TOP STORIES
Politics takes center stage today, and it looks ugly.
The Dallas Morning News is questioning whether former Texas Gov. — and ex-presidential candidate — Rick Perry had a hand in a decision by Oklahoma to shut down an investigation of a surgeon with dozens of safety complaints and malpractice suits to his name. The story traces a web of political connections that also reaches Tennessee. — The Dallas Morning News
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.
In Washington, the Senate Special Committee on Aging will investigate the pricing practices of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Martin Shkreli’s Turing Pharmaceuticals and two other drug companies. — Bloomberg
PhRMA is fighting back, trying to push the blame onto insurance companies and federal regulators. — The Hill
On the Obamacare front, don’t forget that Accountable Care Organizations and the Medicare Shared Savings Program are components of the Affordable Care Act. A new analysis by a team including former Bush administration CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan finds modest success and huge potential in terms of care improvements and cost savings from Medicare ACOs. — Health Affairs Blog
LIFE SCIENCES
Sanofi has agreed to a licensing deal to develop long-acting diabetes drugs with Hanmi Pharmaceutical that could earn the South Korean drug maker as much as $4.2 billion. — Reuters
The University of Kansas Cancer Center says it is the first in the world to enroll patients in a trial of a new type of T-cell therapy. — PR Newswire, KCUR.org
Orphan drugs cost 13.8 times more per patient than mass-market drugs, an EvaluatePharma report says. — Business Wire
AstraZeneca will pay $46.5 million and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ Cephalon will pay $7.5 million to settle civil charges that they overcharged Medicaid in three states. — Reuters
Johnson & Johnson is buying Novira Therapeutics, which is testing a new treatment for chronic hepatitis B. — Philadelphia Business Journal
Cell Signaling Technology has released six new monoclonal antibodies for tumor immunology research. — Business Wire
LifeMap Sciences and Lab7 Systems are teaming up on next-generation genomic sequencing. — Business Wire
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
A local TV station has uncovered a “case study in deceptive business practices” at Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico. — KRQE-TV
A Geisinger Health System study has shown that the OpenNotes program improves medication adherence in patients being treated for high cholesterol or hypertension. — Healthcare IT News
Envision Healthcare Holdings is buying clinical staffing firm Questcare Medical Services and Questcare subsidiary QRx Medical Management for $135 million. — Dallas Business Journal
Kaiser Permanente Northwest says it is the first physician group in Oregon to publish online patient ratings of its doctors. — PR Newswire
TECHNOLOGY
Data-driven management saved a Florida health system money and reduced bed waiting times while increasing patient throughput, according to a Rand study. — PR Newswire
Wisconsin startup Quietyme has introduced an alternative to the call button in hospital rooms: a wireless cube that lets patients request specific services. — Xconomy
Analytics startup DocDelta is actually touting what it does as high-tech “physician poaching.” — Business Wire
HealthGrid has introduced what it calls the first mobile CRM platform for patient engagement. — PR Newswire
POLITICS
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says that the surging cost of specialty pharmaceuticals is straining the health budgets of developed countries. — Reuters
Death from drug overdoses is becoming an issue in the 2016 presidential race. — The Wall Street Journal
France is lifting a 32-year-old ban on blood donations by gay men. — Reuters
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
It should surprise nobody that the “fattest” states in America also have high poverty rates and poor health status. — WalletHub
Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images