#pennsylvania

[ follow ]
Left-wing politics
New York Post
3 days ago
Left-wing politics

Dems, like Bob Casey, who backed Biden's war on energy will pay for it this November

Energy plays a key role in political dynamics, especially in states with significant fossil fuel industries. [ more ]
www.nytimes.com
6 days ago
Left-wing politics

Biden to Run Ads Across Pennsylvania Attacking Trump on the Economy

President Biden campaigning in Pennsylvania emphasizing commitment to organized labor and attacking Trump's economic policies. [ more ]
www.theguardian.com
1 week ago
Left-wing politics

He voted Trump in 2016, Biden in 2020. He's the kind of voter candidates are desperate to swing

Small business owner in a swing state switched from Trump to Biden due to Covid response.
Disillusionment with the 2020 presidential options despite aligning with Biden this time. [ more ]
www.mediaite.com
3 months ago
Left-wing politics

Loser!' Biden Heckled in Pennsylvania, Told to Go Home'

President Joe Biden faced hecklers during a visit to Pennsylvania.
Protesters on both the left and right expressed their dissatisfaction with Biden. [ more ]
www.mediaite.com
3 months ago
Left-wing politics

Loser!' Biden Heckled in Pennsylvania, Told to Go Home'

President Joe Biden faced hecklers during a visit to Pennsylvania.
Protesters on both the left and right expressed their dissatisfaction with Biden. [ more ]
www.mediaite.com
3 months ago
Left-wing politics

POLL: Biden Takes Over Lead Against Trump In Pennsylvania Even If RFK and Stein Run

Biden has regained the lead against Trump in Pennsylvania in the 2024 election polling.
Biden maintains a slight lead even when independent and third-party candidates are included. [ more ]
moreLeft-wing politics
Cardplayer
4 weeks ago
Online learning

Online Gaming Registers Huge Numbers In Legalized States

Online gaming in Pennsylvania saw a significant increase in February with record revenue, led by online slots and table games.
New Jersey also experienced a notable growth in online gaming revenue in February, with substantial year-to-date growth in sports betting. [ more ]
BikeMag
4 weeks ago
Bicycling

Pennsylvania's Lone Downhill Bike Park Announces Opening Day

Blue Mountain in PA is the only lift service mountain bike park in the state.
Opening weekend for the park is on May 18th for season pass holders and May 19th for the general public. [ more ]
US politics
www.mediaite.com
1 month ago
US politics

A Terrifying Morning': CNN Confirms Suspect Holding Hostages in New Jersey After Allegedly Shooting 3 Dead in PA

Suspect took hostages in NJ after killing three in PA.
26-year-old Andre Gordon shot and killed three known victims and carjacked before barricading in Trenton. [ more ]
New York Post
5 months ago
US politics

Biden DOJ defends ban on drug users owning guns - as Hunter faces comparable charge

President Biden's Justice Department is supporting the ban on gun ownership for drug users.
The case could have implications for Hunter Biden's similar case.
Gun-rights activists argue that marijuana users should be allowed to own guns. [ more ]
www.cnn.com
10 months ago
US politics

The debate on the American right isn't about classified documents. It's about fear of transgender rights

A version of this story appeared in CNN's What Matters newsletter.To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.While much of the country spent the week fixated on a former president and his indictment related to alleged mishandling of classified documents, parts of the American right were more consumed by fear of transgender rights.
www.cnn.com
10 months ago
US politics

McCarthy and hardliners reach tentative agreement to resume House floor business

Hardline conservatives have agreed to end their blockade of the House floor while they continue discussions with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy about future spending decisions and a new power-sharing agreement, according to multiple members leaving the speaker's office.Conservatives who had voted against a procedural vote in retaliation for how GOP leadership handled the debt ceiling deal now say they are willing to support the procedural vote, after they received new commitments from McCarthy about how the California Republican plans to operate going forward, though they said the exact details are still being worked out and did not say whether they would ever be made public or put into a written statement.
moreUS politics
Law
Above the Law
2 months ago
Law

Judge With An Itchy Trigger Finger Arrested For Shooting Ex In The Head

Pennsylvania judge Sonya McKnight arrested for attempted murder and aggravated assault on ex-boyfriend.
McKnight was suspended from judicial post for unrelated misconduct allegations. [ more ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

43K Patients in California Could Get Refunds, Bill Corrections As Part of Discounted Care Settlement

