Consumer demand is driving digitization of the health care sector in the form not only of wearable health technology but also hospital record-keeping systems, data for research and data-driven, personalized health care, according to the annual Internet Trends report from Mary Meeker and Bond Capital. Digital tools are enabling patients to become more engaged in their own care, more hospitals are offering telemedicine services, and researchers are gaining access to troves of digitized genetic and health information, the report says.

BlackRock has brought to NYSE Arca two exchange-traded funds that give exposure to cybersecurity and genomics. The iShares Cybersecurity and Tech ETF picks investments from the NYSE FactSet Global Cyber Security Index, while the iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF is linked to the NYSE FactSet Global Genomics and Immuno Biopharma Index.

Lawsuits filed within the last year accuse PillPack, Amazon's online pharmacy, of invading customers' privacy by calling or texting to solicit business. PillPack says the allegations are false.

The University of Michigan's Genes for Good project has engaged more than 80,000 Facebook users and collected some 27,000 saliva samples for genetic testing, as well as surveys from a diverse cohort. The researchers have been able to replicate findings from other studies, such as genetic and phenotypical associations with types 1 and 2 diabetes, says Katharine Brieger, first author of the study, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

IBM, Merck, Walmart and KPMG will create a shared blockchain network for an FDA pilot program to identify, track and trace prescription drugs in real time.

CVS Health is launching a service to help Caremark pharmacy benefit management clients manage contracts for wellness services and other supplemental benefits. CVS Caremark's Vendor Benefit Management platform aims to streamline the logistics of member eligibility verification, billing and payment processing to give clients easier access to new health and wellness tools.

TransCelerate BioPharma subsidiary BioCelerate will work with the FDA's Office of Computational Science to develop methods and tools that improve efficiency in analyzing data generated from nonclinical studies. Researchers will "explore variabilities in the implementation of [the Standard for Exchange of Nonclinical Data] that prevent more robust analysis across studies originating from different sources," improving insight into toxicity profiles, off-target toxicity, vehicle effects, class trends and others, says TransCelerate CEO Dalvir Gill.

The House on Wednesday amended a health care spending bill to remove a 23-year ban on using federal funding to create a national patient identifier. The move was backed by a group of health care stakeholders in a letter to House lawmakers sent earlier this week urging them to pass the amendment introduced by Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill.

The CMS is developing a quality reporting tool to be known as Hospice Evaluation and Assessment Reporting Tool, or HEART, to replace the Hospice Item Set measures. According to the CMS, the tool is intended to be used as part of the hospice care planning process as well as for the evaluation of care quality.

California lawmakers sent budget legislation to Gov. Gavin Newsom that would fine state residents for not carrying health insurance coverage. The legislation also would expand financial assistance to more people who want to subscribe to a health plan sold on the state's exchange but whose household incomes are above the current maximum for subsidies.

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