State news: Conn. may create health ‘super-agency,' Mich. hospital bans Pokémon Go

Here’s a roundup of the state healthcare news, including: a proposal in Connecticut to consolidate health agencies, a Michigan hospital telling Pokémon Go players to stay away, a patient-dumping lawsuit in California, a $2.7 million settlement over patient data breaches in Oregon and the end of a Colorado court case involving a surgery tech who could have exposed thousands to HIV.

Conn. could combine health agencies to control costs

Consultants hired by the state of Connecticut to find ways to control healthcare costs offered an ambitious solution: combining existing agencies into one large new “super-agency” called the Connecticut Health Authority.

The Connecticut Mirror reported the plan, which would also create an oversight agency to track increases in health costs, is the “largest reorganization and consolidation of health-related state agencies in two decades.”

When presented to the state’s Health Care Cabinet, however, some members questioned whether it was realistic.

"We're not ready for shared savings [with providers]," said Ellen Andrews, executive director of the Connecticut Health Policy Project, according to the Hartford Courant. "Not even close."

The plan would also involve restructuring the system for Medicaid beneficiaries and state employees to something like an accountable care organization, with so-called “consumer care organizations” having 2 to 5 percent of their reimbursements based on quality measures.

Covenant HealthCare declares itself “no hunting zone” for Pokémon Go players

Concerned over the number of young players appearing around the hospital playing the new mobile game Pokémon Go, Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw, Michigan, said publicly that people hunting for virtual characters aren’t welcome.

“Our patients need their rest, and protection from germs,” said Covenant spokesman Larry Daly, according to MLive. “To ensure extraordinary care for our patients, Covenant prohibits entry into the hospital to hunt for Pokémon. Our security department and the local police have been alerted to this situation.”

The game involves players hunting for virtual characters based on their real-life location. Within the game, the park directly across from Covenant is a Pokémon Go “gym” where players can battle their captured Pokémon. Daly said that’s prompted players, mostly young teens, to come near or even inside the hospital.

While saying he does appreciate the game encouraging young people to go outside and exercise, Daly added “the hospital is not the place to do this.”

Blue Shield of Calif. sues CenCal, alleging patient-dumping

Blue Shield of California has filed a lawsuit accusing CenCal Health, a Medi-Cal plan in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, tried to avoid paying claims for about 40 chronically ill patients by paying for their Blue Shield premiums instead.

“CenCal targeted its sickest members and advertised the scheme to providers who would benefit from higher rates for these members, even paying the member's premiums using a CenCal employee's corporate credit card,” Blue Shield said in a statement. "Moreover, CenCal continues to collect money from the state for each of these members while not covering many of their medical expenses.”

The insurer alleged the scheme saved CenCal $12 million in claims over 18 months.

Oregon Health & Science University pays $2.7M to OCR

Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) agreed to pay $2.7 million to HHS’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR) over two 2013 breaches which exposed the information of more than 7,000 patients.

The Oregonian reported the two incidents happened within three months—the first involving an unencrypted stolen laptop, the other a spreadsheet of patient information kept on a cloud service.

“The two breaches that occurred in 2013 were stark reminders to OHSU how vigilant we must be, said OHSU’s chief information officer, Bridget Barnes. “We made significant data security enhancements at the time of the incidents and now are investing at an unprecedented level in proactive measures to further safeguard patient information.”

As part of the agreement, OHSU will have to file reports with OCR on its data security for the next three years.

HIV-positive Colo. surgery tech pleads guilty to stealing painkillers

A surgery technician pleaded guilty to stealing fentanyl when working at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo., which forced the hospital to test thousands of patients for possible exposure to HIV and hepatitis.

The Associated Press reported Rocky Allen, who is HIV positive, was fired in January 2016 after a co-worker saw him switch a syringe filled with fentanyl for one with saline.

It was later discovered Allen had been fired from several hospitals for stealing syringes, and had lied about the reasons for leaving those positions on his job application.

The Colorado Health Department’s inquiry found no evidence of transmission to patients because of Allen potentially contaminating needles. He could be sentenced to as much as 14 years in prison.