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News from the » West - Midwest - Northeast - South - States - 2002 - 2004

The West 2003

(Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)

Helping patients become more informed consumers of health care - Dec. 8
California lawsuit challenges Medicaid reimbursement cuts - Dec. 1
Colorado anesthesiologists win right to sue - Dec. 1
Online prescribing lands 2 physicians in Oregon civil court - Nov. 24
California wildfires: Doctors wait for the smoke to clear - Nov. 24
Lethal dose waiting, doctor dies after stopping dialysis - Nov. 17
Physicians report glitches with HIPAA-compliant claims - Nov. 17
Newspaper wins right to publish peer review - Nov. 10
Physicians apparent victims of ID theft in $40 million fraud scheme - Nov. 3
Naturopaths are eligible for licensure in California - Oct. 20
California court lifts immunity for credentialing information - Oct. 13
Colorado seeks to end doctor oversight of nurse anesthetists - Oct. 13
Oregon doctor has means, but not desire to die yet - Oct. 13
California mandate would offer health coverage to 1.3 million - Oct. 6
California doctors closer to reaping bonuses - Oct. 6
Relapsing fever spreads to a new state - Sept. 22/29
Medical staffs need autonomy - Editorial Sept. 15
Elder abuse ruling could hurt California tort law - Sept. 1
California medical staff gets right to sue hospital - Sept. 1
Advisories alarm Washington retainer practices - Sept. 1
Tenet pays $54 million in fraud settlement - Aug. 25
Las Vegas physician appeals award in lawsuit over waiting time - Aug. 18
Hospice patients refuse fluids to speed death - Aug. 18
California bill promotes licensing naturopaths - Aug. 11
FTC cracks down on price-fixing in physician contracts - Aug. 4
California court throws out "speculative" expert testimony - Aug. 4
California legislation addresses doctors' cultural competency - July 28
A doctor chooses when to die - July 14
Physician's calculator - July 14
Doctor groups can advise on plan contracts, federal court rules in Hawaii case - June 30
California plan to use Mexican physicians stalls - June 30
Relocation incentives get California hospital CEO indicted - June 30
Mass casualty drill challenges health system - June 2/9
Battle over suicide help continues in federal court over Ashcroft challenge - May 26
California bill urges more control over health insurance plans - May 19
Universal health care in California carries a hefty price tag - May 12
Which physician has the final word? - May 5
California demands coverage for drugs with over-the-counter competitors - April 28
Deadly milestone: 5 years of assisted suicide - Editorial April 21
Nickel-a-beer proposal aims to shore up California ED system - April 14
California emergency departments close after hemorrhaging money - March 24/31
Assisted-suicide numbers continue to rise in Oregon - March 24/31
Washington state health plan starts tiered network for physicians - March 24/31
AMA Pride in Profession Awards honor heroes of medicine - March 17
Physician-assisted suicide dead in Hawaii? - March 10
California fines out-of-state doctors for prescribing - March 3
Cancer patient loses her fight - March 3
Riding herd: A physician runs a Montana cattle ranch - March 3
Solve health care woes, win $10,000 contest - Feb. 24
Doctors pull plug on paperless system - Feb. 17
Utah court upholds ban on lawsuits for "wrongful life" - Feb. 3
Medical society survey forecasts doctor shortage - Feb. 3
Mexican doctors to staff California clinics - Jan. 20
More California physicians rejecting new HMO patients - Jan. 13

Last year's index - Back to top

20 million Americans 12 and older have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons. Read more

The Midwest 2003

(Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin)

