Neighbors around Stuart Circle complained about plans to convert it into apartments. The controversy cooled a bit when the Historic Monument Avenue and Fan District Foundation joined the process. . . . The managed health care company and its HMOs' membership in Virginia surpassed 2 million. The managed care and health insurance business appears to be particularly robust as premiums continue to rise, boosting the bottom lines of many health maintenance organizations and other insurers. The once-beleaguered hospital industry also is showing some improvement, as utilization trends stabilize, pricing begins to firm and companies become more efficient.
Health care supports a substantial part of the region's economic base.
In addition, Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia is a major employer. And physician practices, health product suppliers, outpatient facilities, homes for senior citizens, biotechnology outfits and home health agencies provide many jobs in the area. Trigon Healthcare Inc. is Virginia's largest managed care and health insurance company. Last year, the company and its HMOs surpassed the 2 million-member mark for the first time. Trigon, along with the rest of the industry, was able to make substantial increases in premiums in 2000, a trend that is continuing this year.