News From Around the Web
> Patients who experienced opioid-related adverse events had statistically significantly higher hospital costs, longer hospital stays and increased risks of readmission and mortality, according to a retrospective analysis of more than 37,000 patients who underwent common inpatient surgeries at a 26-hospital healthcare system and received opioids for postsurgical pain management. Announcement
> More than one-third of consumers would change primary care physicians to save money on health insurance premium costs, according to a survey by HealthPocket. Survey
> Thanks to healthcare employment growth, Minnesota this year recovered the number of jobs it lost in the Great Recession, MPR News reported. Article
Health Payer News
> Anthem Blue Cross has agreed to pay $3 million as part of a settlement with the California Department of Managed Health Care regarding claims it underpaid between 2007 and 2011. Article
> In one year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) saw growth of more than 440 percent in website traffic from tablets. There was also a 105 percent increase in smartphone hits. Article
And Finally… Austerity is bad for your health. Article