Medical School Joins Prudential To Research

In an unusual partnership between academic and commercial interests, Harvard Medical School and Prudential insurance Co. of America managed health care in the U.S.

"As far as we know, this is the first agreement of its kind between an academic department and an insurance company owned or managed care plan," Colen said.

Prudential's Center for Health Care Research will pay Harvard $100,000 per year for the next three year for the Medical School's research expertise, according to an article in Friday's Will Street Journal.

"Harvard experts will have access to data generated by the approximately five million members of Prudential's denial's managed health care plans nationwide," said B.D. Colen, director of media affairs for the Medical School.

With national health care reform considered likely, many insurers are scrambling to change their business practices in the hopes of maintaining high profit margins.

Prudential appease to be turning in part to Harvard for expertise in order to keep pace with the changing health care landscape. And University scholars get what Colen called a "rare opportunity" to view and use massive amounts of data from a private company.

"Prudential will have access to a team of experts in outcome studies led by Dr. Barbara McNeil," Colen said.

McNeil, the chair of the Department of Health Care Policy and Watts professor of health care policy, could not be reached for comment.

Prudential will use the informa- tion "to measure and improve their performancein delivering medical care," the Journal said.

"Prudential formed the research center lastAugust as part of its strategic shift from acompany that provides health insurance to one thatdelivers care," said the Journal.

The Harvard-Prudential deal is the latest tosee the Medical School join forces with privatecompanies.

Last year, the school announced it wouldestablish the Harvard Institutes of Medicine atthe former site of Boston English High School. Theinstitutes will house several biotechnologycompanies, to which Harvard scientists willcontribute their research

"Prudential formed the research center lastAugust as part of its strategic shift from acompany that provides health insurance to one thatdelivers care," said the Journal.

The Harvard-Prudential deal is the latest tosee the Medical School join forces with privatecompanies.

Last year, the school announced it wouldestablish the Harvard Institutes of Medicine atthe former site of Boston English High School. Theinstitutes will house several biotechnologycompanies, to which Harvard scientists willcontribute their research