AG Campbell warns AI systems subject to consumer protection, anti-bias laws
Developers, suppliers, and users of AI in Massachusetts must comply with state laws, including consumer protection and anti-discrimination regulations. [ more ]
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey nominates former partner for high court, raises GOP ire
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has nominated her former romantic partner to the state's highest court, sparking criticism from Republicans.
Gabrielle Wolohojian has been recommended unanimously by the state's Supreme Judicial Nominating Commission and now needs confirmation from the Governor's Council.
Gov. Healey defends her nominee, stating that Wolohojian is the most qualified for the position despite their personal relationship. [ more ]
HHS Launches Civil Rights Investigation Into Vanderbilt's Sharing of Transgender Patient Data
Takeaway 1: Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is under federal investigation for allegedly turning over transgender patients' medical records to the Tennessee attorney general. This investigation was launched after two VUMC patients filed a class-action lawsuit against the hospital.
Takeaway 2: VUMC's issues with transgender care began when 60 Republican members of the Tennessee House of Representatives raised concerns about the hospital's transgender care clinic. This scrutiny was further escalated when conservative columnist Matt Walsh criticized VUMC's clinic in a series of tweets, alleging that the hospital performed surgeries on minors.
Takeaway 3: In addition to the ongoing federal investigation, VUMC was also under investigation by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti for potential manipulation of medical billing codes to evade coverage limitations on gender-related treatment. This scrutiny has led to the suspension of gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 18 while the hospital completes an internal review of its clinical guidelines. [ more ]
Owner of multiple Mass. hospitals says financial losses could jeopardize care
Financial difficulties are placing the future operations of Steward Health Care's 10 Massachusetts medical centers at risk.
The gap between commercial health insurance reimbursement and reimbursements from federal plans is affecting community hospitals across the state. [ more ]
U.K. Is First to Approve a CRISPR-Based Therapy, Covering Two Blood Disorders
The UK has authorized a gene-editing medicine for treating sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, marking the first approval worldwide for a therapy based on CRISPR technology.
The therapy, known as Casgevy, involves editing a gene in a patient's stem cells to produce high levels of fetal hemoglobin.
Casgevy offers a potentially curative treatment option for these inherited blood disorders, reducing the need for chronic therapies and blood transfusions. [ more ]
Public colleges in Mass. see enrollment boost for first time in nearly a decade. Community college students are the sole driver.
Overall enrollment in Massachusetts' public college system is up nearly 3% from last fall, with an 8% boost in community college enrollment being the main driver of the increase.
First-time and transfer student populations have rebounded after declining during the pandemic, with a 5% increase in these populations across all three college systems. [ more ]
Here's what to know about the abortion toolkit for public colleges
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released an abortion toolkit to help public colleges develop medication abortion readiness plans.
The toolkit provides information on finding certified prescribers, informed consent and reporting requirements, and starting conversations on campus about medication abortions.
Massachusetts college students were involved in creating the toolkit and made recommendations for after-care and improved access to reproductive health care options. [ more ]
Several Schools Under Investigation for Allegedly Failing to Protect Jewish, Muslim Students
The Education Department is investigating several schools for reports of harassment against Jewish and Muslim students.
The schools are under investigation for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which protects students from discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. [ more ]
COVID wastewater levels are the highest they've been in 2 years
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Massachusetts, and levels of the virus in Greater Boston's wastewater are now at their second-highest point since the start of the pandemic.
The current wastewater figures are still just a fraction of what they were during the January 2022 omicron surge. [ more ]
Activists on both sides of the debate press Mass. lawmakers on bills to tighten gun laws
Lawmakers in Massachusetts are working on proposed changes to the state's firearms laws, including banning ghost guns and tightening restrictions on certain semi-automatic weapons.
Activists from both sides of the gun debate testified at the Statehouse, with proponents of the changes arguing for common sense measures and opponents saying they unfairly target law-abiding gun owners. [ more ]
Report: Workers Trust Employers More Than Insurers With Their Health
37% of employees trust their insurer to suggest high-quality care regardless of cost, while 53% trust their employer with their health.
Employees need more support from their employers when it comes to healthcare, as many have had to delay or skip care due to lack of paid time off.
