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Index 2000: News in brief

Government - Profession - Business - Technology - Health - 2001

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Government & Medicine briefs 2000

• Insurance groups plan merger to create heftier lobby - Dec. 18
• Report finds HCFA renewed contract with firm accused of fraud - Dec. 18
• Acting HCFA chief departs - Dec. 18
• HCFA urges flu shot standing orders for nursing home residents - Dec. 11
• HCFA expands Medicare Web site - Dec. 11
• Medicare to pay HMOs extra for patients with congestive heart failure - Dec. 11
• Dr. Shalala going to Florida school - Dec. 11
• Medicare prescription drug proposals would not help many seniors - Dec. 11
• Medicare advisory group considers whether to recommend end to SGR - Dec. 4
• Ergonomic standards unveiled - Nov. 27
• Medicare coverage for macular degeneration therapy announced - Nov. 27
• Prescription drugs largely to blame for health care cost increase - Nov. 27
• Seniors unaware of Medicare assistance programs - Nov. 20
• Many Medicare beneficiaries underusing necessary services - Nov. 20
• Health care generates most civil fraud winnings for government - Nov. 20
• Medicare funding package deadlocked - Nov. 13
• OIG says Medicare spent millions on excessive hyperbaric oxygen therapy - Nov. 13
• Proposed rules let states expand Medicaid eligibility - Nov. 13
• Medicare premiums rise - Nov. 6
• More oversight of HCFA needed - Nov. 6
• Medicare still overpaying for lab tests - Nov. 6
• Medicaid enrollment rises - Nov. 6
• Privacy commission bill fails - Nov. 6
• Lawmakers try one last push for patient protection legislation - Oct. 23/30
• Pathology lab settles lawsuit charging fraudulent Medicare billing - Oct. 23/30
• Hospital chain settles whistle-blower lawsuit on Medicare cost reports - Oct. 23/30
• Consumer group compares candidates' health policies - Oct. 16
• Clinical practice guideline tutorial available on CD-ROM - Oct. 16
• Government issues final physician compliance plan - Oct. 9
• Medicare clinical trial rules released - Oct. 9
• States get grants to cover uninsured - Oct. 9
• Physician calls to Medicare carriers soon to be toll-free - Oct. 2
• Inspector general report counters HMO cries of underpayment - Oct. 2
• Medicare handbook distributed to beneficiaries, doctor groups - Oct. 2
• Employees' choices partly to blame for indemnity health coverage drop - Oct. 2
• DeParle departs HCFA - Sept. 25
• Bush releases prescription drug plan - Sept. 18
• Health policies on voters' minds - Sept. 18
• Ophthalmologists hope for corrections - Sept. 18
• Medicare's overall health a concern - Sept. 18
• Medicare succeeds in avoiding payments to barred physicians - Sept. 4
• AMA intensifies push for Senate passage of patients' bill of rights - Sept. 4
• Parents often unaware their kids qualify for insurance - Aug. 28
• Medicare speeds approval process for transplant centers - Aug. 21
• AMA beams its patient protection message to Republican convention - Aug. 21
• Health care issues weigh heavily on voters' minds - Aug. 14
• Seniors' drug costs expected to skyrocket - Aug. 14
• Alternative track to universal health coverage proposed - Aug. 14
• Lawmakers offer mental health illness awareness and treatment bill - Aug. 14
• Nearly a million dropped from Medicare managed care - Aug. 7
• Physician training scheduled on Medicare data collection - July 31
• Florida verdict hits tobacco industry with major damages - July 31
• New Senate GOP Medicare drug plan comes under fire - July 31
• Medical records privacy action unlikely to pass this year - July 31
• Clinton names advisory panel for alternative medicine - July 31
• Bill to open National Practitioner Data Bank to be offered - July 24
• Practice expense camps take their fight to Congress - July 24
• AMA calls for end to higher co-pay for Medicare psychiatric treatment - July 10/17
• Medicare's glucose monitor prescription rules called too strict - July 10/17
• Congress urged to investigate burdensome Medicare regulations - July 10/17
• AMA calls for creation of Medicaid congressional advisory board - July 10/17
• Clinton proposes $21 billion increase in Medicare provider pay - July 10/17
• HCFA names two physicians to senior-level posts - July 10/17
• Questions arise about whether patient protection compromise is imminent - July 10/17
• Human genome "working draft" - July 10/17
• Final Medicare managed care rules released - July 3
• Effort launched to boost Medicare beneficiaries' eye exam rates - July 3
• Medicare to cover blood processing for rheumatoid arthritis - July 3
• Patient protection bill fails in Senate, but hope lingers - June 26
• HCFA eyes two Medicare codes for common errors - June 19
• Doctor training for new Medicare data requirements planned - June 19
• Supporters urge action on stalled patient protection bill - June 12
• Government creating local Medicare coverage standards - June 12
• Federal court supports payments to Christian Science nursing homes - June 12
• Lawmakers vow bipartisanship on Medicare drug issue - June 12
• High court: Whistle-blowers can bring independent suits - June 5
• Court: Major plans can't drop doctors without a hearing - May 22/29
• AMA ad campaign pushes patient protection bill - May 15
• Political fight over Medicare prescription drugs continues - May 8
• Medicare gets two more years of solvency - May 8
• Medicare project encourages flu shots for seniors - May 8
• Senate forges compromise on organ transplant bill - May 1
• Practice expense lawsuit dismissed - May 1
• Lawmakers reach agreement on patient appeals - May 1
• Lawmakers criticize managed care ads - April 24
• HCFA blasted for low Medicare claims settlements - April 17
• Medicare HMOs' appeal is low cost, not benefits - April 10
• Patient protection bill faces assault - April 10
• Bill recommends medical records privacy commission - April 3
• Bliley to step down at end of term - March 20
• New hospital statistics Web site launched - March 20
• Medicare drug benefit should target neediest, studies say - March 20
• Medicare patients skipping colon cancer tests - March 20
• HCFA looks for Medicare carriers' errors - March 13
• Health status, insurance access vary widely by state, AARP finds - March 13
• AMA: Stop E&M referrals to inspector general - March 6
• Health plan choices increasing - March 6
• Doctors seek exemption from new Medicare enrollment rules - March 6
• Patient protections could boost health insurance premiums - Feb. 28
• Medical board Web sites lack information on disciplined doctors - Feb. 28
• Bush video used to push House HMO bill - Feb. 28
• Clinton budget favors health, drug initiatives - Feb. 21
• Specialty societies join AMA's suit against HCFA - Feb. 21
• 1997 Medicare cuts deeper than expected - Feb. 14
• Lawmakers propose health care tax credit - Feb. 14
• Clinton calls for Medicare "fraud fighters" - Feb. 7
• Health care will be critical in elections - Jan. 31
• CHIP enrollment doubles; Clinton pushes for more - v
• Public health spending growth down - Jan. 24
• Clinton wants FDA to monitor Web drug sales - Jan. 17
• Law extending disability benefits signed - Jan. 3/10
• Prickly Medicare co-pay issue resurfaces - Jan. 3/10

