Health Headlines for Tuesday, July 19
Starbucks Widens Workers’ Health-Insurance Options
Wall Street Journal
Starbucks Corp. on Monday became one of the most high-profile employers to switch its employees to a private health insurance exchange.
In reversal, powerful health care workers union expected to back Senate GOP
Albany Times Union
The politically powerful state health care workers union is planning to back Republicans in their battle to retain control of the state Senate this year, a reversal from the 2014 elections when the union threw its support behind Democrats, according to a person close to the organization.
Berkshire Hathaway to buy state’s largest medical malpractice insurer
Politico
Berkshire Hathaway, the insurance giant led by Warren Buffett, is buying Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company, the state’s largest medical malpractice insurer, in a nearly $2 billion transaction that could upend the balance of power in the New York State market.
Fraud Concerns Emerge As Compounding Drug Sales Skyrocket
Kaiser Health News
Government spending on “compounded” drugs that are handmade by retail pharmacists has skyrocketed, drawing the attention of federal investigators who are raising fraud and overbilling concerns.
Feds say Prime Healthcare has figured out how to make money from hospitals — through fraud
LA Times
Making a profit in the hospital business is tough. At least, that’s the explanation for the surge in hospital mergers we’ve been seeing recently.
Anthem-Cigna Deal: Seeking Merger Approval, Anthem Makes Major Donations To State Political Groups
IB Times
Seeking regulatory approval for a controversial merger proposal, health insurer Anthem recently pumped $460,000 into groups supporting the election campaigns of governors and state attorneys general. The money was disclosed in second-quarter campaign finance reports reviewed by International Business Times.