Delta Dental of California

Elizabeth Risberg, 415-972-8423

erisberg@delta.org

Delta Dental of California today announced the appointment of Benjamin Lowry as director of Southern California sales.

Lowry brings more than 15 years of experience in sales, employee benefits and consulting, including eight years with VSP, where he was responsible for sales and account management in Southern California. Prior to that, Lowry was a sales consultant for Automatic Data Processing and a systems consultant for Hewitt Associates. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Iowa and has completed graduate coursework at Pepperdine University.

As Delta Dental’s regional sales director, Lowry will supervise sales account executives in the company’s Cerritos and San Diego sales offices.

Delta Dental of California, Pennsylvania and its affiliated companies within its holding company system, along with Delta Dental of New York, are all part of the Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA), based in Oak Brook, Ill. DDPA consists of 39 Delta Dental member companies licensed in all 50 states. The association collectively covers nearly 52 million of the 173 million people nationwide with private dental insurance, making it by far the largest national system of dental plans.

A trip to the dentist isn’t that bad when other kids are sitting in chairs on either side of you, and getting their teeth cleaned for free, too.

Luis Villanueva, 9, relaxed in his chair Saturday as two dental hygienists doted on him. They gave him red sunglasses to shade his eyes from the bright overhead light.

Villanueva had his teeth cleaned and sealant put on his molars as a part of a free service provided annually by the Benton Franklin Oral Health Coalition, said Dr. Larry Loveridge, who co-operates Columbia Basin Pediatric Dentistry.

About 130 kids, ages 14 and under, were treated Saturday at Columbia Basin Pediatric Dentistry and just down the street at Willamette Dental. Children who don’t have regular dental care were invited to sign up on a first-come, first-served basis to see a dentist.

Loveridge said children and their parents started lining up at about 6:45 a.m. to register for a seat in one of 30 dental chairs. He estimated the cost of services provided by the volunteers at about $50,000.

“This is the biggest community effort in this area,” he said.

Two shifts of 120 volunteers, including Tri-City dental school students, helped register patients and do cleanings, fillings, tooth abstractions and other work.

A small group of dental hygienists started the free dental day in 1991. The program evolved into an annual event sponsored by the Oral Health Coalition, said Brooke DuBois, Benton-Franklin Community Health Alliance executive director.

Columbia Basin was packed with kids and parents, waiting for their turn in a chair in the back office. There, televisions played footage of a monkey brushing its teeth and parents waited on benches.

Volunteers said they were impressed with their young patients, and were thankful for the chance to help them.

“I’m so excited,” said Karlee Cats, 18, who studies dentistry at the Tri-Tech Skills Center in Kennewick. “I’ve been waiting all morning to come.”

Cats observed hygienists as they helped Luis Villanueva keep still for his sealant procedure.

His mom, Maria Magdalena Negrete of Pasco, said she brought Luis and his younger brother Hector, 5, because she can’t afford a trip to the dentist.

“In Mexico, they don’t have programs like this,” she said in Span- ish, adding, “You have to pay.”

Guadalupe Pea also brought her two children, Noemi, 4, and Daniel, 7, for cleanings and a check-up after she heard about the service at Longfellow Elementary School in Pasco.

Volunteers let Noemi look at an X-ray slide of her teeth after she finished her cleaning. She laughed at the slide.

Other young patients needed more complicated procedures. Loveridge had to perform a root canal on a baby tooth of one child, and he also removed nine abscessed teeth from three siblings.

“They did great,” he said. “They were excellent patients.”

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Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group Inc. is pleased to announce its decision to offer discount dental plans coupon to its MedFlash ePHR members as part of a recent collaboration with DentalPlans.com, the leading online provider of discount dental plans (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Connectyx-Technologies-Holdings-Group,-Inc..html> Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group, Inc.).

In turn, DentalPlans.com will offer Connectyx’s MedFlash(TM) product to its members. This collaboration is a natural fit as both companies offer products that give their members the opportunity to enhance their overall health. MedFlash(TM) members will have access to special savings on discount dental plans, cost-effective dental insurance alternatives, while DentalPlans.com members will have access to an affordable, portable solution for keeping easily accessible, up-to-date personal health records.

