Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Oracle Trying To Buy Medical Records Firm Cerner In Possible $30 Billion Deal
The Wall Street Journal: Oracle In Talks To Buy Cerner
Oracle Corp. is in talks to buy electronic-medical-records company Cerner Corp., according to people familiar with the matter, a deal that could be worth around $30 billion and push the enterprise-software giant further into healthcare. An agreement could be finalized soon, some of the people said, assuming the talks don’t fall apart or drag out. Should a deal come together, it would rank as the biggest ever for Oracle, which has a market value of more than $280 billion. (Lombardo and Cimilluca, 12/16)
In other health care industry news —
Modern Healthcare: OSHA's COVID-19 Prevention Standard Could Lapse Within Days
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has less than a week to extend its emergency temporary standard on COVID-19 prevention for healthcare facilities but hasn't yet moved to make the policy permanent, and stakeholders aren't sure what happens next. Emergency temporary standards from OSHA are supposed to be finalized within six months of their release. Policies stay in effect until replaced by a final action, an OSHA spokesperson wrote in an email. The spokesperson wouldn't say whether failing to extend the current standard would count as a final action. The standard is set to expire Dec. 21 unless OSHA issues a final rule. (Goldman, 12/15)
Axios: Scoop: Prospect Medical Seeks Multiple Buyers
Prospect Medical Holdings, after buying back Leonard Green & Partners' stake this summer, is seeking suitors for its West and East Coast assets, sources familiar with the matter told Axios. These assets come to market when buyers are eager to invest behind the health-care industry's transition to value- or risk-based care and some of these assets could provide an opportunity to do just that. (Pringle, 12/16)
Modern Healthcare: Acadia, Fairview To Open Twin Cities Hospital
Acadia Healthcare has inked yet another joint venture with a not-for-profit health system, this time partnering with Fairview Health Services to open a new hospital in Minnesota. The for-profit health system and Fairview Health Services will design and build an inpatient mental health and addiction treatment facility serving the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, Franklin, Tennessee-based Acadia Healthcare announced Thursday. The partners expect to spend $50 million on the new hospital. (Bannow, 12/16)
AP: Ex-California Doctor Convicted In Weight-Loss Insurance Scam
A former Southern California doctor was convicted Thursday of falsely billing military and private insurers $355 million for weight-loss surgeries. Julian Omidi, 53, of West Hollywood and his Beverly Hills-based company, Surgery Center Management LLC, were convicted by a federal jury of three dozen counts of wire and mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and making false statements related to health care matters, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office. A second physician, Dr. Mirali Zarrabi, 59, of Beverly Hills, was acquitted of all charges, prosecutors said. (12/17)
KHN: ‘The Charges Seem Crazy’: Hospitals Impose A ‘Facility Fee’ — For A Video Visit
When Arielle Harrison’s 9-year-old needed to see a pediatric specialist at Yale New Haven Health System in June, a telehealth visit seemed like a great option. Since her son wasn’t yet eligible to be vaccinated against covid-19, they could connect with the doctor via video and avoid venturing into a germy medical facility. Days before the appointment, she got a notice from the hospital informing her that she would receive two bills for the visit. One would be for the doctor’s services. The second would be for a hospital facility fee, even though she and her son would be at home in Cheshire, Connecticut, and never set foot in any hospital-affiliated building. (Andrews, 12/17)
