Dec. 10, 2001: Table of Contents

American Medical News - vol. 44 no. 46
Government - Professional Issues - Business - Opinion - Technology - Health - 2001 index

Doctors warn of Cipro resistance
Prescriptions for ciprofloxacin have soared since the beginning of the anthrax scare; experts worry that this will exacerbate already-emerging resistance to the drug.

Mich. doctors find paper still works best
An anesthesiology group tested handheld devices to track billing but found the paperless system created more clerical work for the physicians.

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Uninsured ranks are predicted to jump
Job loss and growth in health spending that outstrips income are identified as the culprits.

Medicare+Choice option gains ground as alternative to HMOs
Private fee-for-service plans offer Medicare rates without the standard managed care rules.

AMA to catalog doctors' woes on health plans
Physicians are asked to detail HMO hassles in a new online complaint form.

Health care top source of fraud recoveries
A few multimillion-dollar settlements with health care firms played a major role in the federal government's recoupment of money.

Government news briefs:

• CMS announces end of states' Medicaid payment loophole
• OIG looks at corporate integrity agreements
• Medicare pays claims made with inactive doctor IDs

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The Guyton group: Where being a doctor is all in the family
Ten children, 10 physicians means the offspring of the Guyton family are carrying the medical profession through three generations.

Report details reasons for Arizona physician shortage
A new study on Arizona's doctors by the Goldwater Institute concludes that the doctor shortfall is caused by "misguided" federal policies that need changing.

Pa. hospital appeals fine after self-reporting error
State levies its highest fine ever against a teaching center that can opt to use the money to pay for improved oversight.

In the Courts: Burden of proof not met in EMTALA case

Professional Issues news briefs:

• Oregon suicide law still alive
• PAs earning more money
• Tobacco companies don't have to foot medical monitoring bill in W.Va.

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N.Y. investigates leaving doctors' names on panels
The state attorney general is looking into several list-related practices of managed care plans that involve physicians as plan participants.

WellPoint expands Blues operations into Maryland
Just weeks after announcing it would buy Missouri's RightCHOICE, WellPoint pockets CareFirst in Maryland.

Kan. doctors have say in Anthem merger
The state's medical society will be able to present evidence and testimony on the impact of the insurer's deal with Kansas Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Contract Language: Antikickback compliance is essential for contracts

Business news briefs:

• Kaiser fined $500,000 over referral failure in California
• National nursing shortage may ease

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Opinion

Minority health care: No easy answer to disparities
A panel exploring disparities in care received by minorities may provide new direction to solving this serious problem.

Commentary: A caring hand can touch our patients in many ways

Letters:

• Insurer: Ciprofloxacin data suggest some prescriptions were by physicians for themselves or their families

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Biotech effect: New applications for current tools
With Sept. 11 on their minds, biotech companies race to reformulate their offerings or create new ones for use in a catastrophic event.

Tech Talk: Look no further for plentiful online handheld resources

Technology news briefs:

• FTC warns dietary supplement sites
• Montanta psychological records pop up online
• Medscape, WebMD post losses
• Firm acquires PersonalMD

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Progress and setbacks in 30 years' war on cancer
The nation has new weapons in its fight against the deadly disease, but some specific rates are still on the rise.

Statins found to work better in studies than in practice
Drugs are very effective in research settings, but experts say a lack of compliance with regimens is the leading barrier to lowering cholesterol populationwide.

Health news briefs:

• Aspirin most economical treatment for stroke prevention
• U.S. to keep smallpox virus stocks
• Minnesota issues knee surgery warning
• Cystic fibrosis theory points to lung cell chemistry
• AIDS finding tied to cholesterol drugs
• Most OTC steroid supplements are mislabeled
• New treatments for African sleeping sickness

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