In Brief: Meridian Wins Dual-Eligibles Contract; Link Between Obesity, Ankle Injuries; New CSO For Minnesota Children\'s

Meridian Wins Illinois Dual-Eligibles Contract

Chicago-based Meridian Health Plan has received a contract from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to provide coverage to the dual-eligible population – those who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.

Under the terms of the contract, Meridian will enroll in dual-eligibles in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Lake and Will counties. It will operate as Meridian Complete.

"We are honored to be a part of this pioneering joint venture between the State of Illinois and CMS, aimed at utilizing coordination, accountability and innovation to improve health outcomes, increase quality and improve independence in the community for this special population," said Michael Cotton, president of Meridian Health Plan of Illinois.  "We pride ourselves on our interdisciplinary approach to care coordination centered on the member and their personal needs to maximize access to resources to achieve these shared goals." 

Link Discovered Between Obesity, Serious Ankle Injury

The Chicago-based College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons has established a link between obesity and the severity of ankle fractures.

According to a study of 280 patients that was published in the CFAS’ Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, those with a larger-than-average body mass index were twice as likely to suffer from an ankle fracture than those of a lighter weight. The highest risk groups were men under the age of 25 and women over the age of 50.

“The increase in weight can have grave effects on the bone and joints, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis and (potentially) the need for total joint replacement at a younger age,” the College said in a statement.

“The findings of this study correlate with what I continue to see in my practice. It's basic physics; as body mass increases, so does the kinetic energy associated with the injury. The higher the body mass, the greater the risk of more severe ankle injury,” said Alan MacGill, the podiatrist who helped perform the study.

Minnesota Children’s Names New Chief Strategy Officer

Carol Koenicke-Grant has joined Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota as its chief strategy officer.

Koenicke-Grant was previously senior vice president of strategic planning at Guthrie Health System, a three-hospital network in Pennsylvania and New York.

“Carol brings a keen, strategic eye to our business and a deep understanding of the changing healthcare landscape,” said Alan L. Goldbloom, M.D., president and CEO of Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, which is based in Minneapolis and is comprised of two hospitals. “She'll be a great asset in helping us grow core programs, expand our clinic footprint and evolve the patient family experience.”