HCA co-founder among the richest people in healthcare
Thomas Frist, Jr., co-founder of HCA, has a net worth of about $9.6 billion, making him the richest doctor in the world and one of the wealthiest people in the healthcare industry. Frist came in third on the list, behind Dilip Shanghvi, founder of Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Seo Jung-Jin, founder of the biotech firm Celltrion. (Forbes)
Pennsylvania hospital, cardiology group to settle kickback case for $20.75M
UPMC Hamot and cardiology group Medicor Associates Inc., both based in Erie, Pennsylvania, have agreed to settle a federal kickback case for $20.75 million. The settlement will close a whistleblower case against the two providers that alleged they made claims to Medicare and Medicaid that violated antikickback laws and the Stark Law. (Department of Justice)
Good Samaritan Hospital gets $21M gift from Berkshire Hathaway vice chair
Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles announced that Charles T. Munger, the vice chair of Berkshire Hathaway, made a $21 million donation to the facility. Munger has chaired Good Samaritan's board for the past 31 years, and the money will be put toward the hospital's emergency department expansion and to shore up seismic safety. (Announcement)
FDA Commissioner Gottlieb: "Rigged" system leads to higher drug costs for patients
Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said that a "rigged" system that prevents new generic medications from reaching the market leads to higher patient drug costs. Gottlieb, who was speaking at a health policy event hosted by America's Health Insurance Plans, said that the behind-the-scenes negotiating between drugmakers, pharmacies, payers and other stakeholders might "scare competition out of the market altogether." (The Hill)
Disney plans to donate at least $100M to children's hospitals
The Walt Disney Company announced it will donate at least $100 million to children's hospitals around the world. The company will donate cash, products and services to "reinvent the patient and family experience" at these hospitals, the first of which is Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. Potential services include themed, interactive patient rooms based around Disney stories and characters, or first-run films to provide entertainment. (Announcement)