To Better Prevent Cyberattacks, FBI Asks Hospitals To Step Up Info-Sharing
In an attempt to forge a more coordinated offense, FBI deputy director Andrew Bailey has asked hospital executives to share what they know, when they know it. More health industry news is about assault reports, a nursing home workers strike, donations to children's hospitals, and more.
The FBI's No. 2 official told hospital executives Tuesday they need to step up information-sharing on cyberthreats as the agency works to disrupt attacks earlier. (Reed, 4/21)
More health care industry news —
In the fourth violent incident in three weeks at Tewksbury State Hospital, a patient on Monday was arrested after allegedly assaulting another patient with a sharp object, police said. Tewksbury police were called to the state-run hospital at 2:05 p.m. The two men had been separated by the time officers arrived, police said. The altercation happened in the Nichols Building where Beth Israel Lahey Health runs and houses a second step detox program. One patient accused another of stealing and assaulted him with a sharp object, Tewksbury police Chief Ryan M. Columbus said in a statement. (Alanez, 4/20)
Nursing home workers at five metro-area facilities began a three-day strike on Monday in response to what they say are unfair labor practices. The strike involves nursing homes, Cerenity Care at Humboldt and four affiliated Monarch Healthcare Management facilities, the company that operates The Estates. (Zurek, 4/20)
Kansas City University is home to the fourth largest medical school in the U.S. by class size. However, president and CEO Marc Hahn is worried about students being able to afford classes after July. (Ramkumar, 4/21)
A planned primary care partnership between CVS’ MinuteClinics and major nonprofit system Mass General Brigham will likely add tens of millions in additional annual commercial healthcare spending per year, according to a “conservative” preliminary estimate shared by a Massachusetts agency late last week. The organizations shared plans last summer for a proposed affiliation in which 37 MinuteClinic sites in the state that currently provided limited convenience care services would expand to offer primary care services. (Muoio, 4/20)
Akron Children’s Hospital, Dayton Children’s Hospital and Avera Health will receive $125 million from Tom Golisano. Golisano, who founded the human resources software company Paychex, will give $50 million to Akron Children’s Hospital and $40 million to Dayton Children’s Hospital, both in Ohio, along with $35 million to Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Avera Health, the philanthropist’s foundation announced Monday. (Kacik, 4/20)
Medicaid managed care carriers facing shrinking membership rolls are launching campaigns to keep people covered as massive program cuts are about to kick in. Insurers such as Centene, CVS Health subsidiary Aetna and LA Care Health Plan are investing in job training programs and marketing campaigns in preparation for tighter eligibility rules and work requirements that must be in force no later than Jan. 1 under the tax law President Donald Trump enacted last year, known as HR 1. (Tepper, 4/20)
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Real Estate Investors Profit From Long-Term Care While Residents Languish
By the time she was hospitalized in 2020, Pearlene Darby, a retired teacher, had suffered open sores on both legs, both hips, and both heels, as well as a five-inch-long gash on her tailbone. She died two weeks later at age 81 from infections and bedsores, according to her death certificate. Her daughter sued the nursing home, alleging it had left Darby sitting in her own feces and urine time and again. The lawsuit, settled on confidential terms last year, blamed not only the managers of City Creek Post-Acute and Assisted Living but also the building’s owner, a real estate investment trust, or REIT. (Rau, 4/21)
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Listen: Cheap Health Insurance Isn’t Always Cheap
High-deductible plans can look like a deal, until the bills start rolling in. On this episode of the NPR podcast Life Kit, reporter Jackie Fortiér breaks down what to expect and how to prepare. (Fortiér, 4/21)
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Researchers have created heart monitoring sensors that conform to the skin, are comfortable, and can be worn while people are moving. With performance comparable to sensors already on the market, the new technology can be made using existing manufacturing processes. (Lock, 4/20)
