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News from the » West - Midwest - Northeast - South - State roundups - 2010 - 2012

The West 2011

(Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)

California emergency physician brings pedal-less bicycle to U.S. - Dec. 19
Physicians in California sue over new Medicaid pay cuts - Dec. 12
California doctor's invention prevents falls from changing tables - Dec. 12
Do you practice in an antibiotic-prescribing hot spot? - Dec. 5
2 senators probe insurers and labs for possible kickback violations - Nov. 21
Arizona appeals court to decide fate of Medicaid enrollment freeze - Nov. 7
California Medical Assn. support of marijuana legalization has doctors talking - Oct 31
Supreme Court hears lawsuit challenging Medicaid rate cuts - Oct. 17
California neurologist wins MacArthur award - Oct 3
California's noneconomic damages cap upheld - Sept. 26
Arizona judge OKs Medicaid freeze for childless adults - Aug. 29
California doctors back bill to prevent circumcision ban - Aug. 22
Physician organizations fight states' proposed cutbacks to Medicaid - Aug. 15
Judge set to rule on Arizona's freeze of Medicaid enrollment - Aug. 1
California Hospital Assn. seeks to bar infection-reporting law - July 18
California patients can sue if personal data are released during billing disputes - July 11
California physicians, podiatrists pursue collaboration on education - June 27
California Blue Shield pledges $180 million in rebates - June 20
Aspiring to universal access: Healthy San Francisco opens up care - May 30
Judge tosses lawsuit seeking to bar physician rating program - April 11
California lawsuit accuses drug powerhouse of bribing doctors - April 4
$3 billion lawsuit alleges Medicare underpayment to physicians - March 14
HHS opens door to Medicaid eligibility cuts - March 7
Costliest hospitals report lowest death rates - Feb. 14
States' ability to slash Medicaid payments rests with top court - Jan. 31
California physicians sue over glaucoma treatment by optometrists - Jan. 31
What editorial writers are saying about mental health after the Arizona shootings - Editorial Jan. 31
Arizona rampage highlights barriers to intervention with volatile patients - Jan. 24
From family medicine to family reading - Jan. 24
California insurance regulator pushes to keep spending minimums at federal levels - Jan. 17
AMA webinars demonstrate how quality metrics improve care - Jan. 3

Last year - Back to top

1 in 88 U.S. 8-year-olds is diagnosed with autism today, compared with 1 in 110 in 2006. Read more

The Midwest 2011

(Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin)

Illinois case poses risk of peer review data going public - In the Courts Nov. 21
Using unclaimed bodies for dissection draws outcry - Nov. 7
Physician/bow hunter launches wildlife food company - Sept. 26
Patient death leads Illinois cardiologist to create germ-resistant garb - Sept. 19
Medical liability litigant can't sue separately for lost medical records - Sept. 12
Mayo, Cleveland clinics seek affiliations with doctors nationwide - Aug. 29
Criminal convictions and discipline of Illinois doctors returning online - Aug. 29
2 Blues plans work together on Medicaid management - Aug. 22
Illinois lawmakers challenge CMS rejection of anti-fraud law - Aug. 15
Indiana court: New claims can't be added to lawsuits after review - Aug. 15
In season of storms, physicians rise to occasion - July 18
More states face legal battles over abortion laws - July 18
Wisconsin to restore money raided from liability fund - July 11
Planned Parenthood sues states over abortion restrictions - June 20
Ohio court ruling may expose doctors to unending lawsuits - June 20
Doctors confront burst of mental health problems after disasters - June 6
Michigan law trumps HIPAA in patient privacy case - June 6
Ruling a victory for Ohio tort reform measures, physicians say - May 23
What editorial writers are saying about plans to reduce the federal deficit - Editorial May 9
Wisconsin high court weighs responsibilities on informed consent - In the Courts Apr 25
Justice Dept. expands probe of Blues' contracting - April 11
Video services, online toy sales fund mission work in Africa - March 21

Last year - Back to top

3 genes contain autism risk factors, although researchers estimate that 1,000 genes are tied to autism development. Read more

The Northeast 2011

(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont)

