Aetna, one of the largest managed healthcare companies in the U.S., has retained Bliss Integrated Communication to lend support to the health insurer’s Medicare Advantage communications and PR program.
The account win follows a multi-stage RFP process wherein the New York-based independent shop beat out competing global agencies.
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The engagement, which launches this month, will involve local market programing as well as a regional and national media relations program in a bid to reach out to Medicare eligible consumers.
Bliss’ healthcare group, which was formed less than five years ago, also counts Pfizer, Gore Medical, Samsung Bioepis and Evolent Health as clients. The marketing communication firm, which was founded in 1975, regained its independence in 2014 after a core management team bought the firm from PA-based healthcare marketing and advertising agency Dudnyk Exchange.
Bliss last year accounted for nearly $9.3 million in net fees and is one of the top 50 firms in the U.S., according to O'Dwyer's.
Jim Weiss, founder & chairman of Real Chemistry, has joined the board of ICR Inc. as it steps up its healthcare capital markets offering.
Ruder Finn has hired Kelly Yoder, who spent a dozen years at Weber Shandwick rising to North America health lead, as managing director, global head of health & life sciences.
ICR has named John Capodanno head of US healthcare corporate communications and Matthew Willey managing director in its medical technology and diagnostics practice. 
April is National Minority Health Month, spotlighting the urgency to improve health outcomes in communities of color.
In a recent conversation about the evolving media landscape, Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, spoke with Campbell O’Connor, Group Director, Media & Engagement at Real Chemistry, about how AI is influencing media relations and healthcare communications.
