The I-PASS Nursing Handoff Bundle intervention could reduce rates of handoff error while maintaining a steady workflow, according to a study published in BMJ Quality & Safety.

CMS reported national health spending grew at a slower rate in 2016, increasing by 4.3 percent with slower growth across almost all spending categories, including private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and retail prescription drug spending.

Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago has alleged the Leapfrog Group knowingly used incorrect information in awarding the facility a “C” grade in its fall 2017 safety grade report. But Leapfrog’s response to the suit said Saint Anthony had ample time to review its grade and said nothing about a suspected error in data the hospital itself had submitted until six days before grades were to be published.

Optum, the consulting and services arm of health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group, has continued a series of major acquisitions with the announcement it will buy DaVita Medical Group, a division of kidney dialysis firm DaVita, for $4.9 billion.

As cyberattack become increasingly common incidents, healthcare professionals must push security to the forefront. In a presentation given at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, Jim Whitfill, CMO of innovation Health Partners and president of Lumetis, described the current cybersecurity environment and detailed how professionals can take steps toward improving privacy.

Decision Resources Group (DRG) have developed an interactive tool capable of testing the potential of vaccines in any global market and producing results in less than two minutes.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, based her vote in favor of the Senate Republican tax cut plan on the promise Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, would back two bills to help the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, however, isn’t making the same commitment, according to The Hill.

If the merger between CVS Health and Aetna is completed, other healthcare companies, especially pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), will see some negative effects such as pressuring the utilization and pricing of branded drugs, according to Moody’s Investor Service.