L.A. Care Covered now offering nation's first cash payment option; CMS incorrectly counted Social Security income, affecting patients eligibility for health insurance subsidies;

News From Around the Web

> Some state officials in Connecticut want to establish rules for negotiations between hospitals and insurers, with the brinkmanship of negotiations "an unacceptable situation for patients," as Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney (D) put it; Looney proposed binding arbitration for contract disputes, the Hartford Courant reported. Article

> L.A. Care Health Plan announced this week a partnership with PayNearMe to become the first Affordable Care Act health plan to provide a cash payment option to its L.A. Care Covered plan members so they can use Covered California health insurance exchange subsidies if they have no credit cards or bank accounts. Announcement

> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed a glitch which incorrectly counted Social Security income, thereby overstating the modified adjusted gross income that determines eligibility for receiving financial assistance through health insurance marketplaces, according to Health Affairs Blog. Article                       

Health Provider News

> The all-too-common secrecy surrounding superbug outbreaks at U.S. hospitals undermines promising strides the healthcare industry has made in the push for transparency. Article

> As accountable care gains momentum in healthcare, one hospital isn't just focused on the general health of the population it serves. Instead, it is primarily concerned with the health of its employees. Article

And Finally… No, no, no, it's for my wife. Article