Trending News Today: California Sues Hospital Network Over High Health Care Costs

On Friday, California sued one of the largest hospitals in the state, Sutter Health, for “anticompetitive practices” that lead to increased health care costs, according to The Hill. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) alleges that Sutter Health used its power to exclude competition and increase prices for patients substantially, according to the article. The Hill reported that Becerra alleges Sutter Health sets excessively high out-of-network rates for patients who must get care outside of their provider network, restricts publication of provider cost information and rates, and requires insurance companies negotiate with the entire system or face termination of contracts.

Researchers discovered a fluid-filled 3-D latticework of collagen and elastin connective tissue that can be found all over the body, in or near the lungs, digestive tracts, and arteries, according to the New York Times. According to the article, the network could act as a conduit for fluids to enter the lymphatic system, which means it could spread diseases and potentially help cancers to metastasize. The article noted that further research of the network may lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment.

California companies will now be required to add a cancer-warning label to their coffee following a lawsuit against dozens of coffee chains, including Starbucks, according to the Washington Post. The article stated that the lawsuit, filed by an organization called the Council for Education and Research on Toxics, cited the presence of acrylamide in coffee. However, researchers indicate that the links between cancer and acrylamide in humans are weak, and that there are no well-done human studies with definitive evidence to support claims that coffee is carcinogenic, according to the article.