Here are seven updates:
Ohio becomes 13th ACA co-op to close
Last week, the Ohio Department of Insurance submitted a request to liquidate Ohio's co-op, InHealth Mutual, marking the 13th Affordable Care Act co-op of the original 23 co-ops to close. With the closing, almost 22,000 state residents will have 60 days to replace their InHealth policy with another company's plan on the federal exchange.
Apple seeks HIPAA lawyer; dives further into healthcare technology
To expand their HIPAA knowledge, Apple plans to hire a lawyer specializing in health privacy regulations. The hire would coincide with Apple's plans to jump further into the healthcare industry.
Surgery Partners adds former Tenet executive Sarath Degala
Former Tenet Healthcare executive Sarath Degala is joining Surgery Partners as chief development officer. Mr. Degala will be a C-level officer at Surgery Partners and is the eighth member of the company's leadership team.
Top Blue Shield of California executives rake in $18.8M
After facing critiques about lack of transparency on executive compensation, Blue Shield listed the compensation for its 10-highest paid executives by name. The top 10 Blue Shield executives received $18.8 million in 2015, with chief executive Paul Markovich reportedly earning $3.5 million in 2015.
Double reprocessing duodenoscopes reduces infection transmission risk
Researchers found double reprocessing of duendoscopes reduces the rate of infections related to duodenoscopes. The study examined double reprocessing protocol's effect on Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infection associated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and found of the 610 duodenoscopes cultured during the study period, 59 were positive. However, only five of those tested positive for potentially pathogenic organisms.
10 states with the highest ASC patient fall rate
CMS released the results for its 2014 Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program, which found the national average for patient falls was 0.095, down from 0.156 in 2013. The top 10 states with the highest rate include:
1. Alaska: 0.315
2. Alabama: 0.128
3. Montana: 0.099
4. Minnesota: 0.099
5. Mississippi: 0.099
6. North Carolina: 0.098
7. New Jersey: 0.098
8. Nebraska: 0.098
9. North Dakota: 0.098
10. New Mexico: 0.098
Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates to open nearly $12M ASC
Saratoga Schenectady Gastroenterology Associates, a specialty physician practice, is opening an ASC valued between $10 million and $12 million. Equipped with 10 surgical rooms, the 35,000-square-foot ASC will staff 13 physicians.
More healthcare news:
AGA names Dr. Timothy Wang president: 5 notes
Payer borrowing reaches $6.4B; up 100% from 2011: 6 things to know
Surgery Partners adds former Tenet executive Sarath Degala — 5 things to know