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:

Congress OKs opioid legislation in show of bipartisanship

Setting aside the Supreme Court fight, members of Congress this week approved bipartisan legislation aimed at curbing the devastating opioid addiction across the country.

The Associated Press

Thursday, October 4, 2018

GOP senators scrutinize CBO's new health insurance simulation model

Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee have pressed the Congressional Budget Office to release details of the forthcoming new health insurance simulation model.

Modern Healthcare

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Premiums see moderate increase in 2018 for employer plans

Premiums for individuals and families enrolled in employer plans increased moderately in 2018, but more workers are paying higher deductibles, according to a new survey released Wednesday.

The Hill

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Despite Patient Privacy Risks, More People Use Wearables for Health

Despite the patient privacy risks that collecting health data on insecure wearable devices could pose, the number of US consumers tracking their health data with wearables has more than doubled since 2013, according to the Deloitte 2018 Survey of US Health Care Consumers.

Health IT Security

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Pfizer CEO to step down at end of year

Pfizer CEO Ian Read will step down at the end of the year after eight years of leading the pharmaceutical giant. Albert Bourla, Pfizer's current chief operating officer, will succeed Read on Jan. 1.

The Hill

Monday, October 1, 2018

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.