TOP STORIES
More details of the voluminous House budget bill are coming out. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which for months has feared being zeroed out of existence in 2016, has survived budget negotiations, but AHRQ would have to make do with $334 million, about 9 percent less than 2015 funding. ONC’s appropriation would be flat at $60.3 million. House Republicans left out any modifications or delays to Meaningful Use, and also didn’t include the proposed Electronic Health Fairness Act in the budget deal. — Politico
I think Martin Shkreli is now just toying with us. He claims he is trying to bail rapper Booby Shmurda, in prison accused of killing a New York City police officer, out of jail. “He reminds me of me, quite frankly,” Shkreli said, later adding, just for LOLs: “I’m the most successful Albanian to ever walk the face of this Earth.” (Martin, Mother Theresa says go screw yourself)- Gawker, HipHopDx
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.
While the race to win the $10 million Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize will continue into 2016, a Chinese company not among the finalists has become the first to gain FDA clearance for a handheld multi-diagnostic device. CheckMe Pro, a product from Viatom Technologies that combines a pulse oximeter, a single-lead ECG, a thermometer, a sleep monitor and a motion sensor, won U.S. approval last week. — MassDevice
LIFE SCIENCES
It’s endgame time for Shire-Baxalta. – Wall Street Journal
Valeant shows the battle damage from 2015: it dropped 2016 guidance well below Wall Street expectations. – USA Today
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.
Eli Lilly’s cheap version of Sanofi’s Lantus, Basaglar, got FDA approval through a new shortened review process. – Reuters
Antibiotics may be just as effective as surgery for children with uncomplicated appendicitis, a new study suggests. — The New York Times
Many clinical trials continue to lack diversity in their patient pools. — NPR
Endo International has settled the unlawful multivitamins labeling case brought by the states and the federal government for $39 million. – Reuters
Biotech startup Arsia Therapeutics has inked a $100 million deal with Biogen to convert two hemophilia drugs to injectable form. — Triangle Business Journal
Regenerative medicine startup Orig3n has closed a $12.5 million Series A round. — PR Newswire
Bio-Rad faces a lawsuit from its former general counsel, who claimed the company fired him in retaliation for blowing the whistle on bribery in China. — MassDevice
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
A Georgia nurse has been sentenced to 61 months in federal prison for submitting fake reimbursement claims and stealing patient identities. — Associated Press via WSB-TV
Kaiser Permanente Northwest has introduced video telemedicine for urgent care. — Portland Business Journal
BlueCross BlueShield of New York has settled a lawsuit against Catholic Health and renewed their contract for three years. — Buffalo Business First
Arizona’s four largest health systems together plan on hiring at least 8,500 new workers next year. — Phoenix Business Journal
TECHNOLOGY
Might digital health technologies and even bionic body parts be accessories to crime starting next decade? — Singularity Hub
Formerly stealth startup Oration has introduced a mobile app for members of employee insurance pools to shop for prescription drugs, and disclosed that the company raised $11.2 million a year ago. — PE Hub
Hard to believe, but healthcare is just two years behind the banking industry in terms of adoption of digital technology. MobiHealthNews
Avhana Health, a startup clinical decision support vendor based in Baltimore, has added former deputy national health IT coordinator at ONC and former Allscripts CMIO Dr. Jacob Reider to its board. — Avhana Health
Apparently, free EHR vendor Practice Fusion is a “wanna-be unicorn.” (Aren’t all privately held tech companies?) Oh, by the way, the San Francisco-based company has a new COO. — San Francisco Business Times
POLITICS
BIO is applauding the fact that House Republicans agreed to make permanent the R&D tax credit and expand eligibility for startups. — Business Wire
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, a conservative watchdog group, pretty much hates the federal budget deal, but likes that CMS would barred from bailing out private health insurers, as well as the two-year suspension in the “Cadillac tax.” — Business Wire
At least one group, the bipartisan, pro-balanced-budget Concord Coalition, wishes the Cadillac tax would stay. — PR Newswire
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
If you ever find yourself recovering from a bender in Las Vegas or Australia with money to burn, might as well waste your cash on a boutique hangover clinic. — Forbes
