TOP STORIES
The Oncology Care Model — a bundled payment program from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid — has recruited 196 facilities to take part in the initiative, which kicks off today. The program takes place in six month episodes of care, starting when patients begin chemotherapy treatments. The goal is to reduce the cost of cancer treatment and still improve outcomes. Some participants have been frustrated at how little information CMS has made available and onerous data requirements for performance measures. — CMS, Becker’s Hospital Review
Open Payments data from CMS showed that nearly 620,000 physicians and 1100 teaching hospitals received more than $7.5 billion in payments and investment interests in 2015. The data launched as part of the Sunshine Act to improve transparency with healthcare reform. Novartis led he top three pharma companies with $5.2 million, followed by Genentech at $4.7 million and Pfizer with $4.3 million. — Healthcare Finance, Modern Healthcare
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.
Zenefits has made a deal with investors to cut its valuation by $2 billion in exchange for making legal claims on the company go away. Investors in the Series C preferred stock round would get more shares, increasing their overall stake in the company from 11 percent to 25 percent. Andreessen Horowitz is among those investors. David Sacks has been trying to get the company back on track since he became CEO after former CEO and Co-founder Parker Conrad resigned from the company. — The Wall Street Journal
LIFE SCIENCES
Intensity Therapeutics raised $10 million to support Phase I/II trials of novel versions of existing chemotherapy drugs. The former head of worldwide drug development at Pfizer, Dr. Declan Doogan, took part in the Series A round and will sit on its advisory board. — FierceBiotech
Contract research organization ICON has acquired ClinicalRM in a move to boost its government-sponsored research expertise, particularly in infectious diseases and vaccine development. — BusinessWire
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.
Morphic Therapeutics attracted $51 million towards developing integrin drugs in a financing round led by SROne —GlaxoSmithKline’s investment arm — and Pfizer Venture Investments, joined by Omega Funds and AbbVie Ventures. — BusinessWire
PAYERS-PROVIDERS
Wellforce, Tuft Medical Center’s parent, added Hallmark Health System to its group — a move that comes a few years after a deal for Hallmark to merge with Partners Health got scuppered. — Boston Globe
A group of plastic surgeons evaluating Google Glass gave it decent ratings for overall satisfaction and comfort, particularly with voice control. But it still needs some work when it comes to components such as using a wink for image capture. — Science Daily
TECHNOLOGY
Google Capital has invested more than $46 million in its first publicly traded company, Care.com. The grow equity fund is backed by Alphabet. The business, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, offers a hub for people to search for professional caregivers, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. — Xconomy
POLITICS
The USDA is getting into the opioid space by allocating funding for telemedicine to improve access to healthcare professionals. “Because addiction treatment is often out of reach for many in rural America, expanding access to telemedicine is an important step towards making sure rural communities have the tools they need to fight the opioid epidemic,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. — USDA
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA
The strength of a brand or innovative product really can’t be fully know until it’s tested under some adverse conditions or faces adversity. That’s what Tesla faces now with the death of Joshua Brown, an owner of its self-driving cars who had praised the car not too long ago for saving his life. — Tesla, The New York Times
Photo: Flickr user Peasap
