Aging in place tech company GreatCall (now owned by Best Buy) and long-term care insurer CNA have struck a partnership that will deploy in-home remote monitoring to the latter’s policyholders. GreatCall’s Lively Home and Lively Mobile, versions of its personal emergency response system, will both be available alongside support from GreatCall’s Care Team, which observes trends in remotely recorded behavior data and calls for help when necessary.

“We are constantly looking for ways to enrich lives through technology and help address the aging population who wish to age in place. While the number of older adults continues to escalate, the growth of professional caregivers remains stagnant, putting a strain on these caregivers and the aging population as a whole,” Bryan Fuhr, VP of Connected Health at GreatCall, said in a statement. “This partnership provides a technology-based service that arms professional caregivers with tools and data-driven insights that help older adults maintain safe independence.”

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OptimizeRx, a software company focused on pharma-provider digital health messaging, has joined with health IT firm IllumiCare to integrate a new app within the latter’s Smart Ribbon platform. The RxSavings App will highlight copay offers, vouchers and other drug savings opportunities to clinical teams at the point of care, who can then pass them along to patients.

“At OptimizeRx, our singular focus is to improve the lines of communication between pharma, providers and patients,” Miriam Paramore, president of OptimizeRx, said in a statement. “By bringing these stakeholders together, we can create a seamless continuum that impacts the healthcare industry greatly. Our partnership with IllumiCare is an example of our long-standing commitment to bringing financial conversations to the forefront, which not only helps affordability and adherence but improves overall outcomes as well.”

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Digital behavioral health startup Quartet Health has launched a new initiative with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina that will inject mental health support into primary care. The goal, according to the companies, is to help primary care providers better identify patients with underlying mental health conditions and more promptly connect them to appropriate care.

“For too long our health care system has failed to recognize the role behavioral health plays in overall health and well-being, including financial wellbeing,” Dr. Patrick Conway, President and CEO of BCBS of North Carolina, said in a statement. “This agreement with Quartet will give physicians the data and resources they need to make behavioral health an essential, accessible part of patient care across North Carolina.”

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UK-based video consultation company Push Doctor will be deploying three of patient safety software maker Datix’s modules for patient safety within its platform. According to a release, the implementation will allow Push Doctor to revamp its current reporting system with better incident report accuracy, increased standardization and analysis of its risks to identify potential improvements.

"A key differentiator was that the Datix system could be configured around our individual policies, processes, and culture," Wais Shaifta, CEO of Push Doctor, said in a statement. "The connectivity between incident and risk data is key to us, as it will provide us with a complete overview of all of our data and allow us to more accurately pinpoint areas for improvement, something that we couldn't do with our previous system. We're keen to start standardizing our processes and improving accuracy with Datix."

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This morning Aetna (which was recently acquired by CVS) and Apple announced a new wellness program that will leverage health data, a custom app and the Apple Watch. Called Attain by Aetna, the voluntary program will deliver personalized health goals, recommendations and rewards based on members’ daily activity. These rewards include gift cards for retailers and credits toward ownership of the Apple Watch itself.

“We believe that people should be able to play a more active role in managing their well-being. Every day, we receive emails and letters from people all over the world who have found great benefit by incorporating Apple Watch into their lives and daily routines,” Jeff Williams, COO of Apple, said in a statement. “As we learn over time, the goal is to make more customized recommendations that will help members accomplish their goals and live healthier lives.” More

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Northeastern Health System will be implementing PatientMatters’ financial advocacy and patient eligibility platform IntelliGuide, according to a release. The software service aims to boost patients’ access to public financial medical benefits and, more broadly, improve patients’ financial experience throughout care.

“Partnering with PatientMatters will allow us to improve the access to healthcare in our community and provide our patients with the resources they need to obtain the best possible care available,” Jackie Hullinger, director of patient financial services at Northeastern Health System, said in a statement.