> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid today released a report that national health expenditures reached a historic low, showing only a 3.9 percent growth in health spending in 2010, according to the White House blog. However, the tab for national healthcare costs will reach between 17.6 and 19.8 percent of the gross domestic product by 2020, according to a study published in HealthAffairs.
> Greenwich Hospital, an affiliate of the Yale-New Haven Health System in Connecticut, yesterday announced layoffs of 36 employees, as well as program cutbacks to make up for $8.5 million in lost revenue, reports the Greenwich Time. The hospital is the town's largest employer. Article
> A federal jury in Baltimore convicted cardiologist John R. McLean of healthcare fraud in scamming more than 100 Peninsula Regional Medical Center patients into unnecessary heart stents, reports Cardiovascular Business. Article
> Hartford (Conn.) Hospital appointed Jeffrey A. Flaks as president and CEO, reports the Hartford Courant. Hartford HealthCare has grown from two hospitals to five in recent years. Article
> Rep. Tony Shipley (R-Tenn.) helped three nurse practitioners at Appalachian Medical Center get their licenses back after two patients died from suspected overdoses, declaring the NPs' constitutional rights were violated, reports the Tennessean. Article
And Finally... Man attempts to self-operate with a butter knife. Article