TOP STORIES
Merck has cut 360 jobs as part of a company-wide reorganization of its research and development teams involved in drug discovery and pre-clinical work. — STAT
Evolent Health, which went public last year, has acquired a majority stake in Valence Health in a $145 million deal. Earlier this year Valence cut 75 jobs and its president of population health, Nathan Gunn, left in March. But the business also secured a lucrative contract with Cook County Health and Hospitals System to support the network’s CountyCare Medicaid program. — PR Newswire, Reuters, Crain’s Chicago Business
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 SCIENCES
Biotech industry veteran Steve Holtzman, who retired from Biogen earlier this year, has taken on the CEO role at Decibel Therapeutics, a startup seeking to treatment for hearing loss, a condition close to home for Holtzman. — Boston Business Journal
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston is launching a telehealth service to provide care to four prisons in South Carolina. — Becker’s Hospital Review
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.
TECHNOLOGY
McKesson Health Solutions has acquired HealthQX for it value-based payments tech, particularly to support bundled payment models. — Healthcare IT News
POLITICS
Guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights offers some suggestions for hospitals on how to avoid ramsomeware attacks but it also clarifies that both malware and ransomware amount to a security incident under HIPAA. — Healthcare IT News, HHS Fact Sheet
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
The augmented reality game Pokemon Go is prompting a mass appeal from a variety of business to steer gamers away from searching for Pokemon characters on their property, including Covenant HealthCare in Michigan. — Becker’s Hospital Review
Photo: Evolent Health
