Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House OKs Bill To Halt Antitrust Immunity For Insurers, But Passage Unlikely
Modern Healthcare: House Votes To Repeal Insurers' Federal Antitrust Enforcement Immunity
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed legislation that would allow federal antitrust enforcement against insurers. Similar versions of the bill have been considered and passed in the House over the last decade, though none have become law. Odds appear slim this year as well. The bill would fall under the purview of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will soon be preoccupied with a blockbuster Supreme Court confirmation battle. (Cohen, 9/22)
In other health industry news —
USA Today: Sam's Club Offers Telehealth Option With Seattle-Based Virtual Clinic
Sam's Club is giving its members a new way to see the doctor – virtually. The Walmart-owned warehouse club chain announced a partnership with Seattle-based virtual primary care provider 98point6 Tuesday to provide members with an exclusive introductory fee and quarterly subscription. Sam's Club members with either a Club or Plus membership level can sign up for a quarterly subscription to 98point6’s telehealth virtual clinic via a text-based app for $20 per participant for the first three months, $10 less than 98point6’s regular sign-up fee of $30. (Tyko, 9/22)
Stat: In Another Health Bet, Amazon Expands Virtual Care Program For Employees
Amazon is expanding a virtual health care initiative for employees called Amazon Care on Tuesday to all of its staff in Washington, marking the initiative’s transition from pilot to a more fully-fledged program. The shipping giant — which has aggressively moved into health care in recent months — launched Amazon Care as a benefit to its office workers in Seattle last September and expanded the service to include warehouse employees in May. (Brodwin, 9/22)
(New Bern, N.C.) Sun Journal: CarolinaEast Foundation Sends Gift Cards To LA Hurricane Relief
"I hope this small gift helps you get started with your recovery,” reads a note on a Target gift card. “We were flooded out of our home during Florence in 2018 so I can sympathize with you. Best wishes!”Such are the wishes, along with simpler expressions such as “You are Louisiana Strong” and “Blessings,” that decorate the 391 gift cards that the CarolinaEast Foundation is sending to the Lake Charles Memorial in Lake Charles where Hurricane Laura devastated homes and lives on August 27. The hospital’s foundation will distribute the cards, mostly gift cards for Target and Lowes, to its staff. (Hand, 9/22)
Boston Globe: Tufts Renames Floating Hospital For Children, Sparking Mixed Reactions
One more piece of Boston history has disappeared, as the Floating Hospital for Children was renamed and will now be known as Tufts Children’s Hospital. To be clear, child-focused care at the hospital has not been conducted on a ship since 1927. It has been earthbound as part of Tufts Medical School’s Chinatown facilities, which include Tufts Medical Center, a 450-bed hospital. (Ellement and Gardizy, 9/22)
Also —
CNN: Kentucky Hospital CEO Pleads With People To Wear Masks As The Hospital Fills Up With Covid-19 Patients
As cases surge in Kentucky and Ohio, one hospital is begging residents to wear masks and practice social distancing, as it reaches capacity due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. "Our hospital is at capacity. We are working to open a third nursing unit to care for COVID patients," wrote Kristie Whitlatch, president and CEO of King's Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky. "Multiple nursing units dedicated to one virus are unprecedented in our 120-year history." (Asmelash, 9/22)
Kaiser Health News: Battle Rages Inside Hospitals Over How COVID Strikes And Kills
Front-line health care workers are locked in a heated dispute with many infection control specialists and hospital administrators over how the novel coronavirus is spread ― and therefore, what level of protective gear is appropriate. At issue is the degree to which the virus is airborne ― capable of spreading through tiny aerosol particles lingering in the air ― or primarily transmitted through large, faster-falling droplets from, say, a sneeze or cough. This wonky, seemingly semantic debate has a real-world impact on what sort of protective measures health care companies need to take to protect their patients and workers. (Lewis and Jewett, 9/23)
