A campaign launched by National Nurses United is calling the explosion of medical technology both “dangerous” and overly expensive, and a contributing factor to “the erosion of care standards.”

The Department of Health & Human Services is awarding as much as $110 million in combined funding to 12 prospective recipients for round two of its Health Innovation Awards program, which seeks to test innovative models designed to deliver better care outcomes and lower costs.

BOSTON—“I would assert that the single biggest change on our planet in our lifetime is interconnectedness. Seeing that as principle transformational element” will help us improve the healthcare system, said Larry Keeley, strategist with innovation firm Doblin, speaking at the National Healthcare Innovation Summit on May 15.

BOSTON—Change doesn't just happen. “Leaders have to change. Every company has to change. Large groups have to change and do the heavy lifting,” said Roy Rosin, chief innovation officer, Penn Medicine, speaking at the National Healthcare Innovation Summit on May 15.

More than half of all eligible prescriptions were routed electronically, according to a report from the nationwide health information network Surescripts.

With only a fraction of hospitals and eligible professionals being ready to report for the Medicare and Medicaid electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs using the 2014 certified EHR technology criteria (aka, Meaningful Use Stage 2), the administration has issued a proposed policy to allow reporting using Stage 1 criteria for one more year.

Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Martha Coakley announced a comprehensive agreement with Boston-based Partners HealthCare allowing the system to acquire South Shore Hospital and Hallmark Healthcare.

A new study indicates that in some regions, healthcare providers use hospitals more often than others for care of all types, including readmitting patients within 30 days of their discharge after treatment for a heart attack.