Table of Contents: Feb. 16, 2009

American Medical News vol. 52 no. 7. Posted online Feb. 9, 2009.

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"With poor reimbursement before the economic crisis, many of our family practices were at small margins. I think some will not make it," says Ted Epperly, MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

INSIDE THIS WEEK

Scanning options
Mammograms remain the gold standard for breast cancer screening, but other techniques aid detection.
Health & Science
Riding the revenue cycle
Experts offer strategies for smoothing the dips and peaks of your medical practice's money flow.
Business
New AMA Web site is doctor-friendly
The redesign aims to make the vast array of online resources easier to find and share.
Professional Issues
Stimulus bill boosts health IT
The House-adopted $819.5 billion economic stimulus legislation also would help stabilize state Medicaid programs.
Government & Medicine

Government & Medicine

House stimulus bill boosts health IT, Medicaid
The measure passed despite Republican opposition to the bill's spending levels.

Congress reauthorizes SCHIP, expands program's eligibility
The House adopted the Senate version of the bill, which does not ban new or expanded physician-owned hospitals.

Direct negotiation of Medicare drug prices gains momentum
New legislation would instruct HHS to establish drug plans to compete with privately administered ones.

Quick View: States changing public health access

Government news briefs:

Daschle withdraws as HHS nominee

Professional Issues

AMA makes Web site more doctor-friendly
The redesign aims to make the Association's vast array of online resources easier for physicians and patients to find and share.

Federal appeals court clarifies when doctor conduct is reportable
The decision sets a precedent experts say can help steer the disciplinary process.

Doctor quits prison job over execution
Citing AMA and other professional ethics policies, the Washington state physician says he was obligated to refuse even indirect supervision of capital punishment procedures.

Professional Issues news briefs:

Missouri court upholds negligent credentialing claim against hospital

Business

Riding the revenue cycle: Coping with seasonal fluctuations
Experts offer tips for smoothing the peaks and dips of your money flow.

Insurers share doctors' financial pain, worry about networks
Health plan executives expect contracted physicians will be hit hard by the recession -- but there's no indication that concern will affect payments.

Business news briefs:

Calif. retail clinics shutting down
Judge bars WellPoint's $1,000 offers

Opinion

Reprieve on ICD-10
The AMA and other organizations succeeded in winning a more reasonable deadline to implement a complex new code set.

AMA Leader Commentary: United agreement a victory for fair pay for physicians

Health & Science

Scanning the options: Alternatives in breast imaging technology
Although mammograms remain the gold standard for breast cancer screening, other techniques are aiding detection at earlier, more curable stages. View in PDF

Number of targeted therapeutics awaiting FDA approval on the rise
The success of these types of drugs has been noted by pharmaceutical firms who are adding them to their development portfolios.

Study notes continued MRSA upsurge in kids' ENT infections
The incidence of tissue infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria doubled in five years, researchers found.

Health news briefs:

Acting director of CDC named
Antidepressant effectiveness
More potassium, less sodium reduces cardiovascular risk

Vote refines AMA stance on health reform
The AMA House of Delegates rejected attempts to rescind support of a U.S. House health reform bill and any new government-sponsored health insurance plan during the 2009 Interim Meeting.
Story - AMA House - Slideshow