College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University(Representative : Kwang Yul Cha M.D) & CHA Medical Group’s biotechnology venture business, CHA Biotech(Board of Director: Kwang Yul Cha) was established for the development of cell therapy using stem cell that is so-called the “Flower of the Medical Science” in September 2000. CHA Biotec, led by Kwang Yul Cha, is now promoting to form large-scale stem cell institute in both U.S and Korea by building CHA Medical Stem Cell Institute organized of 180 professionals focusing on stem cell treatment and cord blood deposit and transplantation. CHA Medical Group led by Kwang Yul Cha M.D will start constructing ‘CHA Institute’ in 2009 at Pangyo Techno Valley and it is scheduled to open in 2010.
‘CHA Group Stem Cell Institute’ has not only research facilities such as stem cell institute, GMP grade sterile culture room which can make the medicines, cord blood bank, immunity vaccine institute, artificial internal organ institute but also life science school, medical school to train professionals. After Stem cell institute is completed, it will be equipped with Lab to Patient System which can pursue clinical demonstration at Bundang CHA Hospital immediately from latest research. And it is expected to joint research with the world’s leading research institute in the stem cell institute. They planned to promote cooperating with the world’s famous stem cell institute such as UCLA(University of California at Los Angeles), Columbia University, Alabama State University , Rice University, University of Southern California, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Harvard University McLean Hospital etc.
And few months ago, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University (representative: Kwang Yul Cha M.D) held “The 5th Pacific Rim Society for Fertility and Sterility” in Dynasty Hall, Seoul Shilla Hotel from June 9th~10th to conquer the low birth late, inviting the world’s foremost scholars in the field of sterilization and reproductive medicine. ‘The 5th Pacific Rim Society for Fertility and Sterility’ held by CHA Medical Group(Representative : Kwang Yul Cha) is hosted by three leading institute; The Korean Society of Fertility & Sterility, The Korean Society of preservative reproductive medicine, and The Korean Society of Developmetal Biology. Nationally and internationally well-known authorities on the field of Sterilization and reproductive medicine from Korea, United States, and Japan announced their papers and about 500 participants from Thailand, India, Vietnam and Nepal enlighten the conference.
At first day of the conference, representative Cha Kwang Yul read the paper ‘Slush Nitrogen Ovum Freezing method’ that received ‘The Best Paper Award’ from ‘World Society for Reproductive Medicine’ and the head manager of Stem Cell Institute, Hyung-Min Jung made presentation over embryonic cell and was greeted enthusiastically by the participants. The survival rate of ovum is about 50 percents when applying the Existing Ovum Freezing Method. On the other hand, Slush-Nitrogen Ovum Freezing Method raise the survival rate to over 90 percents that it initiated the way to activate the ovum bank.
Stem Cell Production Capacity: CHA Medical Group(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) created total 12 Human Embryonic Stem Cell and under the admission of the International Stem Cell Deliberate Council, CHA Medical Group(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) is planning to produce over 100 embryonic stem cell that are able to apply clinical demonstration using human supporting cell, serum and non-serum culture medium at GMP within 10 years.
World known cytogenesis capacity & ability: CHA Medical Group(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) is the first to success in recovering the damage of cranial nerves by transplanting the mice’s embyonic stem cell into alive one’s brain. Developed differentiation technology by using neuron, vascular Endothelial, Cartilage Cell, Endocrine Cell, and Heart muscle cells.
Gene Manipulation in Human embryonic stem cell: By developing technology that can induct specific gene into Human Embryonic Cell CHA Medical Group achieved cytogeny technology in specific cell, Human Embryonic Stem Cell production, medicinal screening method, Tumor Suppressor Technology, and interpreting the function of the specific gene.
Gene Therapy ability: Found cancer cell suppressor protein and enzyme gene called ‘mHAUSP’ that operates the cancer-suppressing activity. Now researches on therapy and clinical test on progressing.
Artificial organ production ability: By Utilizing embryonic stem call and adult stem cell developed biodegradable tissue, instestine and Scaffold, Researches on three-dimensional artificial tissue and intestine production is in advance.
Leading the Cell Therapy Product market using stem cell: If applied-technology such as cytogenesis and cell therapy utilizing embryonic stem cell is practically use, size of over 600 billion won market will be created. To treat specific diseases(Leukemia, Diabetes, urinary incontinece, stroke) cell differentiation inducement and establishing stem cell lines bank using Embryonic Stem Cell and Adult Stem Cell is promoted.
Researches on Sterility & Stem Cell Security is guaranteed by running ‘Human Ovum Freezing Bank: ‘Slushed-Nitrogen Ovum Freezing Method’ has survival rate over 90 percents and pregnancy rate is over 65%, too. The method described above is known as world’s best technology that has similar reproduction ability to general ovum. CHA Biotech (Board of Director:Kwang Yul Cha) became the leader of this field by steadily executing safe and moral stem cell and medical treatment on sterility by running freezing bank.
