Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Tulane University School Of Medicine Put On Probation Amid Racism Claims
New Orleans Times-Picayune: Tulane School Of Medicine Put On Probation By Accrediting Agency After Bias Complaints
The Tulane University School of Medicine graduate medical program, which trains newly-minted doctors during their residencies at hospitals across New Orleans, was put on probation by a national oversight panel last week. The panel did not state the reason for probation. But the rare step was taken after allegations of racial and gender discrimination erupted within the institution earlier this year. Tulane drew national attention after the dismissal of Dr. Princess Dennar, a Black female doctor, four months after she filed a discrimination lawsuit against the school. (Woodruff, 7/7)
The Lens: Tulane School Of Medicine Placed On Probation By Accreditor Amid Allegations Of Racism, Lack Of Diversity
Graduate medical education programs at the Tulane University School of Medicine were placed on probation by a national accreditor, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, (ACGME) last week. The probation follows a public fight over allegations of racism in the school’s graduate program this February stemming from the suspension of Dr. Princess Dennar, who is Black, from her position overseeing a residency program. The school was informed of the decision on July 2, according to an email sent to the School of Medicine by Lee Hamm, the school’s dean. In the email, Hamm wrote that “given issues of confidentiality, we are limited in the information we can share about the ACGME’s decision.” (Kiefer, 7/6)
In other health industry news —
Modern Healthcare: Aetna Enacts Cataract Surgery Pre-Authorization Rule
Aetna now requires all patients to receive pre-approval for cataract surgery. The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer said it had spent the past few months reaching out to opthamologists in its networks to inform them of the policy change, which took effect July 1. "We also reached out to the American Ophthalmological Society and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery to explain the rationale for and discuss this new policy, ensuring them that we'd work collaboratively to make sure that their patients and our members would have timely access to appropriate, necessary care, with special attention during the first few weeks of this new policy," a spokesperson said in a statement. (Tepper, 7/7)
Modern Healthcare: Cleveland Clinic To Pay $21 Million False Claims Settlement
Cleveland Clinic has agreed to pay $21.25 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its Akron General Health System improperly paid physician groups for patient referrals and submitted false claims to Medicare, according to the Justice Department. Akron General's former director of internal audit Beverly Brouse acted as the whistleblower, suing the health system under the False Claims Act in 2015 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. DOJ and Cleveland Clinic reached the settlement in May. (Christ, 7/7)
Modern Healthcare: UnitedHealth's Limits On Out-Of-Network Care Reacts To Surprise Billing Ban
UnitedHealth Group's decision to end some out-of-network coverage caught providers by surprise, with many speculating the move is part of a broader set of policies by the nation's largest insurer aimed at controlling costs and lowering provider reimbursement. Starting July 1, UnitedHealthcare no longer pays out-of-network claims when fully insured customers seek non-emergency care outside of their local coverage area. Patients seeking treatment from "step down" facilities away from where they live, including skilled nursing homes, residential treatment facilities, inpatient rehabilitation programs and more, are subject to the new rule. Coverage areas typically include the entire state and surrounding states where patients reside. (Tepper, 7/7)
AP: Scholarship Programs To Assist Health, Science Students
Tennessee State University and two other historically Black colleges and universities will benefit from scholarship and grant programs being started by a medical products company. Baxter International Inc. is giving $1.2 million to support Black students pursuing health and science degrees, Tennessee State said. (7/8)
KHN: A Family Wellness Check: California Invests In Treating Parents And Children Together
When a parent takes an infant to the Children’s Health Center in San Francisco for a routine checkup, a pediatrician will check the baby’s vitals and ask how the child is doing at home. Then Janelle Bercun, a licensed clinical social worker, who is also in the room, will look at Mom or Dad and pipe up: What is this like for you? Your frustrations? Joys? Challenges? And she stays to work with the parent long after the pediatrician has left. (Young, 7/8)
And in health tech news —
Stat: Sonde's Voice Health Tracking Comes To Qualcomm's Smartphone Chips
Vocal biomarker startup Sonde has been quietly plotting a way to make tracking respiratory and mental health as simple as chatting to a smartphone voice assistant. The Boston-based company, which was founded in 2015, has raised $19 million for its technology that uses brief voice recordings to reveal the progression of health conditions. On Thursday, Sonde announced a new partnership with chip manufacturing giant Qualcomm that could potentially bring the technology to millions of smartphones, which could prove a crucial test of whether its tech is ready for prime time. (Aguilar, 7/8)
Modern Healthcare: Innovation Institute Incubator To Co-Develop Automation Tools With Olive
The Innovation Institute, a for-profit company owned by six not-for-profit health systems, has entered into a co-development agreement with robotic process automation company Olive. The partnership, announced Tuesday, is run through the Innovation Institute's healthcare incubator subsidiary, called the Innovation Lab. The Innovation Lab will work with Olive to co-develop and commercialize new products using Olive's existing automation toolset, drawing on problems identified by clinicians, back-office staff and other employees who work at the health systems in the Innovation Institute's network. The Innovation Lab will also support pilots of the new products at the health systems. (Kim Cohen, 7/7)
