UnitedHealthcare* will offer certain members up to $1,000 per year to complete and report various health goals, in today’s bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Florida, Minnesota, and New York.

• Florida: HCA Florida JFK Hospital in Atlantis has named Damon Barrett COO. Previously, Barrett served as the COO at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee. He will assume his new position on Mar. 1. (Kayser, Becker's Hospital Review, 2/10)

• Minnesota: UnitedHealthcare has introduced a new program in which it will offer certain members up to $1,000 per year to complete and report various health goals using an Apple Watch or other wearable fitness tracking device or smartphone. The money earned from the program can be added to a prepaid credit card or deposited into a Health Savings Account. According to Healthcare Finance, chief growth officer Brandon Cuevas called it "a 'modern approach' that leverages gamification elements to incentivize members to improve their health." (Lagasse, Healthcare Finance News, 2/10; Diaz, Becker's Hospital Review, 2/9)

• New York: New York state officials allowed COVID-19-related masking requirements for healthcare professionals to lapse on Sunday. State officials advised facilities to adopt their own masking rules in accordance with CDC guidance. Acting Health Commissioner James McDonald said "we are moving to a transition" phase of the pandemic, and "As we do, and with safe and effective vaccines, treatments, and more, we are able to lift the state's masking requirement in health care settings." (Associated Press, 2/10)

*Advisory Board is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent.