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Index 2005: News in brief

Government - Profession - Business - Health - 2004 - 2006

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Government & Medicine briefs 2005

• Wis. governor vetoes noneconomic damages caps in medical liability - Dec. 26
• Florida contingency fee fight continues - Dec. 26
• Medicare lawsuits filed - Dec. 26
• Lawmakers investigate QIOs - Dec. 26
• Urging tort reform for the District - Dec. 19
• Wis. governor vetoes noneconomic damages caps in liability cases - Dec. 19
• Alabama to boost Medicaid pay - Dec. 19
• Medicare drug prices higher than other options - Dec. 12
• Drug importation change added to law - Dec. 12
• Health care IT bill passes Senate - Dec. 5
• Revised Medicaid cuts pass House - Dec. 5
• Big defeat for HHS spending bill - Dec. 5
• AMA wants laws to require insurers to pay fairly for emergency care - Nov. 28
• Trustees' report finds little evidence of bogus ADA-based legal threats - Nov. 28
• AMA to report ways to protect doctors from HIPAA problems - Nov. 28
• Portland hospital system settles charges it overbilled the uninsured - Nov. 21
• Senate's health spending bill approved - Nov. 14
• Heart-device makers investigated - Nov. 14
• Florida, West Virginia governors named to Medicaid commission - Nov. 14
• Abortion clinic that sought injunction against Missouri law closes - Nov. 14
• AIDS drugmaker to settle fraud claims for $700 million - Nov. 7
• Former FDA chief under investigation - Nov. 7
• Assistance program for low-income Medicare beneficiaries extended - Nov. 7
• AMA trustee gets national health IT appointment - Oct. 24/31
• Medicare hires fraud fighters for new drug program - Oct. 24/31
• New flu, pneumonia vaccine requirements finalized - Oct. 24/31
• Fla. Supreme Court hears abortion lawsuit arguments - Oct. 24/31
• Ore. judge approves class action against hospital system - Oct. 24/31
• Pennsylvania Medical Society declares neutrality on patient safety bill - Oct. 17
• Judge declares Michigan late-term abortion law unconstitutional - Oct. 17
• Lawsuit filed seeking injunction against new Missouri abortion law - Oct. 17
• CMS starts naming Medicare Rx plans - Oct. 10
• FDA chief steps down - Oct. 10
• Medicare premiums to rise - Oct. 3
• AMA supports bill to protect hurricane volunteers - Oct. 3
• Ohio court affirms abortion law - Oct. 3
• Concierge arrangements not causing Medicare access problems so far - Sept. 26
• AMA chief lobbyist to retire - Sept. 19
• Power wheelchair rule issued - Sept. 19
• California accuses 39 drug companies of defrauding Medi-Cal - Sept. 19
• Ohio attorney general launches Web site for Medicaid fraud reporting - Sept. 19
• Panel recommends closing Walter Reed - Sept. 12
• Grassley seeks probe of doctors selling drug secrets - Sept. 5
• Medicare drug option delayed - Aug. 22/29
• HIPAA compliance deadline - Aug. 22/29
• N.C. Medicaid creates new fraud unit - Aug. 22/29
• Frist wants more federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research - Aug. 15
• More money for veterans health - Aug. 15
• Fla. attorney general accuses drug companies of Medicaid fraud - Aug. 15
• Pay-for-performance for Medicaid - Aug. 8
• Coverage of impotence drugs may end - Aug. 8
• U.S. appeals tobacco ruling to Supreme Court - Aug. 8
• Senate approves FDA chief - Aug. 1
• Conn. governor signs tort reform bill - Aug. 1
• Texas med school pays $1.7 million for overcharging government programs - Aug. 1
• Dr. Nelson named to Medicaid panel - July 25
• Illinois agrees to provide more money for children's health care - July 25
• Pa. HMO settles false claims charges - July 25
• Supreme Court to hear case involving protests outside abortion clinics - July 25
• Federal agents crack down on Calif. marijuana producers - July 18
• Congress looks at VA shortfall - July 18
• Bill would let health plans cross state lines - July 18
• AMA vote on Patriot Act supports protecting patient confidentiality - July 11
• Deviation from guidelines should not be criminalized, AMA says - July 11
• AMA vote: No uninsured commission - July 11
• New AMA policy emerges from the Terri Schiavo case - July 11
• Bill would shine light on companies that rely on Medicaid - July 11
• VA comes up $1 billion short - July 11
• Senate health IT bill introduced - July 4
• Patient navigators will help uninsured - July 4
• Health spending bill moves forward - July 4
• Senate might consider stem cell bill - July 4
• Calls for Medicare disability changes - July 4
• Patient safety push is on - June 27
• Millions of Americans are underinsured, study finds - June 27
• Suspension, fine for Medicare official - June 20
• Governors announce Medicaid reform policy - June 20
• Medicaid recipients hit harder by out-of-pocket spending increases - June 20
• Wal-Mart criticized for health coverage - June 20
• House Democrats offer liability reform alternative - June 13
