Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
AMA Pushes Against Clinical Diagnosis Of 'Excited Delirium'
Modern Healthcare: AMA Opposes 'Excited Delirium' As A Diagnosis
The American Medical Association on Tuesday said it oppose the use of "excited delirium syndrome" as a clinical diagnosis, contending the term too often inappropriately justifies excessive police force and the forced sedation of individuals for no legitimate medical reason during encounters with law enforcement. The new policy adopted this week during the AMA's special meeting of its house of delegates opposes using "excited delirium" as the sole basis behind the use of excessive force by police officers. A controversial concept among many in healthcare, excited delirium is often described as being in a state of extreme agitation, with symptoms that include extreme physical strength, aggressive behavioral, usually caused by use of a drug stimulant. (Ross Johnson, 6/15)
In other health care industry news —
Modern Healthcare: Aetna Lumbar Surgery Lawsuit Reaches Class Action Status
A California federal judge last week granted class status certification to a lawsuit filed against Aetna that claims the insurer broke federal law by denying coverage for lumbar artificial disc replacement surgery. The class action suit alleges that Aetna classifies the spinal surgery as "experimental" and "investigational" and in many cases would not pay for beneficiaries' procedures. According to the lawsuit, more than 200 patients have been denied coverage for the procedure on the same grounds. (Devereaux, 6/15)
The Wall Street Journal: Apple Struggles In Push To Make Healthcare Its Greatest Legacy
Apple has envisioned an audacious plan for healthcare, offering its own primary-care medical service with Apple-employed doctors at its own clinics, according to people familiar with the plan and documents. To test that and other bold healthcare ideas, it took over clinics that catered to its employees and built a team with scores of clinicians, engineers, product designers and others. Today those ambitions, which aren’t widely known, have largely stalled as Apple has shifted the focus of its health unit to something it knows well: Selling devices, specifically the Apple Watch, according to people familiar with its strategy. (Winkler, 6/16)
The Boston Globe: Life Sciences Is Poised To Be Boston’s Dominant Industry. Has The Area Become The Silicon Valley Of Biotech?
The Boston area has long been famous for its elite universities, top tier hospitals, passionate sports fans, and deep history. But over the past year, the biggest buzz has been about biotechnology, from Moderna receiving emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in December to Biogen winning approval for its Alzheimer’s drug last week. There has also been a massive amount of investment, acquisitions, public offerings, and laboratory construction during a time when many businesses struggled to keep the lights on. The biotech sector seems poised to emerge from the pandemic as the city’s dominant and most visible industry. Might it finally be time to say that the Boston area has become the Silicon Valley of biotech? (Kirsner, 6/15)
Stat: Former FDA Chief Hahn Defends His Jump To Flagship Pioneering
When biotech investor Flagship Pioneering announced that it had hired former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn, more than a few eyebrows rose. “It would not be a good look for our industry if the person who approved the vaccine went to work for an affiliated company,” tweeted Brad Loncar, a respected investor. “That would be a TERRIBLE look for both him and Flagship,” one biotech editor tweeted. (Sheridan, 6/15)
The Wall Street Journal: Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes’s 100 Questions For Jurors Are Scrapped
A federal judge blocked Theranos Inc. founder Elizabeth Holmes’s proposal to ask potential jurors more than 100 questions before her criminal-fraud trial, saying she could get a fair hearing without making inquiries that prosecutors called deeply intrusive. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila countered Tuesday with a slimmed-down questionnaire to send to jurors ahead of the late-August trial, which will determine whether Ms. Holmes defrauded investors, patients and doctors about her now-defunct blood-testing company. (Randazzo, 6/15)
Also —
The Boston Globe: ‘We Will Not Be Broken:’ Nurses Strike In Worcester Reaches 100 Days
Five mornings a week, Denise Scotia can be found in front of Saint Vincent Hospital flying the bright blue Massachusetts Nurses Union flag with a sign draped around her neck proudly stating, “I’ve been a nurse for 26 years.” On Tuesday, the 100th day of an unrelenting nurses’ strike at the hospital, the scene was no different. Scotia is one of about 750 nurses who began striking on March 8 after failed attempts to negotiate an increase in nursing staff. After 32 negotiation sessions, the Massachusetts Nurses Association and Tenet Healthcare, a Dallas-based for-profit that owns and operates the Worcester hospital, remain at a standstill. (Lusignan, 6/15)
AP: Judge OKs $15M Settlement Over Rape Of Incapacitated Woman
A judge has approved a $15 million settlement against a doctor in a lawsuit by the parents of an incapacitated woman who was sexually assaulted and later gave birth at a Phoenix long-term care center, marking the last of several deals to resolve legal claims over the rape. The settlement made on behalf of Dr. Phillip Gear, who cared for the woman for 26 years while she lived at Hacienda Healthcare, was deemed reasonable last week by a judge. But the insurer for Gear, who died late last year, said in court papers it has no obligation to pay the amount, arguing the doctor’s policy didn’t cover claims arising from a sexual act. (Billeaud, 6/16)
