May 12, 2008: Table of Contents

American Medical News   vol. 51 no. 18
Top stories - Government - Profession - Business - Opinion - Health - 2008 index

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"Consumers get the worst of both possible worlds. We don't have an FDA capable of guaranteeing safety, and now, when injured through no fault of their own, [patients] have to bear the consequences," says David C. Vladeck, a Georgetown University law professor, commenting on a Supreme Court ruling that patients injured by medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration cannot sue the manufacturer.

INSIDE THIS WEEK Oregon still alone on assisted suicide Few patients have sought a prescription for a lethal glass of barbiturates, but the law has greatly affected end-of-life care. Professional Issues Calculate your ideal patient load Too many patients, or too few, can threaten your practice's health. Experts offer a formula for finding the right panel size. Business Study finds trial results skewed JAMA editors recommend closer scrutiny of research funding sources and authors' conflicts of interest. Health & Science

Top stories

NPI deadline: Insurers won't pay claims with old IDs after May 23
Physicians should not count on getting any additional time to become compliant, a CMS official said.

Doctor disciplinary actions down for 3rd year
Some state medical boards are being accused of acting too slowly. But other boards note that the rankings don't take into account rehabilitation initiatives.

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Government & Medicine

Rulings limit patients' ability to sue device firms, drugmakers
But consumer advocates and some physicians say the courts should continue to complement, not compromise, the FDA's role.

CMS seeks to add 9 hospital-acquired conditions to no-pay list
Critics say Medicare is moving too quickly, and many of the complications it is targeting are not always preventable.

Government news briefs:

• House adopts bill to block Medicaid cuts
• S.D. ballot to include abortion ban question
• Paid family leave bill introduced in House
• Study finds need for almost 41,000 more health IT staff

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Professional Issues

Oregon still stands alone: Ten years of physician-assisted suicide
The first decade of Oregon's unique law has surprised supporters and opponents alike. One benefit nearly everyone can welcome: The issue focused attention on end-of-life care.

Harvard offers discount on med school tuition
Eligible students could save up to $12,500 a year.

In the Courts: Transplant surgeon faces criminal charge for donor's quick death

Professional Issues news briefs:

• AHRQ launches innovations Web site

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Business

Calculate your ideal patient load: How to strike the correct balance
Groups or individual doctors in a group with too large -- or too small -- panels may represent a serious threat to a practice's health. So how do you figure out the right size?

Kentucky measure calls for clearer contracts for doctors, plans
New rules expanding insurer regulation would also speed up the credentialing process.

Smokers' suspensions spotlight incentive plans
Most companies are not taking punitive action against employees who fail to live up to terms of an insurance discount.

Business news briefs:

• Leapfrog adds CPOE to hospital survey

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Readying for the senior surge
A new IOM report echoes the AMA's concern that the health care work force is not ready to care for aging baby boomers.

Letters:

• 5 things needed to make EMRs practical

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Health & Science

Studies suggest drugmaker skewed clinical trial reports
JAMA editors recommend closer scrutiny of research funding sources, of authorship of journal articles, and of authors' conflicts of interest.

Author equates alternative treatments with placebo effect
Millions of patients seek treatment with unorthodox, unproven therapies, and many find relief.

Health news briefs:

• Heart tests urged for kids with ADHD
• FDA OKs new drug for Crohn's
• Number of pregnant women with preexisting diabetes increases
• C. diff among hospitalized patients becomes more common
• Hirsute women should have androgen levels measured

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