Highmark looks to expand hospital and physician ownership - Dec. 26
HHS deems first insurance rate hike unreasonable - Dec. 5
Disaster inspires New York ophthalmologist to create sturdier buildings - Nov. 21
Medical liability: Cutting costs from the bench - Oct 31
Challenge to N.H. medical liability fund holds up payments - Oct 3
New Jersey doctors must disclose specialty in medical liability suits - Sept. 19
Massachusetts patients stay with safety net providers after reform - Aug. 22
More than half of liability claims in Massachusetts end up being dropped - Aug. 8
Doctors and patients caught in hospital-health plan standoff - Aug. 8
Global payment alone won't solve Massachusetts' health market woes, report says - July 11
Massachusetts bill would give patients the right to film surgery - June 27
What editorial writers are saying about the politics of Medicare - Editorial June 6
Courts make opposite rulings on care of legal immigrants - May 30
New York bill seeks physician dress code to cut infections - May 23
Vermont approves universal health program - May 16
Aetna sues 9 N.J. doctors for "unconscionable" fees - May 16
End of coverage for uninsured in Pennsylvania sparks anger - May 2
"Germaphobe" creates disposable covers for remote controls - Apr 25
Cost control the next step for Massachusetts health reform - March 28
Bill would set Rhode Island physician pay minimum - March 28
New Jersey Blues ordered to pay $8 million for putting claims on hold - March 28
Finder of lost objects saved lives, left medical legacy - March 21
Headphones to drift off to sleep in, or run a mile in - March 7
Supreme Court to tackle access to prescription data - Feb. 21
2 health plans in New England to enter merger discussions - Feb. 7
New York City fights to keep graphic tobacco warnings - Jan. 17

Last year - Back to top

Nearly 1.6 million Americans received hospice care in 2010, up from about 25,000 in 1982. Read more

The South 2011

(Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia)

Do you practice in an antibiotic-prescribing hot spot? - Dec. 5
Judge halts Washington state Medicaid limits on ED visits - Dec. 5
Medical school's partnership with 5 hospitals aims to ease physician shortages - Dec. 5
Personhood initiative pushed in more states despite loss in Mississippi - Nov. 21
Many physicians unfamiliar with student-athlete heart screening guidelines - Nov. 21
Judge halts North Carolina law requiring ultrasounds before abortions - Nov. 14
Arizona appeals court to decide fate of Medicaid enrollment freeze - Nov. 7
Maryland internist finds inspiration in her grocer's freezer - Nov. 7
Texas tort reform advocates dispute critical report - Oct 31
Tennessee neurosurgeon tunes up by designing and selling guitars - Oct. 24
Bans help curb abuse of bath salts, officials say - Oct. 17
Tennessee oncologist's consignment sales are media sensations - Oct. 17
Federal judge bars Florida "don't ask" gun law - Sept. 26
North Carolina medical home program extended to private, state workers - Sept. 12
N.C. doctor's portable medical centers not just for disaster response - Aug. 29
6 Georgia doctors sue Medicare over low primary care pay - Aug. 22
Mississippi tort reforms lead to reduction in lawsuits - Aug. 22
Brain-damaged girl's parents can sue hospital and doctor, Florida court rules - Aug. 1
In season of storms, physicians rise to occasion - July 18
More states face legal battles over abortion laws - July 18
West Virginia high court upholds noneconomic damages cap - July 4
Tennessee approves noneconomic medical liability damages cap - June 27
Planned Parenthood sues states over abortion restrictions - June 20
New law lets rural Texas hospitals employ doctors - June 13
Family physician bases rehydration drink on intravenous saline - June 13
Georgia physicians must reveal if they don't have liability insurance - June 6
Should doctors ever turn away obese patients? - May 30
Brightly colored bee takes sting out of injections - May 30
Optometrists seek surgery rights in more states after Kentucky victory - May 23
Bottled water helps clean-water efforts overseas - May 16
Texas Senate passes Medicaid reform, shared savings bills - May 2
Revised "don't ask" gun bill advances in Florida - Apr 25
Oklahoma enacts cap on noneconomic damages - Apr 25
Health centers seek injunction in W.Va. Medicaid rate dispute - April 18
Pacifier/stuffed toy becomes the perfect fit for Atlanta doctor - April 4
51 died under Washington's assisted-suicide law in 2010 - March 28
More Texas doctors dipping into personal reserves to keep practices alive - March 14
Clinics fined $4.3 million for HIPAA violations - March 7
House panel OKs medical liability reform bill - Feb. 28
AMA board member answers military's call to duty - Feb. 28
Texas expands medical liability protections for state-employed doctors - Feb. 14
What editorial writers are saying about Judge Vinson's health reform ruling - Editorial Feb. 14
Physician delivers maternity lab coats - Feb. 7
Physicians, gun owners tangle over Florida "don't ask" gun bill - Jan. 31
Hospital system's enticement: a real estate deal - Jan. 31
Louisiana revamps Medicaid care coordination program - Jan. 24
Meaningful use checks begin to arrive - Jan. 24

Last year - Back to top

About half of the nation’s nearly 625 level III NICUs have inquired about a neonatal webcam system. Read more

State Roundups 2011

(Our coverage of trends in state legislatures and regulatory bodies is also a good source of information about developments in different parts of the country.)