Dec. 16, 2002: Table of Contents

American Medical News   vol. 45 no. 47
Government - Professional Issues - Business - Opinion - Health - 2002 index

CIGNA settles massive managed care lawsuit
But physicians involved in cases moving through a federal court in Miami are challenging the agreement.

Federal panel cites compliance confusion: Government falls short on HIPAA help
Physicians are still not sure what they must do to meet requirements of the medical records privacy law.

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Panel marks 10 years of shaping Medicare policy
More than 90% of the Relative Value Scale Update Committee's recommendations are adopted, yet pay rates are strictly controlled by Congress.

Fall-related injuries cost Medicare billions
Study suggests that substantial savings could be gained by focusing on prevention.

Percentage compensation part of Stark II rules postponed
CMS attempts to fix a provision regarding a common hospital billing practice for independent contract physicians.

States offered money for high-risk insurance pools
States with existing programs see good and bad in criteria required to get extra federal funding.

Government news briefs:

• Uninsured have their week
• Commonwealth Fund has tips on staying insured

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Dungeons and doctors: These physicians take a no-frills approach to exercise
It's cold, spartan and dank. But the garage-now-gym is the early-morning place to be for four weight-lifting cardiologists.

Class-action status at risk in doctors' lawsuit against HMOs
Discovery could be halted while the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta reviews a lower court ruling on class certification.

Ohio quality project shows success with cardiac health
Hospitals and business leaders put their heads together and lower the number of deaths caused by heart attacks.

Prescription drug abuse deadlier than use of illegal drugs
A surge in methadone abuse in Florida matches a national trend that also finds emergency visits for narcotic analgesics outnumbering visits for heroin overdoses.

Doctor practices where she's preached at
A family physician volunteers to teach CPR to child care workers at her church. Eventually she hopes the whole congregation will learn the lifesaving technique.

Professional Issues news briefs:

• Discipline shouldn't be meted out for just "not getting along" -- CMA

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Running the numbers: Making sure your spending pays off
If you're going to invest in new technology, you want to be assured that it will eventually pay for itself. Here are four steps to ensure you're spending wisely.

Kaiser pays $1 million fine, denies access-to-care claim
Though the health plan admits no guilt, its capitulation is seen as a victory for doctors and state managed care regulators.

GE buys a wedge into small-office market
An acquisition gives the giant company a well-respected practice-management software product.

IOM calls on federal funds for technology demo projects
A report by the council lays out the groundwork for the creation of a national health information network.

Practice Pointers: Work smarter, not harder, to offset expenses

Business news briefs:

• Shareholder sues CIGNA
• Neoforma faces NASDAQ delisting

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Opinion

Trying to stop the bullies: A physician's responsibility
The AMA is asking physicians to join with it in taking a stand against the serious youth violence issue of bullying.

AMA Leader Commentary: Counting blessings and fixing the "Medicare mistake"

Letters:

• Current liability system's toll extends past economic matters
• Government ducking its responsibility to help protect physician DEA numbers

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Lasting impression: A living history of medicine
Although he died nearly 100 years ago, Dr. Edward E. Stonestreet is still a very real presence in the suburban District of Columbia community that preserves his memory and his clinic to maintain an important link to the past.

Vaccine could foreshadow the end of cervical cancer
Promising trial results of a vaccine for the virus linked to the disease has many physicians guardedly optimistic about its use in prevention.

CRP gains notice as key marker of cardiovascular health
Research on C-reactive protein has some experts saying cholesterol guidelines should be rewritten. Others caution it's too soon for routine CRP testing.

Health news briefs:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome linked to stress response
• Diabetes prevention campaign
• Wyeth drops out of injectable flu vaccine market
• Pap test intervals changed for some women
• Peanut allergy rates higher
• Robotic heart surgery may mean shorter hospital stays

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