Back to top

New NIH regulations allow research on stem cells derived from embryos specifically donated for that purpose. Read more

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Professional Issues briefs 2000

• Advance-directive day planned - Dec. 25
• Pain to get special attention - Dec. 25
• Minority applications buck trend - Nov. 13
• Kansas court rules that naturopaths can't prescribe - Nov. 13
• Former AMA leaders die - Nov. 6
• Half of Catholic HMOs cover some form of contraception - Nov. 6
• Studies examine benefits of tube feeding in elderly - Nov. 6
• Pediatric training hospitals get government funds - Nov. 6
• Science of genetic modification not quite ready for humans - Oct. 9
• "How to" book now in two languages - Oct. 2
• Medical school applications on the decline nationwide - Oct. 2
• Evidence-based report focuseson assessment of unstable angina - Sept. 25
• Core standards being drafted for accreditation of organizations - Sept. 25
• Measure would stop Medicare pay reductions to teaching hospitals - Sept. 18
• Abortion regulation upheld - Sept. 18
• Harvard links with health Web site - Sept. 4
• Foreign-trained doctors fail test - Sept. 4
• AOA names new officers - Sept. 4
• GME survey to go online - Aug. 28
• PRN may represent second group - Aug. 28
• GLMA names new president - Aug. 28
• National outcomes database planned - Aug. 14
• Physicians file suit over laser surgery - Aug. 14
• Magazine lists top hospitals - Aug. 7
• Newsletter for allieds now available - Aug. 7
• Ohio State, Cleveland Clinic cancel plans for joint medical school - July 31
• Measure would stop Medicare pay reductions to teaching hospitals - July 10/17
• Harvard's conflict guidelines to remain the same - July 10/17
• Neb. abortion ban struck down - July 10/17
• VA asks NASA to help launcherror reporting system - June 26
• Health leaders join search for patient safety enhancements - June 26
• New NEJM editor on deck - June 26
• Teaching hospitals face stiffer fines for work-hour violations - June 19
• Web site corrects mistakes on drug information - June 12
• AHA launches series of patient safety initiatives - June 12
• Quality group seeks to involve patients in safety efforts - June 12
• Group issues Web ethics principles - June 5
• Pain bill moves out of committee - May 15
• AAFP names new executive - May 15
• LCME to hold hearing on two proposed accreditation standards - May 1
• FSMB honors three physicians - April 24
• Medicare overpaid for devices, services -- audit - April 17
• Guideline resource growing - April 10
• Health plan report cards online - April 10
• AMA seeks antitrust probe of Pa. Blues - April 3
• HCFA drops supervision requirement from CRNAs - March 27
• Ethical guidelines for HIV vaccine research set - March 20
• Geneticists propose rules for testing kids - March 20
• White House calls for error-reduction steps - March 6
• University of Chicago settles fraud charges - Feb. 28
• Harvard reviews its rules for researchers - Feb. 28
• Textbooks fall short on end-of-life care -- study - Feb. 21
• FDA stops genetic trials after patient death - Feb. 7
• University's research is put on hold - Feb. 7
• Patient safety research grants offered - Jan. 31
• PRN files to organize first bargaining unit - Jan. 17
• Nurse practitioners see same results as doctors - Jan. 17
• Boston residents choose their union - Jan. 3/10
• Medical errors cited by VA hospitals - Jan. 3/10

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20% of Medicare patients are readmitted within 30 days of hospital discharge. Read more

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Business and Markets briefs 2000

