Table of Contents: May 25, 2009

American Medical News vol. 52 no. 14. Posted online May 18, 2009.

"Obstetrics and gynecology tends to lag other disciplines in safety-oriented research, and there's relatively little standardization because it's tough to do randomized controlled trials in pregnant women. But we shouldn't be frozen like deer in the headlights because of that," says Edmund F. Funai, MD, chief of obstetrics at Yale-New Haven Hospital and senior author of a study on the effect of implementing a patient safety program on adverse obstetrics outcomes.

INSIDE THIS WEEK

Vendor as lender
Worried about health IT costs? Tech firms offer financing options. Plus, the federal stimulus package could help.
Business
Breaking through barriers
Incoming AMA president, J. James Rohack, MD, is ready to tackle the tough issues.
Professional Issues
Doctors prepare for ID theft rules
Organized medicine continues to challenge the FTC "red flags" rules during the latest enforcement delay.
Government & Medicine

Government & Medicine

Doctors prepare for ID theft rules
Organized medicine continues to challenge the "red flags" rules during the additional three months before enforcement starts.

2010 HHS budget looks to use Medicare savings for reform
The Obama administration also will look into removing physician-administered drugs from the calculation of the Medicare pay formula.

FDA pick answers lawmakers on tobacco regulation, flu
Dr. Hamburg, a former New York City health inspector, faced a largely friendly audience at a Senate confirmation hearing.

Government news briefs:

Senators urge e-prescribing policy change
HHS names reform office personnel
WellCare to pay $80 million to resolve alleged Florida Medicaid fraud
Colorado hospital tax to help cover uninsured

Professional Issues

Breaking through barriers: Incoming AMA president ready to tackle tough issues
In an interview with American Medical News, J. James Rohack, MD, outlines his goals for the next year.

Yale obstetrics safety plan cuts adverse events by 40%
Hospital adds safety nurse position, increases training for doctors, nurses. A national perinatal safety initiative will expand this fall. View in PDF

N.C. court overturns ban on doctor participation in executions
The state medical board had threatened to punish physicians who aid executions, but the state Supreme Court ruled the agency overstepped its bounds.

Faculty, grads differ on what's "must-know"
Researchers said medical residents listed fewer procedures as essential to their education.

Professional Issues news briefs:

WellPoint/Anthem class-action settlement set to expire
Ohio State Medical Assn. launches medical liability blog

Opinion

Help for physicians on Medicare deadlines
CMS is making it tougher for doctors to enroll or update Medicare information. An AMA resource lets members cut through red tape.

AMA Leader Commentary: Medicine's voice being heard on health system reform

Business

Vendor as lender (HIMSS meeting)
Worried about the cost of health information technology? Some companies are offering their own financing, including payment plans, and stimulus money could help you make your payments.

Analysts focus on health plans' medical cost numbers
While most insurers' earnings are up and percentage of health spending down, investors worry about trends that could send both in the reverse direction.

State medical societies strategize against collector
Legal action is one option against Health Research Insights.

Technically Speaking: Don't toss all your practice's e-mails in the virtual trash

Business news briefs:

TMA introduces EMR review center
N.J. Blues plan cuts 253 jobs

The doctors are in the house
The AMA's House of Delegates is holding its Interim Meeting Nov. 7-10 in Houston, addressing issues such as health system reform and physician payment.
AMA House - Slideshow - Updates