Court rules California Blues plans should be taxed as insurance companies; Aetna responds to American Psychiatric Association criticism of merger;

News From Around the Web

> A state appeals court has ruled that California Blue Cross Blue Shield plans should have to pay the same amount of taxes as insurance companies do since they derive most of their income from selling insurance products, Law360 reports. Article (subscription required)

> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed a rule that it says would "significantly revise the Medicare payment system for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests." Proposed rule

> In response to a letter earlier this month in which the American Psychiatric Association warned that the pending insurer mergers will harm access to mental healthcare, an Aetna spokeswoman tells Reuters that the insurer is focused on ensuring that "insurers, doctors and hospitals work together to lower costs and coordinate care to give people as many healthy days as possible." Article

Health IT News

> With the advent of new payment models in the healthcare industry and the subsequent growth of accountable care organizations, the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange is forming a workgroup to create a framework surrounding ACOs. Article

> The global healthcare industry is much more susceptible to hacking and other privacy attacks, according to a new report. Article

And finally… What a bargain! Article