HIMSSCast

Top Stories for 5/21

May 21, 2021 HIMSS Media
HIMSSCast
Top Stories for 5/21
Show Notes Transcript

Cyberattack leads to a network outage at Scripps Health; HRSA tells 6 drugmakers they’re in violation of the 340B statute. Also: Google using AI to help patients find answers to dermatology questions.

Links to the stories:

Scripps Health network still down, 2 weeks after cyberattack

Six drugmakers are in violation of 340B statute, says HRSA

Google gives a sneak peek into its new AI dermatology assistant

It’s been more than two weeks since a cyberattack led to a network outage at Scripps Health, and the health system is still struggling to get back online. I’m Jeff Lagasse with Healthcare Finance News, and we’ll explore why and look at other big news in this week’s Top Stories.

 Scripps Health detected the security incident on May 1, and as we see in Healthcare IT News, (https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/scripps-health-network-still-down-2-weeks-after-cyberattack) the San Diego-based system suspended user access to its IT applications, including its website and patient portal, which were still displaying error messages as of Monday the 17th. Scripps has been tight-lipped about the incident, describing it only as a malware attack, but independent sources have told local outlets that the incident involved ransomware,which may explain the ongoing network outage. Scripps said all of its locations are open and continue to provide care.

 The Health Resources and Services Administration told six drugmakers this week that they have violated the 340B statute and should immediately begin offering drugs at discounted prices to hospitals participating in the federal drug-pricing program. According to Healthcare Finance News, (https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/six-drugmakers-violation-340b-statute-says-hrsa) the HRSA maintained that the drug manufacturers in question – AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and United Therapeutics – placed restrictions on the 340B program for hospitals that dispense drugs through contract pharmacies, and these restrictions resulted in overcharges, which are in direct violation of the statute. If continued, these practices could result in civil monetary penalties, a move praised by America’s Essential Hospitals, which said the limits on 340B discounts are unlawful.

 Finally this week, Google is looking to use artificial intelligence to help patients find answers to dermatology questions using their personal cameras. MobiHealthNews reports (https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/google-gives-sneak-peek-its-new-ai-dermatology-assistant) that the tech giant revealed a preview of its AI-powered dermatology assistant that runs on a web-based application. Users are able to upload photos from their cameras onto the platform, and the assistant can then give feedback to the user on photo quality, telling them, for example, if a photo is too blurry or dark. According to the CDC, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.

 I’m Jeff Lagasse with Healthcare Finance News, and this has been Top Stories.