December 1, 2000
DEFINITY HEALTH NAMES JOHNS HOPKINS CONSUMER HEALTHCONTENT PARTNER
Leading Healthcare Institution To Provide Extensive Library, Custom Editorial Services To Definity Health Members
Definity Health (formerly HealtheCare), which this fall launched a new consumer-driven health benefit, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Johns Hopkins University and Health System that will provide Definity Health members access to the academic center's extensive consumer health and wellness resources.
"For employees who choose the Definity Health benefit, access to reliable and robust health information is absolutely critical as they exercise their freedom to make their own healthcare choices and take greater responsibility for how their health benefit dollars are spent," said Tony Miller, Definity Health chief executive officer. "Through this content agreement, we are delighted to be able to offer our members in-depth and highly trusted health content from one of the world's most respected academic medical institutions."
Under terms of the three-year agreement, Hopkins will provide Definity Health its extensive, consumer health information library – developed with and fully reviewed by Hopkins scientists and physicians -- as well as editorial services to create a wide range of customized information materials and tools to support Definity Health's members. Definity Health is the first of four initial partners of HopkinsHealth, the institution's commercial, consumer health information program, and will have limited exclusivity in the online consumer health plan market. The content will be available to Definity Health members by February 1, 2001.
"HopkinsHealth is developing a limited portfolio of smart, forward-thinking online partners, who share our mission of not simply educating consumers but also making a difference in the way healthcare will be practiced in the future," said Steve Libowitz, the senior director of HopkinsHealth. "We think Definity Health is just such a company, and we're excited to be part of a promising approach to managing employee health benefits."
Through the partnership, Definity Health members will have access to the equivalent of a 125-volume consumer health encyclopedia developed with and approved by physicians, scientists and researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing. HopkinsHealth experts also will offer Johns Hopkins-hosted Web events, expert medical decision services, personal medical librarian services, health risk assessments and cutting-edge medical technology assessment reports.
"Johns Hopkins is consistently ranked among the top institutions for patient care, medical research and teaching, and it has been a leader in educating the public about health and wellness, said Definity Health's Miller. "It was among the first academic medical centers to venture online with a commercial consumer health effort, and through its prior online and ongoing traditional print initiatives, has established what we believe is the ‘gold standard' for consumer health information."
Johns Hopkins is one of the nation's oldest and best known academic medical centers. Based on a 44-acre campus in downtown Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions consist of the 111-year-old Johns Hopkins Hospital and three health-related divisions of The Johns Hopkins University – the schools of medicine, nursing, and public health. Hopkins' faculty annually receive more biomedical research support from the federal government than the faculty at any other university. In addition to Hopkins Hospital, The Johns Hopkins Health System includes Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Howard County General Hospital along with satellite clinics, physician networks, and a home care service.
The Definity Health benefit breaks new ground by giving members greater control over – and responsibility for – their own healthcare decisions. Under the Definity Health benefit, members pay for routine healthcare services of their choice out of their Personal Care Account, an account funded by employers at a set amount each year. Any funds left in the Personal Care Account at year-end will roll over and may be used by employees for future medical expenses. If employees encounter more serious medical needs, health coverage complements the Personal Care Account to cover expenses.
Based in Minneapolis, Definity Health was founded in 1999 under the name HealtheCare.
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Contacts: Definity Health, Chris Delaney 952-259-3416 Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Gary Stephenson 410-955-5384
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