News From Around the Web
> Louisville, Kentucky-based Humana reported a decline in profits of 18 percent, as expected due to its investments in healthcare exchanges and state-based contracts, as well as costly prescription drugs, reports the Wall Street Journal. Article
> Due to the $1,000 per-pill price tag on hepatitis C drug, Sovaldi, Illinois is requiring Medicaid patients must meet 25 criteria in order for the government healthcare program to pay for it, according to WICS ABC Newschannel 20 News. Article
> The House Energy and Commerce Committee responded to consumers who claimed their health plans were cancelled because of the Affordable Care Act, by approving a bill Wednesday that would allow individuals to keep their plans that don't conform to the health law's standards, reports The Hill. Article
Health Provider News
> An audit released this week by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system uncovered even more cases of fraud, data manipulation and staff intimidation to cover up extreme delays in care. Article
> Following the release of an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report that proposes sweeping changes in how graduate medical education (GME) is funded, teaching hospital leaders worry about the proposal's implications, Hospitals & Health Networks Daily reports. Article
And Finally... Warning: cuteness overload. Article