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Hepatitis A outbreaks underway among gay men in many different cities show that it is not just homeless people and drug users who face significant risk from the disease, the physician said. ...Given that recent epidemiological evidence shows that gay men are at a higher risk of hepatitis A infection than the general population, it would not be an unreasonable approach to double down on education and vaccination efforts in this demographic group, [Dr. Robert] Schooley said. (Sisson, 9/29)

With health officials declaring a hepatitis A outbreak in Los Angeles County last week, the cities of Burbank and Glendale have been working on protecting their homeless populations from the virus. Both cities have started reaching out to the homeless in order to get them screened and vaccinated against hepatitis A. The L.A. County Department of Public Health has said homeless people are most at risk for the infection. (Nguyen, 9/29)

Under Charles Smith, the longtime ally of Gov. Greg Abbott picked to lead the state’s Health and Human Services Commission, Texas’ government health care infrastructure is hemorrhaging veteran employees and facing criticism for its response to the humanitarian crisis caused by Hurricane Harvey. (Walters, 10/2)

Knowing certain risk factors could help health care providers prevent pregnancy-related deaths in Texas, whose maternity mortality rate is the highest in the developed world. The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force discussed identifying risk factors for maternal deaths Friday at the Department of State Health Services. It was the first time the task force met since lawmakers extended the group's existence during the special legislative session in July. (Wang, 9/29)

Hartford HealthCare and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield failed to renew their contract this weekend, meaning that many Connecticut residents will face higher out-of-pocket costs for the health network’s services. (Rigg, 10/1)

Georgia nursing home patients who may be at imminent risk of serious injury or death have not been able to rely on the state to immediately investigate, according to a new report by a federal watchdog agency. (Edwards, 9/29)

Now the debate over dental therapy is playing out in Massachusetts, where — as in other states — the proposal has sparked controversy among dentists, who worry that lower-paid workers with fewer qualifications will be given too much responsibility to care for patients. Many dentists also are concerned about their futures: If clinics can save money by employing dental therapists to provide most care, where will that leave dentists? (Dayal McCluskey, 9/30)

More than 600 health care volunteers representing 30 organizations offered free medical care throughout the day, helping those with limited access to health care. Pharmacists, vision specialists, dentists, doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, chaplains and other hospital staff dedicated their day to free lab work, radiology exams, teeth extractions, mammograms and vision screenings. “This is really about making sure everyone has access to medical care they need,” said Chief Nursing Officer Amy Wilson. “This is about bringing the care to the community who needs it and making it easy and accessible for them in one convenient location.” (McGee, 9/30)

Brandywine Hospital, Chestnut Hill Hospital, Jennersville Regional Hospital, Phoenixville Hospital, and Pottstown Memorial Medical Center are now out-of-network for Independence Blue Cross after Reading Health System, the new owner of the facilities, rejected Independence’s last offer of a deal before Reading completed its purchase Friday, Independence said Sunday. The disruption for the 120,000 Independence members who use those hospitals is the most significant fallout yet from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s push into Southeastern Pennsylvania. UPMC has a joint venture with Reading Health to sell health insurance in Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties. (Brubaker, 10/1)

Boston-based Steward Health Care System said Friday that it has completed the purchase of 18 hospitals outside of Massachusetts, in a $2 billion deal the company said will make it the largest private for-profit hospital operator in the country. (Dayal McCluskey, 9/29)

Another former Tenet Healthcare executive has been criminally charged in a federal healthcare fraud case that now accuses two former CEOs of Atlanta area hospitals of paying kickbacks and bribes in exchange for patient referrals. (Teegardin, 9/29)

Another former Tenet Healthcare executive has been indicted on criminal charges over a scheme that the U.S. Justice Department says defrauded state Medicaid programs of at least $400 million. The indictment relates to a whistleblower case against Tenet that dates back nearly a decade, for which the Dallas-based hospital chain agreed to pay a $514 million settlement last year. (Rice, 9/29)

Two sentinel chickens tested positive for the West Nile Virus in Pinellas County this week. Pinellas County Mosquito Control confirmed the birds were located in the Sawgrass Lake and Lake Maggiore areas of St. Petersburg, and tested positive for the virus on Thursday. (Griffin, 9/29)

Former Baltimore Sun financial columnist and Ellicott City resident Jay Hancock will give viewers a glimpse next week of how much he knows after more than three decades in journalism. The journalist, now a senior correspondent for Kaiser Health News, will compete on TV game show “Jeopardy” Oct. 4, the show has confirmed. (Britto, 9/29)