Amazon’s healthcare venture books consultant to assist with strategy
The healthcare venture backed by Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway has reportedly hired Monitor Group, an arm of Deloitte, to assist in shaping a strategy for patients with chronic illnesses.
Working with Monitor could provide a look at what still-unnamed venture, which is led by famed surgeon, author and researcher Atul Gawande, will focus on. Monitor Group is a business consulting firm, indicating that the venture may seek to manage wellness and outcomes for employees with chronic conditions.
The news about Monitor Group comes shortly after Gawande named Jack Stoddard, former general manager for digital health at Comcast, as the company’s chief operating officer. (STAT)
UMass Memorial to pay $230K to settle data breach lawsuit
UMass Memorial Healthcare has agreed to pay $230,000 to settle a lawsuit brought against it by the state’s attorney general over two data breaches.
The breaches, in which former employees accessed the data, exposed information on more than 15,000 Massachusetts residents, including names, social security numbers and health information. The AG alleged in the suit that UMass knew about the employees’ actions but did not discipline them or follow up on the investigation.
In addition to the fee, UMass agreed as part of the settlement to train employees on safe handling of data, limit staffers’ access to patient information and enhance any potential security shortfalls. (Announcement)
Alabama Hospital Association pushes for Medicaid expansion
The Alabama Hospital Association has kicked off a campaign backing Medicaid expansion in the state.
The association says that Alabama residents should consider expansion an investment in developing the state, just like patching up roads or decreasing unemployment.
“Healthcare is part of the state’s infrastructure,” Danne Howard, the association’s executive vice president and chief policy officer, said.
Howard said that 75% of Alabama hospitals are in the red and that 12 have closed since 2011, so expanding Medicaid would go a long way to saving these facilities. (Associated Press)