• Kaiser sued over pill splitting - Dec. 25
• New California law addressesHMO capitation problem - Dec. 4
• Insurance lobbies discuss merger - Dec. 4
• HMO execs agree to cut pay - Dec. 4
• Medicare HMOs shed 1 million seniors - Dec. 4
• Maine appeals drug injunction - Dec. 4
• PacifiCare enters rough seas - Nov. 13
• Tufts, Mass. hospital group clash - Nov. 13
• Survey says premiums up 13% - Nov. 13
• Blues parent settles suit - Nov. 6
• Aetna introduces open access plans - Nov. 6
• HMO increase of 11.4% planned - Nov. 6
• PacifiCare makes cuts in Colorado - Nov. 6
• Drug costs to jump 20% - Nov. 6
• Harvard Pilgrim back on track - Nov. 6
• Minn. AG sues Blues - Oct. 23/30
• New York insurers merge - Oct. 23/30
• HMO enrollment drops - Oct. 23/30
• Study refutes direct-access worries - Oct. 23/30
• Mass. HMOs start ad blitz - Oct. 23/30
• N.Y. hears flood of HMO complaints - Oct. 23/30
• Texas forces rate hike - Oct. 23/30
• Defined contribution plans launched - Oct. 23/30
• More drugs diverted from Maine - Oct. 16
• Aetna settles shareholder suit - Oct. 16
• Consumer drug ads hit docs - Oct. 16
• Plan cuts premium, ups deductible - Oct. 16
• Mixed financial results for HMOs - Oct. 9
• Ads linked to rising drug sales - Oct. 9
• Need protocols for failing IPAs - Oct. 9
• Premiums up more than costs - Oct. 9
• Watchdogs eye Blues pact - Oct. 9
• Mass. gathers health care data - Oct. 9
• N.C. doctors will drop contracts - Oct. 9
• County society sharing complaints - Oct. 9
• Aetna will cover peds drugs in Calif. - Oct. 2
• Doctors won't join new TennCare plans - Oct. 2
• Calif. Medicare HMOs seek rate hikes - Oct. 2
• Texas sues drugmakers, claims overpayments for respiratory meds - Oct. 2
• North Carolina fines Aetna $21,400 - Oct. 2
• Ariz. HMOs in red, want increases - Oct. 2
• N.C. practice files for bankruptcy - Oct. 2
• Employees move to HMOs - Oct. 2
• Many don't know they're in an HMO - Oct. 2
• Aetna to get nicer in Georgia - Sept. 25
• More California IPA casualties - Sept. 25
• More doctors cancel contracts - Sept. 25
• Top N.J. officials endorse HMO liability - Sept. 25
• PPO merger in the plains - Sept. 25
• Doctors near to buying Ohio hospital - Sept. 25
• Wisconsin HMOs rebounding - Sept. 25
• Four new HMOs to join TennCare - Sept. 18
• HMO changes antidepressants policy - Sept. 18
• Workers' comp increases coming - Sept. 18
• Pa. doctors sued on antitrust - Sept. 18
• North Texas HMOs improve - Sept. 18
• Insurers seek change of court venue - Sept. 11
• Many are switching doctors - Sept. 11
• CIGNA launches plan for small firms - Sept. 11
• Coverage rates vary - Sept. 11
• Plans raise rates despite gains - Sept. 11
• Report sees treatment variation - Sept. 11
• Court levels retirement benefits - Sept. 11
• Aetna overcharges patients - Sept. 11
• Utah inmates must pay for doctors - Sept. 11
• Groups reach deals with Blue Cross - Sept. 11
• Mixed decisions in two Aetna lawsuits - Sept. 4
• Cutting hospitalization saves little - Sept. 4
• Bias in drugmaker-financed studies - Sept. 4
• Pa. finds widespread late payments - Sept. 4
• Consumer ads raise demand - Sept. 4
• Mail-order drug sales up 27% - Sept. 4
• D.C. collective negotiations bill stalled - Sept. 4
• Judge nixes Conn. HMO formulary suit - Sept. 4
• Okla. HMO liability law under attack - Sept. 4
• PhyCor gets delisted - Sept. 4
• Mayo to discontinue its HMO - Aug. 28
• Consumer drug ads to top $2 billion - Aug. 28
• Jumbo Calif. group finds the money - Aug. 28
• Aetna: more choice, higher co-pays - Aug. 28
• R.I. Blues reports surplus - Aug. 28
• Patients' co-pays rising - Aug. 28
• Physician investor bails out Fla. plan - Aug. 21
• UCLA Medical Center income drops - Aug. 21
