Friday Five: Top 5 healthcare business news items from the MCOL Weekend edition

Every business day, MCOL posts feature stories making news on the business of health care. Here are five we think are particularly important for this week:

Surgeons’ Opioid-Prescribing Habits Are Hard To Kick

As opioid addiction and deadly overdoses escalated into an epidemic across the U.S., thousands of surgeons continued to hand out far more pills than needed for postoperative pain relief, according to a KHN-Johns Hopkins analysis of Medicare data.

Kaiser Health News

Friday, June 21, 2019

Health Insurance Providers Launch Project Link to Address Social Barriers to Health

Not every health care problem can – or should – be addressed with a prescription pad. That’s why America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is launching Project Link – a new initiative that brings together the best thinking on how to effectively address social barriers to health and long-term well-being.

AHIP

Thursday, June 20, 2019

1 In 6 Insured Hospital Patients Get A Surprise Bill For Out-Of-Network Care

About 1 in 6 Americans were surprised by a medical bill after treatment in a hospital in 2017 despite having insurance, according to a study published Thursday.

Kaiser Health News

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Private Medicare Advantage Could Hit 70% Market Share

Enrollment of seniors in private Medicare Advantage plans could reach 70% of those eligible for federal health benefits for the elderly between 2030 and 2040, a new report shows.

Forbes

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Trump says he will roll out new health care plan in next couple of months

President Trump said he'll be rolling out a new health care plan in a couple of months, saying it will be a key focus in his 2020 reelection campaign.

The Hill

Monday, June 17, 2019

These and more weekly news items on the business of healthcare are featured in the MCOL Weekend edition, along with the MCOL Tidbits, and more, for MCOL Premium level members.