“Our collaboration with DentalPlans.com is a win-win situation because it enables both of our organizations to increase our respective membership bases. I am happy to offer our customers the ability to access quality and affordable dental care with discount dental plans from DentalPlans.com,” said Ronn Schuman, Connectyx President and CEO.

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Keywords: Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group, Inc., Marketing and Licensing Agreements

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Interactive, Web-Based Quiz Helps People Take Charge of their Oral Health

Delta Dental

Elizabeth Risberg, 415-972-8423

erisberg@delta.org

Your risk for cavities can be gauged in minutes, thanks to a new interactive quiz launched today by a group of Delta Dental companies.

The dental cavity risk quiz, which also includes tips to on preventive steps to minimize that risk, is now accessible on the unified web site for Delta Dental of California, Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania and their affiliates at www.deltadentalins.com. Available in both English and Spanish, the quiz is just one of the many free educational resources Delta Dental provides on its web site.

The quiz is part of Delta Dental’s wellness education strategy, which includes programs, online tools, videos, newsletters and dental plan designs — all geared toward preventive care for people of all ages. Although dental caries is the most chronic childhood disease in the U.S., an estimated one-third to two-thirds of adults over age 50 also get cavities.

“Almost everyone is at some risk for cavities, and our new online tool helps identify specific risk factors that can be headed off at the pass,” said Marilynn Belek, DMD, chief dental officer and executive vice president. “We’re pleased to make this assessment available to the general public to help raise awareness about cavity prevention. Good preventive care is a very important step in fighting dental disease.”

The quiz guides readers through 11 questions about their oral health habits. Along the way, the narrator provides tailored advice and photos, based upon readers’ answers, to help them learn more about their cavity risk and what they can do to limit it.

Delta Dental of California, Pennsylvania and its affiliated companies within the holding company system, along with Delta Dental of New York, are all part of the Delta dental plans Association (DDPA), based in Oak Brook, Ill. DDPA consists of 39 Delta Dental member companies licensed in all 50 states. The association collectively covers nearly 52 million of the 174 million people nationwide with private dental insurance, making it by far the largest national system of dental plans.

Volkswagen officials are ready to start taking applications to hire its first hourly workers for the Chattanooga auto assembly plant.

Tuesday, VW will begin accepting applications for maintenance employees who provide technical expertise to diagnose, troubleshoot and improve high-tech equipment used in manufacturing vehicles.

Hans-Herbert Jagla, executive vice president of human resources for VW’s local operation, said these employees have “a crucial role” at the plant.

They will help with the installation of the manufacturing equipment and maintain it, he said.

Mr. Jagla said the skilled maintenance workers do not make the cars. VW will start taking applications for production workers, who will comprise most of the 2,000 workers at the plant, toward the end of the year.

VW plans to hire about 150 maintenance workers over the next two years, filling some 20 slots in 2009.

Starting wages will be $22 an hour, gradually increasing to $27 per hour after 36 months, company officials said. The workers will be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental plans, life insurance and retirement savings, according to VW.

Ryan Rose, VW’s general manager for human resources in the city, said the first workers will help get the production line set up and running smoothly.

“Later, when we hire the production team members, they can then have a good and efficient environment to build the cars,” he said.

Ideally, the maintenance workers will have a two-year technical degree or comparable work experience in electricity, electronics, the industrial-mechanical area and facilities maintenance, Mr. Rose said.

“The candidates we’re looking for would have applicable experience in at least one of these areas,” he said. “The ideal is to have people with experience in more than one.”

For example, if someone is troubleshooting a robot, the person needs experience in electronics but also should know about fluid power and mechanics, Mr. Rose said.

VW expects to get several thousands of applications for the jobs.

“We’ll take all the applications and review them and try to pull the best-fit candidates to the next step,” Mr. Rose said.

Mr. Jagla said VW wants to hire locally, starting with people in Chattanooga, Hamilton County and surrounding counties.