• Supreme Court to review ruling on N.H. abortion law - June 13
• FBI hit over fraud investigation funds - June 13
• Bill aims to lower federal spending on drugs advertised to consumers - June 13
• 3-state drug purchasing pool gets government OK - June 13
• Judge offers final approval to Lupron settlement - June 13
• HHS commission to study Medicaid - June 6
• Bill would invest in enrolling kids in Medicaid, SCHIP - June 6
• Americans having a harder time affording drugs - June 6
• Lawmakers reject plan to raid Wis. injured patients fund - June 6
• Maryland legal opinion allows liability premium relief before July 1 - June 6
• Many insurers don't cover vaccines - May 23/30
• Medicare sets power chair rules - May 23/30
• Florida passes governor's Medicaid reform package - May 23/30
• CMS chief says liability reform would help Medicare - May 16
• Ariz. tort reform signed into law - May 16
• Bills would expand stem cell funding - May 16
• Employers predict growth in HSA markets - May 9
• Costs of health care are worrying Americans - May 9
• Florida AG alleges overcharging by three pharmaceutical companies - May 9
• U.S. Supreme Court takes a pass on appeal of Mass. abortion law - May 9
• Lawmakers work on measure to expand specialty hospital referral ban - May 2
• Bill aims to ensure moral objections don't hurt prescription drug access - May 2
• Federal judge dismisses lawsuit challenging reimportation ruling - May 2
• Illinois physician group settles FTC price-fixing charges - May 2
• Missouri to cut Medicaid benefits - April 25
• Medicare seeks opinions on coverage expansions - April 25
• Calif. doctors to receive Medicare drug program info - April 25
• HHS awards health center grants - April 25
• Government Web site offers hospital quality report cards - April 18
• Raising the issue of the uninsured - April 18
• Contractors named for Medicare recovery audit - April 18
• Partnership promotes private, public drug-assistance programs - April 18
• Supreme Court rejects appeal of Idaho abortion law - April 11
• EMTALA reform group meets - April 11
• Spending on mental health drugs outpaces overall drug expenditures - April 11
• Patients seek medical information, but feel a lack of control over quality of care - April 11
• House panel passes association health plan bill - April 4
• Health system reform bill offered in House - April 4
• Medicare expands coverage of carotid artery stenting - April 4
• Judge dismisses lawsuit disputing translator rule for doctors, hospitals - March 28
• Mental health parity passed in Washington, debated in Oregon - March 28
• Funding for reimportation gets budget committee's nod - March 28
• Uninsured numbers inflated, group claims - March 28
• Former HHS chief lands in the private sector - March 28
• South Carolina physician group settles price-fixing charges - March 21
• Kansas attorney general seeks abortion records from clinics - March 21
• Medicaid paying too much for drugs - March 21
• Opinion leaders' health care wish list - March 21
• MedPAC finalizes physician pay advice - March 14
• High court won't revisit Roe v. Wade - March 14
• Medicare preventive care lagging - March 14
• Health issues not big election issue - March 14
• Liability reform sponsors tee up - March 7
• Tax credit bills introduced - March 7
• Medicare Advantage takes off - March 7
• City votes down law requiring doctors to disclose disciplinary actions - March 7
• Acting chief nominated to FDA helm - Feb. 28
• Bill would help doctors adopt HIT - Feb. 28
• New Medicare power wheelchair rules coming doctors' way - Feb. 21
• Minn. court throws out suits charging hospitals unfairly billed uninsured - Feb. 21
• Genetic nondiscrimination bill offered - Feb. 21
• Millions abusing illegal or prescription stimulants, government finds - Feb. 21
• Medicaid less costly than expected - Feb. 21
• Medicaid buy-in proposed - Feb. 14
• Updated guidance for hospital voluntary compliance programs - Feb. 14
• Fetal pain bill introduced - Feb. 14
• Medicare expands ICD coverage - Feb. 7
• Final Medicare drug rules unveiled - Feb. 7
• Kerry proposes bill to cover all kids - Feb. 7
• HHS shifts unspent SCHIP funds - Feb. 7
• Maine's Dirigo enrollment slower than anticipated, watchdog group says - Jan. 31
• Massive TennCare cuts ahead - Jan. 24
• Medicare delays defibrillator coverage expansion for coronary patients - Jan. 24
• Governors write Congress about Medicaid finance, reforms - Jan. 24
• Drug importer faces federal lawsuit - Jan. 24
• Mental health parity law extended - Jan. 17
• Insurance portability rule finalized - Jan. 17
• HIPAA rules on the calendar - Jan. 17
• Legal reform high on Bush's list - Jan. 17
• Pa. governor extends Mcare abatement - Jan. 17
• Drugmakers must keep price records for 10 years - Jan. 17
• More Medicare for some - Jan. 3/10
• Power wheelchair controversy - Jan. 3/10

