American Medical Association CEO James Madera in a statement said the organization still opposes "Medicare for All" but rather wants to focus on other ways to expand coverage, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Illinois, Indiana, and Massachusetts.
- Illinois: The American Medical Association (AMA) has left the Partnership for America's Health Care Future, a health care industry group that opposes proposals to expand Medicare, including "Medicare-for-All" plans. Individuals with knowledge of the decision told Politico that AMA made the decision after the Partnership expanded its stance to oppose proposals that take a more incremental approach to Medicare expansion, such as former Vice President Joe Biden's plan for a government-run public option. AMA CEO James Madera in a statement said the organization still opposes "Medicare for All" but rather wants to focus on other ways to expand coverage. "[AMA] firmly believes that the best pathway to expand affordable, high quality health insurance coverage to all Americans is through a mix of private and public health insurance options," Madara said in a statement. "We remain opposed to 'Medicare for All,' and policies that reduce patient choice and competition, and are built on flawed financing policies" (Diamond/Cancryn, Politico, 8/15; Sullivan, The Hill, 8/15).
- Indiana: Eli Lilly on Wednesday announced its "Transforming IBD Care" challenge, promoting the development of innovative digital solutions for inflammatory bowel disease care. Eli Lilly will accept submissions for the challenge through the end of September. Eli Lily will award $50,000 to the winning proposal, which will have the chance for further development with Eli Lilly (Park, Becker's Health IT & CIO Report, 8/14).
- Massachusetts: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan on Wednesday announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to merge. The combined entity would be one of the largest nonprofit health plans in Massachusetts, according to Becker's Payer Issues. Tufts Health President and CEO, Tom Croswell, is expected to lead the new organization, while Harvard Pilgrim President and CEO, Michael Carson, will serve as president (Porter, HealthLeaders Media, 8/14; Haefner, Becker's Payer Issues, 8/14).