TOP STORIES
Telemedicine and how providers, payers and startups are using it is the focus of a big article in the Saturday edition of The New York Times. It highlights the emerging job role of virtualists and Carena’s partnerships. The comments section is just as interesting and provides useful insights from those who express concern that telemedicine threatens to undermine in-person physical exams and those who see a place for telemedicine alongside in-person appointments. — The New York Times
The White House Conference on Aging is scheduled for today and can be livestreamed through White House website: www.whitehouse.gov/live. Among those taking part are U.S. CTO Susannah Fox, Harry Leider of Walgreens, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell, DJ Patil, U.S. Chief Data Scientist, Seth Sternberg, the CEO of senior care startup Honor and Pres. Barack Obama, among others.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
LIFE SCIENCE
Wistar Institute in Philadelphia has partnered with biotechnolgy manufacturer Rockland Immunochemicals to develop Wistar’s biologics and biomarkers. — Philadelphia Business Journal
Edwards Lifesciences has acquired transcatheter mitral valve replacement system CardiAQ Valve Technologies in a deal valued at up to $400 million. — Edwards Lifesciences
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
An oncologist who wantonly gave cancer diagnoses to more than 500 healthy patients and prescribed chemotherapy in high doses has been sentenced to 45 years in prison. The case of Farid Fata was deemed the most serious case of Medicare fraud in U.S. history. Among the permanent impact of the chemotherapy included: organ damage, nerve damage, immune system depletion, lost teeth and other permanent ailments. — MLive
A doctor who is also a university administrator frets over what’s the right amount of contact with pharmaceutical sales reps. — NPR’s Shots blog
Health systems have been investing in health IT startups, focusing mainly on companies with technology they plan to implement. It highlights examples from strategic investors like Kaiser Permanente Ventures, Ascension Ventures and Heritage Group with limited partners that include Cardinal Health, Community Life Systems, Tenet Healthcare, and Intermountain Healthcare, among others. — Modern Healthcare
TECH
The CEO of University of Washington software spinoff, C-SATS, which evaluates surgeons’ performance, talks about its fundraise from last month and priorities for the business. — UPSTART Business Journal
POLITICS
Amidst the financial meltdown in Greece, here’s a look at what’s happening with health coverage. In a country where roughly one in four is unemployed, people without a job for more than one year are expected to pay medical bills out of pocket. — InsureBlog
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
Nintendo’s president and CEO Satoru Iwata passed away due to a bile duct growth at 55. He was well regarded because he was an unusual CEO. He had been a game developer for the company and shared the customers’ passion for gaming. He also agreed to slash his pay in half following poor sales. He presided over the development of the virtual reality platform Wii Sports, in which participants swing virtual tennis rackets with a wave of the arm. He noted that the gaming industry should worry less about graphical enhancements and high-tech wizardry and instead look for ways to enhance “the emotional ways people interact with our games. — Los Angeles Times
Photo: Flickr
