No related posts.

Powered by Twitter Tools

Possibly related posts:

1. Sibaya Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07
2. Sibaya Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28
3. Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-17

Newly appointed German Healthcare Minister Philipp Roesler – liberal – Free Democratic Party in likely move to break big pharma stronghold and submit new products to insurance pricing scrutiny and impose an “efficiency and clinical effectiveness /outcomes” pricing performance ratio.

Not totally dissimilar to the British NICE economic and clinical effectiveness system.

Sign of the times perhaps to introduce new effectiveness and economic liberalization in the DME (durable medical equipment) sector of the ever increasing homecare industry.

Maybe not – Roesler is clearly risking his parties popularity as a junior member in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrat Party.

Possibly related posts:

1. German Homecare Market – an Insiders Perspective – Adrian Thyssen
2. Pharmaceutical Sales Reps To Be Fired At Pfizer? – When The Best Is Not Good Enough
3. State of New Jersey Holds Mega Durable Medical Equipment Auction

Care UK provides care services through it’s facilities as well as in the growing home care sector. In addition they are a provider of NHS Walk-In centers. The acquisition is valued at 309 million Euro (about 460 million US Dollars).

Jamie Wyatt, director responsible for Bridgepoint’s UK healthcare investment activity, said, “Today’s offer is a fair one that comes with the unanimous recommendation of the independent directors of Care UK to the Care UK shareholders, and which will allow Care UK to accelerate growth and undertake selective acquisitions in a way that it was unable to as a quoted business.”

As an aside this compares in several ways with the 920 million US Dollar investment that Blackstone made to take (homecare services provider) Apria private in the USA. We wrote about this last year “Why Invest In Homecare? – Revisited – Blackstone Bids For Apria“.

Of course Care UK and Bridgepoint will continue to be going up against the likes of the agile and behemoth Bupa who is also not sitting still.

To view other Bridgepoint healthcare investments click here and adjust the tab.

With the age and population demographic being so favorable, these types of deals in services and facilities will only continue.

Frank Barlin is Managing Partner at Sibaya LifeScience!

Possibly related posts:

1. Why Invest In Homecare? – Revisited – Blackstone Bids For Apria
2. Handicare – First Acquisition Of 2008 – Homecare Top 3 European Companies – Whats Next?
3. NPM Venture Capital Acquires Harting-Bank Homecare and Medical Provider- the Netherlands

The original letter from Dr Shane O’Hanlon starts like this:

It was switching to decaffeinated coffee that started it all. In a flash of lucidity I realised the dubious ethical basis for drug company representatives’ courtship of doctors.

Doctor – Sorry to say but so long as anybody works for money, including doctors, they could be asked the same thing. Doctors are very quick to court sales people when they “need” something. Medical Journals are quick to solicit and accept drug company advertising, and there is nothing wrong with that. It is also very ethical.

It becomes unethical when the conversation between a doctor and a sales rep concerning a product or service cannot be published in the local newspaper – that’s the acid test. In 99% of cases it can be.

The argument is the same one that has been made for years and usually ranges from “I don’t like them, they waste valuable time, they are (yes) commercial” etc.

The counter argument is that in fact the medical sales rep does provide a service – even if it is to only alert the doctor to a new product so that he or she can go and do their own research (which is what hopefully they do anyway).

Obviously there are good and bad sales people (and doctors) in every industry. I am making an assumption that most are good, so here goes.

Doctors, you get what you deserve – many of you treat appointments with sales reps with little respect for the content of their message (after having kept them waiting way past scheduled (and cancelled) appointment times). Even when the sales person is finally in front of many of you – you look at your watch and say “you have two minutes” as you continue to click on the keyboard.

If you have pre-determined that the sales rep will have nothing useful to say – then why agree to the appointment in the first place?

Without a doubt there are medical / surgical sales reps that are way better trained on a particular subject than the doctor is. This is of course the reason why so many sales people are invited into the OR (Operating Theatre) to explain the use of complex, and often life saving medical devices.

It is true that with modern media there are now improving ways of getting the message across to the doctor, which is good for all. In the mean time next time you the doctor complains or is rude to a sales rep – think first about the value of pharmaceutical and medical companies, especially when you demand samples of products, a demonstration, or support for an important clinical trial that you are going to publish.

Pharmaceutical companies – make sure you have the right message and you are sending it in the most effective way.

