News from this past week.

New IBI Research Finds CFOs Play Critical Role in Health Care Benefits Decisions
Sacramento Bee
C-suite understands the impact of employee health on financial performance and ability to compete in a global economy SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — According to …

Fewer Americans Have Employer-Based Health Insurance
Gallup.com
WASHINGTON, DC — Fewer Americans got their health insurance from an employer in 2011 (44.6%) than in 2010 (45.8%), continuing the downward trend Gallup and Healthways have documented since 2008. As employer-based health insurance has declined, …

Exercise a Defense Against Dementia: Study
HealthDay News
Here’s another reason to get into shape: Physical activity may reduce the risk of dementia-related death, according to a new study. Researchers assessed the health of more than 45,000 men and nearly 15,000 women, ages 20 to 88 years, in the United States and grouped them into one of three fitness categories — low, middle or high.

US Healthcare Costs Annual Growth Rates Show Broad Based Increases in December …
MarketWatch
Across the board, healthcare costs as measured by annual rates of change went up in the last month of the year. The S&P Healthcare Economic Composite Index indicates that the average per capita cost of healthcare services covered by commercial …