Weight management is a major concern for employees, with obesity/weight loss being the biggest personal health worry for a quarter of respondents. [ more ]
Senator Probes Google About 'Premature Deployment of Unproven Technology' In Healthcare Settings
Takeaway 1: Senator Mark Warner is concerned about the premature deployment of unproven AI technology in healthcare, particularly Mayo Clinic's use of Med-PaLM 2 by Google. He is worried that this could erode trust in medical institutions, exacerbate racial disparities in health outcomes, and increase the risk of diagnostic and care delivery errors.
Takeaway 2: Warner's letter addresses his concerns to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, highlighting the rush by tech companies to capture market share in the generative AI space. This frenzy has led to the deployment of fledgling technology in an effort to gain a first-mover advantage. Warner emphasizes that such rapid deployment is particularly concerning in the healthcare industry due to the potential life-and-death consequences of mistakes and the sensitivity of health information.
Takeaway 3: While AI has been used in healthcare settings for years, the introduction of large language models and generative AI tools like Med-PaLM 2 bring new complexities and risks to the field. Warner cites a report where a Google research director acknowledges these risks, supporting Warner's concerns about the potential negative impacts of deploying unproven AI technology in the healthcare sector. [ more ]
Healthcare M&A Activity Reaches 3-Year Low, But It Might Pick Up in the Back Half of '23
Takeaway 1: M&A activity in the healthcare sector declined in Q2 2023, reaching its lowest point in three years. The number of deals decreased by 7% compared to the same quarter last year and by 41% compared to Q2 2021.
Takeaway 2: The report suggests that M&A activity could increase in the second half of this year due to healthcare companies' shrinking valuations and divestitures of non-core assets. Lower valuations make deals attractive to buyers who previously shied away from high valuations in the healthcare sector.
Takeaway 3: The trend of clinical services leaving hospitals and shifting to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and office-care settings will continue to influence healthcare dealmaking. Regions with a significant number of procedures taking place in ASCs and doctor's offices, such as Austin and Las Vegas, may present attractive acquisition opportunities for companies with ambulatory assets and high patient volumes. [ more ]
Nektar Sues Eli Lilly, Claiming the Big Pharma Breached Contract to Favor Another Drug
Nektar Therapeutics is accusing former partner Eli Lilly of miscalculating clinical data for their atopic dermatitis drug, rezpegaldesleukin, which resulted in its development being scuttled. Nektar claims that Lilly took this action to favor a different atopic dermatitis drug it had acquired through a $1.1 billion acquisition.
The lawsuit filed by Nektar against Lilly is considered significant and substantial, indicating the seriousness of the allegations. Nektar suggests that rezpeg could have been in a Phase 2 study for atopic dermatitis much earlier if not for Lilly's alleged actions.
In the market for atopic dermatitis treatments, the dominant drug is Dupixent, developed by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Nektar's rezpegaldesleukin was expected to provide dosing and efficacy advantages over existing treatments, but its development fell behind due to the alleged actions of Lilly, hindering its competitive position in the market. [ more ]
How Did The 3 Biggest For-Profit Hospital Chains Perform in Q2?
The three largest for-profit health systems - HCA Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare, and Community Health Systems - have all reported improved financial positions in Q2 2023 compared to the same period last year. This improvement can be attributed to declining contract labor expenses.
HCA Healthcare reported increased revenues of $5.1 billion in Q2 2023, compared to $4.6 billion in Q2 2022. Tenet Healthcare's revenues also rose to $3.1 billion in Q2 2023, compared to $2.9 billion in Q2 2022. This indicates overall growth for both health systems.
Although HCA and Tenet posted net incomes for the quarter, Community Health Systems (CHS) reported a net loss of $38 million in Q2 2023. However, CHS still performed better than the previous year, with a total net loss for the first half of the year of $89 million, compared to $327 million in the first half of 2022. [ more ]
Hospitals Still Struggling to Get Back Online 4 Days After Cyberattack on Prospect Medical Holdings
Ransomware attacks can have significant impacts on healthcare facilities: The recent attack on Prospect Medical Holdings has caused hospitals and outpatient centers in multiple states to go offline, leading to disruptions in patient care and the need for paper record-keeping. This highlights the vulnerability of healthcare systems to cyberattacks and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.
Healthcare facilities must prioritize patient care during and after cyberattacks: Prospect Medical Holdings has emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of their patients while working to restore their online systems. During such incidents, healthcare providers should have contingency plans in place to ensure that patient care is not compromised, even if digital systems are offline.
