West Virginia bill to repeal hospital rate regulation advances; causes controversy | West Virginia Metro News Network
Members of the West Virginia Senate Health and Human Resources committee advanced a bill Tuesday afternoon that would stop the State Health Care Authority from regulating hospital rates in the state. The West Virginia Hospital Association supports getting rid of rate review because the current healthcare model has made it more difficult for hospitals to see a profit.
New York unions trying new tack for 'safe staffing' bill | Politico New York
Efforts to pass a law mandating a certain number of nurses per unit have stalled in the state Legislature, so the New York State Nurses Association, the state's largest nurses union, and the Communications Workers of America are asking cities and counties across the state to pass resolutions supporting the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act.
Federal audit seeks $3.2 million refund from U. of Minn. hospital | (Minneapolis) Star Tribune
Federal auditors said the University of Minnesota Medical Center should refund more than $3.2 million in estimated overpayments for services they said were incorrectly billed to the Medicare program, according to a report released Wednesday.
Florida hospital moves to expand reach | Miami Herald
Looking to expand its reach in South Florida and to position itself for the future of healthcare reform, Larkin Community Hospital in South Miami announced this week the purchase of Palm Springs General Hospital in Hialeah for about $40 million.
Pa. hospital receives strike notice | WTAE Pittsburgh
A service workers union is threatening to strike Washington (Pa.) Hospital in southwestern Pennsylvania if a contract dispute isn't resolved soon. The Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania voted Tuesday to strike on Feb. 16 and 17.
Doctors only ask patients about mental health problems half the time | Boston Globe
Primary-care providers in Massachusetts, who generally receive high marks on screening for physical ailments, ask their patients only about half the time if they are depressed or have other emotional problems, according to a new statewide survey.
New England grocery stores to test telemedicine service | Business Journal News Network
Grocery store company Price Chopper recently announced that it would pilot a live telemedicine service at its Fulton, N.Y., store, in addition to three other stores across New York State and one in Vermont.
And from abroad...
Surge of Zika virus has Brazilians re-examining strict abortion laws | New York Times
The surging medical reports of babies being born with unusually small heads during the Zika epidemic in Brazil are igniting a fierce debate over the country's abortion laws, which make the procedure illegal under most circumstances.
