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The 764-page report minces no words about the inequality rife throughout medical care: “Racial and ethnic minorities experience a lower quality of health services, and are less likely to receive even routine medical procedures than are white Americans.” Those words might have been written recently, amid a pandemic that has disproportionately sickened and killed people of color. In fact, they were written two decades ago. (McFarling, 2/23)

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have published a new guide on developing and implementing stronger occupational health and safety programs for health workers. In a news release, the WHO said the agencies recommended programs at the national, sub-national and health facility levels – with all programs covering infectious, ergonomic, physical, chemical and psycho-social occupational hazards. (Musto, 2/22)

Alachua County emergency medical personnel responded to a record number of incidents in 2021, over 2,000 more than its next highest count in 2018. Sumter County Fire Rescue witnessed a similar trend. And in Marion County, Ocala Health, which includes five freestanding emergency rooms and two hospitals, is now searching for more nurses to serve the ever-increasing number of patients. (Will, 2/22)

Revolution MacInnes believes that disinformation about COVID-19 killed his father. In recent years, MacInnes’ dad began subscribing to conspiracy theories. His father spent a lot of time on Facebook, and believed posts that claimed COVID-19 vaccines were harmful and lining the pockets of government officials, MacInnes said. He believes his father may have been mentally ill, and the conspiracy theories helped him feel engaged. His dad refused to get vaccinated. In late January, the Oswego man began having trouble breathing. Within a few days, he was in the hospital with COVID-19. Soon after, he had a heart attack, his lung collapsed and he was on a ventilator, MacInnes said. He died Feb. 8 at the age of 76. (Schencker, 2/22)

Earlier this month, Yale New Haven Health officials announced plans to buy two other health systems, including three hospitals in central Connecticut, pending state approval. Hospital representatives said the acquisition, the largest in recent years, would bring high-quality, cost-effective care to more residents throughout the state by expanding YNHH’s coverage area and leveraging its academic affiliation with Yale School of Medicine. Consumer advocates and public health analysts say residents and insurance payers have a reason to be concerned about the deal. They say research is clear: A merger in which patients benefit the most is the exception, not the rule. (Leonard, 2/22)

The next time you get your teeth cleaned or blood pressure checked, you may be doing so in a space once outfitted with face creams and frying pans. Health care providers are increasingly choosing former stores for their offices and clinics, in a trend known as medtail — a reflection of the medical industry’s migration to retail properties. The pandemic has accelerated their embrace of retail space. Taking advantage of depressed rents, medical providers are opening facilities in storefronts on city streets and moving into malls and shopping centers in suburban and rural areas, sometimes occupying the hulking shells vacated by big-box and department stores. (Margolies, 2/22)

In response to a probe by Dutch authorities, Pfizer (PFE) has agreed to end a controversial practice of reducing discounts to hospitals that cut back on purchases of a medicine, which regulators said unfairly discouraged health systems from switching to lower cost versions. After the patent expired nearly seven years ago for the active ingredient in Enbrel, which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders, a pair of rival medicines became available. Until then, Enbrel was the second most widely prescribed therapy for such maladies. Eventually, Pfizer began reducing discounts if hospital purchases of Enbrel declined more than a pre-specified percentage. (Silverman, 2/22)

U.S. life insurers, as expected, made a large number of Covid-19 death-benefit payouts last year. More surprisingly, many saw a jump in other death claims, too. Industry executives and actuaries believe many of these other fatalities are tied to delays in medical care as a result of lockdowns in 2020, and then, later, people’s fears of seeking out treatment and trouble lining up appointments. Some insurers see continued high levels of these deaths for some time, even if Covid-19 deaths decline this year. (Scism, 2/23)

In a closely watched battle, California officials convinced a federal judge to modify a temporary hold on a law that bans so-called pay-to-delay deals between pharmaceutical companies, a contentious issue that has factored into the larger debate over the cost of prescription medicines. But as a practical matter, the ruling likely amounts to an empty victory for the state, because little may change. At issue is a law that went into effect in the fall of 2019 that made California the first state in the nation to outlaw pay-to-delay deals, a step California officials said was necessary to prevent drug companies from thwarting competition and maintaining higher prices. The move was also significant because California is generally seen as a bellwether state. (Silverman, 2/22)

Somatus Inc., which partners with insurers and medical practitioners to provide preventive kidney disease care, has raised a new round of capital in a deal that values the business at more than $2.5 billion. (Cooper, 2/22)

GlaxoSmithKline Plc has given its consumer-health unit a new name -- Haleon -- as the U.K. pharmaceutical company prepares to spin off the maker of Panadol painkillers and Sensodyne toothpaste this summer. The company is nearing its biggest shakeup in two decades following the rejection of Unilever Plc’s multiple bids for the consumer arm in recent months. Glaxo plans to update investors on the unit’s strategy, finances and growth ambitions on Feb. 28. (Paton, 2/22)