Hospital sexual assault test charges draining VT victims' fund; Medicaid enrollment up by 3M;

News From Around The Web

> Hospital charges to forensically examine victims of sexual assault in Vermont vary widely, and the more expensive facilities drain resources meant for the state's Center for Crime Victims Services, the Vermont Digger reported. Article

> Overall Medicaid enrollment increased by 3 million between October and February as a result of the Affordable Care Act, rising by more than a third in both Oregon and West Virginia, Kaiser Health News reported. Article

> Hospitals work harder to connect discharged patients to social services, even hiring outside firms, to cut down on their chances of readmission, Marketplace Radio reported. Article

Provider News

> Medical advances are saving the lives of older, sicker patients, but at the cost of a surge of hospital-dependent patients that drive hospital readmissions, according to a blog post for the New York Times. Article

> Two health IT companies that did particularly well in their initial public offerings (IPO)--IMS Health, seeking to raise $1.4 billion and Castlight Health, valued at more than $3 billion--highlight a booming sector. But could it all burst? Paul Teitelbaum, managing director and medical device/healthcare IT mergers & acquisitions expert at Mesirow Financial, a Chicago-based investment banking firm, said healthcare reform is driving the high IPOs and HIT companies have strong potential for growth, Healthcare Informatics reported. Article

And Finally... Lawsuit contends hospital allowed patient to freeze to death in its morgue. Article