News From Around the Web
> A medical center based in Zachary, Louisiana has joined an antitrust case against Blue Cross and Blue Shield that accuses the company of functioning as an illegal "cartel," according to the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Article
> Since its mission has expanded beyond just the two major government insurance programs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should consider changing its name once again to reflect a broader mission, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman writes in a blog post for the Wall Street Journal. Post
> Many hospitals in the Northeast are taking steps to lower the cost of their health plans, in part due to the looming effects of the Cadillac Tax on high-priced plans, according to the 10th annual Cammack Health Benefits Survey of Hospitals. Announcement
Antifraud News
> Fresh off a House Subcommittee hearing in which legislators grilled the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding Part D fraud controls, the Government Accountability Office released a report this week noting that four state Medicaid programs spent $33 million in 2011 on prescription drugs tied to doctor shopping. Article
> Even after reportedly negotiating a $250 million settlement with the federal government for unnecessary drug tests dating back to 2012, Millennium Health's legal woes appear to be far from over. Article
And finally… Couldn't hurt. Article