News From Around the Web
> Prominent healthcare industry groups, including the American Medical Association, oppose the Office of Inspector General's proposed rule increasing the agency's exclusion authority, according to Bloomberg BNA. Blog Post
> An X-ray technician who rose to become vice president of operations at a portable X-ray company committed a $2.5 million healthcare fraud, according the U.S. Department of Justice. Announcement
> North Carolina will collect part of a $7.3 million multistate settlement with Astellas Pharma to settle allegations that it unlawfully marketed the antibiotic drug Mycamine, the North Carolina Department of Justice announced Thursday. Announcement
Health Finance News
> To reduce healthcare costs, the U.S. healthcare system must reduce spending, which is at a 10-year high, Aetna Chairman Mark T. Bertolini wrote in an opinion piece for USA Today. Article
> More than 1,500 hospitals improved care for more than 143,000 patients and saved more than $1.3 billion since January 2012 through a joint initiative between two major healthcare advocacy organizations. Article
And Finally... Mother of 14 pleads no contest to welfare fraud. Article