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Index 2009: Content by date

Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - 2008

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Week of Nov. 16

This content was published online only.
Top stories Disruptive behavior by doctors, nurses persists a year after crackdown - Some specialists will see extra cuts in Medicare pay -
Government & Medicine Reform bills aimed at coverage shortages could fall short, insurers warn - Health care fraud a challenge to system reform - - Health plans asked to explain how they set rates (Nov. 18) - U.S. physicians lag on EMR use (Nov. 19) - House votes to scrap Medicare doctor pay formula (Nov. 19) - Physicians sue again to safeguard Pennsylvania's liability fund (Nov. 20)
Professional Issues Maryland high court to consider expert witness rule - More middle-age women having heart attacks, but survival rates increasing - - Climate change could put public's health at risk (Nov. 17) - DEA enforces written order requirement for schedule II drugs (Nov. 18) - Pap tests used more often then screening guidelines call for (Nov. 20)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about H1N1 vaccine shortages -
Business Health reform on investors' minds as insurers report earnings - Privacy breach rules require practices to report only harm done - Fewer temporary physicians needed - Contract Language - New laws on patient security breaches mean your associate contracts probably need updating - Kids' BMI data may be added to vaccine tracking (Nov. 17) - Donations to health care institutions drying up (Nov. 18) - Florida hospital group shuts primary care centers (Nov. 19)
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Week of Nov. 9

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Top stories House passes health reform bill, debate moves to Senate - New database for out-of-network pay set to replace disputed Ingenix system - House option for public plan wouldn't limit physician pay to Medicare rates -
Government & Medicine Liability reform demos must have patient safety element - Are health system reform polls meaningful? - - Michigan slashes Medicaid fees for doctors by another 8% (Nov. 12) - CMS: 21.2% Medicare pay cut for doctors unless Congress acts (Nov. 13)
Professional Issues Journal editors propose detailed disclosure form for authors - California licensing backlog keeping doctors from starting jobs - Fertility doctors tighten guidelines in wake of "octomom" controversy - Ethics Forum - CME must be untainted -- no matter who's paying - - Physicians give hospital chaplains high approval rating (Nov. 10) - Med school enrollment up, but residency slots remain flat (Nov. 11) - Malpractice lawsuits hit 10-year low in Missouri (Nov. 12) - HPV vaccine proposed for teen boys (Nov. 13) - Orthopedic surgeon prepares to blast into space (Nov. 13)
Opinion What commentators are saying about the Senate's public plan option -
Business Health care spending for middle-age Americans booming - Individual mandate proposals driving insurers to expand offerings - Practice Management - Misclassifying nonexempt employees as exempt can cost you - Kaiser receives $54 million in EMR research grants (Nov. 10) - Medical supplies still selling, but pace is slowing (Nov. 11) - WellPoint subsidiary drops coverage in Illinois, Texas (Nov. 13)
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Week of Nov. 2

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 24
Top stories H1N1 vaccine shortage leaves doctors managing crowds, anxieties - Failed Senate vote clouds future of SGR reform -
Government & Medicine Health reform review: The Massachusetts experience - Health reform bills light on medical liability reform - Higher hospital spending linked to better outcomes - - House bill would end antitrust exemption for health plans (Nov. 3) - House votes for FTC identity theft rule reprieve (Nov. 4) - Medicare relaunches DME competitive bidding (Nov. 5) - AMA supports House bills on health reform, Medicare pay (Nov. 5)
Professional Issues Litigation stress: Being sued is personal as well as professional - Smoking bans cut overall heart disease risk - In the Courts - Disciplinary records relevant in liability case - - Family physicians' partnership with Coke draws criticism (Nov. 3) - Tort reform law challenged in Georgia (Nov. 4) - Patient safety after hospital discharge challenging (Nov. 6)
Opinion Where to turn for H1N1 information - AMA Leader Commentary - AMA's 7 guiding principles for health system reform - Letters - Health officials assert vaccine is plentiful; experience says otherwise
Business Need a practice management system? Here's what to look for - AMA's flu site 1st to link to care after rating symptoms - Health care layoffs already exceed last year's totals - Health plans owned by doctors, hospitals are disappearing - Practice Management - Review what expanded ADA means for your practice - Recession leads many patients to skip routine care (Nov. 5) - Former managed care official fined in United-PacifiCare merger (Nov. 6) - Individual insurance policy rules changing in Wisconsin (Nov. 6)
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Week of Oct. 26

This content was published online only.
Top stories Senate rejects plan to repeal Medicare physician pay formula - Practices lose financial ground as recession outpaces productivity -
Government & Medicine Health co-op compromise might be part of final system reform bill - Women pay more for health care - - Senate panel adopts bill restricting generic drug delays (Oct. 27) - Medical marijuana use to incur less federal prosecution (Oct. 28) - Medicare private plans may see more regulation (Oct. 29)
Professional Issues Doctors called on to screen all adults for depression - "July phenomenon" from new residents debunked - Medicare's no-pay rule has little financial impact - - Medical schools, teaching hospitals help drive local economies (Oct. 27) - 10% of seniors' ED visits related to falls (Oct. 29) - Antioxidant may slow Parkinson's disease (Oct. 30)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about H1N1 flu vaccine -
Business Health plans eye Medicaid as profit source - Rescission legislation vetoed - Technically Speaking - Smartphone use pushed by hospitals - SEC inquiry sparks concern about HCA IPO (Oct. 28) - Mass. physicians urge caution on payment overhaul (Oct. 29) - EMR packages being bundled as single product (Oct. 30)
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Week of Oct. 19

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 23
Top stories Senate panel's health reform bill OK'd with 0.5% Medicare pay hike - 850,000 physicians urged to be on lookout for signs of identity theft -
Government & Medicine Drug firm sues to end off-label marketing ban - Ability to find, afford care is deteriorating in many states - Medicare pricing gets new look; RUC process revisited - - Finance reform bill would tax higher-premium health plans (Oct. 20) - Medicare premium protection bill stalls in Senate (Oct. 22) - Pharmacy groups sue over Medicaid drug cuts (Oct. 23)
Professional Issues Mandating cultural competency: Should physicians be required to take courses? - Commercial CME loses funding from second drug firm - Doctors owed no duty to nonpatient, Illinois high court rules - Assisted-suicide statute challenged by 2 Connecticut doctors - EMR alerts can signal abnormal tests, but some doctors don't use them - - Massachusetts universal coverage does not reduce ED visits, polls say (Oct. 20) - H1N1 vaccine embraced, but also feared (Oct. 21)
Opinion Insurer consolidation deserves a critical look - We've expanded the ways you can interact with us - AMA Leader Commentary - Scientific method offers view to solving liability crisis -
Business Ownership loses its luster: Physicians less likely to go solo - Emergency departments offer online updates on wait times - Technically Speaking - Is speech recognition technology ready for prime time? - Contract Language - Plan to advertise? Be mindful of ethical, legal rules - AHIP, Blues association create payer portal (Oct. 21) - Coventry to buy Kansas health plan (Oct. 22) - Secondary use of EMR data seen reducing costs, improving quality (Oct. 23)
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Week of Oct. 12

This content was published online only.
Top stories Medicaid pay could be cut again when stimulus money runs out - Social media behavior could threaten your reputation, job prospects -
Government & Medicine GAO finding on potential Medicare overuse attracts lawmaker attention - Medicaid drug fraud targeted by government watchdog group - - Autism researchers among recipients of $5 billion in NIH stimulus grants (Oct. 15) - Health IT grants part of additional stimulus money (Oct. 16)
Professional Issues H1N1 vaccine to be tracked for safety concerns - Certificate-of-merit law struck down by Washington Supreme Court - Quality improvement tool available for doctors, hospitals - Ethics Forum - H1N1 vaccination of children can require reasoning with concerned parents - - Down syndrome diagnosis difficult for physicians, parents to discuss (Oct. 13) - Seasonal flu vaccine supplies lower than expected in some places (Oct. 14) - Diagnostic test can be patented, appeals court rules (Oct. 15)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about a tax on soft drinks -
Business Retail clinics expanding services more than locations - Physician pay cuts on horizon at Michigan Blues? - Practice Management - How to code, bill for H1N1 flu vaccine - Alabama Blues overhauls physician fee schedule (Oct. 13) - Michigan hospital to cut physician pay (Oct. 14) - H1N1 virus costing insurers millions (Oct. 16)
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Week of Oct. 5