Cybersecurity measures and preparedness are crucial in the healthcare industry: The attack on Prospect Medical Holdings underscores the need for healthcare organizations to invest in strong cybersecurity measures and be prepared for potential cyber threats. Collaborating with third-party cybersecurity specialists and regularly updating systems can help prevent successful attacks and reduce the impact if an attack does occur. [ more ]
GSK Patent Suit Aims to Halt Pfizer's RSV Vaccine for Adults, But Not Infants
GSK is suing Pfizer over allegations that Pfizer's RSV vaccine infringes on GSK's patents. This indicates that there is a significant level of competition between the two companies in the RSV vaccine market.
Both GSK's Arexvy and Pfizer's Abrysvo are new vaccines that recently received FDA approval for preventing RSV in adults over the age of 60. This highlights the importance of developing effective vaccines for a vulnerable age group.
The basis of RSV vaccine research has been the identification of the prefusion form of the F protein, which has shown better results in eliciting protective antibodies. Multiple companies, including Pfizer, Moderna, and Icosavax, are developing vaccines that target this conformation of the F protein. [ more ]
'A Criminal Justice Approach to a Public Health Problem': How the Justice System Can Improve SUD Support
Incarcerated individuals are increasingly receiving substance use treatment through digital health solutions, which can help them to successfully reintegrate into society upon release.
Digital health solutions can provide personalized treatment plans tailored to the individual's needs and can help incarcerated individuals to access treatment and services regardless of their geographic location. [ more ]
Labor Department Sues UnitedHealth Group Over 'Thousands' of Claims Denials
UnitedHealth Insurance is facing a lawsuit due to the company's alleged denials of insurance claims.
The lawsuit is claiming that UnitedHealth is denying claims without providing a valid reason, which is in violation of federal law.
If the lawsuit is successful, it could have far-reaching implications for the healthcare industry and could result in increased regulation of insurance companies. [ more ]
'We Can Be More Selective About Who We Treat': UHS CFO's Comments Spark Concerns About Cherry-Picking
UHS has made a commitment to financial well-being for healthcare providers by introducing a new financing platform.
This platform provides flexible financing options, such as extended payment plans, to help healthcare providers reduce costs and maintain liquidity.
UHS is also investing in advanced analytics technology to ensure that healthcare providers can better understand their financial situation and make informed decisions. [ more ]
Average Healthcare Data Breach Cost Reaches Nearly $11M
Healthcare organizations must remain vigilant to data breaches by continually monitoring for potential threats and investing in robust cybersecurity systems.
Ransomware is a growing threat to healthcare data security, so organizations should have procedures in place to quickly identify, contain, and address any potential attack.
Healthcare organizations should prioritize the training of their staff on how to recognize and respond to cyber-attacks to minimize the risk of a data breach. [ more ]
Senate Finance Committee Advances Bill Targeting PBMs
The Senate Finance Committee has recently introduced a bill that would require PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) to disclose more information regarding their prescription drug costs, including prices for which they are receiving rebates.
The bill also includes provisions that would prohibit PBMs from denying access to certain drugs and would require them to pass on their discounts and rebates to consumers. [ more ]
The Biden Administration Proposes Rule To Improve Mental Health Parity
The Biden Administration has proposed new rules that will require health insurers to provide equal coverage for mental health services and physical health services.
The proposed rule requires health insurers to cover mental health services with the same cost-sharing, deductibles, and copayments as other medical services.
The proposed rule also requires health insurers to cover multiple types of mental health services, including psychotherapy, inpatient and outpatient visits, and prescription drugs. [ more ]
Hospitals' Price Transparency Compliance Is Improving Despite Remaining Low at 36%
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a new rule requiring hospitals to disclose negotiated prices with insurers and post them online, in an effort to increase healthcare price transparency.
The proposed rule would require hospitals to post their standard charge information, including negotiated rates with insurers, shoppable services, and financial assistance policies. [ more ]
Coalition Applauds Reintroduction of Obesity Treatment Bill, Urges Passage
The Senate recently passed a bill that would make certain medications used to treat obesity and chronic diseases more accessible and affordable.
The bill would require government healthcare programs to cover certain medications that both prevent and treat obesity and chronic illnesses.
The bill also includes measures to reduce costs associated with these medications, such as eliminating co-payments and deductibles, and providing rebates for certain medications. [ more ]
Athenahealth, a healthcare technology company, is facing a lawsuit alleging trade secret deception and misuse of their EHR software.
