Google under fire for its efforts to access health records
Tech giant Google continues to face criticism for the company’s reported efforts to obtain the health records of millions of Americans without their awareness or consent.
Amazon launches e-health clinic for its Seattle employees
The pilot program, called Amazon Care, provides a mobile app that enables workers to access virtual and in-person healthcare services
Health execs not ready for societal, liability issues from AI
86% indicate they have not yet invested in capabilities to verify data that feeds into their systems.
Anthem Blue Cross to launch digital health platform
Insurer teams with Castlight Health to offer an integrated solution that brings together clinical, claims and wearables data.
Trump declares opioid epidemic a national public health emergency
Executive action allows for expanded access to telemedicine services, including remote prescribing of medicine commonly used for substance abuse or mental health treatment.
Is UnitedHealth-Optum a role model for CVS?
Move adds to drug chain’s string of deals in pharma, health and analytics.
Employee wellness program privacy, costs under fire at Senate hearing
Workers who don’t share sensitive health information face financial penalties that are too extreme, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren during the HELP committee session.
Control secured, Senate GOP leaders to focus on medical bill
Republicans will return to Washington for a lame duck session of Congress to tackle two top priorities: funding the federal government and passing medical innovation legislation into law.
Healthcare a prime target as ransomware threat widens
As payoffs grow, hackers are mounting more sophisticated attacks, and threats are increasingly pernicious, says FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez.
Lawmakers question CMS support of state insurance exchanges
The Government Accountability Office will examine the role of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in helping state health insurance exchanges transition from state-based information systems to the federal program.
Health apps widely embraced, but sustained engagement a challenge
Employers using health apps as part of their wellness programs may want to pay attention to what is being called the most in-depth analysis to date of health-related app use in the United States.
Fitbit wellness platform now HIPAA compliant
Fitness device maker Fitbit now will enter into HIPAA business associate agreements with corporations, health plans and self-insured employers that want to offer its wellness platform to employees.
Consumer demand for wearables slows, Apple gains on Fitbit
After a surge in consumer interest in wearable technology, which reached its peak in January, demand has been slowing for wearables over the past six months of 2015.
Yelp data to put health care facilities under microscope
Yelp, the online service which provides customer reviews of local businesses, has teamed with the ProPublica news organization to incorporate health care statistics and consumer opinion survey data onto Yelps business pages for more than 25,000 medical treatment facilities.
Humana CEO: We’re part of the problem
With more than 13 million customers, Humana is one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies. But, according to Humanas president and CEO Bruce Broussard, the Louisville, Ky.-based insurer is in the business of health outcomes, not insurance underwriting.
Apple Watch marketed as personal health, fitness companion
Calling it the most personal device the company has ever created, Apple on Monday officially launched its smartwatch designed as a comprehensive health and fitness companion.
Anthem breach: Warnings, lessons for the industry
Commentary: The FBI is still investigating the potential causes of the data breach at Anthem, the nations second-largest health insurer. There is still no clear indication who perpetrated the attack, reported Feb. 5, how they did so, or what couldve been done to stop it, but informed sources point to a number of strong possibilities on all counts.
Microsoft unveils mobile health platform, app and smart band
Targeting the exploding health and wellness market, Microsoft in one fell swoop has launched a new cloud-based platform, mobile app, and wearable fitness tracking wrist band.
Optum to acquire Alere Health in $600 million deal
In a $600 million cash transaction, Optum, the IT and business services unit of UnitedHealth Group, is buying health management vendor Alere Health, which provides services to more than 200 regional and local health plans, 89 Fortune 500 employers and 29 states, covering about 22 million people in the U.S.
Success of consumer-based Apple Watch tied to health care stakeholders
Apple's announcement of wearable wellness features in its new Apple Watch, plus health monitoring software, could revolutionize the health care market.