| This Week’s News | Citing evidence from documents and interviews, the Guardian released an exposé accusing UnitedHealth of directly influencing the day-to-day operations of some 2,000 nursing homes, resulting in patients not receiving necessary emergency care. Citing evidence from documents and interviews, the Guardian released an exposé accusing UnitedHealth of directly influencing the day-to-day operations of some 2,000 nursing homes, resulting in patients not receiving necessary emergency care. | | |
| A report by researchers at Trilliant Health found that common symptoms—such as cough, nausea and rash—are often coded as complex medical events, resulting in higher reimbursement rates. A report by researchers at Trilliant Health found that common symptoms—such as cough, nausea and rash—are often coded as complex medical events, resulting in higher reimbursement rates. | | |
| The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it will increase medical coding staff from 40 to 2,000 and begin addressing its backlog of audits on Medicare Advantage plans in an effort to spot signs of fraud and abuse. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it will increase medical coding staff from 40 to 2,000 and begin addressing its backlog of audits on Medicare Advantage plans in an effort to spot signs of fraud and abuse. | | |
| The FDA is revising its approach to COVID-19 vaccine approvals, moving away from the previous trend of treating boosters like annual flu shots. Health researcher Vinay Prasad and Commissioner Martin Makary argue in the New England Journal of Medicine for more rigorous data requirements and additional clinical studies to justify future inoculations for those under 65. The FDA is revising its approach to COVID-19 vaccine approvals, moving away from the previous trend of treating boosters like annual flu shots. Health researcher Vinay Prasad and Commissioner Martin Makary argue in the New England Journal of Medicine for more rigorous data requirements and additional clinical studies to justify future inoculations for those under 65. | | |
| The U.S. Department of Justice announced the judgment, which was issued against two facilities in Pennsylvania. The nursing homes fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for working hours despite staff not being on the floor. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the judgment, which was issued against two facilities in Pennsylvania. The nursing homes fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for working hours despite staff not being on the floor. | | |
| KFF Health News interviewed multiple independent pharmacies for a new report, detailing their basements full of generic and specialty drugs as a hedge against supply shocks. KFF Health News interviewed multiple independent pharmacies for a new report, detailing their basements full of generic and specialty drugs as a hedge against supply shocks. | | |
| Tom Price, MD, former secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), said one way to address the growing shortage of physicians is to expand medical resident positions, but these are tied to Medicare spending so alternative means may be needed. Tom Price, MD, former secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), said one way to address the growing shortage of physicians is to expand medical resident positions, but these are tied to Medicare spending so alternative means may be needed. | | |
| The Ohio-based nonprofit health system did not confirm patient data was exposed and taken by hackers. However, a media report confirmed it has received a ransom notice credited to the Interlock cybercrime cell. The Ohio-based nonprofit health system did not confirm patient data was exposed and taken by hackers. However, a media report confirmed it has received a ransom notice credited to the Interlock cybercrime cell. | | |
| In court documents, an unnamed Minnesota woman said that in 2022, she was admitted to an Allina Health hospital and scheduled for the removal of her infected spleen, only for an error to result in her left kidney being removed instead. In court documents, an unnamed Minnesota woman said that in 2022, she was admitted to an Allina Health hospital and scheduled for the removal of her infected spleen, only for an error to result in her left kidney being removed instead. | | |
| The deals account for most of Rite Aid’s remaining stores, as the bankrupt chain nears its final days. The deals account for most of Rite Aid’s remaining stores, as the bankrupt chain nears its final days. | | |
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