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare is notifying 43,000 patients about their eligibility for billing corrections and refunds.
The health system settled a lawsuit regarding failure to inform patients about charity care programs.
Patients whose bills were sent to collections between October 28, 2018, and December 31, 2021 are eligible for re-review.
Patients have 65 days to confirm interest and 150 days to complete their application for bill correction.
Santa Clara County will establish better policies to ensure patients are aware of charity care programs. [ more ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

CMS Lowers No Surprises Act Fee After Court Nixes Price Hike

CMS is lowering the administrative fee for initiating a reimbursement dispute under the No Surprises Act.
This comes after the Texas Medical Association challenged HHS over the fee hike.
The No Surprises Act protects against surprise medical bills and establishes a process for IDR.
CMS had initially announced a fee increase to $350 but it was vacated by a Texas federal judge.
The fee increase was criticized for making the IDR process more expensive and cost-prohibitive for providers. [ more ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

House Reps Introduce Bill To Ease State Medicaid Staffing Shortages Amid Redeterminations

A bill introduced in the House of Representatives aims to alleviate staffing shortages at state Medicaid agencies.
The bill would prevent beneficiaries from being disenrolled due to staffing problems or procedural reasons.
The Medicaid Staffing Flexibility and Protection Act would allow state Medicaid agencies to hire outside contractors to help with redeterminations.
The bill aims to reduce the number of people removed from coverage due to staffing shortages.
The Medicaid continuous enrollment provision, which prevented disenrollment during the Covid-19 emergency, is being unwound. [ more ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
moreLaw
The Nation
2 months ago
Social justice

It's Known as "Death by Incarceration." These People Want to End It.

Derek Lee, who is serving a life sentence without parole in Pennsylvania, is advocating for the end of such sentences.
Lee and others are fighting to change the laws retroactively to give themselves and others a chance at release. [ more ]
LGBTQ Nation
2 months ago
Education

Moms for Liberty chapter implodes after humiliating school board election defeat

Moms for Liberty's Lehigh County chapter dissolved after an embarrassing defeat in a school board election.
The group had 200 members when it formed in 2020, but only three remained at the time of dissolution. [ more ]
New York Post
5 months ago
Education

Pa. school board member resigns after calling Israeli army 'terrorist organization': 'Words do matter'

A Pennsylvania school board member resigned after calling Israel's army a 'terrorist organization' on social media.
She will retain her job as an assistant superintendent in the Philadelphia school system. [ more ]
Advocate.com
5 months ago
Education

Moms for Liberty-Supporting Superintendent Quits and Gets $700K Severance

Central Bucks School District in Pennsylvania approved a six-figure severance package for outgoing superintendent Abram Lucabaugh, sparking community backlash.
The decision comes after a political shift in the district and the recent takeover of the school board by the Democratic Party. [ more ]
WSJ
5 months ago
Education

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 ]
WSJ
5 months ago
Education

Several Schools Under Investigation for Allegedly Failing to Protect Jewish, Muslim Students

The Education Department is investigating several schools over reports of harassment against Jewish and Muslim students.
The schools are under investigation for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. [ more ]
New York Post
3 months ago
NYC real estate

'Hobbit' house where you can mow the grass on the roof lists for $425K

A unique house resembling a Hobbit home in Pennsylvania has been listed for $425,000.
The house features a distinctive design with arched walls and an energy-efficient grass roof. [ more ]
The Verge
3 months ago
Artificial intelligence

Pennsylvania government workers will start using ChatGPT in test program

Pennsylvania is piloting OpenAI's ChatGPT service to assist state employees with administrative tasks.
The state plans to use the pilot program to identify ways to improve services for citizens using generative AI. [ more ]
PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
4 months ago
Books

Pink celebrates hometown as school board president swears in on banned books

Karen Smith, newly elected school board president in Pennsylvania, made a rebellious statement by being sworn in on a stack of frequently banned books.
Pink, who is from Pennsylvania, showed support for Smith and has been using her platform to criticize book bans. [ more ]
Advocate.com
5 months ago
Books

Moms for Liberty and Florida Teacher Schemed to Manipulate Student Book Controversy

Members of Moms for Liberty accused Florida public school librarians of distributing inappropriate books to minors.
English teacher Vicki Baggett facilitated the checkout of a book deemed inappropriate by Moms for Liberty.
Baggett has been involved in having books removed from schools and is coordinating with Moms for Liberty. [ more ]
The Paris Review
10 months ago
Books

