Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Kaiser Permanente To Pay $49M In Medical Waste Disposal Settlement
Los Angeles Times: Kaiser Agrees To $49-Million Settlement For Illegal Disposal Of Hazardous Waste, Protected Patient Information
Kaiser Permanente agreed to $49 million in settlement after an investigation by the California attorney general and six different district attorney offices found that the healthcare giant illegally disposed of hazardous medical waste and protected patient information in unsecured dumpsters. State Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced the settlement on Friday that also requires that Kaiser take significant steps to prevent future unlawful dumping. (San Román, 9/9)
In health news from Meta —
Reuters: Meta Platforms Must Face Medical Privacy Class Action
A U.S. federal judge said Meta Platforms must face a lawsuit claiming that it violated the medical privacy of patients who were treated by hospitals and other healthcare providers that used its Meta Pixel tracking tool. U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco said the plaintiffs could pursue claims that Meta violated a federal wiretap law and a California privacy law, and violated its own contractual promises governing user privacy on Facebook. (Stempel, 9/8)
CNBC: Meta's VR Technology Is Helping To Train Surgeons And Treat Patients
Just days before assisting in his first major shoulder-replacement surgery last year, Dr. Jake Shine strapped on a virtual reality headset and got to work. As a third-year orthopedics resident at Kettering Health Dayton in Ohio, Shine was standing in the medical center’s designated VR lab with his attending physician, who would oversee the procedure. Both doctors were wearing Meta Quest 2 headsets as they walked through a 3D simulation of the surgery. (Capoot, 9/9)
More health industry updates —
Bloomberg: Walmart WMT To Explore Buying Majority Stake In ChenMed
Walmart Inc. is exploring buying a majority stake in ChenMed, a closely held operator of primary care clinics for seniors, according to people familiar with the matter. The companies are in talks for a deal that would value ChenMed at several billion dollars, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. A deal could still be weeks away, the people said. (Davis, 9/9)
Modern Healthcare: Michigan Blue Cross To Cut Prior Authorization Requirements By 20%
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will eliminate 20% of prior authorization requirements, joining big players such as UnitedHealth Group and Cigna in responding to complaints about what providers characterize as an increasing burden, the company announced Thursday. ... The health insurance company holds a 68% commercial plan market share in Michigan, which the American Medical Association deems the second-least-competitive insurance market in the U.S. (Tepper, 9/8)
Stat: Private Equity Could Exacerbate Cardiology's Overuse Problem, Experts Fear
Coronary stenting is, by some measures, the most overused procedure in hospitals. The problem costs the health system millions and unnecessarily exposes patients to risks of blood clots, torn arteries, infections, and other life-threatening injuries. (Bannow, 9/11)
Stat: Lawsuit Raises Kickback Allegations Around Cancer Patient Referrals
A large independent group of oncologists in Philadelphia is suing the area’s dominant hospital system, Jefferson Health, alleging the system is violating federal antitrust and kickback laws by creating a “concerted campaign to eliminate” the group’s “presence in the oncology marketplace.” (Herman, 9/8)
Stateline: You Might Need An Ambulance, But Your State Might Not See It As 'Essential'
Most states don’t declare emergency medical services (EMS) to be an “essential service,” meaning the state government isn’t required to provide or fund them. Now, though, a growing number of states are taking interest in recognizing ambulance services as essential — a long-awaited move for EMS agencies and professionals in the field, who say they hope to see more states follow through. Experts say the momentum might be driven by the pandemic, a decline in volunteerism and the rural health care shortage. (Hassanein, 9/11)
Modern Healthcare: Telehealth In Schools Faces Uncertainty As COVID-19 Funding Ends
Mental health startups are opting for a business model that starts in school. Elementary school. A growing number of mental telehealth companies are offering their services to school-age children by working with local schools. Many received federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, but with usage of this money set to expire, companies are looking to prove their value to cash-strapped school districts. (Turner, 9/8)
Also —
AP: Patients Need Doctors Who Look Like Them. Can Medicine Diversify Without Affirmative Action?
Dr. Starling Tolliver knew she wanted to become a doctor. Yet, as a Black girl growing up in Akron, Ohio, it was a dream that felt out of reach. She rarely saw doctors who looked like her. As a child, she experienced severe hair loss, and struggled to find a dermatologist who could help. Tolliver made a pact with two childhood best friends to become doctors who would care for Black and underserved communities like their own. Now 30, she is in her final year of dermatology residency at Wayne State University in Detroit. (Stafford, 9/11)
KFF Health News: A Father Dreamed Of A Home For His Family. Medical Debt Nearly Pushed Them Onto The Streets
Kayce Atencio used to be haunted by a thought while working at a homeless shelter in downtown Denver. “It could have been me,” said Atencio, 30, who lives in a small apartment with his son and daughter not far from the shelter. It nearly was. Atencio and his children for years slept on friends’ couches or stayed with family, unable to rent an apartment because of poor credit. A big reason, he said, was medical debt. (Levey, 9/11)
