Allscripts

> Are HSAs like hybrid cars: environmentally sensitive and forward-thinking? Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) thinks so. Blog

> Are HSAs the mother of all tax breaks for the wealthy, or the future of self insurance? Another review. Article

> University …

> Chutes & Ladders: Adventist Health named Donald L. Jernigan as its new president and CEO to replace outgoing Thomas Werner. The Florida-based hospital chain operates 38 hospitals in 10 states. Article

> HealthSouth will pay $445 million to investors to settle fraud allegations. …

> Iowa Methodist Medical Center settled a lawsuit involving a former patient who says a surgeon used a Medtronic pacemaker because administrators wanted to win a $1 million payment from the company. Report

> A media frenzy is shaping up after a pair of anesthesiologists scheduled to participate in an execution in California refused to participate, saying they could …

HIT rumor-monger MrHISTalk has the tattle that Misys will buy Picis this week. Picis is a surgery system vendor that also owns the IBEX emergency room EMR product. Last week, Allscripts, a big competitor of Misys in the physician office world, bought A4 which also owns an emergency department EMR. Blog

> Search engine company Healthline, which won itself New York Times coverage earlier this week, is back in the news, announcing it has won $14 million in series A funding. The round was led by VantagePoint Venture Partners. Article

> More legal problems surface for ex-HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy as a grand jury hears …

Allscripts will buy A4 Health Systems for roughly $272 million in cash and stock. A4 is best known for its Healthmatics EMR--originally developed by pharma company Glaxo--and its practice management system for small to medium-sized practices. It also has a strong presence in emergency department software. Allscripts has a solid EMR offering in the larger physician practice market, as well as a stand-alone ePrescribing application which is being promoted by several Blues plans.

In …

> Chutes & Ladders: Virginia has named the Advisory Board's Aneesh Chopra as the state's new technology czar. Article

> Interstudy reports that the Minneapolis market remains a breed apart, with six integrated systems accounting for 82 percent of admissions. Release

> Perot Systems said it has signed a deal …

> Bend Memorial Clinic, Oregon's largest private physician group, said it has selected the Allscripts EHR. Release

> The Harvard Risk Management Foundation argues that many malpractice claims are due to poor communication and mismanaged expectations. Services that help manage patient expectations before treatment are likely to become increasingly popular with hospitals and physician practices. …

> The American Hospital Association is lobbying for more protections from Congress to allow hospitals to donate computer hardware and software to doctors. Release

> Boston Scientific said it is recalling its Flextome angioplasty balloon. Article

> USA …

> Commentary: With demand for transplants increasing, is it reasonable to legalize the sale of organs? Article

>  The British government admits there will be a flu vaccine shortage this year. Article

> HighMark said it has chosen AllScripts for its $25 …