Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
State Highlights: N.D. Senate Rejects Plan To Expand Dental Hygenists' Duties; NYC Council Considers Proposal To Pay For City Workers' Health Care
The Associated Press: North Dakota Senate Kills Bill To Expand Hygienist's Duties
North Dakota's Senate has killed a bill that would allow dental hygienists with advanced training to conduct certain procedures now done by dentists.The Senate defeated the bill 40-6 on Monday. Supporters of the measure say the legislation was aimed at improving access to dental care in rural North Dakota and on American Indian reservations in the state. (2/23)
The Associated Press: NYC Council Plans To Set Aside Money For Health Care Costs
Some New York City Council members are proposing a change to the city charter to help pay for future health care obligations for municipal workers. The city is projected to eventually pay $92.5 billion in health care obligations for current and retired city workers. (2/23)
The Associated Press: NY Attorney General Expands Herbal Supplements Investigation
Three weeks after ordering four major retailers to pull store-brand herbal supplements off their shelves following DNA tests that found little or none of the listed herbs, New York's attorney general is targeting the manufacturers of the popular products. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent letters Monday to four manufacturers in New York, California and Utah, demanding detailed ingredient and quality control information on every herbal supplement they sell in New York state. (Esch, 2/24)
The Associated Press: Philadelphia District Appeals Ruling Sparing Teachers From Health Costs
Philadelphia's public school system is asking the state Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that bars it from unilaterally imposing health care costs on unionized teachers. The School District of Philadelphia and its School Reform Commission said Monday that the Commonwealth Court erred when it sided with a teachers' union that argued imposing costs must be negotiated during collective bargaining. (2/23)
The Associated Press: Privatized Prison Care Raises Concerns
Months after he landed in Florida’s Manatee County Jail, Jovon Frazier’s pleas for treatment of intense pain in his left shoulder were met mostly with Tylenol. Four months later, after Frazier’s 13th request resulted in hospitalization and doctors diagnosed bone cancer, his arm was amputated, according to a lawsuit by his family. (Geller, 2/24)
The Associated Press: Doctor Accused Of Fraudulently Billing Health Insurers
A northern New Jersey doctor stands accused of fraudulently billing Medicare, Medicaid and private health care insurance companies for hundreds of thousands of dollars for office visits that were never rendered. Federal prosecutors say Albert Ades from 2005 through June 2014 fraudulently billed insurers for face-to-face office visits. They claim he wrote prescriptions, authorized refills or performed other tasks without ever seeing those patients on the billed dates. (2/24)
St. Louis Public Radio: St. Louis Medical School Gets $6.6M To Boost Primary Care Training
Citing the projected demand for primary care physicians in underserved areas, a California-based foundation is donating $6.6 million to Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine. The donor, the Everest Foundation, is the charity arm of a Los Angeles-based consulting firm for medical students called Residents Medical Group. Over a 10-year period, the gift will fund a visiting research fellowship program, five residency positions and a scholarship for family physicians returning to pursue a master’s degree. Of the seven positions filled annually, the donor would select the candidates for one of them. (Bouscaren, 2/23)
The New York Times: Geisinger Health System, Known For Innovations, Names UCLA Health President As Chief
Geisinger Health System, which is viewed as a national model in providing both high-quality and cost-effective medical care, announced on Monday that it had chosen Dr. David T. Feinberg, the president of the UCLA Health System, as its next chief executive. (Abelson, 2/23)
The Associated Press: Vermont's Deal With Jonathan Gruber Criticized In Audit
A top aide to Gov. Peter Shumlin is defending the administration's handling of a contract with Massachusetts Institute of Technology health economist Jonathan Gruber, after criticisms were lodged by the state auditor. (2/23)