Last year's news briefs - Back to top

30% of Medicare funds each year are spent on terminal care for 5% of the program's patients. Read more

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Professional Issues briefs 2005

• AMA waives fees for members hit by hurricanes - Dec. 26
• Parents less likely to sue if told about medical errors - Dec. 26
• Research shows resident work-hour reform doesn't remove all dangers - Dec. 26
• JCAHO honors quality chief for patient safety leadership - Dec. 26
• Pa. sees tort reforms working - Dec. 19
• Web site has resources for doctors seeking flexible work options - Dec. 19
• French transplant nose, lips and chin to dog-bite victim - Dec. 19
• JCAHO backs off plan to sell patient-level data - Dec. 19
• N.Y. doctor new NMA board chair - Dec. 19
• Medical college group has new leader - Dec. 19
• California conscience-clause bill set to go into effect - Dec. 12
• AMA offers grant for research on women in medicine - Dec. 12
• Campaign raises money for rebuilding - Dec. 12
• $8.25 million grant targets Hispanic obesity, diabetes health disparities - Dec. 12
• Report: Litigation drives up health costs, damages society - Dec. 12
• CMS pays $8.85 million to hospitals for quality improvements - Dec. 12
• U.S. patients report highest error rate in survey of six countries - Dec. 5
• Medical school leader calls for 30% hike in number of U.S. graduates - Dec. 5
• Doctor asks Supreme Court to hear his hospital-suspension case - Dec. 5
• Alabama gets new liability insurer - Dec. 5
• District of Columbia medical society welcomes new president - Dec. 5
• Doctor loses his appeal in lawsuit against Colorado medical school - Dec. 5
• CEJA to develop guidelines for participation in interrogations - Nov. 28
• AMA in black for 6th straight year - Nov. 28
• AMA to study impact of liability crisis on medical student education - Nov. 28
• Resolution asks Association to lobby for faster J-1 visa waiver processing - Nov. 28
• Delegates applaud Tennessee county's medical expert pilot program - Nov. 28
• AMA revises Essentials handbook for approving medical specialty boards - Nov. 28
• AMA Foundation gets $100,000 to help physicians - Nov. 21
• Average award per liability claim up for third year in Missouri - Nov. 21
• FDA may have to disclose scientists' financial ties - Nov. 21
• Medical schools win service awards - Nov. 21
• New AAMC leaders named - Nov. 21
• GAO: FDA politicized Plan B process - Nov. 14
• DoctorFinder allows physicians to post temporary office relocations - Nov. 14
• Pa. governor says liability reforms are making an impact - Nov. 14
• MCAT solid predictor of medical school success - Nov. 14
• UCLA to reopen donated body program - Nov. 14
• Hurricane grant application available online - Nov. 7
• N.Y. medical school OKs gay group - Nov. 7
• Cincinnati doctors settle with Blues - Oct. 24/31
• Court upholds sanctions on attorney - Oct. 24/31
• CMS at work on quality data reporting - Oct. 24/31
• Australians win medical Nobel Prize - Oct. 24/31
• TV ad targets frivolous lawsuits - Oct. 24/31
• AAFP says yes to No Free Lunch - Oct. 24/31
• Pipeline of research physicians grows - Oct. 24/31
• Ariz. doctor wins family physician award - Oct. 24/31
• Minn. medical group installs new president - Oct. 24/31
• D.C. doctors say they're feeling effects of liability crisis - Oct. 17
• Congress seeks disclosure of conflicts - Oct. 17
• AMA settles suit with former exec - Oct. 10
• Doctors in disaster areas get extension to file Health Net claims - Oct. 10
• Texas Medical Liability Trust to cut rates again - Oct. 10
• New medical society in Minn. to address violence - Oct. 10
• Maryland physicians may get subsidy if liability rates hold steady - Oct. 10
• Defibrillator malfunctions on the upswing - Oct. 10
• Plan B OTC bill awaiting Calif. governor's signature - Oct. 3
• Online CME on par with live events - Oct. 3
• California stem cell grants awarded, but legal battle could hold them up - Oct. 3
• Pa. liability reforms said to be working; medical society cautious - Sept. 26
• Orthopedic journal unveils redesign - Sept. 26
• Georgia sees medical school expansion - Sept. 26
• New geriatrics guide available - Sept. 26
• Effects of sleep deprivation similar to effects of alcohol - Sept. 26
• Medical liability lawsuits pour in before Missouri's law changes - Sept. 19
• Researchers see trouble at ICUs - Sept. 19
• Musicians and singers wanted for VA music group - Sept. 12
• Liability crisis drives out Pa. medical residents - Sept. 12
• Two W.Va. liability insurers ask to cut rates - Sept. 12
• New center opens to fight health disparities - Sept. 12
• Pa. court strikes down law restricting liability claims in civil suits - Sept. 12
• MSMS predicts Michigan physician shortfall - Sept. 12
• Dr. Palmisano earns patient safety award - Sept. 12
• Pa. releases infections report - Sept. 5
• Texas law review article asserts liability crisis existed - Sept. 5
• Pa. physicians back bill separating licensure from liability requirements - Aug. 22/29
• Indiana doctor new NMA president - Aug. 22/29
• Medical schools win service grants - Aug. 22/29
• MCAT goes electronic - Aug. 15
• Physician wins $20 million verdict in age discrimination case - Aug. 15
• Study documents defensive medicine - Aug. 8
• ABIM introduces tool for internists - Aug. 8
• Nev. liability insurer hikes premiums - Aug. 8
• Harvard doctor wins education honor - Aug. 8
• New Jersey Supreme Court lets CRNA supervision rules stand - Aug. 1
• Pa. Insurance Dept.: No step-up in insurance limits - Aug. 1
• Liability insurance premiums a major reason for physicians leaving Pa. - July 25
• Bill seeks stricter resident hours - July 25
• Patient safety newsletter available - July 25
• Judge rules attorney fee to defray liability premiums is constitutional - July 18