• HMO premiums to rise again - Aug. 21
• N.Y. fines plan for late payments - Aug. 21
• HMO doctors more dissatisfied - Aug. 21
• Cigna to provide formulary online - Aug. 21
• Two HMOs starting low-cost plans - Aug. 21
• N.J. to launch mental health survey - Aug. 21
• Texas AG backs Aetna settlement - Aug. 14
• Hospitals merging more, HMOs less - Aug. 14
• Drug sales continue growth - Aug. 14
• Doctors fleeing California - Aug. 14
• Payment disparity suit appealed - Aug. 14
• Mass hiring for California parity law - Aug. 14
• Texas hospital system dumps United - Aug. 14
• Panel eyes changing TennCare - Aug. 14
• Massachusetts Blues profits surge - Aug. 14
• Pharmacists oppose pill-splitting - Aug. 14
• Public cool on full-scale reform - Aug. 14
• Brand-name protections lengthen - Aug. 14
• Plans exit giant California practice - Aug. 7
• First Texas HMO liability suit settled - Aug. 7
• UnitedHealthcare exits California - Aug. 7
• Report pans direct contracting - July 10/17
• Fine print in drug ads overlooked - July 10/17
• Texas doctors get settlement - July 10/17
• 1 million lost Medicaid in welfare exit - July 10/17
• Journal editor blasts drug prices - July 10/17
• Plans loosen restrictions - July 10/17
• Calif. behind nation in health coverage - July 10/17
• Cigna ends HMO in Louisiana - July 10/17
• Aetna breaks off talks with suitor - July 3
• New model managed care contract - July 3
• HMO growth slowing - July 3
• PacifiCare retreats from East - July 3
• Medicare HMOs dropping drug benefit - July 3
• Small business faces big rate hikes - July 3
• HMO executive pay rises - June 26
• U.S. Healthcare founder quits Aetna - June 26
• Highmark delays specialty capitation - June 19
• Cigna dropping Medicare - June 19
• PPO enrollment tops HMOs - June 19
• On-call services deemed underpaid - June 19
• Employers pay most of premium hike - June 19
• Many patients switch coverage - June 19
• Rising small business coverage - June 19
• Educated complain most about HMOs - June 19
• Anthem purchase of Maine Blues OK'd - June 19
• Blues mull for-profit coersions - June 12
• Mass. approves Harvard Pilgrim rehab - June 12
• Large corps. move to defined benefits - June 12
• Insurer, consumers reach settlement - June 12
• Drug costs climbing - June 5
• Direct contractor considers offer - June 5
• N.J. unveils HMO grievance guidelines - June 5
• U.S. health care costlier - June 5
• Colo. Blues lose members, make money - June 5
• Specialists' pay cut upheld - May 22/29
• Plans post solid earnings -- except for Humana - May 22/29
• States eyeing drug prices - May 22/29
• Standardized credentials OK'd - May 22/29
• Maryland fines plans over pay delays - May 15
• Blues plan, doctors form venture - May 15
• Physicians march on California capitol - May 15
• San Antonio IPA put on hold - May 15
• PhyCor to sell more clinics - May 15
• Massachusetts eyes receivership law - May 15
• Medical bills drive bankruptcies - May 15
• Seniors' 1999 drug bills rise quickly - May 15
• Psychiatric drugs among costliest - May 15
• Aetna cuts Medicare HMO coverage - May 15
• Florida Republicans split on HMO bill - May 15
• Employer-based coverage rises - May 15
• Aetna reaches settlement with N.J. health system - May 8
• Wisconsin Blues get OK for for-profit conversion - May 8
• Doctor disciplined for Web sales - April 17
• Insurers plan Web venture - April 17
• SEC says Internet site can give doctors stock - April 3
• Judge bars doctor's Net prescribing - Feb. 21
• SMS, Koop link up - Feb. 21
• Joint venture aims for prescriptions - Feb. 21
• Online health firm gives lawyers a look - Feb. 21
• Personal data on Web sites are vulnerable - Feb. 14
• AMNews goes to full text online - Jan. 24