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 22
Top stories Physician job search strategy shifts as Internet booms, economy busts - Doctor's rap on H1N1 prevention wins HHS contest -
Government & Medicine CMS probes Humana's lobbying tactics on reform - Merger guideline review could affect insurer consolidation - Medicare use found to vary significantly by location - System reform bill revisited by House panel that OK'd it - - Abortion-rights groups sue to block Arizona laws (Oct. 6) - FDA bans cigarettes with candy or fruit flavoring (Oct. 7) - Doctors front and center at health system reform rally at White House (Oct. 7) - Health system reform sees rebound in public support (Oct. 9)
Professional Issues Resident duty hours: Does more sleep mean safer care? - 4 physicians honored with MacArthur, Lasker awards - In the Courts - Florida lawsuit takes swing at 3-strikes liability rule - - Better health: Is that recession's silver lining? (Oct. 7) - Patient surveys can help practices improve (Oct. 8)
Opinion Uninsured are more than just numbers - AMA Leader Commentary - AMA's private sector advocacy efforts yield results - Letters - Long-term price of administration's reform plan is unacceptable and others
Business How electronic medical records affect staffing - Nonprofit Blues plans report declining earnings in 2008 - Practice Management - Review your sick-leave policy before flu season hits - Antitrust exemptions for health, liability insurers targeted (Oct. 6) - 850,000 doctors could be hit by potential data breach from insurer's stolen laptop (Oct. 6) - Employers shifting more health costs to workers (Oct. 8) - Medical supply costs stabilize (Oct. 9)
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Week of Sept. 28

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Top stories Stricter self-referral rules may end some physician contracts with hospitals - Challenges to medical liability caps go before Georgia, Maryland high courts -
Government & Medicine Faces of the uninsured - Governors slam proposed Medicaid expansion - Average family health plan premiums top $13,000 - - HHS will fund $25 million in tort reform projects (Oct. 1) - Uninsured people may have a higher risk of death than once thought, study finds (Oct. 2)
Professional Issues Doctors often register unconscious bias against blacks, study finds - New specialty approved for treating child abuse - - Connecticut court opens door for patients to see peer review records (Sept. 29) - Joint Commission opens center to develop patient safety solutions (Sept. 30) - Lowering sodium intake could lower health costs (Oct. 1)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about the Senate Finance Committee's health reform bill -
Business Insurers say system reform won't put them out of business - Health insurers take to Twitter - Video games used to treat posttraumatic stress - Technically Speaking - Your practice really needs broadband - CareFirst reserves under scrutiny by D.C. insurance regulator (Sept. 29) - Number of health care jobs increasing (Sept. 30) - Indiana, Ohio link health exchanges (Oct. 2)
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Week of Sept. 21

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 21
Top stories Senate negotiations generate new health reform bill, but not consensus - With seasonal flu shots plentiful and H1N1 vaccines expected soon, early vaccination is urged -
Government & Medicine U.S. uninsured total again tops 46 million - Doctors, nurses, seniors target reform myths - - Harkin new head of Senate health committee (Sept. 23) - HHS releases $33 million for training health professionals (Sept. 25)
Professional Issues When is conduct reportable? National Practitioner Data Bank takes complaints from hospitals about physicians - Surgical quality program cuts complications, patient deaths - Geriatric Consult - Delirium in hospitalized patients may be preventable - - Apologizing for medical errors may not stop you from being sued (Sept. 22) - Health reform should include efforts to fight obesity, group says (Sept. 24)
Opinion Ending unequal treatment - AMA Leader Commentary - Two nations, one debate over how to achieve reform - Letters - Hypocritical to put tobacco under FDA
Business Comparative effectiveness research: New ways to say "no" - Technically Speaking - Don't let EMRs cut into your doctor-patient time - Contract Language - Should you keep patients from commenting online? - California nursing association says insurers reject 22% of claims (Sept. 22) - Mass. turns spotlight on insurance executives' pay (Sept. 23) - United, WellPoint accused of creating artificial grassroots lobbying efforts (Sept. 24)
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Week of Sept. 14

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Top stories Tobacco companies file free speech lawsuit to derail FDA restrictions - Pfizer pays record $2.3 billion in off-label drug marketing settlement -
Government & Medicine Immigrant coverage creates new rift in health reform debate - States targeting Medicaid physician pay - - Pharmacists seek to block Medicaid drug pay rule (Sept. 15) - Anti-abortion group wants Illinois to enforce parental notice -- now (Sept. 16) - Medicaid claims lack key data that could help find fraud (Sept. 17)
Professional Issues N95 respirators -- not surgical masks -- recommended for H1N1 protection - Medical home model saves money, boosts quality, study finds - Ethics Forum - Medical spas can be a good business, but with ethical challenges - - Transportation board calls for increased medevac safety (Sept. 16) - New quality measures gauge medication adherence (Sept. 18)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about Kennedy's health care legacy -
Business Practices must have plans for handling health data breaches - Rapid rise in COBRA enrollment creates billing hassles - Promise of stimulus money drives up health IT stock prices - Patients more confident they can afford care (Sept. 15) - Web site shows what health insurers pay Minnesota doctors, clinics (Sept. 17) - Insurers under scrutiny for allegedly purging costly clients (Sept. 18)
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Week of Sept. 7

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 20
Top stories H1N1 on the horizon: Here's how to prepare your practice -- and staff - AMA takes health reform message on the road -
Government & Medicine Kennedy's death leaves gap in health reform leadership - Lack of CMS chief prompts speculation about strategy - Court OKs lawsuit against Hawaii Medicaid managed care - Patients happy with San Francisco plan for uninsured - - Health spending to drive record deficits higher (Sept. 9) - GOP introduces seniors' "bill of rights" (Sept. 10) - Obama reaffirms his position on health system reform (Sept. 10)
Professional Issues Outsourcing clinical trials: Is it ethical to take drug studies abroad? - Fla. med school welcomes first class with white coats, money - Physicians know FDA-OK'd uses for drugs half the time - In the Courts - N.J. liability trial swamped with errors - - Calif. doctors support challenge of Blues rescissions (Sept. 8) - Research subjects want to know investigators' financial ties (Sept. 9) - Rare disorder explains JFK's health woes (Sept. 11)
Opinion Health plans still need to work on basic skills - AMA Leader Commentary - AMA offers students, residents a head start in medicine - Letters - Provide physicians with a tax credit for treating the uninsured and others
Business Job-hunting in a recession: It may take some searching - More hospitals looking to merge, buy physician groups - Insurers expect to pay out 10% more for medical care - Practice Management - Hunting for a small business idea? Listen to your patients - Blues association gets out of banking business (Sept. 8) - Hospital profit margins improving (Sept. 10) - Pennsylvania Blues plan ordered to back off from clawbacks (Sept. 11)
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Week of Aug. 31

This content was published online only.
Top stories H1N1, seasonal flu promise one-two punch for physicians' vaccination strategies - Half of large practices net bonuses from Medicare P4P demo -
Government & Medicine Accountable care organizations: A new idea for managing Medicare - HHS to dole out $1.2 billion for health IT grants - Organized medicine aims to strengthen liability provisions in reform bill - - Courts roll back abortion counseling laws (Sept. 1) - FDA launches new tobacco center, names director (Sept. 3) - Federal government eyes EHR certification changes (Sept. 4)
Professional Issues 75% of discharge summaries don't mention pending test results - Quality-of-care concerns add to doctors' stress - - Warnings issued about bogus board certifications (Sept. 1) - Bioethicists fight myths over rationing, end-of-life care (Sept. 2)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about end-of-life discussions -
Business Sliding economy leaves physicians wary about collections - Once-influential health technology alliance set to disband - Tax refund deadline looming for money-losing practices - Technically Speaking - How to determine an EHR's "usability" - COBRA enrollment doubles after premium subsidy kicks in (Sept. 2) - HSA account balances on the rise (Sept. 3) - Companies say health system reform is driving layoffs (Sept. 4)
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Week of Aug. 24

