No liability for good-faith release of involuntary patients: Md. high court
Neither a hospital nor its staff can be held civilly liable for the consequences of releasing an involuntarily admitted mental-health patient if they followed “in good faith” the statutory process for assessing admission criteria, Maryland’s top court unanimously has held.
Health insurance premiums up 4% this year
WASHINGTON — Annual premiums for job-based family health insurance went up just 4 percent this year, but that’s no comfort with the price tag approaching $16,000 and rising more than twice as fast as wages. The annual survey released Tuesday by two major research groups served as a glaring reminder that the nation’s problem of […]
Consumer prices up as gas, clothing costs rise
WASHINGTON — Consumer prices rose modestly in January on higher costs for food, gas, rent and clothing. But economists downplayed the increase, saying inflation will likely ease in the coming months as prices for raw materials level off. Separately, a gauge of future economic activity rose in January for the fourth straight month, adding to […]
Maryland awards $1.1 million for community health care
ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission is awarding $1.1 million to improve access to medical and dental care statewide. Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown announced the 15 awards Wednesday. Baltimore City tops the list, with three grants totaling $183,000. The largest is $109,000 to Catholic Charities’ Esperanza Center. The center provides services to new […]
Tremont Plaza to become apartments
Baltimore’s Tremont Plaza Hotel will soon convert back to its original purpose: apartments. The 390-suite property’s owners said Monday the rooms would soon be altered into apartments and long-term stay places. Five members of the hotel’s sales staff were laid off on Friday after the renovations were announced, said Carol Chatham, a spokeswoman for the […]
Justices to decide liability of private prison employees
BOSTON — The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether a federal prison inmate has an implied cause of action for a violation of his constitutional rights against the employees of a private company that operates the facility. The Court will review a decision from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowing the Bivens claims […]
Health plans must spend premiums on medical care
WASHINGTON — Health insurers must spend most of the premiums they collect for medical care, or issue rebates to consumers, the Obama administration said in regulations issued Monday. The rule unveiled by the Health and Human Services department requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 cents of the premium dollar on medical care and […]