Health Headlines for Thursday, April 21
Scott Fischer to head NY DFS insurance division
SNL
The New York State Department of Financial Services has hired Scott Fischer as director of the insurance division, sources said. Fischer will start April 25, according to an industry group’s memo.
Hearing Aid Prices Under Pressure From Consumer Electronics
New York Times
At the Audiology Now! convention here last week, visitors stood next to blowing electric fans to experience how a new hearing aid could screen out wind noise.
Northwell receives $500 K. state grant for central Brooklyn study
Capital New York
Northwell Health will receive a $500,000 grant from the Cuomo administration for a feasibility study on options for health care in central and northeastern Brooklyn, part of a broader plan to reshape health care in one of the most economically challenging regions of the state.
Roswell Park acquires Southtowns hematology/oncology practice
Buffalo News
Roswell Park Cancer Institute has acquired the practice of a West Seneca doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer and blood disorders, the fifth practice the cancer hospital has acquired since 2013 as part of a growth strategy.
Molina to expand New York Medicaid footprint with Total Care acquisition
Modern Healthcare
Molina Healthcare has agreed to buy Universal American’s Total Care Medicaid plan in upstate New York for $41.3 million, the companies announced Tuesday.
Mount Sinai signs on with OpenNotes, gives patients access to their medical record via portal
Healthcare IT News
New York’s Mount Sinai Health System is joining other high-profile health systems across the nation in embracing OpenNotes, an initiative that gives patients access to their care provider’s notes in their medical records.
Glaxo, other drug makers appeal UK fines for pay-to-delay deals
Stat News
GlaxoSmithKline is appealing a $54.5 million fine that was recently levied by UK regulators for illegally conspiring with several generic rivals to delay marketing of a lower-cost version of its Paxil antidepressant.
This is the impact of the nation’s largest insurer leaving Obamacare
Albany Times Union
President Obama’s landmark Affordable Care Act was seemingly dealt a huge blow Tuesday when the nation’s largest insurer by number of people covered, United Healthcare, announced it was leaving the state exchanges in all but a “handful” of states.