Trending News Today: Government Cracks Down on Duplicate Health Coverage

Relationships that nonprofit hospitals have may present conflicts of interest for those involved. A recent analysis discovered that administrators and board members may be put in situations where they must choose between what is the best option for the hospital and what is best for their investors, according to The Wall Street Journal. While these relationships are not inappropriate as long as it is disclosed, it does not necessarily mean the relationships are beneficial for all aspects of the hospital system.

US officials are taking action to prevent individuals from receiving duplicate public health coverage. Some individuals are enrolled in Medicaid, while also receiving subsidies to pay for health insurance from Affordable Care Act exchanges. If these individuals do not heed the warnings, the government will cut off any financial assistance they receive to pay premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs, according to The New York Times.

Hospitals and physicians are typically reluctant to disclose any mistakes made for fear of angering the patients’ families, and to prevent malpractice lawsuits. However, more and more hospitals are changing their policies to be more open about medical procedures that did not go as planned, according to Kaiser Health News. New guidelines should help ease a physician’s anxiety about what they are allowed to discuss, as well as being more open and honest with patients.