News From Around the Web
> Emerson Hospital officials in Concord, Massachusetts are excited that Partners HealthCare now has the option to acquire the organization under a deal between the Boston-based healthcare system and Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Worcester Business Journal Online reported. Article
> The Guardian published five tips for driving healthcare innovation through establishing new, efficient and modern ways to remove decrease risk in projects, speed up innovation and deliver the best care for patients. Article
Health Finance News
> Hospital systems now scale back on charity care for uninsured patients, hoping to convince them to obtain insurance via Medicaid or the health insurance exchanges, the New York Times reported. Article
> The Affordable Care Act is restoring health to the bottom lines of safety net hospitals. Harborview Medical Center in Seattle has seen its number of uninsured patients drop from 12 percent in 2013 to 2 percent to date this year, USA Today reports. Article
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposes to create a prior authorization program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics, claiming the program makes inappropriate approvals that cost the federal government billions of dollars a year, AHA News Now reported. Article
And Finally… Don't hold your breath. Article