“We are convinced we’ll get a lot of people out of this region, especially Tennessee,” he said.

Plans are to start hiring the skilled maintenance workers in November to coincide with need.

Mr. Rose said if someone applies for a maintenance job, that doesn’t mean they’ve applied for the production jobs.

Also, past experience with an automotive company doesn’t guarantee a slot, but could be an advantage, he said.

Mr. Jagla said people hired for maintenance slots will travel abroad to VW locations in Mexico or Germany.

Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group Inc. is pleased to announce its decision to offer discount dental plans to its MedFlash ePHR members as part of a recent collaboration with DentalPlans.com, the leading online provider of discount dental plans (see also Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group, Inc.).

In turn, DentalPlans.com will offer Connectyx’s MedFlash(TM) product to its members. This collaboration is a natural fit as both companies offer products that give their members the opportunity to enhance their overall health. MedFlash(TM) members will have access to special savings on discount dental plans, cost-effective dental insurance alternatives, while DentalPlans.com members will have access to an affordable, portable solution for keeping easily accessible, up-to-date personal health records.

“Our collaboration with DentalPlans.com is a win-win situation because it enables both of our organizations to increase our respective membership bases. I am happy to offer our customers the ability to access quality and affordable dental care with discount dental plans from DentalPlans.com,” said Ronn Schuman, Connectyx President and CEO.

“We’re excited to offer the MedFlash product to our members,” said Evelyn Hennick, Director of Business Development at DentalPlans.com. “This product can help members easily access personal health records – enhancing their overall health care experience – and that is a primary goal at DentalPlans.com.”

Saving dentist offices nationwide approximately 26,000 hours a year combined versus unautomated systems, CIGNA’s (NYSE:CI) electronic system speeds the way for first-time applicants to join the company’s network of dentists. Also called e-onboarding, the paperless credentialing system allows dentists to electronically sign their application and, using the Internet, securely send all required documentation and information such as professional history, licensure, dental specialties and education. Available now to PPO dentists, the new electronic credentialing system is scheduled for release to HMO dentists this fall (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/CIGNA.html> CIGNA).

The electronic system saves in many areas. It reduces a typical four hour process to a single-sitting of 15 to 30 minutes. Also, the process to formally accept and add a dentist to the CIGNA network can now be completed in just 24 hours or less, down from the usual four business days. Paperless systems also support CIGNA’s corporate social responsibility green initiatives. This electronic system alone saves 750,000 pieces of paper per year. Earlier this year, Uptime Institute named CIGNA as one of the Global Green 100 for Corporate Leadership in Information Technology.

“In addition to being environmentally friendly, moving to a paperless system is part of our ongoing effort to make it easier to work with us and give dentists more time to focus on treating patients,” said Julie Vayer, vice president for CIGNA’s dental network and products. “CIGNA also offers network and non-network dentists and their office staff convenient access via the Internet to eligibility, benefits and claim/referral information through our secure website for health care professionals.”

The secure site already offers additional time-and money-saving tools exclusive to both CIGNA network HMO or PPO dentists including free continuing education courses and discounts on products and services through CIGNA Network RewardsSM.

CIGNA’s national PPO network of dentists has more than 60,000 unique dentists serving patients in more than 130,000 office locations. CIGNA also has one of the largest dental HMO networks in the country with 13,700 unique dentists in 43,500 office locations. Individual customers can locate in-network dentists using the dentist directory on http://www.mycigna.com/ or on http://www.cigna.com. Dentists can also contact CIGNA to request information for participation in the company’s dental networks at 800.CIGNA24 (800.244.6224). About CIGNA CIGNA (NYSE:CI), a global health service company, is dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and security. CIGNA Corporation’s operating subsidiaries provide an integrated suite of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance, to approximately 46 million people throughout the United States and around the world. People covered by a CIGNA dental plan can choose their dentists from one of the largest dental HMO and dental PPO networks in the United States. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com. To sign up for email alerts or an RSS feed of company news, log on to http://newsroom.cigna.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=18.

