CHS reports unexpected fourth quarter loss; Arizona hospital will offer tests to patients exposed to surgical tech who switched syringes;

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> A second Arizona hospital is offering HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing to surgical patients who came in contact with the surgical tech who is under investigation in Colorado for allegedly switching syringes while working at Swedish Hospital. The tech was an employee at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale for six weeks in 2014, according to Colorado 9 News.  Article

> Bloomberg reports that Community Health Systems, the second largest chain of for-profit hospitals in the United States, experienced an unexpected fourth quarter loss as admissions dropped due to a slow flu season. Article

> Community Hospital workers in Pineville, Kentucky, will be able to keep their jobs thanks to a USDA loan and partnerships among the hospital and Kentucky Highlands Investment Corp and First State Financial, according to KYForward. Article

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> A hospital-backed lawsuit intended to compel the federal government to review denials of Medicare claims has been given new life, AHA News Now reported. Article

> A new study by an advocacy group for safety-net hospitals say that participants in the 340B drug discount program spend less per patient under Medicare Part B for drugs than hospitals outside of 340B, while still caring for a population of sicker patients. Article

And Finally... Ink locally. Article