Dec. 11, 2000: Table of Contents

American Medical News - vol. 43 no. 46
Government - Professional Issues - Business - Opinion - Technology - Health - 2000 index

New Labor Dept. rules call for faster HMO appeals
New managed care rules are a good thing, but enactment of a strong patients' bill of rights would be even better, says the AMA.

Physician groups brace for allied scope-of-practice incursion
Medical associations gear up for a slew of state legislation next year that seeks to give nonphysicians broader scopes of practice.

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Health groups unite on plan for uninsured: Insure low-wage workers
AMA applauds the effort but prefers its individual health insurance tax credit plan to reduce the number of uninsured Americans.

Pennsylvania federal court dismisses HMO doctor incentive case
Physicians and patients suing managed care plans are getting favorable results lately, but a recent federal court ruling in Pennsylvania supports HMO arguments.

Far-reaching public health law signed; will combat antimicrobial resistance and bioterrorism
The package also earmarks funds for numerous initiatives -- from boosting clinical research to improving care delivery for people with lupus.

Government news briefs:

• HCFA urges flu shot standing orders for nursing home residents
• HCFA expands Medicare Web site
• Medicare to pay HMOs extra for patients with congestive heart failure
• Dr. Shalala going to Florida school
• Medicare prescription drug proposals would not help many seniors

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Medical schools: Changing times, changing curriculum
After years of little variance in the way they teach students, medical schools are updating their courses.

ADA thwarts discrimination by health plans
Even absent a jury decision, a lawsuit in Texas that accused insurers of discriminating against patients with disabilities sets a legal precedent.

Harvard teaching hospital may have to cut residencies
Financial losses at one teaching center may mean reassignment for residents.

AMA to consider ethics of xenotransplantation
The AMA House of Delegates is being asked to approve ethical guidelines for animal to human transplants when it meets in Florida this month.

In the Courts: Doctor can pursue competition suit against hospital

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Hospital expansion proposals to face fewer state challenges
States are revisiting -- and in some cases chucking -- their certificate-of-need laws, opening up the marketplace and making room for health care facility expansions.

Physicians seeing higher fees as health care costs rise
Reimbursements increased 5.2% last year, while the overall increase in health care costs was 6.6%.

Big California medical group goes under, leaving physicians unpaid
The state's largest medical group failure of the year brings renewed calls for tighter regulations, but HMOs and state officials say the system will survive.

PacifiCare under Texas insurance oversight
Regulators took action after doctors complained of late payments following the insurer's acquisition of Harris Methodist Health Plan earlier this year.

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Opinion

Physicians for Responsible Negotiation: The right approach for doctors
The AMA-founded group allows physicians to collectively bargain -- with their values intact.

Letters:

• More should have been done earlier to redirect scarce flu vaccine
• Health system problems rooted in reliance on third-party payers
• C.R.A.C.K. program allows addicts to make a constructive choice
• System hinders primary care doctors screening for colorectal cancer

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Gathering clinical evidence online
Some physicians are checking specialized Web sites for answers to clinical questions. Just how helpful can a Web site be?

Insurers team up for electronic claims
Seven large companies have formed an Internet firm to speed up claims processing. But doctors won't get paid electronically.

Technology news briefs:

• Domain name ".health" is a no-go

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Wider availability urged for emergency contraceptives
Few women know they exist. Women's health advocates call for expanded access and public education.

Tumor protein helps predict response to chemotherapy
Researchers predict testing of tumors combined with testing of the individual patient's genetics will improve effectiveness in cancer treatment.

Measles fading, but not completely gone
U.S. cases now are mostly imported from overseas, but public health experts stress that the highly contagious disease has not yet been eradicated.

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