Keywords: CIGNA, Technology, Data Management, Practice Management, Health, Dental, Professional Services, Insurance, Gener, Conservation, Data Management, Ecology, Environment, Information Technologies, Insurance, Technology, HMO, Health Insurance, Health Maintenance Organizations.

This article was prepared by Managed Care Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Managed Care Weekly Digest via <http://www.newsrx.com> NewsRx.com.

When traveling and in need of dental care, help is only a phone call away. MetLife, the largest commercial dental carrier, which administers dental benefits for over 21 million people, announced that the company has added international dental travel assistance services as a standard feature to its Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)-based dental plans.

Effective immediately international dental travel assistance services are now available to all MetLife Preferred Dentist Program (PDP) participants and their covered dependants. While participants have always had the freedom to go out-of-network to use any dentist, even internationally, this new program provides participants traveling internationally with around-the-clock access to multilingual assistance coordinators that can assist in connecting plan participants with dental providers in over 200 countries. For domestic travel, participants can continue to access MetLife’s online directory or customer service center to find a local dentist within the U.S. among the company’s over 124,000 participating dentist locations.

“Access to timely and quality oral health care is important, yet people who experience a dental event away from familiar surroundings may not know where to obtain the services they need. These obstacles may be compounded when the person also does not speak the native language. MetLife added this new program to make it convenient for travelers to obtain information on locally accredited dentists, to help ensure they receive the care they need, when they need it, wherever they might be geographically,” says Mike Schwartz, vice president, MetLife Dental Product Management.

Any time, day or night, a covered participant can simply call collect to a special telephone number and receive a referral to dental providers in over 200 countries. These providers have been selected based upon strict criteria including schooling and training background; local accreditation; specialties covered and staff experience; experience working with foreign patients; English-language proficiency; and access to the technology needed to provide adequate assistance.

International dental travel assistance services are provided through an agreement with AXA Assistance USA, Inc. AXA Assistance is not affiliated with MetLife, and the services they provide are separate and apart from the benefits provided by MetLife.

For more information about international dental travel assistance services contact the MetLife customer service center or your MetLife representative. About MetLife MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), a leading provider of insurance, employee benefits and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance and retirement & savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

Keywords: MetLife, Inc., Other Consumer, Health, Travel, Destinations, Vacation, Dental, Other Travel, Professional Services, Insur, Annuities, Asia, Finance, Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Investing, Investment, Technology

Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Horizon Behavioral Services, LLC. Headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, Horizon Behavioral Services is a leading provider of Employee Assistance Programs to many mid-sized and large employers (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Aetna.html> Aetna).

The purchase price is approximately $70 million. Aetna expects to finance the transaction from available cash. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including Hart-Scott-Rodino anti-trust approval and applicable regulatory approvals in California.

Aetna will acquire Horizon Behavioral Services from its parent company, Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSYS) the nation’s largest operator of owned or leased freestanding psychiatric inpatient facilities. Horizon Behavioral Services is the third-largest domestic provider of EAP services by membership with approximately 1,400 contracted employer clients representing over 5 million covered employees in all 50 states and countries around the globe. The company provides unlimited 24/7 confidential telephonic consultation, comprehensive online employee assistance program and work/life resources and access to a referral network of more than 14,000 licensed clinicians. Horizon’s clients include publicly and privately held companies, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and various not-for-profit entities such as hospital systems.

“We believe this acquisition will significantly enhance Aetna’s ability to provide a greater variety of EAP services to our customers and will position Aetna as a key player in the domestic EAP business,” said Louise Murphy, vice president and head of Behavioral Health. “Horizon Behavioral Services is a strong addition to Aetna’s EAP business which we believe adds value and provides customers with another reason to select Aetna.” About Aetna Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com and Aetna’s Annual Report at www.aetna.com/2008annualreport.

Keywords: , Health, Professional Services, Finance, Insurance, General Health, Psychiatric, Acquisitions, Insurance, Mergers, Behavior, Mental Health, Psychiatric, Psychiatry, Aetna.