The company already has some exposure to the non-acute market in contracts with Psychiatric Solutions and HealthSouth, and would like to penetrate that area further. Management has been looking for small acquisitions ($1mil-$10mil in revenue) to jump-start this fairly new venture. HealthStream believes the non-acute market is the same size opportunity as its current acute-care market.

“Finally, finally, finally,” said Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland. She called the unemployment insurance program a social compact with American workers that meant “when you hit a speed bump and have to be laid off through no fault of your own, there will be a safety net so that you do not fall.” Republicans said they backed the idea of extending benefits, but were determined to prevent the costs from being piled onto the mounting deficit. “We believe the federal debt has grown to an alarming level, where it is threatening the future of our children and grandchildren,” said Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. After the Senate completes its final vote on the measure, the House must still act on it, a vote that is could come shortly after expected Senate passage on Wednesday. President Obama would then quickly sign the bill into law at the White House, freeing the aid.

Citi analyst says, "HealthSpring has the best model for managing cost trends in the industry - However, it doesn’t appear that the new reform regulations will compensate plans for lowering medical costs, as all Medicare plans will be required to maintain a minimum 85% MLR by 2014. This means HealthSpring’s current target Medicare loss ratio of 80% and EBITDA margin of around 9% probably aren’t sustainable." "HealthSpring never participated in the Medicare private fee for service (PFFS) product, so it doesn’t have to worry about membership losses next year because of the changes plans are required to make to that product. Medicare rates will flat in 2011, so HealthSpring should see earnings rise next year."

A 2008 study sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found SilverSneakers provided tangible health benefits for high-risk members. Members with diabetes who were active in SilverSneakers are admitted to the hospital less often, have lower inpatient care costs and have significant reduction in overall healthcare costs after only a year of participation.