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Top stories White House redirects health reform spotlight to insurance abuses - Two state courts, same ruling: Informed consent must include all options -
Government & Medicine Lawsuits challenge Calif. governor's budget vetoes - Medicare pay for services by nonphysicians comes under scrutiny - - Medicare Part D premiums to inch up in 2010 (Aug. 26) - Sen. Kennedy hailed as health care champion (Aug. 26) - Med school graduates asked to update NPI data (Aug. 28)
Professional Issues End-of-life care provision stirs angst in health reform debate - Conference seeks solutions to pending physician shortage - - Supreme Court patent case could affect medical research (Aug. 25) - Did a strep infection bring Mozart's finale? (Aug. 27) - Cancer mortality rates declining with each generation (Aug. 28)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about town hall meetings on health system reform -
Business EHRs have open-source software alternatives - Health plans' profits decline along with membership numbers - When patients lose jobs, physicians feel impact - Uptick in medical supply sales suggests recession may be easing - Technically Speaking - Tap into proper expertise and support before joining EHR "gold rush" - Health plans get negative credit rating (Aug. 25) - Judge finalizes United, shareholder settlement on stock backdating (Aug. 26) - Patients choosing less-expensive options in plastic surgery (Aug. 27)
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Week of Aug. 17

This content was published online only.
Top stories Senate health reformers work toward consensus bill during break - Practices see slow progress in instant claims adjudication -
Government & Medicine Physicians stop states from raiding liability funds - Louisiana cuts physicians' Medicaid payments - - Stimulus cash targets surgery center infections (Aug. 18) - Web site consolidates info on federal grants (Aug. 19) - EHR guidelines raise privacy concerns (Aug. 20)
Professional Issues Smallpox -- The Death of a Disease (book excerpt) - Panel hears conflicting views on Lyme disease treatment - Has kidney trafficking come to the U.S.? - Physicians seeking licensing increasingly find a standard application - Ethics Forum - Take care when discussing phase I trial options - - AAP approves withdrawal of artificial nutrition from children in certain cases (Aug. 20) - More federal money to go toward physician training (Aug. 21)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about accomplishing health reform -
Business Patient satisfaction with PPOs driven down by administrative hassles - Health information networks gain wider use - Practice Management - How to reduce your practice's credit card fees - Consumer group that wanted Medicare data launches physician ratings site (Aug. 18) - AHA cautions HUD against tightening hospital financing program (Aug. 19) - Blues plans choose online cost comparison tool (Aug. 21)
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Week of Aug. 10

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 19
Top stories Health reform bill awaiting House return retools public plan to encourage doctor participation - Industry gift bans slammed for overreaching -
Government & Medicine Fla. jury rules for hospital that deported immigrant patient - Debate flares over what "essential" benefits include - Fla. Medicaid reform pilot: More efficiency or less care? - Enhanced Medicaid plan sees low sign-ups, but high use - Quick View - Public support for health system reform drops - - Radiation oncologists say proposed Medicare cuts would close clinics, harm patients (Aug. 11) - Senate panel follows House lead on HHS spending bill (Aug. 13)
Professional Issues Doctors seen as key in fighting nation's battle of the bulge - When the Institute of Medicine reports, the country listens: An interview with IOM president Harvey V. Fineberg, MD, PhD - Putting a value on prevention could keep programs running - Wis. high court maintains limits on awards to third parties - In the Courts - Doctor liable despite no patient relationship - - Court to examine possible conflict over hospital board's role in staff privileges case (Aug. 11) - H1N1 flu shots: Pregnant women, health care workers and children first (Aug. 12) - Shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons expected (Aug. 14)
Opinion Medicare reform's first step: Revise physician pay formula - AMA Leader Commentary - "Making the sausage" that will reform broken system - Letters - Patients and doctors must confront realities that are driving up costs
Business "Gently" managed care (America's Health Insurance Plans annual meeting) - Mass. doctors urge caution as state ponders shift to global payments - Facility fees added to patient bills have some crying foul - Wikipedia shows NIH scientists the basics of adding to site - Pennsylvania to examine its Blues market - Okla. ob-gyn grows grapes of wine, not wrath - Practice Management - If job candidate has a criminal record, ask questions - Employer mandates pick up another big business backer (Aug. 12) - 200 Kentucky doctors booted from Humana networks (Aug. 13) - United, Cisco plan national telehealth network (Aug. 14)
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Week of Aug. 3

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Top stories Landmark Massachusetts health reforms showing cracks in access, coverage - Some states still prohibit hospitals from hiring doctors; physicians want to keep it that way -
Government & Medicine The White House's HIT man: An interview with David Blumenthal, MD - Guidelines on EHR meaningful use moving forward - Federal move to expand Medicaid could burden states - - Health care fraud widespread -- in public and private sectors (Aug. 4) - California budget fix includes health care cuts (Aug. 5) - Employers wary of public health plan option (Aug. 6)
Professional Issues Litigation screening panels on trial - Chaotic working conditions wear down primary care physicians - Physicians asked to persuade adults to get immunized - - Women surgeons want more flexibility with schedules, child care (Aug. 5) - Patients can cope with learning their Alzheimer's risks (Aug. 7)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about health system reform proposals -
Business United to buy Health Net business in Northeast - Indiana medical association files complaint against WellPoint over payment problems - AMA report: Payers more accurate, transparent, but problems continue - Humana, Health Net protest loss of Tricare contracts (Aug. 4) - Louisiana creates loan program for EHR purchases (Aug. 6) - Medical equipment increasingly likely to be leased, financed (Aug. 7)
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Week of July 27

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Top stories AMA backs House health system reform bill that includes Medicare pay overhaul - Number of retail clinics shrinking; growth slows as partnerships sought with hospitals -
Government & Medicine Senate health panel approves its part of reform bill - Federal appeals court halts some California Medicaid pay cuts - - House panel's HHS budget would bump up NIH funding (July 29) - Harry and Louise are back in health reform ads -- but this time they're for it (July 30)
Professional Issues Liver transplant for Apple CEO turns spotlight on organ system inequities - Ohio med school and medical board team up to teach professionalism - New York OKs paying women who donate eggs for research - - Health coalition says system reform should include liability reform (July 28) - Liability insurance rates stabilize in Illinois (July 29) - Organized medicine scores another delay on enforcement of identity theft rules (July 30) - New Web tool helps study of environmental factors and disease (July 31)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about Wal-Mart endorsing an employer mandate -
Business Change in Tricare contractors disappointing news for Humana, Health Net - Nonprofit medical systems see their financial health worsening - Technically Speaking - Update employee policies to include guidelines for social networking - United predicts big savings in health IT adoption (July 28) - AMA announces partnership with e-prescribing vendor (July 30) - Connecticut law requires insurers to list full fee schedule (July 31)
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Week of July 20

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 18
Top stories Former AMA trustee Dr. Benjamin nominated to be surgeon general - Patient portion of fees often a mystery -
Government & Medicine Ohio court blocks sweeping records disclosure - Major hospital groups pledge $155 billion savings in deal - NIH lifts main stem cell funding restriction - Specialists balk at giving MedPAC regulatory power - - Conn. governor rejects two health coverage expansions (July 21) - CMS releases more hospital quality data (July 22) - Bill would end self-referral exceptions for imaging services (July 23)
Professional Issues Can protecting patients be made recession-proof? (Patient Safety Congress annual meeting) - H1N1 vaccine on the way for fall distribution - Court: Physician liability limited in third-party cases - Geriatric Consult - Helping older patients get a good night's sleep - - NIH considers revisions in federal conflict-of-interest rules (July 22) - Half of parents misinterpret OTC cough and cold medication labels (July 24)
Opinion Building solid medical homes - AMA Leader Commentary - Reform needs a more rational insurance purchasing system - Letters - Mandated catastrophic coverage should be a key element of reform
Business Dr. Expat: American physicians on foreign soil - Wal-Mart backs employer mandate for health coverage - Hospital financing gets easier with HUD's new insurance rule - Technically Speaking - How CCHIT influences your health tech purchasing - Californians back health insurance code of conduct (July 21) - Aetna offers small businesses plan with no co-pay for preventive visits (July 23) - Mass. bill would offer tax breaks for e-prescribing (July 24)
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Week of July 13

