| Healthcare industry optimistic as opioid deaths slow Overdose deaths from opioids have risen each year since 2010 and have nearly quadrupled, but new Massachusetts data is showing the rate may finally be slowing. Dental chain settles MassHealth case A national dental practice with locations in Worcester and Leominster has agreed to pay nearly $1.4 million to resolve allegations that it defrauded MassHealth. Medtronic develops spine scaffold study Medical technology solution firm Medtronic announced Tuesday the launch of a study on the effectiveness of a bone graft in patients with degenerative disc disease. Report outlines financial condition of Mass. hospitals Most acute care hospital systems in Massachusetts were profitable during the 2016 fiscal year, but the median financial margin fell from the previous fiscal year. | 