Eighteen patients who had operations at Duke hospitals in 2004 have sued North Carolina-based Duke University Health System. The patients charge that Duke committed fraud and negligence in connection with the patients' exposure to surgical instruments mistakenly washed in elevator hydraulic fluid. The suit asks that Duke and other defendants pay an undisclosed amount in compensatory and punitive damages. The plaintiffs are among more than 3,600 patients of Durham Regional or Duke Raleigh hospitals who were operated on with the tainted surgical tools.
Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's office has begun convening a series of meetings involving an array of healthcare specialists to begin laying the groundwork for a new attempt to provide universal healthcare. Those involved in the discussions said Kennedy believes it is extremely important to move as quickly as possible on overhauling the healthcare system after the next president takes office in January. Kennedy was an early endorser of Senator Barack Obama, and if he is elected Kennedy's effort to identify points of agreement among senators could smooth the way for the new administration to press ahead on universal healthcare.
California regulators have moved to stop Prime Healthcare Services Inc. from billing privately insured patients for unpaid medical services received at its facilities. The Department of Managed Health Care has filed a lawsuit seeking to bar Prime Healthcare from billing insured patients for unpaid medical bills that the hospital chain contends it is owed from insurers and is seeking from patients as a last resort. Prime Healthcare representatives said they believed that the hospital operator was legally allowed to send the bills to patients and that it wouldn't have to do that if insurers paid their portion of the medical bills.
Michigan has moved a step closer to getting a high-tech proton beam cancer radiation facility after the state health department gave preliminary approval to Beaumont Hospitals' plan. The decision is a setback for six other health systems working in a consortium to build a single, shared center. The consortium is expected to proceed with plans for its own site, or one shared by other hospitals.
Ohio-based Summa Health System now officially owns Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital, and plans to spend nearly $8 million to upgrade the facility's intensive care unit, emergency department, and surgical suites. Construction plans also include adding a fast-track urgent-care program as well as a new cardiac special procedures lab. In November 2007, Summa and Wadsworth signed an affiliation agreement with the understanding that the agreement would lead to a purchase.
Democratic Colorado lawmakers have proclaimed victory for healthcare consumers now that several healthcare laws passed earlier this year took effect. In a news conference, the lawmakers highlighted bills requiring medical insurance companies to get state approval before raising premiums and three other bills they said will improve access to medical treatment for the poor, elderly and those living in rural areas. They were among the approximately 50 bills dealing with healthcare that the Colorado legislature passed this year.