Health Headlines for Thursday, December 7

U.S. healthcare spending growth slowed in 2016

Reuters

Growth in healthcare spending in the United States slowed in 2016 following two years of expansion under the Affordable Care Act, a government health agency reported on Wednesday.

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UnitedHealth Buys Large Doctors Group as Lines Blur in Health Care

New York Times

In another example of the blurring boundaries in the health care industry, UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation’s largest insurers, said on Wednesday that it is buying a large physician group to add to its existing roster of 30,000 doctors.

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UnitedHealth’s Deal May Point to Health Care’s Future

New York Times

Health care Goliaths are cutting out the middleman. The American health care system is full of intermediaries chasing after a share of the industry’s profit, often by gaming one another.

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Nurses Association commends the Rockland Legislature for unanimous support of New York Health Act

Rockland County Times

What’s proven to be a minefield at the federal level is now being pushed in the New York statehouse.

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Eastern Niagara Hospital plans bigger emergency department

Buffalo News

Eastern Niagara Hospital plans to triple the size of its emergency department as part of an $8.2 million building project announced Wednesday.

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West Seneca bans smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes in parks

Buffalo News

Smoking and vaping at West Seneca parks, playgrounds and town-owned property is now prohibited.

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Falls medical center graduates first class of care coordinators

Buffalo News

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has graduated its first class of care coordinators under a state Department of Health grant to prepare workforce candidates for the future of health care.

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