Patients who price-compare save on health services; Nurses union alleges improper bonus termination;

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> Healthcare consumers who compare prices on common services tend to save slightly compared to those who do not, according to a new study published in JAMA. Study abstract

> The New York State Nurses Association filed a charge alleging Ellis Medicine in Schenectady improperly terminated more than 100 workers' annual raises and longevity bonuses, according to the Albany Business Journal. Article

Health Finance News

> Direct contracting by employer groups of hospital services may be a way to dramatically reduce costs. Article

> Reference pricing--a cap on what payers would cover for certain medical procedures--is slowly gaining traction in the healthcare sector, Kaiser Health News reports. Article

And Finally… Beware the claw--and wandering tot. Article