Stay in the know with Becker's Hospital Review's weekly roundup of the nation's biggest healthcare news. Here's what you need to know this week.
1. Texas hospital closes following extensive hurricane damage
East Houston Regional Medical Center revealed plans to permanently close Nov. 9 after suffering extensive water damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in August.
2. United Medical Center to cut ties with hospital operator Veritas
The D.C. Council voted 7-6 Tuesday to sever its relationship with Veritas, which operates Washington, D.C.-based United Medical Center, and turned down a one-year, $4.2 million management contract extension with the consulting firm.
3. UPMC CEO Jeffrey Romoff: We want to become the 'Amazon of healthcare'
Pittsburgh-based UPMC President and CEO Jeffrey A. Romoff said during an announcement Nov. 3 he wants the health system to "become the Amazon of healthcare."
4. Kentucky physician allegedly assaults Sen. Rand Paul, breaks 5 of his ribs
A spokesperson for Sen. Rand Paul, MD, R-Ky., confirmed Nov. 5 the senator was assaulted by a physician in Kentucky Friday and suffered five rib fractures and lung contusions. The alleged attacker, Rene Boucher, MD, pleaded not guilty during a court hearing Thursday.
5. 10 most obese states in America
Several southeastern states were listed among WalletHub's 2016 Fattest States in America, with Mississippi housing the largest percentage of obese and overweight residents.
6. 600K enroll for ACA plans in first 4 days, nearly doubling last year's sign-ups
The first four days of ACA open enrollment saw 601,000 people register for coverage, almost double the amount of sign-ups from the same period last year.
7. How Aetna, Anthem, Humana, Cigna and UnitedHealth fared in Q3
Five of America's largest commercial payers — Aetna, Anthem, Humana, Cigna and UnitedHealth Group — reported strong earnings in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017.
8. Chicago hospital sues Leapfrog for defamation
Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago is suing Leapfrog for defamation, alleging the hospital ratings agency knowingly used incorrect information to lower the hospital's letter grade for patient safety.
9. Humana to lay off 1,300 employees
Louisville, Ky.-based Humana will lay off 1,300 employees in early 2018.
10. Tenet's net loss balloons to $367M as investor agitation builds
Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, which operates 77 hospitals, saw revenue decrease and its net loss widen in the third quarter of this year.
11. 93-year-old California hospital to close over inability to meet new seismic standards
Community Medical Center Long Beach (Calif.), which opened in 1924 and is part of Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare Health System, will close in the near future due to the inability to retrofit the hospital to meet California's seismic standards.
12. SSM Health lays off 350 employees
St. Louis-based SSM Health laid off 350 employees, or about 1 percent of its 35,000-person workforce, on Wednesday.
13. Quorum Health sees net loss widen to $29.2M, plans to sell more hospitals
Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health ended the third quarter of 2017 with a net loss, but the company hopes to improve its financial picture by continuing to restructure its portfolio.