Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Inquiry Into Possible Data Manipulation In Heart Studies Expands
Three medical journals recently launched independent investigations of possible data manipulation in heart studies led by Temple University researchers, Reuters has learned, adding new scrutiny to a misconduct inquiry by the university and the U.S. government. The Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology and the Journal of Biological Chemistry are investigating five papers authored by Temple scientists, the journals told Reuters. (Taylor and Heath, 9/13)
In other health industry news 鈥
Aetna will enter the Affordable Care Act's (ACA's) exchanges in four more states, bringing its total footprint to 12 states, the insurer announced late last week. The CVS Health subsidiary will begin offering plans in California, Delaware, Illinois and New Jersey for the 2023 plan year. Aetna already offered plans in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Texas and Virginia after returning to the exchanges at the beginning of 2022. (Minemyer, 9/12)
The nation鈥檚 largest medical organization and two physician groups joined a class-action lawsuit against Cigna Monday, accusing the insurer of shortchanging providers and leaving patients inappropriately exposed to balance bills. (Tepper, 9/13)
The landmark Massachusetts health reform of 2006 was so successful it served as the model for Obamacare. Then, state leaders vowed to 鈥渂end the curve鈥 of ever-rising health costs.聽That hasn鈥檛 gone as well. So now calls are rising for a new reform, one in which Massachusetts would join a small, but growing number of states, from California to Rhode Island, that have begun to impose caps on certain health-care prices. (Goldberg, 9/13)
Betty Ratcliffe is one of more than 500 people who have received 鈥渉ospital at home鈥 services from UNC over the past year. (Hoban, 9/14)
Cleveland Clinic on Sept. 13 lifted COVID-19 screenings, set visiting hours and visitor limits across all of its U.S. locations.聽Open visitation now applies across inpatient and outpatient settings, with the exception of some intensive care unit settings, the health system said in a news release sent to Becker's.聽(Carbajal, 9/14)
In news about mental health care 鈥
While the number of psychiatrists in the United States to manage unmet mental healthcare needs is lacking, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners may help fill gaps in care. (Kreimer, 9/13)