Foreign-born Ohio transplant surgeon denied work visa - Dec. 15
Hospital settles transplant misconduct case - Dec. 15
New Kansas City IPA would market directly to employers - Dec. 1
Doctors fear precedent in privileges case - Nov. 17
Physician input keeps consulting firm in business - Nov. 17
Attack on asthma: Hospital helps kids fight for breath - Nov. 17
Practicing two by two: Taking togetherness to the extreme - Nov. 10
North Dakota physician maligned in the press gets an apology - In the Courts Nov. 10
Indiana doctors turn up the heat on Anthem - Nov. 3
Critics say specialty hospital ban undermines care - Oct. 13
Minnesota, Pennsylvania to launch error-reporting systems - Oct. 6
Indiana doctors face big hit for liability fund - Sept. 8
There she is ... Physician vies for Miss America - Sept. 8
Court says Anthem can't take over Kansas Blues - Sept. 1
Surgeon questions allocation of livers at Chicago hospitals - Aug. 18
Patients save doctor once, but liability costs win in end - Aug. 11
Ohio physicians rate insurers in HMO report card twist - Aug. 11
OxyContin suit can proceed as class action - Aug. 4
Wisconsin "conscience clause" bill gets rapped as bad policy - Aug. 4
Interfaith House offers after-hospital care, refuge for homeless - Aug. 4
Iowa doctors seek issue in Medicare pay equity - July 28
Illinois set to take doctors out of executions - July 28
WellPoint to buy Wisconsin Blues plan - June 23
Putting a price on living organ donations - June 16
Ohio hospital one step ahead of specialists - June 16
Mass casualty drill challenges health system - June 2/9
Illinois, Pennsylvania join in calls for federal tort reform - May 26
Doctor's firm closes the distance between rural practice and CME - May 26
Doctor's unique donation prompts ethical concerns - May 19
A tale of two states: Different approaches to tort reform - May 12
Wisconsin physicians, hospitals team up on data initiative - May 12
Dr. President? Democratic hopeful woos Iowa voters - May 5
Battle of the beds: When does enough hospitals become too many? - May 5
Federal court upholds Michigan Medicaid drug formulary plan - April 28
Doctor-pilots mourn loss of Chicago airstrip - April 28
Wisconsin governor proposes raiding patient compensation fund - April 7
Computer hackers access 7,000 patient files - March 24/31
Wisconsin businesses float rate-setting plan to control health care costs - March 17
FTC gives OK to study insurance market - March 3
HCA price for nonprofit group OK'd - Feb. 24
Wisconsin businesses uniting for health coalition - Feb. 10
Physicians back HCA purchase of nonprofit hospital chain - Jan. 20
Tort reform passes in Ohio, but there's no immediate relief - Jan. 13

Last year's index - Back to top

30% of reported adverse events are not investigated by hospitals. Read more

The Northeast 2003

(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont)

Assisted-suicide vote sends mixed message - Dec. 1
Incentives lower costs of e-prescribing - Nov. 24
Physicians report glitches with HIPAA-compliant claims - Nov. 17
A tale from the front: The medical liability crisis in Pennsylvania - Nov. 17
State-owned lab has special niche in vaccine research - Nov. 17
Vermont seeks doctors' voices on suicide - Nov. 10
Physician sues Massachusetts over prior authorization rule - Oct. 27
Vermont clinic gets 3rd lease on life - Oct. 27
Bush, states considering tort reforms - Oct. 6
Minnesota, Pennsylvania to launch error-reporting systems - Oct. 6
Vermont doctors ponder physician-assisted suicide - Oct. 6
Pennsylvania surgery centers more profitable than hospitals - Sept. 22/29
Pennsylvania hospitals agree to provide sign language interpreters - Sept. 15
Doctors push for more patient safety program funding - Sept. 8
Pennsylvania exodus - Quick View Aug. 25
FTC cracks down on price-fixing in physician contracts - Aug. 4
Doctor pursues medical and literary loves - July 21
Connecticut releases error report amid flurry of doubts - July 14
New Hampshire bill aims to attract more health plans - June 23
Buffalo HMO network drops physicians it battled with - June 16
Fetus determined to be part of mother's body - June 2/9
Illinois, Pennsylvania join in calls for federal tort reform - May 26
A tale of two states: Different approaches to tort reform - May 12
Dr. President? Democratic hopeful woos Iowa voters - May 5
Doctor denied right to sue employer over dismissal - March 17
Doctors' disaster training tested by Rhode Island nightclub fire - March 17
ACOG won't meet in Philadelphia, cites state's liability crisis - March 10
Physician-assisted suicide dead in Hawaii? - March 10
Cutting-the-fat bills target overweight kids - March 10
New Jersey physicians stop work in biggest liability protest yet - Feb. 17
Bush turns up the heat on liability reform - Feb. 3
A spoonful of humor helps the medicine go down - Feb. 3
New Jersey Blues launches online consultation at physician urging - Feb. 3
Liability insurance crisis hits breaking point in W.Va., Pa. - Jan. 20
Chicken pox vaccine's staying power questioned - Jan. 20
Specialists to share the wealth in Massachusetts Blues bonus plan - Jan. 13
Rhode Island practice offers health plan to uninsured - Jan. 6

Last year's index - Back to top

The U.S. had 1,400 retail clinics at the beginning of 2012. Read more

The South 2003

(Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia)

