News From Around the Web
> The number of uninsured mothers fell from 7.5 million in 2013 to 5.9 million in 2014, according to an Urban Institute report. The biggest declines in uninsured were seen in mothers in low- to moderate-income brackets who were targeted by the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion and subsidized Marketplace coverage. Article
> North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin expects to issue a fine "in the millions of dollars" against Blue Cross and Blue Shield for its recent technology issues, according to the Charlotte Observer. The Department of Insurance is finishing up its investigation of the insurer, which Goodwin expects to conclude at the end of the month. Article
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is delaying the quality star ratings of health plans on the federally-facilitated marketplace and state-based marketplaces that use the federal platform; they will now beging during 2018's open enrollment period. Announcement
Healthcare News
> A new national study in England, published in the Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, says the death rate following a weekend hospital admission is higher only because the number of patients admitted to hospitals on weekends is lower. Article
Health IT News
> The University of Mississippi Medical Center's deep focus on data analytics and push to become a "knowledge-driven health system" have helped the organization see gains of $1.6 billion and a four-fold return on investment. Article
And finally... A typical first grade roll-call in 1916. Article