What We're Reading: Centivo Launches New Plan; Dead Bacteria Provide IBS Relief; Hospitals Using CGM in Patients With COVID-19

Centivo Announces Self-Funded Health Plan Solution

Trial Results Found Probiotic Treatment May Relieve IBS

Diabetes Technology Used in Patients With COVID-19

Today, Centivo launched a self-funded health plan solution, available to employers in New York City and Orlando and Jacksonville Florida. The new plan options for employees include low-cost, primary care—based models. Advanced analytics that create cost-effective networks with health systems and independent practice partners will help employees navigate the health system and lead patients to the right specialists. Centivo will partner with Mount Sinai Health System and ProHealth in New York and with Orlando Health in Florida. The goal is to bring down healthcare costs by incentivizing providers to focus on high-value care.Results from a clinical trial published in The Lancet show that probiotics containing dead bacteria may be effective in relieving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In the trial, 221 participants received dead Bifidobacteria, which has been shown to be effective in live forms yet can cause severe adverse effects. Around one-third of patients who received the treatment reported reduced abdominal pain compared with only 19% who reported the same outcome in the placebo group; however, over 90% of participants in the treatment group also reported that the adverse effects were tolerable.Continuous glucose monitoring systems produced by Abbott and Dexcom are now being used in hospitalized patients with diabetes and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to provide remote monitoring of glucose levels. The companies hope the technology will help limit health workers’ exposure to patients with COVID-19, while providing optimal care for patients with diabetes. The CDC notes diabetes is one of the underlying health conditions that, when poorly managed, can lead to more severe outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Currently, more that 50% of individuals with diabetes who also have COVID-19 are hospitalized, the CDC reports.