Morning Headlines 11/9/17

Repealing the Individual Health Insurance Mandate: An Updated Estimate

The CBO estimates that if the GOP repeals the ACA individual mandate as part of its planned tax overhaul, it would lower the federal deficit by $338 billion over the next ten years, making room for tax cuts in other areas. Eliminating the mandate is expected to increase the uninsured rate by four million people in 2019 and 13 million in 2027.

America’s Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety

In its annual report on quality, The Joint Commission notes that in 470 hospitals submitted eCQM data in 2017, up from 34 in 2016. The report predicts that more than 2,000 hospitals will submit eCQM data in 2018.

Major investors sue Outcome Health, alleging firm committed fraud to secure $487.5M investment

Chicago-based healthcare unicorn Outcome Health is sued by a group of early investors, including the investment arms of Goldman Sachs and Google, over allegations of fraud. The company and its founders are being accused of falsifying its financial performance data during its most recent fundraising round.

Cleveland Clinic plots $20 million children’s center

The Cleveland Clinic will spend $20 million remodeling its four-story Taussig Cancer Center into a 120,000-square-foot children’s center. The new center is expected to be completed by fall 2018.