CHA Regenerative Medical Institute, awarded the grant “Patient-Specific Stem Cell Production”: Awarded the grant related to patient-specific stem cell production using somac cell reproduction from WIRB in June, 2006. Using Human ovum Freezing Bank, developing patient-specific stem cell production and treatment technology is their aim.
==Who is ”Kwang-Yul Cha”?==
Kwang Yul Cha is certified Obstetrics and Gynecology by College of Medicine, Yonsei University-Board. He is the president of Infertility Medical Center, CHA General Hospital, Chancellor of the College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University and Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. College of Medicine, Columbia University. Kwang Yul Cha Published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
?About Kwang Yul Cha, MD, PhD
-MD, Yonsei University School of Medicine
-PhD, Pochon CHA University College of Medicine
-Reproductive Endocrinology Specialist
-Fellowship, USC
-Visiting Professor, Columbia University School of Medicine
-Chancellor, Pochon CHA University (present)
-CEO, CHA HEALTH SYSTEMS, Inc. (present)
-Chairman, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (present)
-Director, CHA RMI (present)
-Co-Director, CHA Stem Cell Institute, Pochon CHA University College of Medicine (present)
-80 international papers and 200domestic papers, 15 books, 3 patents
March 17th, 2010Medical GroupRead More >No Comments
Let me guess, you’re one of those, go-getting, micro-business entrepreneurs or an old fashioned small business owner … and that means its up to and you alone to decide whether or not you can provide a group health care plan to your close-knit workforce. These days, business owners in your position need more than just health insurance for themselves, the availability of group health has become an essential recruiting selling point. Besides, it’s frankly in your best interest to be on a group plan rather than an individual plan. Group health plans often have richer benefits and lower premiums overall because of their “shared risk/shared cost” structure.
Once you’ve made the decision to offer a group medical plan, you should be aware of the types of health plans available and the many features and benefits they provide. There are many types of group insurance programs. However, I’ll only focus on plans specifically designed to be comprehensive workforce oriented health care solutions rather than those focused on specific medical issues.
This is all simpler than its sounds. You see, most health insurance plans can be broken down into four major categories … Comprehensive Major Medical, HMOs, PPOs and Self Funded Plans.
First Up, the Comprehensive Major Medical Plan
This type of group health policy will provide benefits for expenses incurred by an employee for most medical treatments. This includes benefits for treatments in a hospital, for physician services in or out of a hospital, for treatments needed for the care of accidental injuries, for treatments incurred during pregnancy, and most other medical costs incurred from a “medically necessary treatment.
Here are the four riders that can traditionally be attached to comprehensive major medical plans:
· Prescription Drug Card – allows for small co-payment by employee when purchasing prescription drugs.
· Supplemental Accident Benefits – provides first dollar coverage with no deductible for treatment of accidental injuries.
· Dental/Vision Benefits – provides insurance for the specific cost of dental and optical treatments.
· Skilled Nursing Care/Home Health Care – provides coverage for the cost of ongoing care in a skilled nursing facility or in the home.
Comprehensive major medical coverage is the favorite option of most small business owners and micro-business entrepreneurs. However, due to the enriched benefits provided by major medical plans, it can be a fairly costly choice.
Secondly, The Health Maintenance Organization (Group HMO)
The sometimes infamous: Health Maintenance Organization (aka HMO) is in reality mild mannered Bruce Banner (sorry, just kidding) HMO’s are managed health care platforms. They apply built-in cost containment features to help reduce the risk of loss to the underwriting insurance company, thereby reducing the cost to business owners such as, well … you. Here’s an example: Many Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans have HMO options that provide benefit plans for employees who choose physicians from a approved / participating roster of health care providers.
Typically HMOs are organized in much the same way. The difference centers on the way the physician “panel is structured. You see, prepaid group practice HMOs include practitioners that are located together in an office/complex and are hired by the plan and paid a salary. Individual practice association HMOs include participating physicians who practice individually and are contracted by the HMO. In both cases, the HMO is receiving a prepaid premium from the plan participant.
Next Up, The Preferred Provider Organization (Group PPO)
The not so infamous at as all that Preferred Provider Organization is very similar to the HMO, at least in terms of base concept. Group PPOs are just groups of physicians and hospitals that contract with employers, insurance companies, or third party administrators to provide health care services at reduced fees. Like HMOs, PPOs may be structured as group or individual practices.
The primary differences between Group HMOs and Group PPOs play out as follows:
· PPOs do not provide benefits on a prepaid basis but on a fee-for-service basis as services are rendered.
· Fees are usually subject to a schedule used by all PPO participants.
