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Aetna, NJ settle over improperly disclosed patient info
New Jersey’s attorney general says insurance giant Aetna has agreed to pay a $365,000 fine for violating the privacy of thousands of policyholders in the state in two separate mailings.
Home health agencies to get reprieve from prior authorization model
Home Health agencies that participated in an abandoned prior authorization model will get less scrutiny under an upcoming revamped version of the effort, according to the CMS.
Cook County health system to add jobs
The majority of new hires—about 150—will be care managers who were hired as contract employees to ensure the system could accommodate an increase in patients. Doctors and physician assistants spread throughout the health system will…
5 NY doctors charged with illegally prescribing oxycodone
Five doctors, a pharmacist and three medical assistants were among 10 defendants charged with taking in more than $5 million by illegally prescribing millions of oxycodone pills to patients, including apparent drug addicts, who had no legitimate…
Hurricane Michael forces Fla. providers to evacuate
The largest hospitals in Panama City, Fla., are shutting down and evacuating patients due to heavy damage from Hurricane Michael.
Legislative failure keeps affordability on radar in Colorado
Colorado Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne says industry needs to get behind efforts to address affordability.
Prison health systems need better integration into the community
A new report calls for reforms in state prison health systems that include increasing partnerships between correction facilities and community healthcare providers in order to provide inmates continuity of care during their incarceration and beyond.
States call on hospitals to disclose 340B discount use
Colorado’s and Mississippi’s Medicaid programs have ordered hospitals to report which drugs they receive 340B discounts for, marking the latest effort to curb state drug spending.
HHS shells out more than $2 billion for HIV/AIDS care support
The federal government doled out more than $2 billion in fiscal 2018 to support medical and social services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Advocates say the program’s success should serve as a model for commitment needed to address the opioid…
Texas fines Humana for out-of-network anesthesiogy bills
Humana agreed to pay Texas a $700,000 fine for failing to maintain an adequate number of in-network anesthesiologists at its contracted hospitals in four counties, which led to patients receiving surprise out-of-network bills.
