Regional coverage

The West

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

• Massachusetts hospitals launch patient apology program - May 21
• Appeals court to decide fate of Medicare audit challenges - May 7
• New curriculum helps residents talk about vaccine safety - April 23
• California, Vermont consider tougher vaccine-exemption rules - April 9
• Nevada court strikes down medical marijuana law - March 26
• Doctors can be sued for third-party injuries - March 19
• Southern states fare worst in well-being survey - March 12
• Supreme Court keeps California Medicaid pay cut lawsuit alive - March 5
• Doctors win redress in online defamation suits - Feb. 20
• Medical marijuana distributors subject to federal prosecution despite state law - Feb. 13
• Arizona internist puts on a show that welcomes hisses - Feb. 6
• California physician writes his own ticket with ergonomic pen - Jan. 16
• Arizona doctor comes up with a hands-free way to keep cool during workouts - Jan. 2

Last year - Back to top

In 2001, 3% of residents wanted to work as a hospital employee; in 2011, that number was 32%. Read more

The Midwest

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

• Massachusetts hospitals launch patient apology program - May 21
• Minnesota ruling could put medical staff rights at risk - In the Courts May 21
• Wisconsin doctors get support to help patients complete advance directives - April 30
• States target chronic disease to trim health care costs - March 19
• Illinois to start unsanctioned Medicaid anti-fraud efforts - Feb. 27
• Doctors win redress in online defamation suits - Feb. 20
• Rite Aid clinics place new twist on "doc-in-a-box" - Feb. 6
• Appeals court to rehear South Dakota law promoting abortion-suicide link - Jan. 2

Last year - Back to top

Patients want to use social media tools to manage their health care. Read more

The Northeast

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

• Massachusetts hospitals launch patient apology program - May 21
• N.Y. emergency physician finds happiness with goat dairy farm - May 7
• N.J. anesthesiologist makes hairpin turn and opens beauty salon - April 23
• Pennsylvania not obligated to transfer funds to liability account, court rules - April 16
• Pennsylvania anesthesiologist carves wood into art business - April 16
• California, Vermont consider tougher vaccine-exemption rules - April 9
• Delaware doctor designs car seat cover that’s actually easy to clean - March 26
• States target chronic disease to trim health care costs - March 19
• Insurers offer health system navigation to patients - March 19
• Physician assistants can't do needle EMG tests, N.J. top court rules - Feb. 13
• New York health plans rapped over out-of-date physician directories - Feb. 6
• Legal immigrants eligible for Massachusetts insurance plan - Jan. 23
• Pennsylvania insurer and health system agree on patient access - Jan. 9

Last year - Back to top

There is a 20% gap between what Medicare pays and what it costs physicians to treat patients. Read more

The South

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

• Court blocks elimination of funding for Texas Planned Parenthood clinics - May 14
• Virginia law promotes team-based care by doctors and nurse practitioners - April 23
• Doctor-supported ED access plan gains ground in Washington state - April 16
• Oklahoma judge rules pre-abortion sonogram law unconstitutional - April 9
• Louisiana high court upholds medical liability damages cap - April 2
• Steep fine sends message on patient data protection - April 2
• Alabama doctors can be sued for death of unborn, pre-viable child - March 12
• Doctor's studio promotes dancing for all ages - March 12
• Southern states fare worst in well-being survey - March 12
• Hospitals try new tack: Refer injured patients to attorneys - March 5
• Trends in physician office visits shift as money worries affect behavior - March 5
• Emergency physicians create inflatable tourniquet for military - Feb. 27
• Washington state to restrict emergency Medicaid payments - Feb. 20
• Georgia high court strikes down assisted suicide law - Feb. 20
• Cardiologist revives North Carolina diving shop - Feb. 20
• Arkansas court rejects expert witness provision in medical liability cases - Feb. 6
• Maryland envisions "enterprise zones" to attract physicians - Jan. 30
• Medicaid medical homes saved $1 billion in North Carolina - Jan. 23
• Medicare intensifying documentation reviews before payment - Jan. 16
• Oklahoma nonphysicians can determine workers' comp cases - Jan. 16
• South Carolina makes questionable bid for private health insurance exchange - Jan. 9
• Texas Medicaid managed care expansion approved - Jan. 2

Last year - Back to top

57% of physicians younger than 40 are pessimistic about the future of the U.S. health care system. Read more

State Roundups

(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.)

• Medicaid primary care pay: The next SGR? - May 21
• Stage 2 meaningful use rules sharply criticized by physicians - May 14
• Doctor-supported ED access plan gains ground in Washington state - April 16
• Resistance builds to managed care for dual eligibles - April 9
• House Republican budget seeks to slow Medicare, slash Medicaid - April 2
• Only 14 states post hospital data on surgical site infections - April 2
• Final insurance exchange rule prompts concerns about out-of-network care - March 26
• States target chronic disease to trim health care costs - March 19
• Southern states fare worst in well-being survey - March 12
• Supreme Court keeps California Medicaid pay cut lawsuit alive - March 5
• Illinois to start unsanctioned Medicaid anti-fraud efforts - Feb. 27
• Washington state to restrict emergency Medicaid payments - Feb. 20
• Doctors zero in on benefit gaps allowed under health reform - Feb. 13
• Hot-button issues drive state CME mandates - Feb. 13
• States ask Supreme Court to stop Medicaid expansion - Jan. 30
• Medicaid medical homes saved $1 billion in North Carolina - Jan. 23
• States consider requiring physicians to use drug-monitoring databases - Jan. 23
• Physician innovators among those advising on health delivery reforms - Jan. 16
• Governors push reclassification of marijuana for medical use - Jan. 16
• South Carolina makes questionable bid for private health insurance exchange - Jan. 9
• Pennsylvania insurer and health system agree on patient access - Jan. 9
• Texas Medicaid managed care expansion approved - Jan. 2

Last year - Back to top