• CME courses arrive for handheld computers, cell phones - July 18
• Compensation funds can be helpful - July 18
• AMA asks doctors to assess specific disparity issues in their practices - July 18
• Delegates reject plan to create database on practice environment - July 18
• No change in AMA dues for 2006 - July 11
• AMA membership decline slowing, ranks show more diversity - July 11
• AMA seeks to coordinate disaster relief - July 11
• AMA to study medical student insurance policy - July 11
• AMA profits up again in 2004 - July 11
• AMA supports expanding Vaccine Injury Compensation Fund - July 11
• AMA will study e-mail as a member benefit - July 11
• Mass. Medical Society says state faces physician shortage - July 4
• Illinois to post health care prices - July 4
• Autopsy report said Schiavo had massive brain damage, blindness - July 4
• Pediatricians name new leader - June 27
• Florida tracks continuing education via the Internet - June 27
• NRMP nixes a second Match - June 27
• Quality forum names chair-elect - June 27
• Supreme Court declines managed care suit - June 20
• Ohio association selects new leaders - June 20
• AMA expands CME credits - June 13
• JCAHO, NCQA group educates clinical research patients - June 13
• Survey, study have differing results on Illinois liability crisis - June 13
• Survey: Access to obstetric care in Illinois continues decline - June 13
• Mass. medical association elects new leaders - June 13
• FSMB picks new leadership - June 13
• Florida wins best medical board award - June 13
• Illinois court sides with medical staff lawyers - June 6
• Suspicious hospital visits checked - May 23/30
• Report: Liability expenses for Pa. hospitals topped $600 million in 2004 - May 23/30
• Most of expert witness' suit dismissed - May 23/30
• Virtual medical group goes online - May 23/30
• Surgeon receives payment for patents - May 16
• Stem cell research guidelines released - May 16
• Court approves CIGNA settlement with nonphysician professionals - May 16
• Quality group invites comment on ambulatory care standards - May 9
• Family medicine board introduces new certification module - May 9
• Massachusetts practice environment index paints poor picture - May 9
• Physician-owned insurer promises no base-rate hike for 2005 - May 9
• More CME deadlines to watch - May 9
• Pharmacist's refusal to dispense contraceptives costs him $20,000 - May 9
• One-third of Americans use alternative medicine - May 9
• Physician groups earn risk-management awards - May 2
• Commission creates advisory councils - May 2
• Visa rule confusion grows - May 2
• Ariz. governor vetoes pharmacist "rights of conscience" bill - May 2
• National clinical trials registry gains support - April 25
• NIH stem cell chief announces retirement - April 25
• New Nebraska doctors to be fingerprinted - April 18
• Organ transplant record set in 2004 - April 18
• Anatomy professor shortage - April 18
• 20 more OxyContin cases dismissed - April 18
• Medical leaders honored for efforts - April 11
• Fla. releases guide for online profiles - April 11
• New medical residency in neurology approved - April 11
• Okla. optometrists OK'd for surgery - April 4
• CMA has new president - April 4
• Prescription-monitoring bills offered - April 4
• Life term proposed for pain physician - March 28
• Neurology academy to publish magazine - March 28
• Florida board honors physician - March 21
• Medical, dental schools launch diversity program - March 21
• AMA visits Oregon to push for reforms - March 21
• N.J. puts anesthesia rules on ice - March 21
• California medical board intact - March 14
• Gene therapy case settled - March 14
• New York State gives $35 million for physician training - March 14
• North Carolina board names members - March 14
• Medical students seek more U.S. help for AIDS - March 14
• AMA connects with Miami physicians - March 7
• King/Drew gets reprieve - March 7
• National Patient Safety Awareness Week observed - March 7
• N.Y. medical school gains notoriety over gay group - March 7
• New medical school wins accreditation - Feb. 28
• L.A. hospital loses JCAHO accreditation - Feb. 28
• AMA updates popular CME course - Feb. 28
• NIH announces new ethics rules - Feb. 28
• No class action for OxyContin case - Feb. 21
• Arizona doctors use wristbands to highlight tort reform - Feb. 21
• Florida nixes publicly funded chiropractic school - Feb. 21
• AMA seeking innovative hospital communication programs - Feb. 21
• S.C., Tenn. physicians rally for tort reform - Feb. 14
• MSSNY forms disparities task force - Feb. 14
• JCAHO enlists employers' aid in reducing medication errors - Feb. 14
• Web site gives tools for understanding CME standards for commercial support - Feb. 14
• Health executives give opinions on better care - Feb. 14
• Stem cell researcher heads to Europe - Feb. 7
• Wash. company cuts some liability premiums, for now - Feb. 7
• Doctors like flexibility of locum tenens, study finds - Feb. 7
• Grants, scholarships for medical students - Feb. 7
• AAMC president to step down in June - Feb. 7
• ACP asks DEA to clarify Rx policies - Jan. 31
• Medical school trains students to communicate with deaf - Jan. 31
• Florida med board gets new members - Jan. 31
• Conn. lawsuit dismissal upheld - Jan. 24
• DEA creates hotline to report suspected drug diversion - Jan. 24
• Medical board names new director - Jan. 24
• Managed care lawsuit moves forward - Jan. 17
• Dr. Hurwitz convicted on 50 counts - Jan. 17
• Study shows AHRQ safety indicators could work for children's hospitals - Jan. 17
• Doctor-owned insurance company to operate in Ohio - Jan. 17
• Medical books event in Philadelphia - Jan. 17
• CIGNA settles payment lawsuit - Jan. 3/10
• Musicians and singers wanted for VA music group - Jan. 3/10

