Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
First Edition: May 15, 2015
The Wall Street Journal: HealthCare.gov Contractor Optum Declares Its Job Done
The contractor tapped to rescue the flailing HealthCare.gov in the fall of 2013 declared its work finished Thursday and said it doesn’t plan to continue overseeing the website that sells subsidized insurance to millions of Americans as part of the federal health law. “Having achieved the goal of making HealthCare.gov a stable and reliable platform for people seeking coverage, Optum will not rebid to continue the role of senior adviser,” said Matt Stearns, a spokesman for the company, the technology unit of insurer UnitedHealth Group. “Our job has been completed.” (Radnofsky, 5/14)
The Washington Post: 1 In 4 Adults Had Insurance But Still Couldn’t Afford Medical Care
More than 1 in 4 adults who bought insurance for themselves or their families last year had to skip needed medical care because they couldn't afford it, according to a study released Thursday by Families USA, a consumer health group. Some signed up for coverage on the new health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act and received financial assistance to help pay their premiums and some of their out-of-pocket costs. Others bought their plans directly from insurance companies. (Sun, 5/14)
The New York Times: U.S. Introduces New DNA Standard For Ensuring Accuracy Of Genetic Tests
The federal government opened the door to a new era of genetic medicine on Thursday by introducing a standard way to ensure the accuracy of DNA tests used to tailor treatments for individual patients. Scientists have identified hundreds of genetic mutations that appear to increase the risk of diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s and cystic fibrosis. But laboratories often report different results when they analyze genes obtained from samples of the same blood or tissue, because of variations in their testing equipment and methods. (Pear, 5/14)
The Wall Street Journal: Actavis Has Discussed Settling Federal Probe Of Warner Chilcott Sales Tactics
Drug maker Actavis PLC has held discussions with the Justice Department about resolving an investigation into the marketing tactics at a division, including allegations of improper payments to doctors, according to a regulatory filing and court documents. (Loftus, 5/14)
The Wall Street Journal: When E. Coli Becomes A Business Opportunity
Dozens of companies are sprouting to help U.S. food makers tackle a wave of new federal safety regulations and intensified enforcement of the nation’s food laws. The startups are racing to capitalize on the need by farms and food processors to step up vigilance of food-borne pathogens after a string of outbreaks in the last decade have sickened thousands, prompting a major overhaul of U.S. food safety laws and stepped-up criminal prosecutions of executives at companies implicated in the cases. (Newman, 5/14)
The Washington Post: VA Remains Work In Progress Year After Scandal Broke
More than a year after a scandal erupted over the cover-up of long wait times at VA care facilities, the effort to reform the agency is a long way from finished. The flurry of legislation that started shortly after the cover-up was exposed continues, often with VA employees the target. The bills reveal differing congressional philosophies but don’t always break along party lines. And the first law to emerge in the wake of the scandal is now the subject of a constitutional challenge. (Davidson, 5/14)
The Associated Press: Father And Son Charged In Insider Trading Case
An investment banker at a Manhattan firm and his father have been charged with using inside information to trade in securities of five health care companies. The charges were contained in a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday in Manhattan federal court against Sean Stewart and his father, Robert. Sean Stewart is a managing director at Perella Weinberg Partners LP. (5/14)
The Associated Press: NY Hospital Pays $19 Million To Settle Medicare Lawsuit
Federal prosecutors say the Westchester Medical Center has settled a lawsuit that alleged it paid kickbacks for referrals and overcharged Medicare. The hospital in Valhalla agreed to pay nearly $19 million. The U.S. attorney's office said the medical center helped open a cardiology practice specifically to generate referrals to the hospital, then maintained a financial relationship with the practice, violating kickback laws. (5/14)
NPR: Calif. Moves Closer To Banning Vaccine 'Personal Belief' Exemptions
California's state Senate has passed a bill to eliminate "personal belief exemptions" that currently allow parents to opt out of having their school-age children vaccinated. SB 277, sponsored by Democratic Sens. Richard Pan of Sacramento and Ben Allen of Santa Monica, passed 25 to 10 and now advances to the Assembly. (Neuman, 5/14)
The Associated Press: Missouri Legislature Enters Final Day Of Session In Turmoil
The most prominent measure hanging in the balance would reauthorize $3.6 billion of annual taxes on medical providers that are due to expire Sept. 30. An extension is necessary to avoid punching a large hole in Missouri’s $9.4 billion Medicaid health care program for low-income residents. If the reauthorization fails Friday, some legislators suggested that a special session would be needed to try again to pass the bill. (Lieb, 5/15)
The Associated Press: CDC Study Of Indiana HIV Cases Shows Most Are Same Strain
A genetic analysis of HIV samples taken from about half the people infected in the largest HIV outbreak in Indiana history shows nearly all of them have the same strain of the virus, a finding one health expert says is a sobering reminder of how rapidly HIV can spread among intravenous drug users. (5/14)