(To all the pharmaceutical representatives out there looking for a job – rest assured that you have great value. If you can succeed and survive selling into the hospital jungle – you can excel anywhere).

Possibly related posts:

1. Pharmaceutical Sales Reps To Be Fired At Pfizer? – When The Best Is Not Good Enough
2. FDA – New Quality Management System For The Pharmaceutical Industry
3. Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Calls And Sales Force Effectiveness – The Trend

Powered by Twitter Tools

Possibly related posts:

1. Sibaya Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-14
2. Sibaya Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28
3. Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-07

Virginia Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Reimbursement for Telemedicine

Contact: Ben Forstag, American Telemedicine Association, 202-223-3333 March 3, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC – By a unanimous vote, the Virginia State Legislature yesterday approved SB 675 mandating that health insurers pay for telemedicine services. Governor McDonnell is expected to sign the bill into law.

“This is one more indication that telemedicine is now fully accepted by providers, policy makers, consumers and insurers as an important way to increase access, improve quality and reduce costs in the delivery of healthcare” said Jonathan D. Linkous, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA).

Virginia is the latest in a string of states passing similar legislation. Eleven other states have adopted mandates for the coverage of
telemedicine. The other states are: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon and
Texas. Karen Rheuban, MD, President of ATA and Medical Director, Office of Telemedicine and Senior Associate Dean for CME and External Affairs at
the University of Virginia expressed her thanks to the “leaders of the state legislature who have taken the bold step to improve the lives of the
residents of Virginia.”

The Virginia bill requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to fully cover the cost of
healthcare services provided through telemedicine services. The bill defines “telemedicine services” as the use of interactive audio, video, or
other electronic media for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation or treatment. Utilization review may be undertaken to determine the
appropriateness of telemedicine services.

The American Telemedicine Association is the leading resource and advocate promoting access to health care for consumers and health professionals via telecommunications technology. ATA brings together diverse groups from traditional medicine, academic medical centers, technology and
telecommunications companies, medical societies, government and others to overcome barriers to the advancement of telemedicine. Established in
1993, ATA is headquartered in Washington, DC.

ATA’s Annual Meeting, May 16-18 2010 in San Antonio, Texas, is the world’s largest meeting and tradeshow focused exclusively on telemedicine and
remote healthcare services. For more information visit www.americantelemed.org.

Possibly related posts:

1. COCIR and HIMSS Announce Enhanced Cooperation
2. Oxygen Study – American Association For Homecare
3. USPharmD Publishes Definitive Resource – 100 Global Health Blogs

Bastide, a French public traded homecare provider reports revenue up move of 3,5% Q2 2009 – 2010. This follows the troublesome legislative change in “les Etablissements d’Hébergement pour Personnes Agées Dépendantes (EHPAD)” (read Institutional reimbursement), the negative effect of which appears to have leveled off. In addition the regular homecare sector has continued it’s positive trend.

BASTIDE: Interim Results 2009-2010 & Resumption of growth in 2nd quarter)

Résultats semestriels 2009-2010 (Euronext)
(01/03/10 07:30 CET)

BASTIDE LE CONFORT MEDICAL

Résultats semestriels 2009-2010

Reprise de la croissance au 2ème trimestre

En K€ 2008-2009 2009-2010 Var.
Chiffre d’affaires 1er trimestre 24 427 22 782 - 6,7%
Chiffre d’affaires 2ème trimestre 26 846 27 778 +3,5%
Chiffre d’affaire 1er semestre 51 272 50 560 - 1,4%

Le groupe Bastide Le Confort Médical a renoué avec la croissance au second trimestre de son exercice 2009-2010, en réalisant un chiffre d’affaires de 27,8M€ en hausse de +3,5%.

L’effet défavorable lié au changement législatif du modèle économique avec les Etablissements d’Hébergement pour Personnes Agées Dépendantes (EHPAD) s’estompe avec un recul de l’activité « maintien à domicile en collectivités » de seulement -7% sur ce trimestre (à comparer à -33% au premier trimestre). Les activités « hors maintien à domicile en collectivités » continuent d’afficher une bonne dynamique avec une croissance de +8,0% au second trimestre (+6,5% au premier trimestre).

Sur l’ensemble du semestre, le chiffre d’affaires global est quasi stable à 50,6 M€. L’activité se répartit à 56% pour les ventes et 44% pour les prestations de services.

