Henry Ford, Beaumont end merger talks; Is it time for ER price caps?;

> Intermountain Healthcare creates a new system that tracks cumulative radiation exposure from medical exams, Deseret News reported. The Utah system is the only U.S. healthcare organization monitoring medical radiation exposure. Article

> Data from new electronic anesthesia information management systems can be used to assess surgical procedure- and institution-specific blood requirements, potentially improving operating room efficiency, patient safety and costs, according to a study from the June issue of Anesthesiology. Study Abstract

> The pending merger between the Henry Ford Health System and Beaumont Health System will be no more, as both Michigan organizations decided to allow the letter of intent to expire and end discussions. Announcement

> The Alabama Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control are investigating a cluster of respiratory illnesses of unknown origin in southeast Alabama, Medscape Today reported. So far, two of the seven people admitted to a hospital with fever, cough and shortness of breath have died. Article

Healthcare Finance News

> Hospitals should be obligated to charge no more than a fixed "maximum price" for care rendered to patients in the emergency room or are out of their health plan's network, argues Robert Murray, president of Global Health Payment LLC. Article

> Cancer patients are more likely than other patients to file for bankruptcy due to medical bills, according to a new study in Health Affairs. Article

And Finally… Can antibiotics slow the aging process? Statement