‘Under Observation’ Means Over Spending
A new law has gone into effect that will require hospitals to notify patients if they are going to be categorized as “under observation”, which means they’ll be aware of potential high bills.
Health & Medicine
Vulto Creamery Expands National Cheese Recall Due To Listeria Concerns
Another popular cheese company has issued a national recall on many of its cheeses. Vulto Creamery out of Walton, New York, has recently expanded its original recall to include “all lots of four additional cheeses” due to an “ongoing Listeria outbreak that has killed two people” so far. With the additional four kinds of cheese, the Vulto Creamery recall now includes eight different cheeses.
Mercy Springfield Ordered To Pay $28.9M In Negligence Lawsuit
For failure to diagnose Emilee Williams’ rare health disorder in a timely manner, Mercy Clinic Springfield Communities has been accused of negligence and ordered by a jury to pay $28.9 million to Williams. Because of the medical center’s delay in diagnosing her with Wilson’s disease, Williams claims her disorder became more severe — so severe that she “now must be fed through a tube.”
Posner Enters Decision Reversing Eye Drop Class Action
Chicago’s 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals entered a decision reversing a class action against glaucoma eye drops providers.
Tennessee Confirms Local Outbreak of Bird Flu
Tennessee health officials confirmed on Sunday that a farm in the southern part of the state had been hit with an outbreak of bird flu. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, popularly called the “bird flu,” was the basis for a widely publicized health scare in 2013 and 2014. Contagious for chickens and turkey alike, the bird
Final Obama-Era Workplace Rule Delayed By OSHA
The Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced that it will delay one of President Obama’s final workplace protections aimed at protecting “workers from a dangerous element known as beryllium.” Finalized in January of this year, the new rule was intended to go into effect on March 21. However, with OSHA’s delay, the protection won’t be implemented until May 20. Why so late? Well, the delay is partly because OSHA wants to further review the rule, and partly because of President Trump’s regulatory freeze he “initiated when he took office.”
Twenty States Join Forces Against Generic Drug Price-Fixing
We’ve heard a lot about generic drug price-fixing lately. From Mylan and their Epipen fiasco to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, consumers are wondering when someone will step in to make this price gouging stop before drugs like the Epipen simply become unaffordable. Well, that time has come. According to the Connecticut attorney general’s office, twenty states across the U.S., including California and Illinois, have joined a lawsuit that was filed last year, “alleging that six companies, including Mylan NV and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, conspired to push up prices of two generic drugs.”
Drug Copay Clawbacks are a Silent Scam
How many people are scammed every day by drug copay clawbacks? When you take your doctor’s prescription to a pharmacy to be filled, you’re probably thinking mostly of your health. However, behind the scenes, questionable pricing practices may take advantage of people who want to stay healthy or get better when they’re sick.
Metlife Has Agreed to $32.5 Million Payout for Racial Discrimination
Metlife has agreed to pay $32.5 million to more than 600 financial service representatives, past and present, in a racial discrimination lawsuit.
Aiken Ordered to Pay Millions to Triple Amputee
Aiken Regional Medical Centers has been ordered to pay almost $14 million in damages to a triple amputee patient in a medical malpractice lawsuit.