HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY: Fierce Healthcare: MultiCare Pays $3.7M To Settle Unnecessary Surgery Allegations +++ +++ +

HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY Fierce Healthcare: MultiCare Pays $3.7M To Settle Unnecessary Surgery Allegations https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/multicare-agrees-37m-settlement-over-allegations-it-knowingly-allowed-unnecessary?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--kJLpBcIJQpP_JhfLHolmJlMG9IPXgTmkEsxbUw2TliU90ca5zF6S3G8r7Q7enU15R7-pZD-mdmLZEn_shb2KOxA1YCg&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email MultiCare Health System has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement with law enforcement to resolve allegations it ignored “numerous red flags” and knowingly permitted and billed procedures conducted by a neurosurgeon under investigation for fraudulent, medically unnecessary care. (Muoio, 2/6) Modern Healthcare: Molina Eyes Medicaid Acquisitions Amid Medicare Advantage Exit https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/mh-molina-medicaid-acquisitions-medicare-advantage/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8WnVyPobm0Wtr6Zq00a7GEBmZ1buldDsIegr3C6_5T9sWi1p5FkjWb3yA5cPDx3Q8OXQC4KpSF7GJR0XM-oFqnNMtYkA&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Molina Healthcare is looking to acquire Medicaid carriers as it exits the Medicare Advantage market. State reimbursements have fallen short of Medicaid members’ expenses, CEO Joe Zubretsky told analysts during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call Friday. The challenging funding environment, however, presents an opportunity to buy smaller insurers that lack the capital to tough out the difficult cycle, Zubretsky said. (Tepper, 2/6) Fierce Healthcare: Aetna Rolls Out New Digital Member Onboarding Experience https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/aetna-unveils-new-digital-member-onboarding-experience?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9bcwOBg9K_O2tcXUUOkM1nwjk2C3OCrMBX1l8PREG3zygjkhVcYv1xzc7UhOlwCaf-UTTMqU7tNc4lL1LkEtYGCqR70w&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Aetna is continuing to build out its digital member experience with the launch of a new onboarding program designed to ease the process. The insurer said Thursday that the platform will be available to 4 million new members during the welcome period for their enrollment. (Minemyer, 2/6) Stat: Updated CMS Data Reshapes Medicare Advantage Risk Scores https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/09/medicare-advantage-new-cms-risk-scores-target-insurer-upcoding/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--N4GUhflIE_7RIztj6frrpjOTYuBxzzuG2e_DFmmIxSaurOqUAly0NIAjFfVmXI1Ae1PAMvLlrhzDA5BbbWBCTVfwyQQ&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email The health insurance industry was caught off guard by the federal government’s recent proposal to keep next year’s payments to Medicare Advantage plans mostly flat, and to change a controversial coding practice. But another equally significant change has flown under the radar — and is a major reason why some insurers may face big hits to revenue. (Herman, 2/9) Modern Healthcare: Epic Systems Launches AI Charting Tool In Latest EHR Market Push https://www.modernhealthcare.com/health-tech/mh-epic-systems-ai-charting-tool-ehr/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9isCegncZVrtOfJqN_oytsUtTI-_-UyC8NuN_zXuRY-8tVghL9sfz5ofERT5SkQIEGHq36-tu8ERYVonuC4NVavZI0_g&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Epic Systems made another move earlier this week to advance its artificial intelligence strategy. The large electronic health record vendor hosted an event for its customers on Wednesday, where it officially launched its AI charting tool. The customizable ambient listening feature aims to help clinicians write notes and offers guidance based on these conversations. The feature is an expansion of Art, Epic’s suite of AI for clinicians that it announced in August at the company’s user group meeting. The AI charting tool is available to customers immediately. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, is among the early adopters. (Famakinwa, 2/6) The Baltimore Sun: Johns Hopkins University Research Staff Begin Unionization Effort https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/02/04/johns-hopkins-university-research-staff-begin-unionization-effort/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--KJzAjGr9B8WW4hMyJsLD6vkHDBPwdZ8DKpsYYO6ZWT5XY8yv47anWXzU-PVF5-M0rzKg0vQ1GqYWCehif_difWoOozw&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Johns Hopkins University research staff announced plans this week to start a union in an effort to get higher pay, transparent career paths and more job security. (Bazos, 2/4) The New York Times: Podcast: When Anesthesia Fails And The Patient Is Cut Open https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/podcasts/the-daily/anesthesia-c-sections-patient-pain.html?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--UKQY-Nkun4KA98-qPaO5mr0ZpPUkN_6Txbdp9ELEgT9-cWLCmAhHXWKZFAVdgUVdpYfiZ0C_gohgCnnWBeVzJTH1e2w&_hsmi=402677445&utm_content=402677445&utm_source=hs_email Women’s pain is too often dismissed in medicine. An alarming number of women report feeling major surgery and dealing with doctors and nurses who make light of their complaints. Susan Burton, reporter and host of the podcast “The Retrievals,” shares stories from just a few of the many cases of women who felt significant pain during their C-sections. (Burton, 2/6)