TGIF

David Ermer–Uncategorized–

Let’s kick of this post with some healthcare related mergers and acquisitions updates —

  • Forbes offers a useful update on the status of the CVS Health acquisition of Aetna.  Cautious optimism abounds. “CVS narrowed the window of time when executives believe the deal will close. CVS now says  the Aetna transaction will close in the later part of the third quarter or the “early part” of the fourth quarter . The company previously said the deal would close in the second half of this year.”  Also Becker’s Hospital Review briefs us on CVS Health’s second quarter 2018 earnings report. 
  • The Wall Street Journal reports that earlier this week, “in a surprise move, Rite Aid Corp. and Albertsons Cos. called off their planned $24 billion merger on the eve of a shareholder vote in the face of mounting protests from investors.”  Rite Aid, of course, is a drug store chain while Albertsons is a grocery chain. In a follow up article the Journal observed that

It was Rite Aid’s second failed merger attempt in roughly a year. Federal regulators in 2017 shot down a planned tie-up with rival Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. Rite Aid, now down to around 2,600 pharmacies, has a market-capitalization of under $2 billion. “There is no easy recipe for Rite Aid,” said Kurt Jetta, executive chairman of the Tabs Analytics consultancy, who previously advised Albertsons.

Speaking of pharmacies, Healthcare Dive reports that CVS Health is the latest pharmacy chain to begin offering telehealth services at their in-store clinics which usually are staffed by physicians assistants, in the FEHBlog’s limited experience.

Tibits —

  • Health Data Management reports that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services yesterday announced a proposed rule to overhaul Medicare’s accountable care organization program, which is six years old, in order to require the providers to offer some skin in the game.  The FEHBlog is a much greater fan of commercial ACOs which are based on contracts rather than much less flexible laws and regulations. 
  • The New  York Times Upshot column discusses the difficulties confronted in studying the efficacy of workplace wellness programs. 
  • HHS’s Office for Civil Rights, which enforces the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, released a July newsletter with guidance on proper disposal of electronic data storage devices that contain protected health information.
  • The Wall Street Journal humorously reports on inexpensive “chatbot” apps that provide folks with talk therapy. Treat yourself.