Pfizer, Humana partner on older adult health care

Donna Cusano

Pfizer is once again gingerly partnering, this time with Humana, the US based health insurer, on health care services targeted to older adults (‘seniors’–tired and tiring terminology, don’t you think?–in the press release.) But what they are doing together is a bit of a mystery, to quote: ‘study key issues and deliver interventions to reduce inefficiencies in the management of chronic conditions such as pain, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.’ The impression Ed. Donna gets is heavy on the study (via Humana’s research arm Competitive Health Analytics) and light on the delivery of ‘new solutions to address …chronic conditions treated in the primary care setting’ (UK=GPs). The delivery from these two heavyweights could lead the way…unfortunately Pfizer’s partnerships in eHealth and care for older adults seem to appear and then…poof, are not heard of again–for instance, the year ago partnership with Acacia Living [TA 19 Apr 2010], last year’s (but not this year’s) sponsorship of the mHealth Summit. Pfizer/Humana release. Hat tip to reader Sean McCooe.