Back to top

54% of health care workers do not get an annual flu shot. Read more

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Technology briefs 2000

• Domain name ".health" is a no-go - Dec. 11
• Drkoop.com reining in spending - Sept. 25
• Healtheon set to close deals - Sept. 25
• MGMA offers data analysis services - Sept. 25
• Consentsys raises $1.3 million - Sept. 25
• Teamsters target McKesson HBOC - Sept. 25
• Healtheon moves to salvage deals - July 10/17
• OnHealth under SEC investigation - July 10/17
• Blue Shield links doctors, patients - July 10/17
• Health tech deals delayed - June 26
• Two e-health mergers blow up - June 12
• Siemens buys SMS - May 22/29
• Healtheon posts huge quarterly loss - May 22/29
• Drkoop.com maneuvers for survival - May 22/29
• Companies hop on ASP bandwagon - May 22/29
• Axolotl, Passport Health form link - May 22/29
• McKessonHBOC invests in Web venture - May 22/29
• Express Scripts, Allscripts join forces - May 22/29
• Dr. Dickey named Medem editor - May 8
• Doctor disciplined for Web sales - April 17
• Insurers plan Web venture - April 17
• SEC says Internet site can give doctors stock - April 3
• Judge bars doctor's Net prescribing - Feb. 21
• SMS, Koop link up - Feb. 21
• Joint venture aims for prescriptions - Feb. 21
• Online health firm gives lawyers a look Feb. 21
• Personal data on Web sites are vulnerable - Feb. 14
• AMNews goes to full text online - Jan. 24