Analyse semestrielle par métiers

Maintien à domicile : Sur le semestre, le chiffre d’affaires ressort à 33,6 M€ en recul de -5,5%. Cette évolution intègre la baisse de l’activité réalisée en collectivité (-20,6% à 12,8M€). En agences, la croissance reste soutenue avec une hausse de +7,0% du chiffre d’affaires à 20,8 M€. Le groupe poursuit notamment le développement de ses produits en marque propre qui ont contribué pour 11,3M€ au chiffre d’affaires, soit une hausse de +9,2% par rapport à la même période de l’exercice précédent.

Respiratoire : Le groupe affiche un chiffre d’affaires sur ce semestre de 8,7 M€ en croissance de +9,5%. La réorganisation de la force commerciale commence à porter ses fruits ainsi que l’élargissement stratégique du groupe vers l’ensemble des prescripteurs potentiels notamment autour du syndrome de l’apnée du sommeil.

Nutrition-Perfusion : Le chiffre d’affaires semestriel s’établit à 8,2M€ en croissance de +6,1%. Le groupe accentue actuellement ses efforts de prospection commerciale pour promouvoir l’ensemble de son savoir-faire face aux besoins de nouvelles pathologies.

Remontée séquentielle des marges au S1 2009/2010

En K€ S1 2008/2009 S2 2008/2009 S1 2009/2010
Chiffre d’affaires 51 270 45 523 50 560
Résultat opérationnel courant 3 230 1 541 2 511
Marge opérationnelle 6,3% 3,4% 5,0%
Résultat opérationnel 3 230 1 316 2 511
Résultat net pdg 1 762 482 1 228
Marge nette 3,4% 1,1% 2,4%
Après avoir touché un point bas au second semestre de l’exercice précédent suite aux conséquences du changement législatif « EHPAD », la rentabilité du groupe a amorcé son redressement sur ce semestre.

La marge opérationnelle courante s’établit à 5,0% (à comparer à 3,4% au second semestre de l’exercice 2008-2009), grâce principalement à une meilleure absorption des coûts fixes et aux premiers résultats des mesures d’économies mises en place par le groupe. Après frais financiers et impôts, le résultat net ressort à 1,2 M€ soit une marge nette de 2,4%.

Structure financière

Les capitaux propres ressortent à 37,6 M€ au 31 décembre 2009. Le taux d’endettement net, qui s’était fortement accru à la clôture de l’exercice précédent, a été ramené à 51% des capitaux propres, bénéficiant notamment de la nette amélioration du Besoin en Fonds de Roulement et de la génération de trésorerie liée à l’activité.

Perspectives du second semestre

Bastide entend poursuivre au second semestre l’amélioration de ses fondamentaux économiques.

Le groupe s’appuiera ainsi sur le retour à une croissance organique significative avec notamment un effet de base désormais plus favorable dans l’activité « maintien à domicile en collectivités ». Bastide poursuivra également ses efforts en matière de rentabilité, en mettant l’accent sur l’optimisation progressive de la marge brute et du taux d’utilisation du matériel locatif et sur la gestion rigoureuse des dépenses.

Bastide se donne ainsi comme objectif d’aborder le prochain exercice sur des bases solides, ce qui permettra la reprise du programme dynamique de création d’agences en propre.

En parallèle, le lancement des franchises se poursuit activement avec désormais 12 implantations. Le groupe dispose de plus d’une dizaine de projets avancés sur l’ensemble de l’année civile 2010.

Contact Bastide, Le Confort Médical

Guy Bastide/Vincent Bastide au +33 (0)4 66 38 68 08 www.bastideleconfortmedical.com

Contact Actus Finance

Guillaume Le Floch au +33 (0)1 72 74 82 25 www.actus-finance.com

Reuters BATD.PA, Bloomberg BLC : FP, ISIN FR0000035370, Nombre de titres 7 340

Possibly related posts:

1. DMLA, quatre lettres pour perdre la vue (French)
2. Permobil Bucks The Trend In The US Market – Again
3. Telemedicine Reimbursement – Good News For Homecare et al

Good to see a homecare/ mobility manufacturer in the top 100 (60)

Hat tip Homecare Monday

Possibly related posts:

1. Sunrise Medical – Evolution
2. Sunrise Medical Divests Patient Aid (Guardian) Business To Medline – What’s Next
3. New CEO At Sunrise Medical – Hammes Remains As Chairman

Powered by Twitter Tools

Possibly related posts:

1. Sibaya Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-21
2. Sibaya Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-07
3. Sibaya Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-14