A ‘dramatic increase’ in sports betting, gambling addiction; $29M to settle false claims act violations; insufficient postpartum screening for hypertension, diabetes – Morning Medical Update

A ‘dramatic increase’ in gambling addiction since sports betting was legalized

A new study from the University of California San Diego, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, highlights a surge in gambling addition following the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting in the U.S. Since the 2018 Murphy v. NCAA Supreme Court decision, the number of states with sportsbooks has grown from one to 38, with total wagers reaching $121.1 billion in 2023 — 94% of which were placed online.

Researchers found a 23% increase in gambling addiction-related internet searches, with spikes in states following the launch of sportsbooks. The study calls for policy reforms, including increased addiction treatment funding, stricter advertising regulations, and stronger online betting safeguards.

Saint Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York to pay $29M

Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers of New York (SVCMC) has agreed to pay $29 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by retaining overpayments from the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday.

The overpayments stemmed from errors in calculating capitated rates under the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP) program, which provides healthcare to military personnel, retirees and their families. Whistleblowers Jane Rollinson and Daniel Gregorie, former executives connected to another USFHP participant, will receive approximately $5.7 million from the settlement.

Poor postpartum screening for hypertension, diabetes

Less than 20% of women receive recommended screenings for cardiovascular risk factors after experiencing pregnancy-related hypertension or diabetes, according to a new study published in Circulation. Researchers from ICES and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre analyzed over one million pregnancies in Ontario, Canada, between 2002 and 2019, finding that only 17% of affected women were tested for diabetes or dyslipidemia within a year of delivery. The study highlights a gap in postpartum care despite guidelines recommending screening.