War Diary - The Paris Review

War can have a devastating psychological impact on those who experience it. Experiences of war can cause lasting trauma and depression for those involved.
Writing can provide a powerful outlet to express and process the difficult emotions associated with war. Journaling can allow individuals to make sense of their experiences and confront their feelings without having to talk to someone. [ more ]
Pennsylvania
PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
4 months ago
Books

Democrat swears in on banned books to troll Moms for Liberty

A newly appointed Pennsylvania school board president used a stack of banned books, with LGBTQ+ themes, to be sworn in instead of the Bible.
The books chosen by the president have been targeted as sexually explicit titles by right-wing groups. [ more ]
Above the Law
4 months ago
Law

How Appealing Weekly Roundup

Pennsylvania vote decided by drawing lots
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals impacting SCOTUS agenda
Texas booksellers challenge sex-content rating law
Trump-appointed judge weakens Voting Rights Act
Insurance and the Federal Circuit in focus [ more ]
WSJ
4 months ago
Law

Opinion | A Mail-Vote Time Bomb Keeps Ticking

The 2024 election may see an increase in lawsuits over voting rules, particularly absentee ballots.
A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled that timely mail ballots must be counted even if they lack a date, which may be appealed to the Supreme Court. [ more ]
www.nytimes.com
5 months ago
US politics

Federal Judge Rules Undated Mail-In Ballots in Pennsylvania Must Be Counted

A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled that undated mail-in ballots should be counted, stating that the state law violates the Civil Rights Act.
The ruling is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court, where conservative members have previously supported the state law.
Voting rights groups see this ruling as a victory in their fight for greater access to the ballot box. [ more ]
morePennsylvania
MedCity News
5 months ago
Medicine

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 ]
MedCity News
5 months ago
Health

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 ]
SFGATE
8 months ago
SF real estate

A $58M Wyoming Dude Ranch on 118 Acres Is the Week's Most Expensive Home

Grand View River Ranch in Jackson, WY is the most expensive home on Realtor.com, priced at $58 million.
The property offers 36 bedrooms on 118 acres and includes a lodge, guesthouse, historic barns, and cabins.
Other expensive properties include an equestrian estate in Pennsylvania, a Spanish-style compound in California, and a mountain mansion in Utah.
The featured properties offer luxurious amenities such as waterfrontage, panoramic bay views, wine cellars, and swimming pools.
The homes feature high-end finishes, custom millwork, and multiple fireplaces. [ more ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

'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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

'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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

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).
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
Cardplayer
8 months ago
Poker

Pennsylvania Issues $67.5K In Gambling Fines

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has issued fines totaling $67,500 to two separate entities for violations of the state’s gaming regulations.
The two entities fined were Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and the Meadows Racetrack and Casino.
The fines are a reminder that Pennsylvania takes gambling laws and regulations seriously and that operators need to be aware of the rules and comply with them to avoid fines and other penalties. [ more ]
Cardplayer
9 months ago
Poker

Pennsylvania Gambling Regulator Reports Record Tax Revenue

Pennsylvania has seen record tax revenue from online gaming in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Online poker revenue in Pennsylvania has increased more than 100 percent year-over-year.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has reported an overall increase in tax revenue from online gaming and sports betting, with more than $277 million collected thus far in 2020. [ more ]
Cardplayer
9 months ago
Poker

Pennsylvania Renews License For Lady Luck Casino At Nemacolin

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has unanimously approved the license renewal for one of the state's casinos.The voted June 28 to renew the Category 3 resort casino license of Woodlands Fayette, , operator of Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin in Fayette County.In making the decision, the said that it determined Woodlands Fayette, had fulfilled the obligations under its previously approved casino operator's license and qualified to renew its license for an additional five-year period.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Startup Sues Athenahealth, Alleging Trade Secret Theft & Deceptive Practices

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 ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Ticking the Talons of Healthcare Transparency

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 ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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 employer’s data, which was allegedly used to create and market products and services without the employer’s knowledge. [ more ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

'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 ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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 ]
New York Post
9 months ago
New York City

Convicted felon busted in senseless shooting of 5-year-old NYC girl

A 26-year-old convicted felon was arrested in connection to the shooting of a 5-year-old girl in New York City.
The shooting victim was taken to the hospital and is now in stable condition.
Authorities are urging anyone with information on the incident to come forward and assist in the investigation. [ more ]
www.nytimes.com
10 months ago
New York City

Spotted Lanternflies Are Back. You Should Still Kill Them.