· Plan participants do not have to use the PPO physicians or facilities. They can make a choice each time health care is necessary. However, PPOs usually have lower deductibles and lower co-payments.
Lastly, The Self-Funded Group Medical Plan
The Self-Funded Plan involves an arrangement whereby the employer assumes all the responsibilities and liabilities that an insurance company would normally assume. Basically, the employer is responsible for payment of all claims. However, can problems arise if your workforce incurs substantial claims. Therefore, most self-funded group medical plans will be less economically feasible for small business groups but will work quite effectively for firms with medium-sized groups due to the reduced risk.
There are various partially self-funded group health plans that are more feasible for small groups. An insurance company would underwrite this type of plan. The employer would be responsible for the co-insurance portion of the major medical plan, while the employee is responsible for the appropriate deductible. Traditionally, the co-insurance portion of a major medical plan is 80% of the $5,000 of medical costs that exceed the deductible. The insurance company is then responsible for all amounts exceeding the deductible and co-insurance.
The total annual aggregate out-of-pocket expenses for the employer work out to be what the average annual cost of a full-blown major medical plan would be for the same group. Therefore, if a company has a fairly good health history, it may save some money with a partially self-funded plan.
Remember …two or more of the group-oriented health insurance plans above can be used in concert with a variety of tax saving strategies.
Before You Go, Here’s a Note About Group Cafeteria Plans
Cafeteria Plans are available to business owners and their employees for the purpose of funding employee benefits with pre-tax dollars. The essence of a cafeteria plan, as described in IRC Section 125, is that it allows each participating employee to choose among two or more benefits. In particular, the employee may “purchase nontaxable benefits by foregoing taxable cash compensation. Benefits under a cafeteria plan are limited to cash and certain statutory benefits, including medical, disability and other accidental or health plan coverages, group term life insurance, dependent care, group legal services, and 401(k) plans.
There are many different methods of initializing cafeteria plans for small businesses. Every small business is different, and cafeteria plans should be approached with that idea in mind.
The choice of what type of group health insurance plan will best fit the needs of your workforce isn’t easy one. However, having a basic knowledge of what is available can make the decision a little easier. The bottom line is a more important question. “Do you want a plan with quality features and benefits?” or “Do you want to save money?” In most cases, you will find it difficult to have both.
March 13th, 2010Medical GroupRead More >No Comments
If you want to protect yourself and your family without going broke, you will need to be pro-active when it comes to health care. Despite the extremely high cost of most medical care, access to free or discounted care is there for those willing to make a small effort to find it. Here are 6 tips to get you started.
1) Rx Discount Program – Prescription costs can be reduced substantially without buying insurance. There are discount purchasing groups that allow you to join them and receive their negotiated pricing on most prescription medications. One such group is UNA. There is no obligation or fee to register and it takes less than a minute to receive a personalized printable discount card which you simply bring to your druggist. He will save your discount group # in your file and you will then receive a reduced group price on all covered prescriptions. Discounts can be as much as 75% on some prescriptions but average 30%. Go to superrxcard.com and print your free card in less than 10 seconds .There are no gimmicks attached to this one and over 57,000 pharmacies participate in this group. According to Wellness.com – April 2006: “Hands down, the finest prescription assistance program in the United States…”
2) Free Medical Q&A – Informational resources are abundant and free. If you have symptoms you want to confidentially discuss with a real doctor or if you want to research any disease or medication, here are a few good resources: webmd.com, afraidtoask.com and yournetdoctor.com .
3) Doctor and Hospital Ratings – before you select a doctor or hospital for surgery, you might want to know if you are making the right choice. There are research groups that independently research doctors and hospitals and rate them based on criteria which are designed to determine whether they have met the nationally recognized standards for excellence. One such group has made their data base of research on over 600,000 doctors and hospitals available to the public. Got to: healthgrades.com to see how your doctor and hospital rate.
4) Health Insurance – Given up on buying health insurance? Do a little more research. There might possibly be some good coverage available that is within your budget. Try insureme.com or healthinsuranceinfo.net before throwing in the towel.
5) Free Eyeglasses – If you are a student or have children and cannot afford eyeglasses for them, there is a program available that may qualify you for a free eye examination and free glasses. To see if you qualify, go to: sightforstudents.org and apply.
6) Free Medical and Dental Clinics – Nearly every zip code has a medical facility nearby that will give anyone, without insurance or money, medical care. Most of these receive $ aid from governmental agencies or charitable organizations. How do I locate one? Just call any doctor or medical facility and ask them or visit ask.hrsa.gov/pc/ . This web page will allow you to search for a clinic by zip code that will give you medical care, even if you do not have insurance or money. Another site that will help you locate free medical care is freemedicalcamp.com
February 28th, 2010Medical GroupRead More >No Comments