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. 5 things to know about the Iowa Caucus results
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took the lead over Donald Trump in Monday's caucuses, with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) coming in third. Sen. Cruz captured 27.6 percent of caucus-goers, while Mr. Trump had 24.3 percent and Sen. Rubio had 23.1 percent. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, MD; Sen. Rand Paul, MD, (R-Ky.); and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush trailed far behind. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) finished neck in neck. Ms. Clinton just barely inched past Sen. Sanders, with 49.8 percent of the vote, compared to Sen. Sanders' 49.6 percent of the vote, according to the Iowa Democratic Party website. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley received 0.5 percent of the vote.
2. WHO declares Zika virus & link to birth defects an international public health emergency
The World Health Organization declared Monday the Zika virus and the subsequent birth defect linked to the virus constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The WHO called for a "coordinated international response" to improve surveillance and detection of infections, better control mosquito populations and speed up test and vaccine development to protect people who are at risk, especially people who are pregnant. Additionally, it has been found that Zika virus can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. Dallas County Health and Human Services reported and the CDC has confirmed that a patient in Texas was infected with Zika virus after having sexual intercourse with someone who returned from a country where Zika is present. This is the first known infection to take place in the mainland U.S., according to BBC News.
3. Feds agree to scale back Cadillac tax
President Barack Obama's chief economic advisor said Wednesday the administration is willing to be a little bit more flexible with the unpopular "Cadillac tax" in an effort to keep the tax in place, according to The Hill. Jason Furman, the chief economic advisor, said the government would be open to raising the threshold for when employers have to start paying the tax in areas where healthcare is more expensive.
4. Late Broward CEO hired private investigator, feared office was bugged
A private investigator claims Nabil El Sanadi, MD, the late president and CEO of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health who killed himself Jan. 24, hired him last spring for an investigation into the public system that led to FBI involvement, according to a Sun Sentinel report.
5. 673 rural hospitals vulnerable to closure
More than 60 rural hospitals have closed since 2010 and another 673 rural hospitals across the nation are vulnerable to closure, according to a report from iVantage Health Analytics, a firm that compiles a hospital strength index that is based on data about financial stability, patients and quality indicators.
6. Legionnaires' victims sue McLaren hospital amid Flint water crisis
Four individuals affected by the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Flint, Mich., filed a suit against McLaren Flint hospital and six state workers, arguing the illness could be attributed to the water crisis, according to an NBC News report. During the outbreak, roughly 87 cases of Legionnaires' disease were reported locally, and more than a dozen of the cases were treated at McLaren Flint. Eleven of those patients died. The lawsuit alleges that failing to treat the river water with anti-corrosion agents violated federal regulations.
7. Aetna expresses 'serious concerns' over ACA exchanges
Now that this year's open enrollment period has closed, Aetna has expressed apprehension in its future participation on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, according to The Hill. "We continue to have serious concerns about the sustainability of the public exchanges," said Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini, according to the report. He added that the insurer is concerned about "the overall stability of the risk pool."
8. Plan proposed to pay NY's big systems $2.5B to bail out Brooklyn hospitals
To solve the financial issues plaguing 28 struggling Brooklyn hospitals, Kenneth Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, proposed the state pay the wealthiest hospital systems $2.5 billion over five years to "adopt and adapt these facilities to the new world," according to Crain's New York Business.
9. Nearly 3,000 Swedish Medical Center patients at risk for HIV, hepatitis
Englewood, Colo.-based Swedish Medical Center is notifying patients who had surgery at the facility between Aug. 17, 2015, and Jan. 22 that they may be at risk for HIV and hepatitis B and C, according to the Denver Post. The hospital issued the warning after discovering a former Swedish employee, a surgical technician, was diverting drugs and possibly leaving behind dirty needles.
10. Alphabet ousts Apple as most valuable company in the world
After five years as No. 1, Apple is no longer the world's most highly valued public company. Alphabet, the newly reorganized parent company of Google, now claims the top spot, according to CNBC. As of Tuesday morning, Alphabet's market capitalization was $547.1 billion, passing Apple's $529.3 billion, according to the report.