Regulators news from FierceHealthcare
News
Study: Not-for-profit nursing homes offer higher quality than for-profits
Non-profit nursing homes seem to provide better care than for-profit facilities, according to a new study by Canadian researchers who looked at results from 82 studies conducted from 1965 through... Read more...
Trend: Huge growth in use of CT scans troubles observers
At one point, CT scans were used now and then, when doctors had few alternatives. Today, however, CT scans have become a standard method for diagnosing ordinary problems like kidney stones, frequent... Read more...
Moody's ratings changes could raise healthcare credit ratings
Moody's Investors Services has announced that it plans to adopt a revised rating scale for municipal bonds, which could raise healthcare credit ratings by an average of one notch. The agency plans to... Read more...
Health plan HealthMarkets pays $20M to settle violations nationally
HealthMarkets, a health insurer focused on individual policies, agreed this week to pay $20 million to settle violations of insurance rules in 36 states. The fine, one of the largest of its kind,... Read more...
L.A. sues Blue Shield of CA over cancellations
Engaging in yet another battle with the state's health plans, Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo has filed a lawsuit contending that Blue Shield of California illegally canceled the policies... Read more...
MN hospital cited after disturbed ED patient gets Tasered
When the staff at Northfield (Mn.) City Hospital's emergency believed that a disturbed patient was about to become violent, they called the local police, as their facility didn't have the security... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: New rules would limit Medicare marketing
Federal regulators have proposed new rules that would set limits on the marketing of private Medicare health plans. The rules would ban unsolicited sales visits and phone calls to beneficiaries,... Read more...
Report: Antifraud compliance getting tougher for hospitals
A new report from the Deloitte Forensic Center argues that it's getting increasingly difficult for hospitals to comply with state and federal anti-fraud rules given the surge in new anti-fraud... Read more...
UnitedHealth suffers financial setback
After years of allegations that management engaged in financial manipulations to feather their own nest, some might see this as a bit of karma. Having already missed its first quarter financial... Read more...
GAO says gov't needs to create HAI prevention standards
A new report from the Government Accountability Office suggests that the federal government should step up to the plate and set standards for hospitals to follow in preventing hospital-acquired... Read more...
