Thursday Tidbits

• White House health care reform czar Nancy Ann DeParle thinks she is working up a compromise on the public plan issue according to the AP. This would be the proverbial camel's nose under the tent.
  

• While the Wall Street Journal reports that hospitals continue to jack up their prices, Business Insurance reports about a Leapfrog Group 2008 survey finding that most hospitals have a long way to go before reaching adequate levels of efficiency and safety. That's disheartening news even on the night that our Nationals win their first game of the season.

• AARP released a survey finding that brand name drug prices are increasing while generic drug prices are dropping, according to this AP report. I hope they didn't pay for that survey.

• The Federal Trade Commission issued a proposed rule implementing the security breach notice provisions of the stimulus act that apply to entities not subject to HIPAA, like the Microsoft Healthvault and Google Health. Comments are due by June 1. HIPAA covered entities must wait for an HHS rulemaking.