News From Around the Web
> A recent breach at a California health system has impacted close to 33,000 patients. Santa Barbara-based Cottage Health System recently notified 32,755 patients via mail that their data may have been inadvertently exposed on Google after a third-party vendor removed electronic security protections from one of its servers, HealthITSecurity reports. Article
> The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has partnered with MDLIVE for pediatric telehealth care services, according to an announcement from UPMC. MDLIVE's network of more than 3 million members across the U.S. who have a child dealing with a pediatric illness or disease be able to access Children's Hospital experts for a medical second opinion via telehealth. Announcement
> athenahealth and Merge Healthcare announced this week that they will team up for data exchange. "The partnership will support advanced interoperability between radiologists and providers by decreasing duplicate tests and radiation exposure, improving patient outcomes and increasing physician satisfaction while reducing the cost of care," the announcement said. Announcement
> QPID, Inc., Health Catalyst and CoverMyMeds were among a host of winners announced yesterday for FierceMarkets' First Annual Fierce Innovation Awards: Healthcare Edition. Honorees were selected by a panel of CIOs and other executives from renowned U.S. hospitals and healthcare systems, including Mayo Clinic, Boston Children's Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Announcement
Health Insurance News
> As federal and state officials work to fix the user experience on health insurance exchanges, some back-end problems remain, including ensuring consumers actually purchase health plans, InformationWeek reported. Article
> Although the healthcare reform law requires insurers provide dental benefits in plans sold on health insurance exchanges, coverage is often sold separately and is optional for children. Some experts believe this flawed implementation could mean millions of children will lack dental coverage and lead to an increase in tooth decay, which already is the most common chronic childhood disease. Article
Provider News
> This time last year, almost one-third of surveyed physicians reported taking on extra work outside their practices to help maintain their incomes, according to a survey from Physicians Practice. The trend has continued, according to Medscape. Article
And Finally... A live alligator's not even worth a case? Article