See it, squish it, report it.That was the spotted lanternfly mantra of summers past, and the striking bugs are back this year, despite New Yorkers' best efforts.Native to parts of Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first seen in the United States nearly a decade ago, when it was found at a Pennsylvania landscaping company that imported stones from abroad.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Hospitals Have Concerns About CMS' Proposed $9B Lump Sum Payment for Illegal 340B Cuts

CMS is proposing new rules for 340B drugs which would require hospitals to meet specific legal requirements when dispensing them.
Under the proposal, hospitals would need to ensure that 340B drugs are only dispensed to patients who are eligible for the program.
Pharmacies providing 340B drugs would need to adhere to new guidelines to ensure compliance with the proposed rules. [ more ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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 ]
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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.
ABA Journal
9 months ago
Law

Supreme Court OKs state's corporate consent-to-jurisdiction law, but door is ajar for future challenges

Supreme Court OKs state's corporate consent-to-jurisdiction...

Supreme Court OKs state's corporate consent-to-jurisdiction law, but door is ajar for future challenges



A Norfolk Southern Railway Co. engine train in February 2017. Stephen Sachs, a professor at Harvard Law School, told the ABA Journal that a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a Pennsylvania law requiring companies to consent to personal jurisdiction in state courts if they do business there "is a very narrow decision."
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

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.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

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.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

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.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

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.
www.nytimes.com
10 months ago
New York City

I Saw a $20 Bill Float Through the Air Into the Intersection'

Dear Diary: It was a beautiful, breezy Friday night, beautiful enough that I decided to walk across town after work instead of taking the L. Waiting to cross Second Avenue, I noticed a woman getting out of a car.Then I saw a $20 bill float through the air into the intersection.The woman looked stricken.
www.npr.org
10 months ago
Law

9 more women sue Bill Cosby for alleged sexual assaults decades ago

In a new lawsuit, nine women accuse Bill Cosby of using his "power, fame and prestige" to sexually assault them.The 85-year-old is pictured in 2018 arriving for his sexual assault conviction sentencing hearing in Norristown, Pa.Matt Rourke/AP Nine more women are accusing Bill Cosby of sexual assault in a new lawsuit, shortly after the state dropped its statute of limitations on such cases.
Acm
10 months ago
Digital life

Tools to Assess Crime Risk for Young Cohorts Likely to Fail over Time

Technology-based tools intended to predict crime risk among young cohorts are likely to become obsolete over time due to changing social and economic conditions.
Effective crime prevention strategies should be tailored to the needs of each individual community, taking into account changing social and economic conditions.
An interdisciplinary approach combining machine learning, social science, and public policy is required to develop reliable tools for assessing crime risk. [ more ]
TalkNats.com
10 months ago
Washington Nationals

Series Preview: Nationals at Astros | TalkNats.com

The Washington Nationals will play in Houston for the first time since game 7 of the 2019 World Series when the Nats became World Champions.Since then, the Nats victory lap was victimized by COVID, and then a painful rebuild while the Astros continued to soar.Baseball cycles will do that.The Nats had nearly 10 years of great baseball, and the Astros are now in year-8 of their winning ways - but they were also part of one of the biggest cheating scandals in baseball history that tainted a lot of that winning.
Los Angeles Times
10 months ago
California

Ocean temperatures are off the charts, and El Nino is only partly to blame

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

In a world of worsening climate extremes, a single red line has caught many people's attention.The line, which charts sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic Ocean, went viral over the weekend for its startling display of unprecedented warming - nearly 2 degrees (1.09 Celsius) above the mean dating back to 1982, the earliest year with comparable data.
Yahoo Sports
10 months ago
Chicago White Sox

This New Zealand softball squad expects top competition (and BBQ) at KC invitational

The Junior White Sox softball team's journey began with a more than 10-hour flight from New Zealand to Los Angeles and ended with a second flight landing in Kansas City late Saturday night.The next morning, around 30 young softball standouts - most visiting America for the first time - and their coaches traveled to Iowa for two days of scrimmages before a return to Kansas City on Tuesday.
www.nytimes.com
10 months ago
Sports

West Virginia's Bob Huggins Arrested, Charged With Drunken Driving

Bob Huggins, the men's basketball coach at West Virginia, was arrested in Pittsburgh on Friday and charged with driving under the influence.According to a post on the police department's public safety site, officers in Pittsburgh found Huggins blocking traffic in a black S.U.V. just before 8:30 p.m. Huggins's door was open, and the car had a flat and shredded tire.
www.nytimes.com
10 months ago
US news