Last year's news briefs - Back to top

78% of medical expenses during the final year of life occur in the month before death. Read more

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Business briefs 2005

• Blues association forms bank - Dec. 26
• Orthopedic income grows slightly - Dec. 26
• Scrushy leaves HealthSouth board - Dec. 26
• Hospitals: Uncompensated care up - Dec. 19
• Cigna posts prices online - Dec. 19
• Judge drops some Scrushy charges - Dec. 19
• Small can be better at ASCs - Dec. 19
• Premera to test online visits - Dec. 12
• HHS awards contracts for health network - Dec. 12
• Former HMO officials indicted - Dec. 12
• Allscripts seeks $200 million - Dec. 12
• Visa, Blues team up on debit card - Dec. 12
• Physician software company expands - Dec. 12
• Shareholders slap HCA with lawsuits - Dec. 5
• Tenet, doctors settle cardiac claims - Dec. 5
• Cleveland Clinic loses tax-exempt case - Dec. 5
• Blues launches small business plan - Dec. 5
• UAW approves GM health cuts - Nov. 28
• Latest privacy breach: Ohio State - Nov. 28
• WebMD Health makes acquisition - Nov. 28
• Health tech firm looks for new CEO - Nov. 28
• Tenet blames Katrina for loss - Nov. 21
• Nighthawk Radiology makes acquisition - Nov. 21
• U.S. CEOs fret about health costs - Nov. 21
• KC system offers online price list - Nov. 21
• Hospital company forms - Nov. 21
• Tenet says it will rebuild, create network in New Orleans - Nov. 14
• CareFirst extends e-prescribing pilot - Nov. 7
• Hospital company gets buyout offer - Nov. 7
• Neoforma acquired by rival seller - Nov. 7
• Physicians buy 2 Tenet hospitals - Oct. 24/31
• Florida Blues, Humana team up on EMR - Oct. 24/31
• Wiley acquires InfoPOEM - Oct. 24/31
• Two health networks move ahead - Oct. 24/31
• GE Healthcare acquires IDX - Oct. 17
• WebMD Health's IPO soars - Oct. 17
• Blues offers records for Rita patients - Oct. 17
• Ex-HealthSouth CFO sentenced - Oct. 17
• HHS proposes attachment standards - Oct. 17
• Iasis gets subpoena - Oct. 10
• JCAHO creates tech advisory panel - Oct. 10
• HHS proposes claims standards - Oct. 10
• Medem, Allscripts offer free technology to Katrina evacuees - Oct. 3
• Mayo hires tech pioneer as chair - Sept. 26
• HealthSouth chair steps down - Sept. 26
• Hospitals damaged by Katrina - Sept. 19
• California hospital pays millions in fraud case - Sept. 19
• Per-Se Technologies and Wolters Kluwer acquire NDCHealth - Sept. 19
• Physicians join other investors to buy California hospital - Sept. 19
• McKesson announces stock buyback - Sept. 19
• Former HealthSouth CFO sentenced to prison - Sept. 12
• SEC sues former Bristol-Myers Squibb executives - Sept. 12
• ProxyMed reorganizes - Sept. 12
• Quest Diagnostics acquires LabOne - Sept. 12
• Blues details fraud recoveries - Sept. 5
• Tenet settles uninsured billing case - Sept. 5
• N.J. plan offers Internet access - Sept. 5
• HIP makes consumer-directed move - Sept. 5
• Michigan Blues to create Web portal - Aug. 22/29
• WebMD changes name - Aug. 22/29
• HealthSouth settles retirement fund suit - Aug. 22/29
• Tenet likely to miss SEC filing - Aug. 15
• AHIMA seeks standard health record - Aug. 15
• Nonprofits' health improves slightly - Aug. 8
• Charges dropped in HealthSouth case - Aug. 8
• Patient, doctor data stolen in Arizona - Aug. 8
• WebMD Health to have single CEO - Aug. 8
• LifePoint to buy five hospitals from HCA - Aug. 8
• Insurer offers online health record - Aug. 1
• Thompson on cost-cutting committee - Aug. 1
• Former McKesson executive acquitted - Aug. 1
• California fines Blue Cross - July 25
• TennCare signs online records deal - July 25
• HealthSouth names new directors - July 25
• McKesson, Cisco invest in RelayHealth - July 18
• Standards groups pledge compatibility - July 18
• AMIA, AHIMA join forces - July 18
• AMA house recommends physicians look at catastrophic care costs - July 11
• AMA to study referrals within health systems - July 11
• AMA to teach evidence-based medicine - July 11
• Kaiser fined for privacy breach - July 11
