A federal judge has ruled HHS and the U.S. Treasury Department don’t have the power to spend funds for reducing deductibles, co-pays and other “cost-sharing” means by insurers without congressional approval.

AMA President Steven Stack, MD, said pain management policies “well-intended but now known to be flawed” have contributed to the increase in abuse of opioid prescription pain relievers

St. David’s HealthCare announced plans to buy Forest Park Medical Center’s Austin hospital for $115 million, reports BizJournal.

Aetna’s filings with regulators “preserved our options to enter certain new geographies pending careful evaluation of marketplace conditions.” 

The healthcare industry is falling behind in the terms of technology. While almost every other industry is embracing the technological age, healthcare seems to be stuck in the 1990’s.

Legislation would prevent the FDA from restricting or prohibiting access to experimental drugs for a terminal patient in a state with a “right-to-try” law.

Paladin Healthcare announced that Henry Loubet has been appointed CEO of Paladin Healthcare Alliance.

Durbin spoke with HealthExec about what he’s heard from physicians prescribing opioids, where he feels medical associations have fallen short, and whether federal legislation on prescribing practices will be needed.