Grail on Sunday said in a statement that a "software configuration issue" caused an "inaccurate form letter" to be sent to around 400 customers informing them they may have cancer, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from California, Missouri, and Texas.

• California: Grail on Sunday said in a statement that a "software configuration issue" caused an "inaccurate form letter" to be sent to around 400 customers informing them they may have cancer. The letter was sent to customers who had recently purchased the company's Galleri test, a blood test used to detect a cancer signal shared by 50 types of cancer and is only available via prescription. After Grail was notified of the issue by its vendor, PWNHealth, it contacted the affected customers by phone and email. The company also noted that "No patient health information has been disclosed or breached due to this issue, and no patient harm or adverse events have been reported." (Holpuch, New York Times, 6/4)
• Missouri: BJC HealthCare and Saint Luke's Health System announced Wednesday they are exploring a potential merger that would create a 28-hospital, $10 billion academic health system. The two health systems have signed a nonbinding letter of intent and "are working toward reaching a definitive agreement in the coming months" with the goal of closing the deal before the end of the year, the companies said. The health systems also noted that, while both are based in Missouri, they "serve distinct geographic markets." Melinda Estes, president and CEO of Saint Luke's, said the combined health systems "will set a new national standard for medical education and research." (Muoio, Fierce Healthcare, 5/31)
• Texas: GenesisCare, a cancer treatment provider, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Texas and said it is looking to sell its U.S operations. The company, which is based in Sydney, Australia, said it is restructuring its business, including its $1.7 billion in debt, and intends to separate its U.S. operations from operations in Australia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The company has more than 300 locations worldwide and more than 5,500 physicians and support staff. A spokesperson for GenesisCare said if a sale doesn't happen, the company may spin off its U.S. operations to a third-party capital provider. (Hudson, Modern Healthcare, 6/1)