State Highlights: Lessons From Boston’s ’80s Tuberculosis Outbreak; Will States Follow Calif. Lead On Surprise Bills?

Stat: How Boston Stamped Out A TB Outbreak Thanks To Bartenders And Barbers
The nurses of Boston City Hospital weren’t in the habit of stopping by the bar on their way into work. But that was where they began finding themselves every morning, starting in the mid-1980s. They would show up as early as 8 a.m. at now shuttered bars in South Boston. They got to know the neighborhood’s bartenders, but not because they were ordering drinks: The nurses were using the bars to see their patients. The tuberculosis outbreak then raging among Boston’s homeless population had started in early 1984. By July of 1985, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was calling it the most severe outbreak ever documented among America’s homeless population, according to Boston Globe reporting from the time. (Seervai, 9/1)

Modern Healthcare: Passage Of California Surprise-Bill Legislation Could Spur Other States To Act 
California medical consumers will enjoy strong new protection against surprise out-of-network medical bills starting next July, under a hard-fought bill overwhelmingly approved by the state legislature this week. It's widely expected that Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown will sign it. Under the bipartisan bill, AB 72, authored by Democratic Assemblyman Rob Bonta, patients who received care in in-network facilities would have to pay only in-network cost sharing. (Meyer, 9/1)

The Associated Press: Kentucky Attorney General Sues Dialysis Company Over Product
Kentucky's attorney general is accusing a medical company of Medicaid fraud for allegedly promoting a kidney dialysis product it knew was harmful to patients. Attorney General Andy Beshear is suing Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc. His lawsuit, filed in Franklin County Circuit Court, says Fresenius is the nation's largest provider of kidney dialysis and renal care products, treatment and services. (9/1)

Orlando Sentinel: Feds Charge 16 In Massive $175M Prescription Cream Fraud Based In South Florida 
A massive $175 million fraud involving specialty prescription creams used to treat pain and other ailments was headquartered in South Florida, according to criminal charges filed Thursday by federal prosecutors.The suspects include about a dozen residents of Palm Beach and Broward counties, as well as at least three doctors and other medical workers from around the U.S. Court records suggest they are all cooperating and are expected to surrender in court in the next week or so. (McMahon, 9/1)

The Washington Post: Tentative Settlement In Suit Over Mentally Ill Inmates
Delaware prison officials have reached a tentative settlement in a federal lawsuit alleging that mentally ill prisoners have been subjected to solitary confinement without proper evaluation, monitoring and treatment. As part of the settlement, the Department of Correction has agreed to undertake steps to better classify, track and care for prisoners with mental health issues and in restrictive housing. Prison officials also have agreed to create a special needs unit at the women’s prison in New Castle. (Chase, 9/1)

The Washington Post: Calif. Legislature Poised To Criminalize Distribution Of Planned Parenthood-Type Sting Videos
The California legislature is near final approval of a bill that would make it a crime, punishable by a jail sentence, to carry out and distribute undercover video or audio stings against Planned Parenthood and other health-care groups. The measure was inspired by two California antiabortion activists who made undercover videos of themselves trying to buy fetal tissue from Planned Parenthood. The project prompted multiple investigations by Congress and states. (Barbash, 9/1)

Columbus Dispatch: Reynoldsburg Home Health-Care Provider Owes State $5.2 Million
A now-closed Reynoldsburg home health care provider was overpaid $4.9 million in Medicaid funds — the largest such finding ever made by the office of Ohio Auditor Dave Yost. Great Nursing Care Inc. improperly claimed payments by using unqualified health-care aides and billing for services before they were authorized, Yost's office announced this morning. With interest, Great Nursing Care owes the Ohio Department of Medicaid a total of $5.2 million for services billed between mid-2011 and mid-2014, a compliance audit concluded. (Ludlow, 9/1)

Chicago Tribune: Senior Center May Be Dying From Lack Of Funds, Clients
The center, located inside Merrillville High School, will celebrate its 35th year in operation this month. It's a spacious center, with plenty of parking and loaded with activities, tables of informational brochures, and a flea market with clothing and other items. Bingo, bunco, card games, low-impact exercise and other activities are also offered. Before the center lost its funding, Gass also arranged for guests to speak to seniors about relevant topics such as health care, nutrition, home mortgages and Medicare. (Davich, 9/1)

Detroit Free Press: DMC Preparing Plan B Should Talks Fail With WSU Docs
The Detroit Medical Center says it is making contingency plans with other physician groups in case it doesn't resolve a contract negotiations impasse with Wayne State University medical school doctors who have practiced at the DMC for years. The talks broke down this week after DMC officials walked out of a Tuesday meeting with representatives from the Wayne State University Physician Group, which employs the doctors who teach and do research at the university while practicing at DMC hospitals and clinics. (Reindl, 9/1)