As St. Jude Medical defends itself against reports of deaths and injuries linked to problems with an implanted heart device, it finds itself in familiar territory. Since 2005, two competitors, Medtronic and Guidant, have faced similar scrutiny about critical flaws in their products. But St. Jude is distinguishing itself with what doctors and others say is a rare response—a scorched-earth defense of its policies and products. The company's chief executive, Daniel J. Starks, has led that charge, accusing Medtronic of trying to undercut St. Jude to gain business. He and other company executives have also gone after a prominent researcher.
The battle over Jefferson County's hospital for the poor has spilled over into its Chapter 9 bankruptcy case, illuminating another financial hardship facing Alabama's biggest county. Against threats that the 319-bed facility may one day close, a patient of Cooper Green Mercy Hospital has asked the county's bankruptcy judge to protect the stream of money that is supposed to flow to the facility. But the inner city hospital's finances have come under scrutiny as state and county leaders question whether the facility has made enough financial sacrifices while other county departments such as the sheriff's office and the public works department are pressed with steep cuts. The county has laid off more than 1,000 employees in recent years.
The insurance companies that administer the health plan for New York state and local government employees overcharged taxpayers by as much as $11 million, according to audits released Wednesday by the state Comptroller. Auditors found that for some special equipment, hospitals overcharged the state in six out of every 10 cases, but the insurers paid the money anyway.
I was asked about a year ago at a talk about energy what I was doing about the other large social problems, namely healthcare and education. Surprised, I flippantly responded that the best solution was to get rid of doctors and teachers and let your computers do the work, 24/7 and with consistent quality. The beginnings of "Doctor Algorithm" or Dr. A for short, most likely (and that does not mean "certainly" or "maybe") will be much criticized. But Dr A. will get better and better and will go from providing "bionic assistance" to second opinions to assisting doctors to providing first opinions and as referral computers to the best 20% of the human breed doctors.
Joplin has a new hospital as of mid-April, and this one isn't tents or trailers. The new Mercy Hospital Joplin facility will offer patients all the comforts and most services they would expect from a Mercy hospital. With steel construction that is sturdier than the old St. John's Regional Medical Center, the new Mercy building is a testament to modern technology and overtime workers coming together to build a complete hospital in eight months.
The proposed takeover by Highmark of West Penn Allegheny Health System got the U.S. Department of Justice's approval Tuesday, clearing one of the major obstacles to the proposed insurer/provider merger. The Justice Department's Antitrust Division gave its thumbs up a week before a hearing at which the state Department of Insurance will hear testimony on the merger. The insurance department's review is considered the highest hurdle to Highmark's takeover of West Penn, which will include a $475 million infusion.