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Top stories Part B drug proposal would curtail Medicare pay cuts after 2010 - Treating celebrity patients not all glitz and glamour -
Government & Medicine IOM lists top 100 comparative effectiveness research topics - N.H. doctors sue to stop state raid on medical liability fund - - Senate committee trims cost of health system reform bill (July 15) - Obama defends his health reform plan at Va. town hall (July 17)
Professional Issues Appellate court upholds California medical liability cap - HHS: Reducing disparities should be part of health reform - Ethics Forum - Doctors weigh morals, ethics in decisions on refusing services - - Texas appeals court upholds $10 million award to fired doctor (July 14) - Patients don't hear of abnormal results 7% of time (July 16) - Increasing residency slots could help reduce physician shortages (July 17)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about health insurance company rescissions -
Business Quality data have limited impact on patient behavior - Senate report criticizes plans' use of Ingenix database - Large health plans work together on medical home pilots - Contract Language - Making sense of extended warranties for medical equipment - AMA enhances its e-prescribing help site (July 14) - California begins licensing discount medical plans (July 15) - Hospital job growth flattens (July 16)
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Week of July 6

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Top stories House health reform bill first to tackle Medicare physician pay - Hospital system tries letting patients read physicians' notes -
Government & Medicine Medical homesteading: Moving forward with care coordination - Court rejects physician challenge to change in self-referral rule - Physicians snared by growing Medicare fraud strike team - - Physicians push for liability relief for emergency care (July 7) - Mich. Senate OKs 8% Medicaid fee cut (July 8) - Public plan option supporters descend on Capitol (July 10)
Professional Issues Physician-patient privilege waived in fraud probe - Transplant physicians face ethics of paternity discoveries - 5 people die under new Washington physician-assisted suicide law - - FDA found lax in regulating medical devices (July 7) - Doctors, nurses getting A(H1N1) (July 9)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about Obama's idea for a public health plan -
Business Tennessee Medical Assn. sues collections firm - Insurers defend rescissions, take heat for lack of transparency - Practice Management - Going green can help your budget - Florida insurers forced to honor assignment of benefits (July 8) - Mayo Clinic to open branch in Mall of America (July 9) - N.J. bill would require certified health IT (July 10)
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Week of June 29

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 17
Top stories AMA meeting: AMA reaffirms stance in health system reform debate - AMA meeting: Don't shortchange specialists to fund care model -
Government & Medicine Reform bills give some lawmakers sticker shock - First draft of EHR "meaningful use" definition unveiled - Biologics don't need long market exclusivity, FTC says - Access-to-care problems are resurfacing in Mass. - - Medical debt increasingly cited as factor in bankruptcies (June 30) - Drugmakers agree to reduce medication costs for seniors (July 1) - Medicare proposes removing Part B drugs from SGR formula (July 1) - CMS grossly underfunded, says former acting chief (July 3)
Professional Issues Lawsuits test boundary rights of medical patents - AMA meeting: Doctors get to see how ethics bar is set - Some licensing questions at odds with the ADA - AMA meeting: Doctors object to penalties for avoiding EHRs - AMA meeting: More to do on tobacco control - AMA meeting: U.S. needs national HIV/AIDS strategy - AMA meeting: Vitamin D checks urged - AMA meeting: Comprehensive sex ed said to have most impact - AMA meeting: AMA looks for ways to trim rising student debt - AMA meeting: Physician supervision of nurses sought in all practice agreements - AMA meeting: Delegates renew efforts for antitrust relief - AMA meeting: AMA urges Web system for prior authorizations - AMA meeting: AMA exhorts doctors to offer charity care, help the uninsured - AMA meeting: Delegates see boosting quality of care as duty - - Guided Care model for older complex patients wins praise (July 2) - N.Y. doctors challenge liability insurance report (July 2) - Medical schools improve scores on interactions with drug firms (July 3)
Opinion FDA oversight means public health victory on tobacco - AMA Leader Commentary - AMA connects with doctors at each stage of their careers - Letters - EHRs a financial burden with no payback for late-career physicians and others
Business Should doctors use Twitter? - Minn. health plan consortium develops online claims portal - Final health plan reaches settlement over Ingenix database - Practice Management - Overwhelmed by phone calls? Adding lines, staff not the answer - Quick View - Ways patients are cutting health care costs - Contract Language - Law means rethinking how you protect patient data - GE offers EMR financing (June 30) - United subsidiary joins with American Well to offer online visits nationally (July 1) - Confidence low that stimulus will drive health IT adoption (July 2)
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Week of June 22

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Top stories FDA to regulate tobacco - More practices refusing to accept credit cards from patients -
Government & Medicine Democratic leaders stay cold on single-payer - Obama proposes law requiring Congress to find health spending offsets - - Stimulus money cuts debt for more students in return for NHSC service (June 23) - California IPA settles price-fixing charges by FTC (June 25) - Physicians question Obama in White House town hall (June 25) - Chain restaurants back calorie-posting proposal (June 26)
Professional Issues Many hospitals cut back on infection-control efforts - Blue Shield's right to cancel couple's coverage upheld - Family physicians seeing fewer prenatal visits - - Scientific competencies for med students defined (June 24) - Pertussis risk much higher among unvaccinated children (June 26)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about the killing of Dr. George Tiller -
Business Medical office buildings buffered from real estate slide - AMA partnering with Microsoft on physician Web portal - Technically Speaking - Before buying an EMR system, learn from others' mistakes - Insurers' tobacco investments questioned (June 23) - Social Security says test proves benefits of health data exchange (June 24) - New York physicians want possible Health Net deal scrutinized (June 25)
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Week of June 15

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 16
Top stories Practices feel financial pressure as patients ration their own care - Doctors on Hill seek voice in reform debate -
Government & Medicine Feds' new anti-fraud effort pressures doctors - AMA: Better care guidelines would slow health spending - Some in Congress want to boost MedPAC's power over pay - Interactive - How federal stimulus money will impact states' Medicaid spending - - Employers passing on larger share of insurance costs to workers (June 17) - Physiatrists oppose eliminating Medicare PT referral (June 18)
Professional Issues Doctors, lung cancer patients skirt hospice talk - Serving the servers: Health care co-op for restaurant workers - Geriatric Consult - Knowing when to ask seniors for the car keys - - Obama tells AMA, "I need your help" (June 15) - Physicians still skeptical about Obama's approach to reform (June 15) - Retail clinics avoid medically underserved areas (June 18) - Surgical team briefings may improve patient safety (June 19) - Nevada law heightens J-1 waiver scrutiny (June 19)
Opinion AMA tool kit guides informed choices on PPO contracts - Letters - Salary differences in medicine do not always jibe with value, risk or training
Business 5 answers to your recession questions: Tips to keep your practice solvent - Technically Speaking - Prepare to meet "meaningful use" EMR requirement - Contract Language - Dissolving a practice takes more than closing the door - Ingenix purchases claims-processing company (June 16) - Reactor shutdown creates medical isotope shortage (June 16) - Drug czar pushes Rx monitoring for all states (June 17)
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Week of June 8

