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

NIH is working on guidelines for scientists who want to contribute to Wikipedia. Read more

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

15% of the nation's 47 million uninsured are illegal immigrants. Read more

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

Massachusetts has the nation's most restrictive law on industry gifts to physicians. Read more

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

Obesity accounts for 9% of all health care spending. Read more

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

Only 1.5% of nonfederal U.S. hospitals and 4% of physicians are using comprehensive EHRs. Read more

Vote refines AMA stance on health reform
The AMA House of Delegates rejected attempts to rescind support of a U.S. House health reform bill and any new government-sponsored health insurance plan during the 2009 Interim Meeting.
Story - AMA House - Slideshow