Morning Headlines 1/31/19

Secretary Wilkie: Revolutionizing VA Health Care

VA Secretary Robert Wilkie downplays the notion that the agency is moving towards privatization in his remarks announcing new standards that will allow veterans to seek care outside of the VA system.

EPAS no more as SA govt moves to reset patient records system

SA Health in Australia will make immediate changes to its Allscripts-powered EPAS project after an external report criticized the project’s lack of accountability, poorly articulated clinical benefits, underuse of expert consultants, and lack of physician involvement.

UnitedHealthcare stops sharing data with research group

Healthcare pricing transparency advocates cry foul over UnitedHealthcare’s decision to stop sharing de-identified claims data with the Health Care Cost Institute, which expects a similar move from Humana next year.

Livongo Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire myStrength to Address Behavioral Health Needs for People with Chronic Conditions

Livongo acquires digital mental health therapy startup MyStrength in an effort to bolster its chronic condition management services.