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H1N1 is more likely to hit people ages 5 to 17, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions. Read more

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Health & Science briefs 2000

• Consensus panel considers adjuvant therapies for breast cancer - Nov. 20
• Public health tactic on drunk-driving - Nov. 20
• New drunken driving standard - Nov. 13
• Increasing blood folate levels could reduce congenital anomalies - Nov. 13
• Gene therapy offers promise for preventing, treating Parkinson's - Nov. 13
• ACS reports a reversal in cancer trends among African-Americans - Nov. 13
• Bioterrorism research and planning put on front burner - Nov. 6
• Over-the-counter drug linked to strokes in younger patients - Nov. 6
• Sometimes allergic patients may tolerate penicillin, study says - Nov. 6
• Manufacturer issues stronger advisory regarding Norplant - Oct. 9
• Antibiotic prescribing for children is on the decline - Oct. 9
• Health issues on daytime television - Oct. 9
• West Nile Virus reported in Northeast United States - Oct. 2
• National conference focuses on children's mental health - Oct. 2
• Rabies treatment hits wrong targets - Oct. 2
• Calcium channel blockers blamed for higher rate of heart attacks - Oct. 2
• More doctors giving patients advice to quit smoking - Sept. 25
• ACP-ASIM launches campaign targeting older women - Sept. 18
• NEA funds hospital art program - Sept. 18
• Teens may be smoking less - Sept. 11
• Findings indicate how some exposures may protect against asthma risk - Sept. 11
• New drug shows promise for early-onset alcoholics - Sept. 11
• Diabetes rates rising - Sept. 11
• Norplant advisory issued - Sept. 4
• Dietary supplements and ADHD - Sept. 4
• CPR guidelines revised - Sept. 4
• Possible flu vaccine shortage triggers half-dose consideration - Aug. 28
• Strategies to cut smoking rates - Aug. 28
• Breast cancer semipostal extended - Aug. 28
• Immunization rates stay strong - July 24
• Decision pending on gene patent moratorium - July 3
• AMA endorses elimination or reductions of mercury - July 3
• Tobacco money still must be safeguarded - July 3
• Questions about over-the-counter antimicrobial products - July 3
• New attempt at tobacco control - June 5
• Fiber studies fail to prove power to prevent colorectal cancer - May 8
• New round of tobacco bills introduced on Capitol Hill - May 8
• House rejects HHS rules on organ transplant - April 17
• Use of estrogen linked to heart attacks, strokes - April 17
• Huge verdict raises fear of tobacco bankruptcies - April 10
• Both consumer- and physician-oriented drug promotion booming - April 10
• Government agencies to coordinate cancer tracking, prevention - April 10
• Advocates call for more research on Alzheimer's disease - April 10
• High court denies FDA bid to regulate tobacco - April 3
• FDA pulls controversial type 2 diabetes drug - April 3
• Clinton calls for caution in medicating kids - April 3
• Cancer deaths plateau, although some cancers still climbing - March 27
• Chicago medical students take health message to tiny town - March 27
• Voters allow hefty cigarette tax to stand - March 20
• FDA to monitor gene therapy more closely - March 20
• Stem cells used to reverse diabetes in mice - March 13
• Tobacco company opens door to regulation - March 13
• Test all adults for thyroid disease: study - March 13
• FDA reassesses new rule on dietary supplements - Feb. 28
• Clinton spotlights worldwide diseases - Feb. 14
• NIH funding focuses on genetics, minority issues - Jan. 31
• High court denies union bid for tobacco payment - Jan. 24
• Virus linked to ALS for first time - Jan. 24
• Don't practice on dying patients, doctors say - Jan. 17

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Only 3% of patients would consider switching physicians in response to tiered rankings. Read more

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