I-95 in Philadelphia Expected to Reopen Within Two Weeks, Governor Says

Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania said on Saturday he was confident the portion of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia that collapsed last weekend will open within the next two weeks.We are going to get traffic moving again, Mr. Shapiro said on Twitter, crediting an all hands on deck approach.Initially, he had said he expected the repairs to take months.
time.com
10 months ago
US politics

How the Democrat Who Lost to Lauren Boebert by 546 Votes Plans to Oust Her in 2024

Last year, Democrat Adam Frisch launched what most thought was a longshot bid for Congress against one of the nation's most famous conservative firebrands: Rep. Lauren Boebert.It ended up becoming the closest House race in the country, with the Republican incumbent squeaking through by 546 votes.Now Frisch is running again as less of a longshot and more of a certified contender, arguing the proof of concept he delivered last time will mean swing voters will be even more open to backing him in 2024.
www.nytimes.com
10 months ago
US news

Thieves' Loot: A Warhol, a Pollock and 9 of Berra's World Series Rings

An alarm at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y., blared at about 2 a.m. on a fall morning in 2015, prompting its director to drive to the building and learn that culprits had broken in and stolen six championship belts from the '40s and '50s.Who could do this to a hall of fame museum?
www.nytimes.com
10 months ago
US news

Jurors Begin Deliberations in First Phase of Pittsburgh Synagogue Trial

After three weeks of wrenching testimony, the prosecution and the defense delivered closing arguments on Thursday in the first phase of the federal trial of the man charged with carrying out the deadliest antisemitic attack in the country's history.Robert Bowers, 50, the man charged in the October 2018 killing of 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue, faces the possibility of a death sentence if convicted.
Washingtonian - The website that Washington lives by.
10 months ago
Washington DC

Summer Rain Is Coming-but Future DC Droughts Could Be Much Worse - Washingtonian

Are we becoming ... California?Last week, wildfire smoke choked the region-and this week, an unusually dry spring prompted federal and state officials to begin daily drought monitoring of the DC area.The good news, according to weather prediction models, is that showers are coming soon, which means our current drought could recede before many Washingtonians even notice it.
Chicago Tribune
10 months ago
Chicago

Letters: Our unimaginative cars hint at the loss of joy we've suffered in this polarized age

The entrenched polarization of our political landscape, though not unique in history, is nevertheless ominous and unsettling.Everyone seems to have a different read on the causes.Is the biggest problem Christian versus other?Wealth versus poverty?Republican versus Democrat?Pro-abortion rights versus anti-abortion rights?
www.nytimes.com
10 months ago
US news

Harvard Medical School Morgue Manager Sold Body Parts, U.S. Says

The manager of a morgue at Harvard Medical School has been charged with selling body parts from donated cadavers and allowing buyers to come to the morgue to choose which parts they wanted, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.Prosecutors said that the manager, Cedric Lodge, 55, and his wife, Denise Lodge, 63, both of Goffstown, N.H., and three others had been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pennsylvania on charges of conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

How California's New Legislation Could Affect Healthcare M&A Activity

Healthcare dealmakers must prepare for a new law and a recently introduced bill in the California Senate.Both aim to increase oversight in the healthcare M&A space, which is a legislative trend other states are beginning to participate in too.The first piece of California legislation that the healthcare industry should be aware of is , which was signed into law a year ago.
Washington Post
10 months ago
DC food

Review | The 10 best burgers in the D.C. area

Childhood was a long time ago for me, but if I close my eyes and think of my folks' backyard in Omaha, the memories come rushing back in waves so large and powerful they threaten to alter worlds, or at least mine.My dad was a man of few words, and even fewer observable emotions, except during those few hours on a sunny Saturday afternoon each fall when the Nebraska Cornhuskers stepped onto the field and summoned passions and frustrations in him that seemed larger than God.
Acm
10 months ago
Digital life

ChatGPT in the Classroom

ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that can be used in the classroom to facilitate student-to-teacher interactions and provide personalized feedback.
ChatGPT can be used to supplement lectures or as an alternative to traditional education models, such as flipped classrooms, in engaging students with course content in a more interactive way. [ more ]
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

New FDA Draft Guidance Signals Acceptance of Decentralized Trials (When Done Right)

When regulators speak, we listen.Naturally risk-averse industries like the life sciences need health authority acceptance before trying new approaches and especially before committing to wholesale operational change, even if the outcome has great potential.Consider decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) - a new model for conducting research.
[ Load more ]