UMass Memorial lays off 140 workers; Medicare inappropriately paid $25M for addictive drug refills;

> California's Prime Healthcare Services acquired Dallas Medical Center, marking its third hospital in Texas. Announcement

> UMass Memorial Health Care is laying off 140 jobs, following the 150 positions eliminated in February, The Boston Globe reported. Hospital officials cited declining insurance payments and patient volumes. Article

> Cost remains a key barrier to medication adherence for chronic patients, according to a survey of CVS pharmacists. Moreover, the majority of surveyed pharmacists said giving first-hand counseling to their patients was likely to boost adherence. Statement

> Medicare inappropriately paid $25 million for addictive drug refills in 2009, the Office of Inspector General said in a report released yesterday. Report

And Finally… I thought bad luck happened in threes. Article