The lawsuit claims that Athenahealth wrongfully obtained confidential information from a healthcare software company, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage.
This case highlights the importance of protecting trade secrets to prevent deceptive practices in the healthcare industry. [ more ]
Healthcare transparency has the potential to drastically improve the quality of healthcare by reducing errors, improving cost efficiency, and providing more accurate data for research.
Technology advancements such as blockchain, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are changing the way healthcare organizations share and access data, making transparency more attainable than ever.
Transparency initiatives should include an emphasis on patient engagement, as well as take into account ethical concerns around data privacy and security. [ more ]
The Kraft Heinz Lawsuit Against Aetna Is the 'Tip of the Iceberg'
Kraft Heinz and Aetna are facing a lawsuit alleging that the companies breached their fiduciary duties to employers by mishandling data.
The lawsuit claims that Kraft Heinz and Aetna failed to properly protect an employerâs data, which was allegedly used to create and market products and services without the employerâs knowledge. [ more ]
'This Is Almost Biblical in Its Impact': Providers Push Back Against CMS' New Proposed Rules
CMS has projected a 4.8% increase in healthcare inflation for the 2023 fiscal year, which will affect reimbursement levels for providers.
CMS has also proposed changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System, which could have a significant impact on healthcare providers and their reimbursement policies. [ more ]
Nearly 2,000 Organizations Urge Congress to Pass PBM Reform
Nearly 2000 organizations have urged Congress to pass pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform in order to protect patient access to essential medications and increase transparency and accountability.
The organizations highlighted the potential for PBMs to drive up costs by utilizing tactics such as retroactive clawbacks, spread pricing, and formulary control. [ more ]
Europe Imposes Maximum Fine on Illumina for Early Grail Acquisition
The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into Illumina and Grail, two major players in the liquid biopsy space.
The investigation is intended to uncover any potential anticompetitive practices that may be occurring in the liquid biopsy space.
The outcome of the investigation could have a major impact on the liquid biopsy space, as it could potentially lead to changes in market structures and dynamics. [ more ]
Health Connect America Gets Fined $4.6M for Wrongful Billing of Medicaid
Mental health providers are facing increased scrutiny for improper billing of Medicaid services for children.
States are imposing hefty fines on providers who are found to be overbilling Medicaid for mental health services for children.
It is essential for mental health providers to be aware of the legal requirements of billing Medicaid for the services they provide to children. [ more ]
Beautiful Nantucket home sells for $38.1M, most expensive in state
A Nantucket, Massachusetts home recently sold for a record-breaking $38.1 million, making it the most expensive home sale in the stateâs history.
The 5,500-square-foot home was sold by the Nantucket Land Bank to an unnamed buyer, and features panoramic views of Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. [ more ]
Digital Health's H1 Funding Landscape: Slimmer Checks, Fewer Deals & a Smaller Investor Pool
Digital health companies are increasingly attractive to venture capitalists, who recognize the potential of the industry for high returns on investment.
Investors are starting to recognize the importance of digital health companies in the healthcare landscape, and are taking a more long-term approach to investing in them.
Digital health companies have access to a wide range of funding options, from venture capital to private equity and crowdfunding, allowing them to scale up quickly and expand into new markets. [ more ]
Biden Administration Takes Action Against Junk Insurance, Surprise Bills
The Biden-Harris administration Friday that it is taking a series of steps to lower healthcare costs for consumers, including cracking down on "junk" insurance. Junk insurance refers to short-term health plans that are often lacking in coverage like mental health and prescription drugs, and they don't have consumer protections like coverage of pre-existing conditions.
Have Insurtechs Truly Disrupted the Mainstream Health Insurance Industry?
Hype rarely achieves expectations. And that seems to be the case with the tech-enabled, new-kids-on-the-block insurtech companies who came to being in the 2010s. They were armed with huge funding rounds but ultimately encountered an even bigger brick wall of size and scale, and entrenched ways of doing business.
Medical Expenses Will Rise by 7% Next Year, Report Predicts
New predicts that healthcare costs will increase by 7% next year. The estimate is higher than the projected medical cost trends in 2022 and 2023 - which were 5.5% and 6.0%, respectively - according to a report published Wednesday. For its report, PwC surveyed and spoke with actuaries who work at health plans.