• McKesson acquires Medcon - July 11
• Ex-HealthSouth executive sentenced - July 4
• Cerner acquires Bridge Medical - July 4
• IBM acquires HealthLink - July 4
• Medica alleges hacker attacks - July 4
• MinuteClinic hires fast-food exec - June 27
• Vendors join up to sell to RHIOs - June 27
• Mich. Blues, physicians inventory IT - June 27
• RehabCare Group buys hospitals - June 27
• CMS offers free tech assistance - June 20
• HealthGate to deregister its stock - June 20
• Physicians go after EMR vendor - June 13
• Ex-HealthSouth executives cleared - June 13
• Thieves steal personal information - June 13
• Fla. OKs assignment of benefits - June 6
• WebMD Health files for IPO - June 6
• Tenet hospital back in court - June 6
• Oregon, N.J. explore building health networks - June 6
• Tenet's loss narrows - May 23/30
• WebMD, Eclipsys announce management changes - May 23/30
• Big Blue targets health care market - May 16
• Hospital faces property-tax fight - May 16
• Tenet could face SEC action - May 16
• MinuteClinic expands - May 16
• HealthSouth leader steps down - May 9
• California joins RHIO movement - May 9
• Accenture to acquire Capgemini - May 9
• Fallon to pay for online consultations - May 9
• Doctor ends retirement to run Calif. hospital - May 9
• Computer thieves take patient info - May 2
• For-profit hospital chain grows - May 2
• MinuteClinic hires medical director - May 2
• Passport Health makes acquisition - May 2
• Calif. nurse-staffing law goes into effect - May 2
• AOL founder establishes health plan - April 25
• Magellan launches obesity program - April 25
• HCA puts hospitals up for sale - April 25
• Study: Hospital ads play on emotions - April 25
• Group resolves FTC allegations - April 25
• HealthSouth, former auditor sue each other - April 25
• HMO pays employees big bonuses - April 18
• Tenet names two directors to board - April 18
• Montana passes bill on Blues for-profit conversion - April 11
• Report says for-profit, nonprofit hospital mix offers benefits - April 11
• Siemens buys CTI Molecular Imaging - April 11
• HealthSouth to miss filing deadline - April 4
• Blues plans sue Calif. clinics for "massive fraud" - March 28
• Pa. physician-owned hospital to close - March 28
• Arkansas passes any-willing law - March 28
• Company buys psychiatric facilities - March 28
• Physician ID thief sentenced - March 28
• Public divided on benefits of EMRs - March 21
• Retrial scheduled in Tenet case - March 14
• HealthSouth board member resigns - March 14
• E-prescribing initiative expands - March 7
• New career resource available - Feb. 28
• Pa. Blues plans contribute to access program - Feb. 28
• N.Y. plans agree to be more responsive - Feb. 28
• N.J. insurance commissioner resigns - Feb. 21
• GE Healthcare to resell PatientKeeper's software - Feb. 21
• NEC enters health care market - Feb. 21
• Wisconsin group chooses Humana plan - Feb. 14
• Minnesota sues hospital system - Feb. 14
• HealthGate changes business focus - Feb. 14
• NDCHealth, Neoforma explore sale - Feb. 7
• Health Net underpaid Calif. physicians - Jan. 31
• McKesson settles fraud suit - Jan. 31
• Former WebMD execs plead guilty - Jan. 31
• MedQuist revamps billing practices - Jan. 31
• R.I. Blues repays members - Jan. 31
• HCA offers discounts to uninsured - Jan. 31
• Study: Busy year for health M&A - Jan. 31
• IVillage acquires Healthology - Jan. 31
• Guilty plea in Tenet hospital case - Jan. 24
• Biotech industry saw growth in 2004 - Jan. 24
• Health care venture capital up - Jan. 24
• HIMSS, URAC form marketing pact - Jan. 24
• Radiology portal acquired - Jan. 24
• Tenet creates settlement fund - Jan. 17
• Physicians a popular phone-book lookup - Jan. 17
• Humana acquires CarePlus - Jan. 3/10
• PacifiCare closes acquisition - Jan. 3/10
• Pediatrix grows - Jan. 3/10

Last year's news briefs - Back to top

26,000 new physicians enter practice each year. Read more

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Health & Science briefs 2005

