Here are seven updates to note:
Shriners Hospitals for Children prepares for relocation plans featuring 2 ASCs
Los Angeles-based Shriners Hospitals for Children will participate in the Rose Parade on Jan. 2, 2017, as the hospital prepares for its new Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena, Calif. The new location will include two ASCs, 20 outpatient clinic examination rooms and three fitting rooms for prosthetics and orthotics.
Allergan acquiring regenerative medicine business LifeCell for $2.9B
Parsippany-Troy Hills, N.J.-based Allergan is acquiring LifeCell for $2.9 billion. Allergan is going to combine LifeCell's products with its medical aesthetics, breast implants and tissue expanders to "create a world class aesthetic and regenerative medicine business." In addition to its commercial products, Allergan is acquiring LifeCell's manufacturing capabilities and its research and development operation.
Three senior Olympus executives utilized their right to invoke the Fifth Amendment during questioning over internal company emails
In July 2016, news broke over Olympus' internal emails revealing the company told U.S. executives not to issue a broad warning to hospitals regarding a deadly infection from tainted scopes that was later linked to numerous deaths at major hospitals. The executives employed their Fifth Amendment right during depositions on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2016, during a civil case against Olympus.
Northwell Health completes 7th ASC JV; Acquires 70% stake in Suffolk Surgery Center
Great Neck, N.Y.-based Northwell Health purchased a majority stake in Shirley, N.Y.-based Suffolk Surgery Center, marking the health system's seventh joint venture of this kind. The ASC's nine physician owners maintain a 30 percent share in the center and Northwell Health bought a 70 percent stake.
ACA premium subsidies to total $42.6B next year, up $9.8B
A Center for Health and Economy analysis found premiums may reach double-digits in 2017. The study estimated premium subsidies under the ACA will increase by $9.8 billion, increasing from $32.8 billion in 2016 to $42.6 billion next year.
CMS creates new Medicare-Medicaid ACO model
CMS created a Medicare-Medicaid ACO model to improve the quality of care and lower costs to the programs' beneficiaries. The model mirrors the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and advances efforts to collaborate with states to "transform" healthcare delivery systems.
Children's West Surgery Center celebrates 50k surgery
Knoxville, Tenn.-based Children's West Surgery Center performed its 50,000th surgery. Opening its doors more than a decade ago, Children's West Surgery Center performed its first procedure in 2003.