About Covid-19
IRS-CI releases latest COVID-related fraud investigational statistics: “The agency investigated 660 tax and money laundering cases related to COVID fraud, with alleged fraud in these cases totaling $1.8 billion. These cases included a broad range of criminal activity, including fraudulently obtained loans, credits and payments meant for American workers, families, and small businesses.”
The posting has case examples.
About health insurance
Ten Texas Doctors and a Healthcare Executive Agree to Pay over $1.68 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations: “Ten additional Texas doctors and a healthcare executive have agreed to pay a total of $1,680,430 to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving illegal kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law, and to cooperate with the Department’s investigations of and litigation against other parties, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston…
In addition, the United States announced a settlement with Brett Markowitz, the founder and CEO of Florida Rejuvenation Holdings, LLC, which operates medical practices in Tampa, Florida (collectively, the Tampa Practices). From October 18, 2016 through February 19, 2018, True Health representatives allegedly arranged for True Health to pay for each patient that physicians at the Tampa Practices referred to True Health for clinical laboratory services.”
About hospitals and healthcare systems
Howard University to receive $100M in federal funding for $650M hospital: “Howard University will receive $100 million from the federal government to replace its hospital in Washington, D.C…
The money comes from the $1.5 trillion spending bill President Joe Biden signed into law March 15, which includes $344 million for Howard University, with $100 million specifically for the hospital.
The total cost of the hospital is $650 million, and it's expected to open in 2026.”
About pharma
U.S. Pharmacopeia Medicine Supply Map releases global API manufacturing findings: The results of this survey have supply chain implications. India is by far the #1 source for APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients). #2 is the EU -way ahead of China, which has long been considered to be in the second spot.
8 drugmakers scaling back operations in Russia: An update FYI.
Sun Pharmaceuticals to pay $485 million to settle claims its Ranbaxy unit caused customers to overpay for generics: “On the eve of a trial, Sun Pharmaceuticals has agreed in principle to pay $485 million to settle lawsuits that alleged its Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals unit misled regulators in order to win exclusive approvals for generic medicines, which delayed competition and forced consumers to overpay for the drugs. The settlement was disclosed in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange.
The lawsuits stemmed from a scandal that erupted more than a decade ago after U.S. authorities learned Ranbaxy, which was one of the biggest generic makers, falsified testing data and manufactured drugs that failed to meet safety standards. In 2013, the company, which is now part of Sun, pleaded guilty to felony charges and paid a $150 million penalty, as well as $350 million to settle civil claims.”
About the public’s health
Pfizer grabs another breakthrough tag for RSV shot in older adults: “PF-06482077, or RSVpreF, snagged the FDA tag Thursday to prevent lower respiratory tract infections from RSV in adults aged 60 and over. The designation comes thanks to phase 2a data Pfizer presented on the shot’s safety, immunogenicity and efficacy after a single shot in healthy adults aged 18 to 50.”
About healthcare IT
2021 Telehealth Survey Report: This AMA report is a quick read, but has too many interesting findings to summarize; but one did stand out: More than 50% of physicians said that telehealth has increased their professional satisfaction.
Healthcare data breaches by the numbers: 9 stats: “
1. Healthcare is one of the most highly targeted industries for cyberattacks, with hospitals representing the victims of 30 percent of large data breaches.
2. Nearly 50 million Americans had their protected health information breached in 2021, a threefold increase in three years.
3. In 2021, the share of residents whose protected health information was exposed in a data breach was 10 percent or higher in 22 states.
4. The number of reported healthcare breaches in 2021 increased by 19 percent. There were 905 reported in 2021 compared to 758 in 2020.
5. Midsize hospitals report that a cyberattack creates an average shutdown time of 10 hours that costs on average $45,700 per hour.
6. Hacking accounted for 74 percent of all healthcare data breaches in 2021, up from 35 percent in 2016.
7. About 5 percent of cyberattacks are motivated by fun. The motive for 91 percent of hackers is financially driven. Another 4 percent of attacks are motivated by espionage.
8. More than 50 percent of the most commonly used internet-connected hospital devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks.
9. A February HHS threat brief outlined 18 identifiers that "provide criminals with more information than any other breached record." They include Social Security numbers, health plan beneficiary numbers and biometric identifiers.”
And in a related article: Health data breaches swell in 2021 amid hacking surge, POLITICO analysis finds: “Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. had their sensitive health data breached in 2021, a threefold increase in three years, according to a POLITICO analysis of the latest HHS data.
Health care organizations including providers and insurers in every state except South Dakota reported such incidents last year. About half of states and Washington, D.C., saw more than 1 in 10 of their residents directly impacted by unauthorized access to their health information, according to the analysis. And hacking accounted for nearly 75 percent of all such breaches — up from 35 percent in 2016.”
About healthcare personnel
Racial, Ethnic, and Language Concordance Between Patients and Their Usual Healthcare Providers: From the RWJ Foundation:
”Key Findings
Black adults were less likely to report being the same race as their healthcare providers (22.2 percent) than White adults (73.8 percent) or adults of other races (34.4 percent).
Less than one in four Hispanic/Latinx adults (23.1 percent) reported sharing a racial, ethnic, or language background with their usual health provider.
Hispanic/Latinx adults (55.8 percent) and non-Hispanic/Latinx Black adults (65.6 percent) were less likely to have a usual healthcare provider than non-Hispanic/Latinx White adults (70.4 percent). Similarly, uninsured adults were much less likely to have a usual healthcare provider (28.5 percent) than adults with public or private insurance (68.3 percent and 72.8 percent).”
About health technology
Johnson & Johnson renames medical device branch: “Johnson & Johnson renamed its medical device company to Johnson & Johnson MedTech, dropping the previous name.
On March 8, the company announced it was changing Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices to MedTech in order to ‘reflect the company's global leadership as a medtech innovator,’ according to the press release.”