Providers Should Beware of Ransomware Gang Clop & The Latest Software Vulnerability It's Targeting
Healthcare organizations must be wary of cybercriminals exploiting a software vulnerability called MOVEit.The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency an alert this month warning health systems about this vulnerability - the alert stated that Clop, a Russian ransomware gang known for going after healthcare providers, has been exploiting MOVEit.
How Can Providers Respond to the Wave of Laws Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Minors?
Twenty states have passed a law or policy to ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender people under 18, and an additional seven states are considering passing these laws.More than 44% of the country's transgender youth live in these 27 states.Some states, such as Texas, Oklahoma and South Carolina, have considered banning gender-affirming care for transgender people up to age 26, according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) , which is the largest LGBTQ lobbying organization in the country.
Lawsuits Against Medicare Drug Negotiations Are Mounting, But They Probably Won't Be Able to Stop The Plan
Earlier this month, became the first entity to the White House's Medicare drug pricing negotiation program.Since then, three more lawsuits have been filed in opposition to the program.While legal experts legally challenge agree that the plaintiffs' arguments probably won't hold up during a court battle, these lawsuits still could delay when the government's ability to negotiate price goes into effect.
New York Signs Law To Protect State Providers Providing Abortion Drug Telemed Services to Out-of-State Patients
On Friday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed new legislation that will protect the state's doctors, medical providers and facilitators who prescribe abortion care telehealth services to patients outside of New York from litigation in states where abortion services are banned or restricted."This legislation will help more women access medication abortion and reproductive care by ensuring our health care providers can deliver telehealth services to out-of-state patients without fear of legal or professional repercussions," Hochul said in a news release.
PwC: Healthcare Deals Remained Strong in 2023 Despite Headwinds
The healthcare industry faced several headwinds in the last year, such as higher interest rates, more antitrust regulatory review concerns, higher valuations and recession worries.But despite these headwinds, health services deals "remained resilient" for the 12 months ending May 15, according to a PwC published Wednesday.
White Sox and Red Sox meet, winner claims 3-game series
Boston Red Sox (40-38, fifth in the AL East) vs. Chicago White Sox (33-45, fourth in the AL Central) Chicago; Sunday, 2:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Red Sox: Kutter Crawford (0-0); White Sox: TBD BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox play on Sunday with the three-game series tied 1-1.
Deloitte: Employers Could Have a Significant Impact on Employees' Lifespans
With U.S. life expectancy at its lowest point since 1996 and behind other comparable countries, employers have a major role to play in creating a change, a new report explains.The report from Deloitte, published Tuesday, found that while the average lifespan for Americans is 77.9 years, Americans are living only 65.9 years in good health.
Feds Warn Healthcare Providers About 'Obscure' Ransomware Gang
The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3), which was created by the Department of Health and Human Services, recently healthcare providers about a "relatively unknown" ransomware gang that is beginning to attack organizations in the healthcare sector.HC3 issued an alert on a cybercriminal group called TimisoaraHackerTeam (THT).
New Cannabis Laws Tied to Higher Binge Drinking Rates
The use of antipsychotics is associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with dementia.
The risk of mortality is greater with higher doses of antipsychotics and in patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Appropriate use of antipsychotics in dementia should be carefully considered, and alternative therapies should be considered whenever possible. [ more ]
Lawyer's racist and anti-Muslim rants on social media entitle defendant to new trial, court rules
Lawyer's racist and anti-Muslim rants on social media entitle defendant to new trial, court rules
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court granted Anthony J. Dew a new trial on the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel.Photo by Shutterstock.com.The top court in Massachusetts has granted a new trial to a Black, Muslim defendant whose appointed lawyer expressed "vitriolic hatred" and racism in social media posts.
How Planned Parenthood's CEO Wants Insurers To Support Reproductive Health
Currently, have enacted full bans on abortion, while another six states have partial bans following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.When that happened, many insurers stepped up to work with employers and explain their benefits, as well as help with travel assistance for abortion services, said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Growing without groaning: A brief guide to gardening when you have chronic pain
When I look at the economic news: the housing crunch, the high cost of groceries, or the possibility that AI will render my professional skills obsolete I often come back to the same thought: I should start growing my own vegetables.Financial savings and fresh produce aside, research shows gardening and spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress, depression, and anxiety.