Vermont lawmakers approve consumer protections | VTDigger.org
The Vermont House and Senate have agreed on a final version of this year’s umbrella healthcare bill, sending new regulations on healthcare reform to Gov. Peter Shumlin’s desk for his signature. Major provisions in the bill establish consumer protections should the Shumlin administration reach an agreement to set up an all-payer model for healthcare reform and direct the state to regulate accountable care organizations.
Louisiana to use food stamp data for Medicaid expansion | (New Orleans) Times-Picayune
Officials at Louisiana’s department of Health and Hospitals are "highly confident" they'll receive federal approval to use data from food stamp applications to qualify people for Medicaid, the first state in the country to use such a method through what's known as a state plan amendment.
Mayo Clinic in race for Florida patients | (Minneapolis) Star Tribune
Like college kids at spring break, the nation’s biggest names in healthcare are spending some serious coin in Florida. In March, the Mayo Clinic said it would spend $100 million at its hospital in Jacksonville to better position the medical center as a healthcare destination for the southeastern U.S.
Texas hospital merger complete | Longview (Texas) News-Journal
Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics and Irving, Texas-based Christus Health have finalized the agreement that will merge the two health systems. Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System will be based in Tyler, Texas.
California nurses union is all in for Sanders | Los Angeles Times
As Bernie Sanders prepares for the California presidential primary, he has a local ground force that he leans on as "one of the sponsors of my campaign": nurses.
New medical schools aim to fix America’s broken healthcare system | Stat
New medical schools are launching across the country to address a projected physician shortage. They’re promising innovative curriculums that let aspiring doctors spend time doing research, working in community health settings, and following the same patients for months.
