Longitude Health Announces GINA-Compliant Health Risk Assessment Available November 15th, 2009

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Article Date: 09 Nov 2009 - 8:00 PST

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Longitude Health, Inc., provider of web-based, guided health and wellness solutions, today announced availability of a fully GINA-compliant health risk assessment on November 15th, providing employers a solution that meets current open enrollment requirements and fast approaching regulatory changes.

The GINA regulations that come into effect on December 6th place limitations on employers and health plans from collecting genetic information which is defined to include family medical history. The removal of these questions from the HRA modifies many of the instrument's future disease risk algorithms. Extensive analysis of 35,000 HRA's, comparing pre and post-GINA assessment results for future risk of developing breast cancer, colorectal cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, showed that removal of family history information from Longitude's HRA resulted in an average 5% shift towards lower risk across the population for each risk factor.

"Employers are scrambling for a GINA-compliant HRA that provides continuity with past assessments and current programs," says Tracy Korman, Longitude's CEO. "We quickly responded to protect employers' investments in health and wellness promotion."

Longitude Health's health risk assessment is available on a stand-alone basis or as a fully integrated component in the company's MyHealthVillage.com based Collaborative Care Support(SM) program. Available in English and Spanish, for delivery online or using a scannable paper questionnaire, the HRA is also fully compliant with the 2009 NCQA Wellness and Health Promotion technical specifications.

"Our reporting and data management methodologies give us the unique ability to compare results from this GINA-compliant HRA with data collected using previous HRAs including from other HRA vendors," added Jan Swaney, MD; Chief Medical Officer. "Even in the face of regulatory change, continuity is critical in creating a culture of wellness and achieving superior outcomes."

Source
Longitude Health, Inc.