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Top stories Medicine decries nurse doctorate exam being touted as equal to physician testing - BMI registries eyed as promising tool for fighting childhood obesity -
Government & Medicine Unpaid care hikes private insurance premiums by billions - AARP renews campaign to close Medicare drug coverage gap - OIG approves hospital plan to pay for emergency call - - California physicians push to end Medicaid prior approval (June 9) - Maryland enacts health IT incentive law (June 10) - States have say in Medicaid medical necessity decisions (June 11)
Professional Issues H1N1 put further strain on public health work force - Oklahoma enacts comprehensive tort reform - Ethics Forum - Conversation, rapport key to evolving world of medical history taking - - Academic physicians avoid burnout by focusing on favorite tasks (June 9) - Press releases found to exaggerate research findings (June 12)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about the Medicare trustees report -
Business Researchers to study data from VA EMR system - Doctors in Indiana and Ohio want action on claims delays - Practice Management - Need to lay off employees? Be honest -- and work out details first - Less paperwork, more time with patients keep doctors in medicine (June 10) - Michigan attorney general tries to block Blues' rate hikes (June 11) - WellCare settles SEC probe; announces layoffs (June 12)
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Week of June 1

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 15
Top stories Senate panel finishes health reform hearings, foresees bill by mid-June - Health plan requirements cost practices billions, with the per-doctor average near $70,000 -
Government & Medicine FTC opinion expands guidance on joint contracting - W.Va. Medicaid wellness plan comes up short in evaluation - Lawmakers consider health delivery system reform - - California voters reject budget fixes (June 3) - Federal bill would address primary care shortage (June 3)
Professional Issues Vt. bans industry gifts, tightens reporting rules - More cuts in resident hours could be costly - Calif. may require public notice of medical license - Doctor gets jail time for online, out-of-state prescribing - Long appointment waits may signal doctor shortage - Quick View - Prevalence of C. diff in hospital patients - In the Courts - Doctor's duty to a third party the exception, not rule - - Kansas physician who performed abortions killed (June 2) - First-degree murder charge brought in slaying of Kansas ob-gyn (June 3) - Clinics fall short in treatment of transgender patients, doctors (June 4) - Organized medicine urges Supreme Court to take vaccine case (June 5)
Opinion The $2 trillion savings plan - AMA Leader Commentary - Health system reform is coming -- and you all helped - Letters - Add a ninth reform principle -- an adequate supply of physicians
Business How to spot a Ponzi scheme: Experts suggest ways to evaluate a pitch - Massachusetts considers capitated insurance payments - Health plan CEO pay declines in weakened economy - Practice Management - Good scheduling can link vaccinations to well-child visits - AMA, PPO group offer contracting guide (June 2) - Indiana patients to get reminder: Pay your doctors (June 4) - More refining sought for computerized physician order entry systems (June 5)
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Week of May 25

This content was published online only.
Top stories Medicare trustees present dire outlook on program's finances - Can a surge in physicians' use of smartphones ripple to health IT adoption? -
Government & Medicine Senate Finance Committee discusses taxing certain health benefits - House Democrats set July 31 deadline for health system reform bill - House bill would allow patients to sue over faulty medical devices (May 26) - Medicare won't cover virtual colonoscopies (May 27) - - Most voters say the U.S. health system works for them, but not others (May 29)
Professional Issues Industry conflicts common in cancer studies - Any practice can become a medical home, but transition not easy - Hospitals entitled to peer review protections in negligent credentialing claims - Health care quality showing slow improvement (May 27) - - Bill would raise cap on Medicare-funded residency slots (May 28)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about health system reform -
Business Poor economy makes physicians less inclined to leave a practice - Care for the elderly may become more financially viable - Technically Speaking - Rural physicians may face pharmacy hurdle in e-prescribing Scope expands for national personal health technology project (May 26) - - United stops selling AARP limited-benefit insurance (May 28) - Hackers claim to have taken Virginians' health data (May 29)
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Week of May 18

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 14
Top stories Health care leaders pledge $2 trillion in spending cuts - Focus turns to lessons learned from H1N1 scare -
Government & Medicine Doctors prepare for ID theft rules - 2010 HHS budget looks to use Medicare savings for reform - FDA pick answers lawmakers on tobacco regulation, flu - - Medicaid drug management may reduce access (May 21) - Bills aim to cut Medicare, Medicaid fraud (May 22)
Professional Issues Breaking through barriers: Incoming AMA president ready to tackle tough issues - Yale obstetrics safety plan cuts adverse events by 40% - N.C. court overturns ban on doctor participation in executions - Faculty, grads differ on what's "must-know" - - Arkansas high court rejects liability reforms (May 19) - Hand hygiene tough to enforce, measure (May 19) - Arkansas medical board chair recovering from bombing (May 20)
Opinion Help for physicians on Medicare deadlines - AMA Leader Commentary - Medicine's voice being heard on health system reform - Letters - Is goal more quality or less payment?
Business Vendor as lender (HIMSS meeting) - Analysts focus on health plans' medical cost numbers - State medical societies strategize against collector - Technically Speaking - Don't toss all your practice's e-mails in the virtual trash - Study quantifies prior-authorization burden (May 20) - Layoffs continue at hospitals across the country (May 21) - Michigan insurer pays physicians who convert to medical homes (May 22)
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Week of May 11

This content was published online only.
Top stories Physicians get second delay in FTC enforcement of identity theft rules - IOM warns about physician-pharma conflicts of interest -
Government & Medicine Congressional budget short on answers for Medicare pay formula - Senate panel suggests delay in long-term reform of Medicare pay - HHS confirmation delay could set back reform efforts - - Senate approves HHS deputy chief nominee (May 12) - New medical home guidelines released (May 12)
Professional Issues Medicine scores legal victories in scope of practice - Court upholds Vermont law on prescribing data privacy - Ethics Forum - Bad behavior by physicians can't be ignored - - New safety rules coming for medevac helicopters (May 14) - Lingering myths discourage organ donation (May 15) - Bill threatening Colorado liability cap fails (May 15)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about swine flu -
Business Cigna backs off documentation requirements - Company stops tapping physicians for "overpayments" - Hospitals follow through on cost trimming, job cuts - Mayo Clinic launches PHR (May 13) - WellPoint offers two paid fellowships for physicians (May 13) - Blues plans see pushback on rate hike requests (May 14)
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Week of May 4

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 13
Top stories Key Senate panel sets brisk pace for health system reform package - NIH policy loosening stem cell research restrictions disappoints both sides in debate -
Government & Medicine Medicaid fees outpace Medicare but still low - Medicare cancer patients win battle over off-label coverage - EMR adoption higher in states with fewer privacy rules - Medicare DME bidding program set to relaunch in 2010 - - Medicare hospice pay to drop 1.1% in fiscal 2010 (May 8) - Savings from improved health could lower costs of reform (May 8)
Professional Issues Nevada lawmakers moving to change state's liability cap - Medical students taking free online courses in quality, safety - Doctor discipline inches up but still off 14% from peak - In the Courts - Peer review hearing officer's role is limited - - Medical professionals involved in Guantanamo interrogations (May 7) - Massachusetts care hindered by physician shortages (May 7)
Business How to set your fee schedule: Experts advise updating it every 3 to 12 months - AMA takes first steps to build physician Web portal - Contract Language - Stimulus package alters HIPAA rules for business associates - - Google looks at health technology (May 6) - Maryland limits health insurance rescissions (May 6)
Opinion 8 simple rules for health system reform: A new sounding board - AMA Leader Commentary - AMA can help you prepare for the health IT future - Letters - Insurers responsible for time pressures that undermine taking a good medical history
Health & Science Accommodating aging: Helping your older patients live the life they want - New federal policies sought to reflect HIV treatment gains - Tight not always right for controlling diabetes - Bariatric surgery found effective at lower weights - Substance abuse group develops new screening tools (May 5) - Radiologists, pediatricians urged to team up to find child abuse (May 5) - Organizations gather H1N1 flu resources online (May 5)
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Week of April 27

