TABLE OF CONTENTS

Feb. 20, 2012

American Medical News  Print edition cover date Feb. 27, 2012, vol. 55 no. 4.

Top stories - Government - Profession - Business - Opinion - Health - 2012 index

Top stories

Obama budget proposal sidesteps Medicare mandatory spending cuts
The administration again calls for ending steep physician pay cuts by eliminating Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula, but without saying how to finance it.

Fear of punitive response to hospital errors lingers
Most health professionals remain reluctant to discuss problems or report mistakes freely, despite appeals to hospitals that they stop pointing fingers when things go wrong.

Back to top

Government & Medicine

New electronic billing standards causing payment woes
Federal officials say initial problems with HIPAA 5010 have been fixed, but physicians want more time to upgrade systems.

Washington state to restrict emergency Medicaid payments
Initially blocked in court, the state Medicaid agency will deny payment for more than 500 conditions if treated in emergency departments instead of physician offices.

Georgia high court strikes down assisted suicide law
State prosecutors must dismiss a case against a doctor and three others charged with helping a patient kill himself in 2009.

News briefs:

• White House loosens contraception coverage mandate
• Texas abortion law can take effect
• Court says seniors cannot give up Medicare entitlement
• Hospital Compare website to include more infection data
• HHS aims to improve prenatal care, reduce pre-term births
• Medicaid drug pay changes expected to save $17.2 billion

Back to top

Professional Issues

Weighing alternative remedies
With 53% of Americans using dietary supplements, discussing such products should be part of primary care, doctors say. Physicians offer tips on addressing the subject.

Doctors win redress in online defamation suits
A former patient is ordered to pay $12 million to an Arizona cosmetic surgeon, while an appeals court rules that a Minnesota neurologist's case may continue.

Study: Doctors often lecture noncompliant patients too much
Many physicians don't ask open-ended questions about medication regimens. Experts say simply telling patients what to do is not always effective.

News briefs:

• Most cancer patients get end-of-life care talks late
• Study warns against overemphasizing patient satisfaction

Back to top

Business

Plans report healthy profits despite new cost demands
Executives say they expect members to use more health care this year, but few have reported signs of such an uptick.

Patients expected to use smartphones for health monitoring
A report says the promise of cost savings and efficiency will help the mobile monitoring device market.

Cardiologist revives North Carolina diving shop
His store sells scuba equipment, organizes dive trips and offers classes in "one of the most relaxing activities you can do."

Practice Management: Why some practices stopped accepting patients' cash

News briefs:

• Study finds more patients paying greater share for prescriptions
• Report: Mobile devices' portability contributing to data losses
• United pays $250,000 to settle with Vermont regulators over ads

Back to top

Looking beyond the hospital for patient safety
Policymakers must give a higher priority to patient safety research in the ambulatory care setting.

AMA Leader Commentary: In turbulent times, AMA projects physicians' united voice

Letters:

• Ad for American Medical News sends wrong message on infection control

Back to top

Health

Declining autopsy rates affect medicine and public health
In 2007, 9% of deaths were autopsied, compared with 19% in 1972. The procedure helps compile mortality statistics and improve care, pathologists say.

News briefs:

• Teen birth and abortion rates decrease, but ethnic and racial disparities persist
• Youth exposure to tobacco smoke in cars decreases

Back to top