• Blood test detects West Nile virus - Dec. 26
• Hotel chain goes smoke-free - Dec. 26
• Ads influence what kids want to eat - Dec. 26
• Minority participation in clinical trials found to be an issue of access - Dec. 26
• Bird flu fears lead to rise in related spam e-mail - Dec. 19
• Sinusitis guidelines recommend against quick antibiotic prescribing - Dec. 19
• Alzheimer's disease and insulin - Dec. 19
• Stress and healing in marriage - Dec. 19
• Many with depression seeking care - Dec. 12
• FDA confirms safety of Tamiflu in children - Dec. 12
• Depression assessment tool developed - Dec. 12
• Injections sometimes unsuccessful in women - Dec. 12
• HHS unveils updated computer tool for family health histories - Dec. 5
• Sedatives to treat insomnia in elderly may not be worth associated risks - Dec. 5
• Certain ovarian tumors might not show cancer, could create therapies - Dec. 5
• Women's association calls for higher recommended vitamin D intake - Dec. 5
• Smoking rate not declining rapidly enough to meet public health goals - Dec. 5
• Less may mean more when physicians advise parents on prevention - Dec. 5
• Ovarian cancer screening tests not recommended for widespread use - Nov. 28
• Syphilis up, gonorrhea down - Nov. 28
• Narrow-band antibiotic may be effective for some forms of IBS - Nov. 28
• Children can outgrow tree nut allergy - Nov. 28
• AMA comes out against personal antiviral stockpiling - Nov. 21
• ACIP expands recommendations for hepatitis A vaccination - Nov. 21
• Painkiller doses and gastrointestinal bleeding - Nov. 21
• Lengthening pipeline in clinical trials - Nov. 21
• Trial for new TB treatment - Nov. 21
• HapMap completed - Nov. 21
• Several oral rehydration solutions equally effective for sick children - Nov. 21
• Public health officials apologize for flu vaccine distribution delays - Nov. 14
• Pfizer, CDC create initiative to combat drug-resistant infections - Nov. 14
• Diabetes prevalence increases - Nov. 14
• Groups join to detect autism genes - Nov. 14
• Study raises alarm about potential new diabetes drug's safety - Nov. 7
• Polio cases found in Minnesota in unvaccinated Amish children - Nov. 7
• Cancer patients keep mum about alternative therapies - Nov. 7
• Incidents prompt physician alert on meningococcal vaccine - Oct. 24/31
• Researchers seek markers for early-stage ovarian cancer - Oct. 24/31
• Database maintains information on sequences of flu virus strains - Oct. 24/31
• Major depressive disorder risk higher for middle-age Native Americans - Oct. 24/31
• Statin advantage and LDL - Oct. 17
• Getting HIV treatment right early - Oct. 17
• Increase in research dollars may not be well spent - Oct. 17
• Flu vaccine may not be effective for all seniors - Oct. 10
• Better screening tool for prostate cancer seen - Oct. 10
• Smoking may increase risk of diabetes - Oct. 10
• Pneumococcal shot prevents disease even in those who don't receive it - Oct. 10
• NIH offers Katrina help - Oct. 3
• Obese women should be counseled to lose weight before pregnancy - Oct. 3
• Patients who choose their own depression therapy do better - Oct. 3
• Memory loss and brain filters - Oct. 3
• Holiday drinking and heart disease - Oct. 3
• New cancer screening recommendations released - Sept. 26
• No link between accelerated approval process and drug safety - Sept. 26
• Respect may lead to better health outcomes - Sept. 26
• Cholesterol screening increases but has not met goals - Sept. 26
• Community-acquired staph tougher than hospital-acquired - Sept. 26
• Herceptin linked to heart problems - Sept. 19
• 1 to 2 cups of coffee a day beneficial? - Sept. 19
• Brain blood flow could play a role in dementia - Sept. 19
• FDA OKs blood test that could be a step closer to personalized medicine - Sept. 12
• Frequent use of painkillers increases hypertension risk - Sept. 12
• Defect in part of brain that daydreams linked to Alzheimer's - Sept. 12
• Soy could reduce triglyceride levels, hot flashes - Sept. 12
• Oral drugs as effective as insulin for children, teens with type 2 diabetes - Sept. 5
• Mammography found to boost survival - Sept. 5
• Teen access to alcohol begins at home - Aug. 22/29
• Patients who trust their doctors are more likely to take their meds - Aug. 22/29
• Adult vaccine access expanded - Aug. 22/29
• ACIP expands high-risk groups targeted for flu vaccination - Aug. 15
• Good bacteria may relieve ulcerative colitis - Aug. 15
• Chiron scraps 12 million doses of influenza vaccine - Aug. 8
• Abortion drug gets FDA warning - Aug. 8
• West Nile emerges for the season - Aug. 1
• Exercise helps chronic low back pain - Aug. 1
• Vitamin D regimen for cystic fibrosis - Aug. 1
• States expand newborn screening - Aug. 1
• New warning for adults taking antidepressants - July 25
• CDC vaccine guide available - July 25
• Defect in antioxidant response increases asthma susceptibility - July 25
• Containing infectious disease is costly - July 25
• USPSTF offers new HIV screening recommendation - July 18
• Blood pressure and diuretics - July 18
• Increasing access to rapid HIV test - July 11
• AMA endorses efforts to increase early identification of developmental delays - July 11
• Family violence questions should be part of history - July 11
• Report on food allergies released - July 11
• Preventive services guide available - July 11
• Chiron reduces number of projected flu vaccine doses - July 4
• NSAID warnings from FDA - July 4
• New pertussis vaccine OK'd by FDA - July 4