This content was published online only.
Top stories AMA letter backs Obama's broad principles for health system reform - What do patients really want from you? -
Government & Medicine What's in a number? Cost variance figure drives policy and courts controversy - Federal agencies begin to prioritize comparative effectiveness research dollars - Oregon developing comprehensive health system reform - - Medicare pilot program aims to lower hospital readmissions (May 1) - GOP report warns of misuse of Medicaid funds (May 1)
Professional Issues IRB disclosure policies, review procedures found lacking - Court approves doctors' suit over ranking program - Texas university explores offering an MD degree in addition to its DO program - - Primary care doctors struggle to find mental health services for patients (April 30) - Patient safety experts see aviation group as model for health care (April 30)
Business Texas Blues plan agrees to stop grading physicians on how much they charge - WellPoint offloads pharmacy division - Technically Speaking - Helping search engines find you more quickly - - Minnesota Blues launch online doctor visits (April 29) - Sam's Club ready to sell EMRs in 3 states (April 29)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about electronic health records -
Health & Science "Mental health home" proposed to boost care for psychiatric illnesses - Tobacco regulation closer with House bill's passage - Genetic variants tied to stroke risk - Geriatric Consult - Diagnosing different levels of dementia no easy task - Inflammation's connection to dementia proves complex (April 28) - Preventable injuries from epinephrine injectors on the rise (April 28)
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Week of April 20

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 12
Top stories Doctors face risk of harsh penalties from new Medicare enrollment rules - Look beyond stereotypes to spot patients with eating disorders -
Government & Medicine Details now emerging about cuts to Medicare private plans - New York budget increases Medicaid fees for physicians - Forums open up debate about health system reform - - Louisiana may cut Medicaid pay to physicians (April 24) - More money headed to groups that provide Medicare information (April 24)
Professional Issues Making sure your patients know what you're saying - Court rejects claims against Blues holdouts in pay lawsuit - - Any-willing-provider law heads to Georgia Supreme Court (April 23) - Maryland short on surgeons (April 23)
Business Forced out of retirement: Getting back into practice not always easy - Senator calls for new look at Ingenix database - Technically Speaking - Steps to take to eliminate spam from your e-mail diet - - GE Healthcare/CDC partnership would link public health alerts to EMRs (April 22) - Health Net fined over mishandled claims in Connecticut (April 22)
Opinion One-stop site: E-prescribing help for physicians - AMA Leader Commentary - We must protect guidelines against undue influence - Letters - As nationalized care eyed, a strong statement is needed from medicine
Health & Science IOM studies boost in vitamin D requirements - An alternative diagnosis to GERD centers on food allergies - Patients with migraine more likely to have PTSD (April 21) - Conference explores tropical diseases being transmitted in U.S. (April 21)
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Week of April 13

This content was published online only.
Top stories Self-insured companies going after doctors to recover "overpaid" claims - Pharma support of medical societies raises conflict-of-interest concerns -
Government & Medicine HHS nominee Sebelius awaits Senate vote - CHIP reauthorization increasing extent of kids' coverage - California court halts some Medicaid cuts - - House adopts health plan disclosure bill (April 17) - House, Senate pass budgets, but health spending details still need OK (April 17)
Professional Issues Success from surgical checklists breeds idea for ethical checks - Several states face battles over optometry scope of practice - Ethics Forum - Consider ethics, patient rights before treating your immediate family - - More internists becoming hospitalists (April 16) - 1 in 5 Medicare patients readmitted within a month after hospital release (April 16)
Business Retail clinic offers free care to recently unemployed - AMA offers e-prescribing help center - Practice Management - How to handle patients who are always late - - Physicians want more answers about N.J. insurer's proposed status change (April 15) - Web sites help patients compare costs of care (April 15)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about increasing tobacco taxes -
Health & Science Black-white cancer mortality gap starts with incidence rates - Children whose celiac disease is detected early do better over time - Space studies also meet health needs on Earth - Adult vaccines need PR boost (April 14) - Five-drug polypill may slash heart disease risk (April 14)
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Week of April 6

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 11
Top stories Medicine slams FTC over forcing physicians to police identity theft - AMA sues WellPoint to recoup pay for doctors -
Government & Medicine Stakeholders start offering their own proposals for health reform - Medicare Advantage defenders decry proposed cuts - Only 1.5% of nonfederal hospitals report having full EHRs - Quick View - More money, fewer problems getting insurance - - More and more people lack insurance, access to care (April 10) - Medicare slammed for limiting pay for oxygen (April 10)
Professional Issues Initiative to cut catheter infections expands - Ariz. high court validates standards for expert witnesses in liability cases - Mass. sets new rules for contact with drug industry - States dangle school loan repayment deals - 1,000 Words - Students volunteer time to help the homeless - In the Courts - Pain doctor made to prove care was proper - - University of Chicago hospital investigated (April 9) - 2% leave hospital against medical advice (April 9)
Business Broadcast your brand: Find the patients you most want to treat - Health Net weighs jettison of health plans in 4 states - Boston physicians cut their own salaries to help hospital - Practice Pointers - How to calculate the right staffing for a smaller practice - - For-profit hospitals expect worse financial outlook in 2009 (April 8) - Incentives shown to drive health IT adoption (April 8)
Opinion Science trumps speculation: MMR not linked to autism - AMA Leader Commentary - AMA participation on the Joint Commission a win-win - Letters - Time to rethink EMS helicopters?
Health & Science Changing history: The questions you ask patients keep expanding - Psoriasis may reflect systemic inflammation, heart disease - Risk of depression, anxiety in elderly can be cut - New HPV test to identify virus variants (April 7) - More people becoming at risk for prediabetes (April 7)
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Week of March 30

This content was published online only.
Top stories Organized medicine pushes Congress for clean slate on Medicare payment formula - New findings add to complexity of asthma treatment: coverage from AAAAI clinical meeting -
Government & Medicine With success comes scrutiny: ASCs face legal obstacles - San Francisco employer mandate may end up in U.S. Supreme Court - Congress revisits plans to approve generic biologics - - Obama might consider partisan path to health system reform (April 3) - Broader approach to value-based purchasing sought for Medicare (April 3)
Professional Issues A miscarriage of medicine (book excerpt: Three Generations, No Imbeciles) - Surgeon tells how his team removed 6 organs during cancer operation - Med school seniors headed for primary care see a challenging future - Discussing death with patients can cut costs, ease abandonment fears - - Mass. considers oversight of medical spas (April 2) - Calif. pay-for-performance program gets mixed reviews (April 2)
Business Seasonal slump shutters 89 MinuteClinic locations - Waning confidence in the health insurance status quo - N.D. Blues gives its top exec the boot - Contract Language - Red flag rules on identity theft take effect soon - Technically Speaking - Interactive kiosks expanding beyond patient check-ins - - Laborists become the newest hospital specialists (April 1) - Kaiser outsourcing deal leads to job cuts (April 1)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about stem cell research -
Health & Science Simpler drug packaging doesn't increase patient compliance - Forget the gimmicks when it comes to dieting - CDC warns of variances in influenza strains - Aspirin use as cardiovascular prophylaxis revisited (March 31) - Sometimes listening works better than testing (March 31)
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Week of March 23

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 10
Top stories Doctors increasingly close doors to drug reps, while pharma cuts ranks - Shopping list: paper towels, diapers, EMR, milk -
Government & Medicine Ending abortion conscience rule? - 2009 budget boosts research, health access - - Medicare costs for end-of-life care higher for minority patients (March 27) - Congressional leaders pledge health system reform bill by August (March 27)
Professional Issues White coats in the White House: Former presidential physicians reflect on their service - Bills seek to regulate in vitro fertilization - Doctor faces assisted-suicide charge in Georgia - - Tennessee medical school plans to eliminate ethics department (March 26) - Congress OKs extension on waiver for J-1 visas (March 26)
Business Challenging your rating: You don't have to accept what the health plan says - Technically Speaking - Texting can increase office efficiency, bottom line - Quick View - Growth spurt in spending on disease-management technology - - More plans settle over Ingenix database use (March 25) - Utah laws take aim at access to care, physician payment (March 25)
Opinion Getting physicians what they're owed: the aftermath of the Ingenix settlement - AMA Leader Commentary - The challenge and opportunity for health system reform - Letters - FSMB chair: Opioid Rx guide available and others
Health & Science Treating metabolic disorders may aid neurologic health - Geriatric Consult - Honing in on varied causes of urinary incontinence - New blueprint will guide autism research (March 24) - HPV vaccine reduces risk for strains not in shot (March 24)
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Week of March 16

