Healthcare Roundup—Kaiser lays off 200 employees in Colorado

Kaiser lays off 200 employees in Colorado

Kaiser Permanente Colorado is laying off 200 employees just three months after it already cut 200 jobs.

The job cut comes after the insurer recorded $65 million in losses over three years, which prompted a review of its operations, the Denver Post reported. 

Employees were notified of the layoffs last week. (Denver Post

California hospital faces fine after patient death

California regulators are fining Mercy Medical Center in Redding after a surgical team left a medical sponge in a patient that ultimately contributed to that patient's death.

The hospital is being ordered to pay $47,500, the second such penalty the hospital has faced from care it delivered in two years, the Sacramento Bee reported.

It was among a collection of fines levied to hospitals by the California Department of Public Health last week. (The Sacramento Bee

New Facebook feature will help connect U.S. hospitals, blood banks with blood donors

Facebook is gearing up to launch a feature, which is already available in four countries, in the U.S. market that will help coordinate blood donations, according to Business Insider. Launched in 2017 in India, Facebook's blood donation tool has expanded to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Brazil. More than 35 million Facebook users have signed up.

The current version of the tool enables users to interact directly with one another to coordinate blood donations. Local experts in India raised serious concerns about the tool, including that it contributes to the black market for blood.

In the U.S., the tool will be available to organizations such as hospitals, blood banks and the American Red Cross to put out requests for donations on the social media platform. Facebook users who identify themselves as donors will be notified when there's a local need for blood. (Business Insider)

False claims case involves businessman with Batmobile

The owner of a for-profit addiction treatment center in Ohio was indicted by a federal grand jury in a scheme to improperly bill Medicaid for more than $48 million. 

That owner of Braking Point Recovery Center and five others were accused of conspiring to commit healthcare fraud.

Ryan Sheridan has previously become well known in the region for his ownership reproductions of the Batmobile, the “Back to the Future” DeLorean and the “Ghostbusters” car, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported. Federal authorities seized the cars last year and are seeking the forfeiture of five other cars, nearly $3 million and property. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)