Feb. 27, 2006

American Medical News vol. 49 no. 8

Government & Medicine

Medicaid changes will hurt patient access, doctors say
Poor children are in particular danger of skipping care due to new premiums and co-payments, according to congressional budget advisers.

CMS plans to cut billions from Medicare imaging payments
Reductions could prompt some physicians to forgo imaging investments or focus more on the non-Medicare side of business.

Delaware physician whistle-blower wins free-speech appeal
Judges agree that state administrators acted "recklessly" when they decided not to renew the doctor's contract after he voiced concerns about patient care.

News briefs:

Suit filed against "Wal-Mart" law
Former FDA chief moves to lobbying firm
Drug-pricing lawsuit gets class-action status

Professional Issues

Age of angst (book excerpt: False Alarm)
In his first non-fiction book, False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear, New York internist Marc Siegel, MD, examines how disproportionate attention focused on some diseases creates a culture of fear. This excerpt describes his experience with a patient shortly after 9/11.

U.S. looks to boost safety rules for medevac flights
A jump in fatal medevac crashes spurs federal safety authorities to take another look at the fast-growing industry.

Wisconsin jury award is largest since caps dissolved
Physicians and hospitals are pushing to reinstate caps on noneconomic damages before the legislative session ends in March.

Study analyzes physical and mental scars of Civil War vets
Some ailments were not unlike those seen in soldiers in the years after the Vietnam War and in those coming home from Iraq.

News briefs:

ABIM to link board-certification data to pay-for-performance program
Group calls for resignation of Calif. stem cell agency head
AMA earns award for national advertising campaign

Business

Corporate vision: Deciding what works for you
The right practice structure is in the eye of the beholder. Here's how to figure out which one is best for your practice.

Technology firms pushing tech bonus pay for doctors
Three major companies have rolled out a pay-for-performance program in northern California to accelerate doctor adoption of information technology.

Health plan pushing personal medical records
A Connecticut HMO believes that the way to get its members to create online personal records is with their physicians.

Massachusetts state agency creates tiered doctor networks
Physicians question the merits of the plan, particularly because it would result in a jumble of different ratings systems.

Practice Management: Name change can be necessary for your practice

Quick View: Hospital ad spending rising

News briefs:

Hospital chain recruits physicians
McKesson pitches to smaller hospitals
GM revises retiree health plan
Boston-area systems split
Speech software company makes deal
EMR company changes name

Opinion

Medicare pay formula: Overhaul is needed
Congressional action saves physicians from a scheduled pay cut and adds momentum to the push for a change in the way Medicare pays doctors.

Letters:

ECFMG: U.S. has a rigorous system to assess physicians seeking licensure
Mystery shoppers are deceptive, unethical in a health care setting
When screening for depression, also screen for bipolar disorder

Health & Science

New rotavirus vaccines close to rollout
Different formulations might have overcome problems with the previous version, but experts warn that it could take a while to rebuild trust and ensure uptake.

Medical imaging's powers of detection are expanding
Imaging has largely replaced the need for exploratory surgery and is poised to unravel the complexities of biological systems, according to its supporters.

Next season's flu vaccine is a hot item
An early rush to order flu vaccine is seen by some as a sign that the word is finally out on the importance of immunization.

Researchers examine why diabetes care falls short
The complexity of diabetes could require practice changes that include disease registries and focused models of care.

News briefs: