Overheard

Oxford HealthCare President Karen Thomas appears on the cover of the January/February issue of national magazine HomeCare Innovations. The cover story features Thomas’ pioneering work in telemedicine, particularly how she took telemonitoring into Medicaid and private insurance coverage. Under Thomas’ leadership, Oxford’s telemonitoring program has helped reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The program now serves as a model throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, and telemonitoring has been incorporated into Gov. Matt Blunt’s Medicaid reform, MO HealthNet. A copy of the article is accessible at www.homecareinnovations.net.

Pick Up the Pieces

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved Gov. Matt Blunt’s request for assistance for southwest Missouri small businesses affected by tornadoes in January. Low-interest economic-impact loans will be available to qualifying businesses in Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Laclede, Webster and Wright counties. “In addition to their losses, (small businesses) have experienced the unexpected costs of clean-up, debris removal and other recovery expenses,” Blunt said.

Steady CMI

The seasonally adjusted Credit Manager’s Index was unchanged in February after five straight months of declines. The manufacturing index rose 1.5 percent – largely due to a 10.2 percent jump in the dollar collections component. The services index fell 1.6 percent to below 50 for the first time, with many survey respondents reporting a slowdown in customer payments. “Overall, the combined index tells a story similar to the one we have been seeing for some time: a slow erosion of the combined index, with more weakness in services than in manufacturing,” surmised Daniel North, Euler Hermes ACI chief economist. “The performance of the macroeconomy continues to be dismal, and it is quite likely that a recession has already started.” The CMI is a monthly survey of the business economy based on commercial credit and collections. Credit managers are asked to rate favorable factors – such as sales, new credit applications and dollar collections – and unfavorable factors – such as bankruptcy filings, rejected credit applications and accounts placed for collections.

State Commissioner Dies

The state of Missouri lost its Office of Administration Commissioner to cancer last week. Mike Keathley died March 5 at age 50. Gov. Matt Blunt issued this statement: “Mike was a tremendous public servant and a trusted member of my Cabinet who answered my call to help fix a broken state government with great competence and skill. Mike will be remembered for his dedication and for his many achievements to help enhance the state he deeply cared for.” Blunt appointed state Budget Director Larry Schepker as Keathley’s successor.[[In-content Ad]]