Humana Buys Hummingbird Coaching Services to Include Adherence Rx Subsidiary With Compliance Algorithms

And we have one more coaching firm and software added to the portfolio of Humana today. You can see one of the under laying focuses here is compliance to taking medications, and we see that all over the place today, so much to the point that these efforts are somewhat becoming just another web portal. Insurance companies want compliance with medications and behavioral patterns and thus we keep seeing more and more popping up and this one offering financial incentives to those who don’t require as much “coaching”. I don’t know about you but I am so busy today multi tasking and trying to work, I don’t have the time.

I also wonder about how some of this information is handled with confidentiality too as subsidiaries and health insurance lines are not always real clear today and few laws protect privacy, but for those who want to enroll, here’s one more for Humana. The algorithms will run and give an analysis and grade you. I didn’t see any mention of use of biometrics on the site at this point but the comments state that “a live health coach is essential to achieving real behavior change”. Data analytics and ROI analysis come complete with all the other services. I guess I read and see so many of these in the process of doing this blog that they all run together and look about the same anymore as they are all algorithmic processes that eventually lead to earning money for investors.

Humana also owns and operates their own subsidiary called “LifeSynch” which as of today said to come back as they are revising the website. BD

From the website:

“AdherenceRx Patient Adherence Pathways can range from intensive behavioral health coaching for high risk patients to more automated reminder messaging, virtual coaching, patient incentives and financial support programs for those patients who do not require more mediated (‘coach intensive’) support. At the low end of activation, individuals tend to be passive in managing their health and typically fail to see the connection between their own behaviors and health outcomes.

At the high end, individuals understand that relationship and have become strong self-managers across a constellation of behaviors. However, even high-activation-level individuals may benefit from coaching to stay on course in times of change or stress or to close gaps to best practice self-care.”

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today that it has acquired Cincinnati-based Hummingbird Coaching Services for an undisclosed amount. Hummingbird Coaching, a pioneer in scalable, affordable and results-driven coaching, can be a comprehensive turn-key coaching program, an enhancement to a medically based coaching protocol and a platform that makes coaching programs more efficient.

“Benefits will accrue to Humana members as well as purchasers of LifeSynch products.”

"Hummingbird's flexible, user-friendly platform and coaching expertise are market differentiators that significantly strengthen Humana's vision to help members achieve lifelong wellbeing," said Patrick Gotcher, president of LifeSynch, Humana's health and wellbeing subsidiary. "Benefits will accrue to Humana members as well as purchasers of LifeSynch products."