News From Around the Web
> A stolen laptop put information for nearly 8,300 University of California, San Francisco patients in jeopardy, according to an announcement from the university. "While the physician believed the laptop was encrypted, this could not be confirmed," the announcement reads."The UCSF investigation determined that it was appropriate for the physician to have this information; however, the use of an unencrypted laptop for business purposes is against UCSF's policy and practice." Announcement
> A new vendor coalition is pushing for increased U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation of medical devices, including electronic health records, according to Health Data Management. "Laboratory information systems vendor Sunquest is spearheading development of a new coalition of vendors regulated and unregulated under the Food and Drug Administration to push for additional FDA regulation in the health information technology industry, including electronic health records vendors," the article states. The group plans on announcing charter members and goals during the first quarter of 2014. Article
Health Insurance News
> Insurers offering exchange plans could receive higher risk payments under a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services on Monday. After overestimating the total covered claims costs of individuals enrolled in reinsurance-eligible plans in 2014, HHS wants to lower the attachment point at which risk payments kick in for high-cost members from $60,000 down to $45,000 next year. Article
Mobile Healthcare News
> The popular new Epocrates Bugs + Drugs app used by physicians as an antimicrobial susceptibility reference is flawed and should be removed from Apple's iTunes store, so argues an iMedicalApps article written by Timothy Aungst, Pharm.D., professor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Article
> An international health app website has been launched to help patients and the public find the most suitable mobile health apps, according to an article posted by PMLiVE. My Health Apps, which aims to help bring health apps into mainstream healthcare, promises to test every app it features for usability and trustworthiness. Article
And Finally… Happy Birthday, Happy Thanksgiving! Article