TABLE OF CONTENTS

June 15, 2009

American Medical News  Print edition cover date June 22, 2009, vol. 52 no. 16.

Top stories - Government - Profession - Opinion - Business - 2009 index

Top stories

Practices feel financial pressure as patients ration their own care
Physicians say they have to consider cutting staff or reducing expenses in other ways as patients lose insurance and come in only when sick.

Doctors on Hill seek voice in reform debate
A recent upswing in the number of physicians in Congress has encouraged Republican doctors to organize their own health reform caucus.

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Government & Medicine

Feds' new anti-fraud effort pressures doctors
A joint Justice Dept.-HHS program cracks down on fraud and abuse, while amendments to the False Claims Act expand the law's reach.

AMA: Better care guidelines would slow health spending
Meanwhile, insurers suggest standardized transactions, and the Senate HELP Committee outlines a public health insurance plan that would pay doctors more than Medicare does.

Some in Congress want to boost MedPAC's power over pay
A Senate bill would place MedPAC in the executive branch, giving the panel independent authority over Medicare payment policy for physicians.

Interactive: How federal stimulus money will impact states' Medicaid spending

News briefs:

• Physicians worry health reform will increase their costs
• Bill to end generic drug delays clears House subcommittee
• Florida tobacco tax increase to benefit state Medicaid program
• Nebraska governor approves abortion-related measure

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Professional Issues

Doctors, lung cancer patients skirt hospice talk
These time-consuming conversations are emotionally difficult for everyone involved, experts say.

Serving the servers: Health care co-op for restaurant workers
A New York general physician treats the workers, many of whom are uninsured or underinsured. View in PDF  

Geriatric Consult: Knowing when to ask seniors for the car keys

News briefs:

• Overcrowding is still the norm in EDs, says GAO
• Tort reform leads to better ranking for Illinois medical liability insurer

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Opinion

AMA tool kit guides informed choices on PPO contracts
The resource aims to help doctors understand what a legitimate PPO arrangement should look like -- and to understand they can say no.

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Business

5 answers to your recession questions: Tips to keep your practice solvent
The concerns aren't new, but the urgency is. Practice management consultants answer the questions physicians are asking most often. View in PDF  

Technically Speaking: Prepare to meet "meaningful use" EMR requirement

Contract Language: Dissolving a practice takes more than closing the door

News briefs:

• Medical tourism gaining appeal
• Indiana hospital temporarily turns patients away after EMR outage
• Antitrust waiting period for WellPoint's NextRx sale expires

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