Here’s a roundup from healthcare news from California, Illinois, Ohio and Massachusetts.

The House appropriations bill covering HHS would increase the agency’s funding by $73.2 billion over fiscal year 2016, but includes policy amendments likely to stir up opposition among Democrats and cuts for CMS and programs tied to the Affordable Care Act.

CMS would increase payments for primary care, geriatricians, family physicians and mental healthcare under the proposed physician fee schedule for 2017, along with expanding its Medicare diabetes prevention model. 

A woman posing as a healthcare worker at four different senior living facilities has been charged with burglary, theft, attempted burglary and corrupt business influence, reports Fox59.

The Veterans Affairs Commission on Care released their final report July 5, a culmination of an investigation into better healthcare practices after the 2014 scandal veterans hospitals waiting time scandal. 

Entering the digital age has changed a lot of fundamental things in healthcare. Records are computerized, telehealth is booming and your phone can even detect an array of diseases. As the healthcare industry evolves into a more technologically savvy place, a code of ethics may be needed for the digital space.

States which had legalized marijuana use for medicinal purposes saw a combined drop of $165.2 million in Medicare Part D spending in 2013, according to a new study published in Health Affairs.

As part of an agreement with the city of Chicago, Pfizer will implement a written code of conduct to disclose the risks of opioid use when promoting its medications to both patients and physicians.