The Department of Health & Human Services' Office of the Inspector General and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have extended waivers to the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law for certain accountable care organizations through Nov. 2, 2015, reports Becker's Hospital Review. 

Medical costs are up to 20 percent higher at hospital-owned physician groups, according to Los Angeles Times. 

Prescription drug spending (or Part D) has accounted for more than 60 percent of the slowdown in Medicare benefits since 2011, according to an analysis presented in Health Affairs.

Only 11 percent of people without health insurance are aware that open enrollment is set to begin, according to The New York Times.

CVS Health is using its tobacco-free policy as a way to one-up rivals. The chain's pharmacy benefits unit is offering a prescription-drug plan that charges patients more if they buy their meds at drugstores that sell tobacco products, according to Wall Street Journal.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a beta release of an online search tool to help users better navigate its Open Payments website, which went live with data on physicians' corporate relationships on Sept. 30, reports The Wall Street Journal.

A new study from the Rand Corp. refutes the notion that medical malpractice reform will generate major savings, reports The Washington Post.

President Obama has brought in Ron Klain, a crisis-response operative and former chief of staff to two vice presidents, to handle the government’s response to Ebola, reports The New York Times.