Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland called financially troubled Forum Health in Youngstown "a critically urgent situation," while three federal legislators appealed to President Obama for financial assistance for the bankrupt health-care agency.
The family of Kent W. Clapp, the late CEO of health insurer Medical Mutual of Ohio, has sued the charter airline company involved in the Dec. 3, 2008, crash that claimed the lives of Clapp and his fiancee, Tracy Turner. The family also has filed a claim with the Federal Aviation Administration.
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.
The state’s largest insurer says the new system boasts benefits for both doctors and patients. It will make it easier for doctors to collect payment from patients immediately following care. As more patients enroll in high-deductible health plans and consumers’ budgets have tightened due to the recession, collecting payment from patients has become a greater concern for physicians and other medical providers in recent years.
Ohio is the main beachhead to test the Web-based Quicken Health Expense Tracker. Medical Mutual is among the insurers who will give all its customers access, it and plans to be the first insurer to let patients pay physicians through the software. Intuit and the insurers are both promising a new approach for patients and a painless transition for physicians.
Medical Mutual of Ohio has hired its longtime legal counselor, Patrick J. Dugan, as chief legal officer and executive vice president. Dugan will responsible for managing the internal legal staff and coordinating outside legal activities for the Cleveland-based health care insurer.