News From Around the Web
> The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is forming new workgroup on accountable care and health IT. The workgroup will focus on "specific high priority areas where programs and policies can shape the availability and use of health IT infrastructure necessary for Accountable Care Organizations to realize the three part aim." Announcement
> U.K.-based group Zilico is showcasing its new cervical cancer diagnostics tool--ZedScan 1--at Dubai medical conference Arab Health 2013. The tool enables faster, more accurate detection of cervical cell abnormalities, shortening time needed to wait for diagnosis. Article
Health Insurance News
> Despite continued efforts to improve, hospitals in Minnesota are still committing preventable mistakes, reported the Star Tribune. Of the 314 reportable errors in a 12-month period, 14 involved patient deaths and 89 resulted in severe injuries. Article
> Medicaid is moving up the government's priority list, giving hospitals hope of seeing lower expenses for uninsured care. Senior economic adviser Gene Sperling said the White House is prepared to make cuts to Medicare to protect the Medicaid program, reported The Hill's Healthwatch. Article
Provider News
> In the Obama administration's proposed rules for governing the individual mandate, released this week, exemptions are so broad that only 2 percent of the population could possibly owe penalties. Penalties are defined as a "shared responsibility payment" for not having coverage under a health plan, according to the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Article
And Finally... Four speeding tickets is nothing if you're about to miss a dance recital, right? Article