Health Care

A former state lawmaker and health care expert has a fresh take on an initiative petition quietly working its way to the November ballot that could shake up hospital finances in Massachusetts.

Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday rejected the suggestion made by a prominent doctors group that limits on the supply of opioids to first-time patients should expire after a trial period.

Framingham-based HeartWare International Inc., a medical device company specializing in the treatment of heart failure, continued to see its stock price decline Wednesday after a 35-percent dive Tuesday.

Worcester home health care provider Century Homecare has partnered with Quinsigamond Community College to train 20 of its home health aides as nurses and eventually, RNs.

The VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System and the University of Massachusetts Medical School will celebrate the opening of a new VA specialty care clinic Thursday.

Framingham-based Boston Scientific Corp. has launched a new, single-used ureteroscope designed to eliminate maintenance while still diagnosing stones and other kidney and bladder conditions.

The House's move to counter Gov. Charlie Baker's proposal to limit the supply of opioids that can be prescribed to first-time patients succeeded in rallying a key interest group to its side, but doctors who value their medical discretion may seek to have prescribing limits sunset after a test of their effectiveness.

The status of Baxalta's Milford manufacturing facility is up in the air following the acquisition of the Illinois company by Shire PLC.

As health insurers sat before state officials Monday to explain the math behind their rate increases, several pointed to an Affordable Care Act program and pharmaceutical spending -- including six-figure price tags for annual supplies of some specialty drugs -- as major cost drivers.

After two years in a lower-rated category, UMass Memorial Health Care has been returned to investment grade status by two separate bond rating agencies.