An academic and insurance executive discussed innovations to control healthcare costs in the U.S., including pricing reforms and payment modifications.

The Leapfrog Group’s 2018 Hospital Safety Grades found that a handful of facilities have made major strides in reducing infection rates and deaths due to error. Of the 2,500 hospitals examined, 89 receiving an A this year had previously been rated as a D or F.

Ronny Jackson, MD, the White House physician who President Donald Trump nominated for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, was in line for difficult questioning at his confirmation hearing later this week. Now, the question is whether such a hearing will take place at all.

In an April 23 release, CMS announce it is seeking input on an alternative payment model that would allow direct provider contracting (DPC) between payers and primary care or multi-specialty groups. CMS asked for comments to inform possible testing for such a model for Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid.

Last week, news broke that music superstar Prince died after taking a counterfeit Vicodin pill laced with fentanyl. Today, Minnesota Public Radio reported that attorneys from Prince’s estate have filed a wrongful death suit against an Illinois hospital and Walgreens.

Six certified nursing assistants are suing a previous employer, accusing the facility of agreeing to patient requests for white-only caregivers.