This content was published online only.
Top stories Organized medicine-backed lawsuit knocks down hospital's attempt at economic credentialing - No job, no bill: Physicians tell how they help longtime patients struggling during recession -
Government & Medicine Practices paperless before 2012 could maximize Medicare bonuses - White House summit takes 1st step in health system reform discussion - Texas hospital settles charges of boycotting physician-owned hospital - Obama lifts limits on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research - - Maryland proposal uses individual, employer mandates to ensure health care coverage (March 20) - Drug importation on lawmakers' agenda (March 20)
Professional Issues High court allows state claims against drugmakers over inadequate warning labels - Emergency physicians object to plan to cut hospital beds - - Physician-patient connection boosts quality of care (March 19) - National Quality Forum sets bar for culturally competent care (March 19)
Business Aetna lets more patients see what doctors are being paid - Most hospitals somewhere along road to EMRs - Practice Management - Stimulus bill puts burden on physicians to tell patients of data breach - - Half of hospitals ended 2008 with an unprofitable third quarter (March 18) - Premera shutting down Arizona subsidiary (March 18)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about President Obama's plan for health care reform -
Health & Science Receding gains: Will the economy erode public health partnerships with physician offices? - Chemoprevention one option in prostate cancer screening advice - Obesity in children, teens may be linked to allergies - Sleepiness may heighten death risk in elderly - Review of Lyme disease treatment guidelines begins (March 17) - Supplements may not fix middle-aged, elderly dietary deficiencies (March 17)
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Week of March 9

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 9
Top stories Obama budget sets stage for reform of health care system, Medicare pay - Scope of practice expansions fuel legal battles -
Government & Medicine Medicare tries to push doctor enrollment online - Some say stimulus boosts government role in health decisions - MedPAC report calls for 1.1% doctor pay raise in 2010 - - Americans report cutting back on health care due to economy (March 13) - Projected update for Medicare Advantage may lead to cuts (March 13)
Professional Issues Doctors override most e-Rx safety alerts - Fed court upholds New York City's calorie-posting rule - Wash. completes final rules on physician-assisted suicide - Mailing reminders boosts colon cancer screening - Emergency doctors join push for better EMS helicopter safety - Mass. bill aims to reverse court expansion of physician liability - In the Courts - Doctor wants to share trials of liability suits with peers - - 3 hospitals join in 6-way kidney swap (March 12) - Shortages forecast for orthopedic surgeons, gastroenterologists (March 12)
Business When patients declare bankruptcy: What happens to your unpaid bills? - Most metro areas dominated by 1 or 2 health insurers - Medical wiki blends social networking with research - R.I. says Blues can't raise individual health premiums - - First groups sign on for new capitation model in Massachusetts (March 11) - Mass. RHIO spins off for-profit subsidiary (March 11)
Opinion A win for physician data privacy - AMA Leader Commentary - Reflecting on successes and looking to future challenges - Letters - MSSNY president: Insurer settlements highlight need for code of conduct and others
Health & Science The long goodbye: The challenge of discontinuing antidepressants - Flu shot strongly recommended for children, teens - Groups collaborate with guidance on A1c levels - Vessel disease in the eyes could signal heart disease, too - Research identifies genetic link between GI problems, autism (March 10) - Being young doesn't mean being healthy (March 10)
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Week of March 2

This content was published online only.
Top stories Recession, Medicare cuts not enough to stop skyrocketing health spending growth - Landmark ruling finds no link between vaccine and autism -
Government & Medicine Struggles seen for Medicare care coordination - Maryland program covering more uninsured, despite slow start - - Medicare equipment bidding rule delayed (March 6) - States taking small steps on health system reform (March 6)
Professional Issues ACP urges doctors and NPs to work together - Calif. court denies extra MCAT time for students with learning disabilities - Most IRB rules don't ban finder's fees for clinical trials - Ethics Forum - Treating the homeless can go beyond medical care - - Racial gap found in saving patients after surgical complications (March 5) - Doctors say clinics with high minority populations often short on supplies, time (March 5)
Business Has tech's time arrived? (Towards the Electronic Patient Record conference) - United sets new basis for fee schedule - Vacancy rates rising for medical office buildings - Cigna develops cost-of-care estimator - Surgical markers aim to reduce margin of error - - Investor dollars dwindling for clinical trials (March 4) - Retail clinics attracting legislator interest (March 4)
Opinion Commentary about the stimulus plan and health care -
Health & Science The script for getting fit: Help your patients move off the couch - Ocean may hold clues to antibiotic resistance - Women at heightened risk for stroke death - Federal help sought to boost teen mental health (March 3) - Reports of Q fever on upswing (March 3)
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Week of Feb. 23

This content was published online only.
Top stories AMA takes on Aetna, Cigna over use of flawed database - Medicaid, health IT to see billions from stimulus package signed by Obama
Government & Medicine The newest doctors in the House: Physicians become legislators - N.J. lawmakers compromise on physician referral - Lawsuit challenges San Francisco safety net programs - - Trimming health spending will be difficult, budget chief tells Congress (Feb. 27) - Minn. governor calls for health care cuts to offset $4.8 billion deficit (Feb. 27)
Professional Issues "Sunshine" bill sets $100 trigger for disclosing drug industry pay to doctors - Kidney foundation plan targets financial barriers to donation - States called lax in reviewing inactive doctors - - Patients at teaching hospitals often unable to ID physicians (Feb. 26) - New treatment guidelines address chronic pain (Feb. 26)
Business Health plans adjust strategies to economic downturn - Invention keeps patients positioned for surgery - Texas physicians voice time, pay frustrations - - Studies look at use, impact of computerized physician order entry (Feb. 25) - IBM launches 2 large health IT initiatives (Feb. 25)
Opinion What editorial writers are saying about the birth of octuplets -
Health & Science Disease diagnosis often prompts patients to make healthier choices - FDA spells out rules for reprints of articles about off-label drug use - Antiviral resistance eliminates drug from flu arsenal - - Study targets role of anti-inflammatory drug in fighting diabetes (Feb. 24) - Napping to ease tension headaches could set up vicious cycle (Feb. 24)
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Week of Feb. 16

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 8
Top stories Court sides with doctors on privacy of Medicare claims, reverses 2007 ruling - Octuplets case sparks ethics uproar over IVF excess and patient screening - To our readers: Changes at American Medical News
Government & Medicine CHIP called "down payment" in reform effort - Court issues rare Stark ruling on physician-hospital agreement - Many states widened health coverage in 2008 (Feb. 20) - California doctors sue over Medicaid payments (Feb. 20)
Professional Issues Early Innovators (book excerpt: Frontier Medicine) - States consider requiring hospitals to screen for MRSA - Ohio sees drop in medical liability claims (Feb. 19) - Bomb severely injures Arkansas medical board chair (Feb. 19)
Business Fraying safety net: Insurer of last resort feeling financial pinch - States move to limit insurance rescissions - Contract Language - Noncompete clause may not restrict you - Nonprofit hospitals face downgrades in credit ratings (Feb. 18) - Former CEO of Coventry Health Care takes job back (Feb. 18)
Opinion AMA's enhanced Web site - Letters - A true teaching tool about bioethics certainly wouldn't star Dr. House
Health & Science Patient choice can help target dyspepsia care - Geriatric Consult - Addressing involuntary weight loss - Physician education not enough to increase use of care guidelines (Feb. 17) - Immunochemical tests found better than guaiac for fecal occult blood (Feb. 17)
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Week of Feb. 9