• Tight glucose control saves the diabetic heart - July 4
• Basil source of Cyclospora infection - June 27
• Smoking rate continues to decline - June 27
• Salt may worsen exercise-induced asthma - June 27
• Breast cancer surgery and lymphatic fluid - June 27
• Methadone treatment in primary care - June 20
• Lung cancer breath test? - June 20
• Officials scrutinizing risks associated with erectile dysfunction drugs - June 20
• Most primary care patients have more than one chronic condition - June 20
• Accuracy of mammogram interpretation examined - June 13
• Hot tubs a cough culprit - June 13
• Depression after heart attack - June 13
• Cold cure shows some promise - June 13
• Rehabilitation may have benefits over surgery for resolving low back pain - June 13
• DNA-based CF diagnostic test available - June 6
• African-Americans more likely to have a stroke at a younger age - June 6
• H2N2 flu virus update - May 23/30
• Lowering cholesterol the plant way - May 23/30
• Fire prevention, cigarettes in Mass. - May 23/30
• Alarms better than meds in treating bedwetting - May 23/30
• Soda, excess weight, sleeping pills associated with nighttime heartburn - May 23/30
• Plans laid for next year's flu vaccine - May 16
• Vaccine-averse parents most common reason for not vaccinating children - May 16
• AMA calls for end to NCAA alcohol ads - May 16
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increasing - May 16
• Statin use reduces risk of developing advanced prostate cancer, study says - May 9
• Teens more likely to abuse pain meds than illicit drugs - May 9
• Flu sample mishap - May 2
• FDA OKs some silicone breast implants - May 2
• FDA warning on antipsychotic drugs - May 2
• New EPA guidelines for assessing carcinogen exposure risks - May 2
• Warnings about performance drugs - April 25
• Cervical cancer vaccine backed - April 25
• Cost of skin disease - April 25
• Inhalant abuse portends other woes - April 18
• Inflammation from fat may explain link between obesity, heart disease - April 18
• Potassium iodide production up - April 18
• Breast cancer prevention - April 18
• 45 the age for colorectal screening - April 11
• NIAID begins trial of vaccine for avian flu - April 11
• Gene variant could predict type 2 diabetes - April 11
• Clinical trial participation increases chance of survival from cancer - April 11
• FDA panel recommends pertussis vaccines for teens, adults - April 4
• Obesity and life expectancy - April 4
• Blood tests and women's heart risks - April 4
• Pediatricians issue guidance for chronic abdominal pain in kids - April 4
• Stroke warnings mean treatment needed - March 28
• Childhood asthma and cockroaches - March 28
• Norovirus causes most traveler's diarrhea - March 28
• Experts work to better define anaphylaxis - March 28
• MS drug withdrawn - March 28
• Celiac screening and osteoporosis - March 28
• Chiron flu vaccine license suspension lifted - March 21
• "Mini-strokes" could precede major strokes - March 21
• Study finds sleep test to be gold standard in detecting apnea - March 14
• Hepatitis A vaccine reaching children at risk - March 14
• Physicians urged to be aware of tularemia symptoms - March 14
• FDA forms drug safety board - March 7
• Resistant HIV case in N.Y. - March 7
• Stroke reduction - March 7
• Smoking cessation program adds years to life - March 7
• Treatment for partners of patients with STDs reduces recurrence - March 7
• Teens can get back bone loss - Feb. 28
• TIA patients need more diagnostic testing - Feb. 28
• CDC to research family communication issues around hemochromatosis - Feb. 28
• Antidepressants associated with infant withdrawal syndrome - Feb. 28
• Stroke survivors who stop aspirin are at risk for another stroke, study says - Feb. 21
• Rheumatoid arthritis may increase risk of heart disease, heart attacks - Feb. 21
• Women prefer annual Pap smears despite guidelines, study reports - Feb. 21
• Viruses make first appearance on government-issued carcinogens list - Feb. 21
• CDC takes steps to ensure use of remaining flu vaccine supplies - Feb. 14
• Aneurysm screening for men - Feb. 14
• Dietary fat -- the good and the bad - Feb. 14
• Increasing syphilis rates may be caused by bacterial factors - Feb. 14
• Recalculating obesity's toll - Feb. 7
• FDA approves longer-lasting meningitis vaccine - Feb. 7
• HHS: Collaboration key to getting medical advances to patients quickly - Feb. 7
• Radon risk warning issued - Feb. 7
• Foodborne illness primer downloadable - Jan. 31
• Dietary guidelines include exercise - Jan. 31
• Canadian company cleared to test flu vaccine in the United States - Jan. 31
• Shakespeare may have had an STD - Jan. 31
• Urinary infections tied to contaminated food - Jan. 24
• Suicide hotline launched - Jan. 24
• Younger women more successful with ART - Jan. 24
• Most older patients with colon cancer have not been screened - Jan. 24
• Low adherence to asthma meds following hospitalization - Jan. 17
• Genetic variants in estrogen receptor pathways a risk for breast cancer - Jan. 17
• Second cesarean safer than VBAC - Jan. 17
• Few people know they have chronic kidney disease - Jan. 17
• Democracy -- healthier than dictatorship - Jan. 17
• Marriage often translates into better health - Jan. 3/10
• New herpes vaccine outperforms others - Jan. 3/10
• Cigarette sales to youths declining - Jan. 3/10
• RSV season begins in South, Northeast - Jan. 3/10

Last year's news briefs - Back to top

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