What We're Reading: Anthem Angers Eye Surgeons; Va. Inches Toward Medicaid; Common Rule Released

Anthem Says Surgeons Can Do Cataract Operations Without Anesthesiologist On Hand

Virginia House Republicans Approve Medicaid Plan With Work Requirements

Anthem, the health insurer under fire for its policy restricting payment conditions for emergency department visits, is now saying it is not medically necessary to have an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist administer and monitor sedation during cataract surgeries in most cases, according to Kaiser Health News. Some ophthalmologists and anesthesiologists say the policy jeopardizes patient safety.The GOP-controlled House of Delegates in Virginia will support the expansion of Medicaid, but their plan will also include work training and contributions to health coverage, according to the Hill. The proposal, a compromise with new Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, would expand eligibility for Medicaid to residents who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about 300,000 people. Republicans in the Senate did not include Medicaid in their state budget proposal, however.

Interim Final Version of Common Rule Released After 1-Year Delay

The federal government has released an interim final rule for the Common Rule that governs the processes of conducting medical research, including protection for human subjects involved in research, according to Health Data Management. The Common Rule was originally planned to come out in January 2017. The delays in finalizing the interim rule have been frustrating to the medical informatics community, as they affected electronic health records research.