Chuck E. Ped: Practice at the fun park - Dec. 22/29
Family doctor finds house calls a good fit for Florida island - Dec. 15
Judge lowers loss from HealthSouth fraud - Dec. 15
Maryland governor aims to boost insurance access - Dec. 8
North Carolina physician earns rural doctor award - Dec. 8
Managing multiple conditions: A challenge for Medicare - Dec. 1
Agreement on catheterizations leaves out some cardiologists - Dec. 1
Physician recounts D.C. sniper attack - Dec. 1
Ousted CEO faces 85 counts, remains defiant - Nov. 24
Family physician elected Kentucky's governor - Nov. 24
North Carolina sues stores over drug reimportation from Canada - Nov. 17
Doctor turns passion for bike touring into business - Nov. 17
Texas court dismisses battery charge in resuscitation case - Nov. 10
Texas doctors say facility can meet emerging needs - Nov. 10
Tennessee Blues offers $67 million payback - Nov. 10
Flu season gets early start; public health pushes vaccine - Nov. 10
Georgia PPO to use claims database to assess quality - Nov. 3
Ousted HealthSouth chief invokes the Fifth - Nov. 3
Doctor redefines visits with phone, e-mail - Oct. 20
Kentucky doctors may face more scrutiny on prescription habits - Oct. 20
North Carolina doctor apologizes for identifying jurors in malpractice case - Oct. 20
A rallying cry from Texas: Remember Proposition 12! - Oct. 20
The weight of obesity: Lessons from the fattest state - Oct. 20
Florida physician finally gets to face her attacker - Oct. 13
Texas tort reform vote signals lower liability rates - Oct. 6
North Carolina Blues may face huge fine - Oct. 6
Florida IPA makes bonuses its business for doctors, insurers - Oct. 6
Texans facing referendum on legality of lawsuit cap - Sept. 15
Kentucky radiologists object to hospital project - Sept. 15
Feds looking into Maryland Blues conversion bid - Sept. 8
Florida enacts tort reform; medicine disappointed with $500,000 cap - Sept. 1
HealthSouth starts paying off debts - Sept. 1
Doctors say Medicaid should face lawsuit in girl's death - Aug. 18
Mountain-loving doctor climbs to great heights - Aug. 18
Doctor gets tax breaks for settling in rural community - Aug. 18
Florida tells doctors: Print clearly or else - Aug. 4
Heart clinic offers patient records to go - Aug. 4
Green light for digital hospital - Aug. 4
Green light for digital hospital - Aug. 4
HealthSouth working to avoid bankruptcy - July 28
Blues conversions hitting speed bumps - July 28
Vaccine-exempt law expands - July 28
Texas medical board funding will help root out bad doctors - July 21
Texas IPA offers discount cards - July 21
North Carolina physicians promote open scheduling - Practice Management June 30
Physicians win award cap as Texas passes tort reform - June 23
Screening business reaches out to doctors - June 23
Maryland insurer gets Blues license back - June 23
Car crash takes life of Mississippi physician - June 16
South Carolina abortion clinic ruling opens up HIPAA concerns - In the Courts June 16
North Carolina judge reverses doctor discipline license case - June 2/9
Bankruptcy might not be all bad news - June 2/9
Georgia liability bill falls short in doctors' eyes - May 19
Assisted-suicide bills falter in 4 states - May 19
Groups protect themselves from HealthSouth woes - May 12
HMOs liable for actions of their network doctors - May 5
Bill may jeopardize CareFirst's Blues license - May 5
HealthSouth's flagship hospital confronting an uncertain future - May 5
To track benefit statements, Texas group calls the bank - May 5
Texas physician launches firm securing the airwaves - May 5
School offers nursing program for IMGs - April 28
Texas mulls policy for organ donation by presumed consent - April 28
High court punches another hole in the federal law shielding HMOs - April 21
SEC investigates HealthSouth, former CEO Scrushy - April 21
Kentucky IPA joins forces with consulting firm - April 21
Virginia law on doctor discipline casts wider net - April 14
Prescription monitoring on tap in Florida - April 7
Georgia doctors wait for CPT code bundling info - April 7
Physician input helps hospital-owned group make money - April 7
Maryland bucks national trend, blocks Blues for-profit conversion - March 24/31
DIR latest to exit medical liability market? - Feb. 24
Sounding the charge: Coalition opposes insurer's conversion - Feb. 24
Patients in liability hot spots asked to arbitrate, not litigate - Feb. 10
Money woes solved with cash-only practice - Feb. 10
Confusion rules with Internet prescribing - Feb. 10
Doctor wins $30 million from hospital in slander lawsuit - Jan. 27
Liability insurance crisis hits breaking point in W.Va., Pa. - Jan. 20
West Virginia doctor kept practicing, even while a patient - Jan. 20
Florida judge puts brakes on CIGNA settlement in class action - Jan. 6

Last year's index - Back to top

In 2010, private insurance premiums grew faster than benefit costs. Read more

State Roundups 2003

(Our coverage of trends in state legislatures and regulatory bodies is also a good source of information about developments in different parts of the country.)