News From Around the Web
> The private medical insurance cost trend continues to rise globally, from 7.5 percent in 2014 and 8 percent in 2015, to a projected 9.1 percent in 2016, according to a new survey from Willis Towers Watson. Survey report
> Despite recent predictions about coming health insurance premium spikes, industry experts say Texas has been able to evade any major rate spikes over the last few years, the Austin-American Statesman reports. Article
> In a public hearing about the proposed merger between Aetna and Humana, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones expressed skepticism about the merits of the deals amid testimony from opponents and proponents of the merger, California Healthline reports. Article
Health IT News
> Managers at a regional Veterans Affairs office in Kansas directed staff to enter incorrect information in the appeals records of 36 veterans, though an audit was unable to determine whether this was a move to speed up the review process. Article
Health Finance News
> Healthcare executives are generally optimistic about the current state of their business, although they have ongoing concerns about the ever-increasing cost of delivering care, according to a survey conducted by CIT Healthcare Finance. Article
And finally… Kids don't let anyone say the darndest things. Article