Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Another Health Worker Union Votes To OK Kaiser Permanente Strikes
Modern Healthcare: Another Kaiser Permanente Union Authorizes Strike
Nearly 2,000 Kaiser Permanente workers in California voted to allow a strike, their union announced Thursday. The not-for-profit integrated health system's labor woes continue to mount. This vote by members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers follows a series of strike authorizations backed by members of labor groups belonging to the Alliance of Health Care Union. So far this month, unions representing more than 25,000 Kaiser Permanente employees in California and Oregon have given their bargaining teams permission to initiate strikes if negotiations don't progress. (Christ, 10/28)
In other health industry news —
AP: Massachusetts Health Network Hacked; Patient Info Exposed
A Worcester, Mass. health care network says someone hacked into its employee email system, potentially exposing the personal information of thousands of patients. UMass Memorial Health notified patients earlier this month if their information was involved in the breach, which occurred between June 2020 and January. The personal data included Social Security numbers, insurance information and medical information, The Telegram & Gazette reported Thursday. (10/29)
San Francisco Chronicle: UCSF Announces Opening Of $535 Million Brain Research Facility
UCSF on Thursday marks the opening of the Weill Neurosciences Building, a groundbreaking facility that — once all the crates are unboxed — will bring patients, physicians, medical scientists and researchers together under one roof in the hopes of treating brain diseases that have until now proved largely intractable. The 282,500-square-foot building at UCSF’s Mission Bay campus is unlike any other in America for its multi-disciplinary approach, said Dr. Stephen Hauser, director of the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, which was founded in 2016 and will be housed in the new complex. It will be the largest integrated neurology and neuroscience center in the U.S. (Vaziri, 10/28)
Modern Healthcare: Physical Therapy Telehealth Startup Hinge Health Raises $600 Million
Hinge Health, a telehealth startup focused on providing care for back and joint pain, raised $600 million in new financing, the company announced Thursday. The latest haul boosts its valuation to $6.2 billion, making it one of the most valuable digital health businesses. Tiger Global and Coatue Management led the Series E funding round, while Alkeon Capital Management and Whale Rock Capital Management bought $200 million in existing equity. The company will use the new money to expand its operations. “In 2021, Hinge Health more than doubled its customer base year over year,” the company said in a news release. (Brady, 10/28)
Stat: Alnylam’s Longtime CEO To Depart, New Leader Named
John Maraganore, who has been the chief executive of Alnylam for nearly 19 years, is stepping down on Dec. 31, Alnylam announced Thursday. Yvonne Greenstreet has been named as the next CEO. This is the second top executive to leave Alnylam and the third significant change in the company’s leadership in the last 13 months. (Sheridan, 10/28)
