowing the DoD to minimize cost, prevent fraud and monitor patient usage and provider prescribing patterns.”
The innovation and quality offered by PDTS are best demonstrated by the two major recognitions it has achieved. PDTS was one of only seven finalists in the 2002 President’s Quality Award Program for which 100 federal government programs competed. It was also selected by Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government as a semifinalist for the prestigious 2002 Innovations in American Government Award.
PDTS processes an average of 15.4 million pharmacy transactions monthly for the 9.3 million beneficiaries of TRICARE, the U.S. military health plan. With real-time, electronic functionality, PDTS conducts prospective drug utilization reviews on new and refill prescriptions — to help ensure patient safety and proper usage. Additionally, PDTS provides online verification of eligibility, drug coverage, quantity limits, co-pay levels, deductible/maximum benefit balances as well as facilitates pharmacy reimbursement.
To date, the PDTS System has proactively identified over 268,700 Level 1 drug-drug interactions, thereby enhancing patient safety and providing industry leading pharmaceutical care for the TRICARE beneficiaries. Rear Admiral Thomas McGinnis, Chief, TRICARE Management Activity, Pharmaceutical Operations Directorate, stated: “It is comforting to know that, whether our beneficiaries choose to receive their medications from a military facility, mail-order or civilian retail pharmacy, we have provided an accurate medication history to keep them safe.”
“One billion claims processed for the DoD provides testimony of Emdeon’s ability to create healthcare technology solutions that help our clients provide higher quality medical care at a reduced cost,” states Emdeon Senior Vice President, John Long. “We have also developed technology to support coordination of benefits, Medicare Part D and NPI and we will continue to enhance our systems to support the goals of the DoD.”
About Emdeon Business Services
Emdeon Business Services is a leading provider of revenue cycle management and clinical communication solutions that enables payers, providers and patients to improve healthcare business processes. Our solutions are designed to simplify the business and improve the delivery of healthcare for providers, payers and patients. Emdeon Business Services is owned by General Atlantic LLC and Hellman & Friedman LLC. For more information, visit .
About CSC
CSC is a leading information technology (IT) services company. CSC’s mission is to be a global leader in providing technology-enabled business solutions and services. With approximately 90,000 employees, CSC provides innovative solutions for customers around the world by applying leading technologies and CSC’s own advanced capabilities. These include systems design and integration; IT and business process outsourcing; applications software development; Web and application hosting; and management consulting. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., CSC reported revenue of $16.5 billion for the 12 months ended March 28, 2008. For more information, visit .
Emdeon Business Services