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 7
Top stories Medicare advisory agency to back 1.1% physician pay raise for 2010 - FDA, CDC scrutiny follows surge in accidental opioid overdoses
Government & Medicine House stimulus bill boosts health IT, Medicaid - Congress reauthorizes SCHIP, expands program's eligibility - Direct negotiation of Medicare drug prices gains momentum - Quick View - States changing public health access - Colo. Medicaid fee would cover thousands of uninsured (Feb. 13) - Illinois settles anti-kickback cases over MRI leasing deals (Feb. 13)
Professional Issues AMA makes Web site more doctor-friendly - Federal appeals court clarifies when doctor conduct is reportable - Doctor quits prison job over execution - EMS helicopter industry suggests safety changes (Feb. 12) - Hospital error-reporting systems falling short (Feb. 12)
Business Riding the revenue cycle: Coping with seasonal fluctuations - Insurers share doctors' financial pain, worry about networks - MGMA calling for widespread swipe card adoption (Feb. 11) - WellPoint becomes latest insurer to cut staff (Feb. 11)
Opinion Reprieve on ICD-10 - AMA Leader Commentary - United agreement a victory for fair pay for physicians - Letters - Support for no-sedation colonoscopy misses some significant drawbacks
Health & Science Scanning the options: Alternatives in breast imaging technology - Number of targeted therapeutics awaiting FDA approval on the rise - Study notes continued MRSA upsurge in kids' ENT infections - Diabetes rates continue to climb (Feb. 10) - Sensitive topic? Teens will talk to you (Feb. 10)
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Week of Feb. 2

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 6
Top stories Doctors win ICD-10 coding reprieve; compliance now due by 2013 - "Inevitable" Blues merger implodes at 11th hour
Government & Medicine FTC finds price-fixing at physician IPAs, suggests legal alternatives - Analysis compares competing health system reform plans - California physicians eye $42 billion state deficit (Feb. 6) - Supreme Court allows states to sue cigarette makers for fraudulent labels (Feb. 6)
Professional Issues At the same table: Alternative liability resolution - Guidelines target stem cell medical tourism - In the Courts - Doctor stands up for patient care, wins case - Intricate cancer treatments raise drug error risk, study says (Feb. 5) - New Jersey court upholds certificate-of-merit rule (Feb. 5)
Business Easing into technology: Alternatives to a full EMR - Technically Speaking - Technology costs may be tax-deductible - Kaiser call centers under scrutiny (Feb. 4) - Physician dissolves Tenet shareholder group (Feb. 4)
Opinion United agreements: Fair payments ahead - Letters - Peer review needs oversight and transparency to be effective and others
Health & Science FDA to study TV drug ads' influence on U.S. consumers - Hand washing, alcohol-based rubs help curb influenza outbreaks - Millions of dollars pledged in latest round of polio eradication (Feb. 3) - "Telestroke" centers aim to speed stroke care (Feb. 3)
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Week of Jan. 26

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 5
Top stories United agrees to pay $350 million, scrap system that undercut fees - TV doctors' flaws become bioethics teaching moments
Government & Medicine Medicine at sea: On board the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - House adopts SCHIP expansion - Medicare closes off WellPoint's drug plan - Lawsuits challenge HHS abortion conscience rule (Jan. 30) - Democrats' $825 billion stimulus would boost Medicaid spending (Jan. 30)
Professional Issues California's high court bans balance billing - Patient grows up to work beside his childhood doctor - Ethics Forum - At end of life, listen to patient's fears, values - Texas physician named "Country Doctor of the Year" (Jan. 29) - Montana judge rejects stay of physician-assisted suicide ruling (Jan. 29)
Business Health plans eye individual insurance market - Cash-strapped hospitals laying off record number of workers - Practice Management - Keeping rubber checks from clogging revenue flow - Antibiotic giveaways stoke fear of patient pressure (Jan. 28) - Physicians asked to help with Rx abuse-prevention programs (Jan. 28)
Opinion Taking away the fear: Another step toward improving patient safety - AMA Leader Commentary - Physicians need one voice to fight for payment reform - Letters - Absence of EMRs isn't the problem, but not living up to their potential is
Health & Science Keeping prevention in perspective: Has the value of screenings been oversold? - Obesity numbers steady, but well short of health goals - CDC expands pneumonia vaccine recommendations (Jan. 27) - Aromatic cold salves may not be safe for babies (Jan. 27)
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Week of Jan. 19

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 4
Top stories U.S. health spending tops $2.2 trillion - Research at odds over impact of flu vaccine
Government & Medicine Medicare pay must be fixed, says HHS pick Daschle - Conscience rule on abortion services faces uphill battle - Health insurance for the unemployed often unaffordable (Jan. 23) - House Democrats silence alarm on higher Medicare spending (Jan. 23)
Professional Issues Redefining death: A new ethical dilemma - Emergency care system gets low grades - Experts hope Obama will address health disparities (Jan. 22) - Florida projects worsening doctor shortage (Jan. 22)
Business Taking a financial history: Determining the health of your patient's credit rating - Online referral forum sees jump in health care hits - MBA project helps get business off on the right foot - Health data system gets trial run (Jan. 21) - Health plans cut jobs in response to declining economy (Jan. 21)
Opinion Vital need for improving teen health care - AMA Leader Commentary - Health reform is coming; let's work for a good outcome - Letters - Day's end for a weary resident: How about a merlot on the limo ride home? and others
Health & Science Obama on front lines in battle to stop smoking - Geriatric Consult - Depression not a "normal" part of aging - Many have psychological distress, few seek help (Jan. 20) - Hepatitis outbreaks linked to poor infection control (Jan. 20)
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Week of Jan. 12

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 3
Top stories Medicaid funding cuts unresolved as new administration takes office - Study supports use of no-sedation colonoscopy
Government & Medicine Court orders Medicaid coverage for low-income HIV patients - Massachusetts now applying CON rules to surgery centers - Pennsylvania physicians, hospitals sue to preserve liability premium subsidies (Jan. 16) - Rhode Island's Medicaid reform advances (Jan. 16)
Professional Issues 150 years of Gray's: The iconic reference has spawned new generations - Quality reports for hospitals inconsistent - EHRs may reduce medical liability risk, study shows (Jan. 15) - Technology used wrongly harms patients, Joint Commission warns (Jan. 15)
Business Trading for treatment: Bartering makes a comeback - Contract Language - Hospitalist's role needs to be defined - Privacy breach in California part of insurance fraud (Jan. 14) - United settles SEC backdating investigation (Jan. 14)
Opinion Medicare pay overhaul can no longer wait - Letters - Greater transparency needed in how insurers account for care costs
Health & Science FDA wants closer scrutiny of new diabetes drugs - Combination of drugs found most effective asthma treatment - Kaiser fills a biobank with a wealth of data (Jan. 13) - Alternative therapy use documented in new survey (Jan. 13)
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Week of Jan. 5

Print edition: vol. 52 no. 2
Top stories Pressure builds for further slashes to Medicare Advantage spending - Medical centers reveal doctors' industry pay
Government & Medicine Florida consumer-driven Medicaid reform in limbo - Low Medicare, Medicaid pay rates impact private costs - Louisiana pediatricians sue over Medicaid care pilots - Medicare picks 4 vendors in PHR pilot program - Bush reflects on health policy, defends stem cell decision (Jan. 9) - Internists call for Medicare pay increase to be part of stimulus plan (Jan. 9)
Professional Issues Defective directives? Struggling with end-of-life care - AHRQ funding safety research in ambulatory care - Supreme Court asked to examine Texas peer review case - Nevada medical board seeks to update discipline, licensing systems - In the Courts - Doctor liable for not providing sign language interpreter - California doctors to continue battling ban on balance billing (Jan. 8) - Group makes push to improve quality care and safety in hospitals (Jan. 8)
Business Knowledge on call: Finding new uses for smartphones - Maryland insurance commissioner seeks audit of CareFirst reserves - Blues merger faces opposition in Pennsylvania Legislature - Technically Speaking - Economic downturn adds new uncertainties to IT planning - Coalition works on third set of standards for claims processing (Jan. 7) - Health plan offers cost data from 4 more states (Jan. 7) -
Opinion Bolster primary care: Avert a physician shortage - Letters - Joint Commission's standard on disruptive behavior is unreasonable
Health & Science Teens' health care often a missed opportunity - Call for widespread HIV tests has been only partially heard - Report focuses on long-term effects of battlefield brain injuries - MRSA-fighting drug is approved by FDA panel - Older treatments effective remedies for IBS (Jan. 6) - Genetic discoveries link obesity to the brain (Jan. 6)
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