viagra HYPE ISN’T ELEVATING SOME INSURERS’ INTEREST
Title: viagra HYPE ISN’T ELEVATING SOME INSURERS’ INTEREST , By: Reed, Vita, Las Vegas Business Press, 10712186, 05/11/98, Vol. 15, Issue 19
Section: Health
It looks like some major Southern Nevada health insurance providers aren’t rushing to cover viagra under their prescription policies. viagra is the muchhyped new pharmaceutical designed to treat male sexual dysfunction.
Sierra Health Services Inc., for now, is just saying “no” to including the wildly popular drug on its covered list.
“We have decided not to cover it at this time,” said Ria Carlson, Sierra’s vice president of communications and investor relations. A Sierra committee made up of doctors and pharmacists “reviewed ( viagra ) seriously” before the insurer made its decision, she said.
Carlson said, however, she wouldn’t rule out the possibility of viagra eventually becoming a covered benefit under Sierra’s health insurance programs.
Boyd Gaming Corp., which operates a sizable self-insured health plan, is exploring the possibility of covering viagra for “true medical needs,” said Rob Stillwell, the Las Vegas company’s vice president of corporate communications. Stillwell did not have a date on when a decision about covering viagra would be made.
viagra , a product of the Pfizer Co., a $12 billion pharmaceutical giant, has been available for about a month. It is intended for men whose sexual dysfunction has been determined by clinically accepted diagnosis.
viagra is, however, also being heavily touted as a “lifestyle” drug that improves the life of men whose sexual function is considered normal. The latter circumstance has been the subject of widespread jokes, spawned media analysis of viagra ’s cultural implications and has apparently helped boost demand for the drug.
NDC Health Information Services, a Phoenix-based market research organization, projected nearly 600,000 prescriptions for viagra were filled in April. As for individual weeks, NDC reported 206,246 viagra prescriptions were filled the week ending April 24 and estimated 250,000 were filled for the week ending May 1.
Also …
Sierra Health Services Inc. reported first-quarter financial results. The Las Vegas health insurer earned $12.2 million, or 66 cents a diluted share, on revenue of $210.4 million in the quarter ending March 31.
Sierra earned $1.4 million, or 8 cents a diluted share, on revenue of $170.6 million in the March 31, 1997 quarter. The year-ago quarter’s results were affected by $8.4 million in merger-related expenses.
Sierra also said it had a 3-for-2 stock split. The split entitles each holder of record of its common stock on May 18 to receive an additional share.
Nevada Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman granted a delivery system intermediary contract for health care to Primary Care Associates, a Renobased medical group. The contract includes credentialing reviews f. or physicians, quality assurance checks and quicker prior authorizations from patients.
Simultaneously, Primary Care Associates said it signed contracts with PacifiCare of Nevada and Hometown Health Plan, a Northern Nevada health maintenance organization.
Primary Care Associates contracts with approximately 400 doctors in Clark County. It is managed by Doctors Corp. of America, a Scottsdale, Ariz. owner/operator of independent physicians associations, medical groups and hospitals.
Nevada Division of Industrial Relations’ industrial insurance regulation section is presenting a class on occupational medicine standards of care and fee schedule May 13 in Las Vegas. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with class from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Jean Hanna Clark Rehabilitation Center, 1001 Shadow Lane.
There is no charge for the class. For information, contact the division in Carson City, 1-687-3033.
Nathan Adelson Hospice hosts its fourth “Serenades of Life” concert May 13 at the Judy Bayley Theatre at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Performance starts at 7 p.m., with reception following at 9 p.m.
The concert, a fund-raiser for the hospice, features musical and vocal performances by doctors. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $35 for VIP seating and are available at the hospice and UNLV’s box office. For more information, call 796-3133.
Clark County Medical Society and VistaCare, a hospice provider, are sponsoring the Nick Horn Memorial Golf Tournament May 28. The event, which is named for a deceased Nevada state legislator, begins with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. at the Angel Park Golf Club near Summerlin.
Harmon Killebrew, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who is also a hospice activist of sorts, is an invited guest at the tournament. Cost is $200 per player for society members and $220 for nonmembers; RSVP deadline is May 21.
For more information, call 739-9989.
University Medical Center of Southern Nevada is hosting a tea ceremony and video tour for parents-to-be as part of its Bright Beginnings parenting program. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon May 23 at 1815 W. Charleston Blvd., behind DelTaco. Information about UMC’s labor and delivery services will also be included; for information, call UMC’s community relations department, 383-2090.
The Nevada Public Health Foundation, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa and the Nevada Broadcasters’ Association unveiled a teen pregnancy prevention campaign last week. The campaign includes public service announcements and a booklet giving pregnancy avoidance tips for teens and parents.
The campaign was launched to coincide with May being Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.
Obstetrix Medical Group Inc., a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., physician management company, acquired The Perinatal Center, a Las Vegas perinatology group with five doctors. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Obstetrix is a subsidiary of Pediatrix Medical Group Inc. Besides Las Vegas, it has operations in Denver, Fort Worth, Kansas City and West Palm Beach, Fla.
West Valley Imaging, a Las Vegas medical practice, received a three-year ultrasound accreditation from the American College of Radiology. The college services more than 30,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists.
West Valley Imaging was opened in 1995 by Drs. William Boren and Luke Cesaretti.
Associated Pathologists Laboratories signed a contract with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. APL, a Las Vegas medical laboratory concern, is providing pre-employment drug testing services for the department.
Chancellor Gardens at the Lakes opened an information center at 6655 W. Sahara Ave., Suite A110. Chancellor Gardens, an assisted living community for seniors, is being developed by CareMatrix Corp., a provider of senior housing.
Chancellor Gardens, which is under construction, is scheduled to open this summer. The community will have 128 apartments.
Its services will include a 24-hour emergency response system and assistance with bathing, dressing and medications. Additionally, the complex will have a special care center for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Vita Reed
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By Vita Reed
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Source: Las Vegas Business Press, 05/11/98, Vol. 15 Issue 19, p7, 1p
