Business

LAST WEEK

• » Florida hospital group shuts primary care centers - Nov. 19
• » Donations to health care institutions drying up - Nov. 18
• » Kids' BMI data may be added to vaccine tracking - Nov. 17
• » Health reform on investors' minds as insurers report earnings - Nov. 16
• » Privacy breach rules require practices to report only harm done - Nov. 16
• » Fewer temporary physicians needed - Nov. 16
• » Contract Language: New laws on patient security breaches mean your associate contracts probably need updating - Nov. 16

Optometrists can prescribe oral medications in all but 3 states. Read more

Practice management

• » Medical supplies still selling, but pace is slowing - Nov. 11
• » Practice Management: Misclassifying nonexempt employees as exempt can cost you - Nov. 9
• » Practice Management: Review what expanded ADA means for your practice - Nov. 2
• » Need a practice management system? Here's what to look for - Nov. 2
• » Technically Speaking: Smartphone use pushed by hospitals - Oct. 26
• » Contract Language: Plan to advertise? Be mindful of ethical, legal rules - Oct. 19
• » Ownership loses its luster: Physicians less likely to go solo - Oct. 19
• » Practice Management: How to code, bill for H1N1 flu vaccine - Oct. 12
• » Practice Management: Review your sick-leave policy before flu season hits - Oct. 5
• » Electronic medical records: How implementation will affect staffing - Oct. 5
• » Technically Speaking: Your practice really needs broadband - Sept. 28
• » Practices must have plans for handling health data breaches - Sept. 14
• » Rapid rise in COBRA enrollment creates billing hassles - Sept. 14
• » Practice Management: Hunting for a small business idea? Listen to your patients - Sept. 7
• » H1N1 on the horizon: Here's how to prepare your practice -- and staff - Sept. 7
• » Sliding economy leaves physicians wary about collections - Aug. 31
• » Tax refund deadline looming for money-losing practices - Aug. 31
• » Practice Management: How to reduce your practice's credit card fees - Aug. 17
• » Practice Management: If job candidate has a criminal record, ask questions - Aug. 10
• » Technically Speaking: Update employee policies to include guidelines for social networking - July 27
• » Contract Language: Making sense of extended warranties for medical equipment - July 13
• » Practice Management: Going green can help your budget - July 6
• » Should doctors use Twitter? - June 29
• » Practice Management: Overwhelmed by phone calls? Adding lines, staff not the answer - June 29
• » Contract Language: Law means rethinking how you protect patient data - June 29
• » More practices refusing to accept credit cards from patients - June 22
• » Technically Speaking: Before buying an EMR system, learn from others' mistakes - June 22
• » 5 answers to your recession questions: Tips to keep your practice solvent - June 15
• » Contract Language: Dissolving a practice takes more than closing the door - June 15
• » Less paperwork, more time with patients keep doctors in medicine - June 10
• » Practice Management: Need to lay off employees? Be honest -- and work out details first - June 8
• » More refining sought for computerized physician order entry systems - June 5
• » AMA, PPO group offer contracting guide - June 2
• » How to spot a Ponzi scheme: Experts suggest ways to evaluate a pitch - June 1
• » Practice Management: Good scheduling can link vaccinations to well-child visits - June 1

Billing

• » Need a practice management system? Here's what to look for - Nov. 2
• » AHIP, Blues association create payer portal - Oct. 21
• » Patients more confident they can afford care - Sept. 15
• » Rapid rise in COBRA enrollment creates billing hassles - Sept. 14
• » Practices see slow progress in instant claims adjudication - Aug. 17
• » Practice Management: How to reduce your practice's credit card fees - Aug. 17
• » Facility fees added to patient bills have some crying foul - Aug. 10
• » Tennessee Medical Assn. sues collections firm - July 6
• » Minn. health plan consortium develops online claims portal - June 29
• » Ingenix purchases claims-processing company - June 16
• » Doctors in Indiana and Ohio want action on claims delays - June 8
• » Indiana patients to get reminder: Pay your doctors - June 4
• » Health plan requirements cost practices billions, with the per-doctor average near $70,000 - June 1

Tech

• » Privacy breach rules require practices to report only harm done - Nov. 16
• » Kaiser receives $54 million in EMR research grants - Nov. 10
• » Need a practice management system? Here's what to look for - Nov. 2
• » AMA's flu site 1st to link to care after rating symptoms - Nov. 2
• » EMR packages being bundled as single product - Oct. 30
• » EMR packages being bundled as single product - Oct. 30
• » Secondary use of EMR data seen reducing costs, improving quality - Oct. 23
• » Technically Speaking: Is speech recognition technology ready for prime time? - Oct. 19
• » Electronic medical records: How implementation will affect staffing - Oct. 5
• » Technically Speaking: Your practice really needs broadband - Sept. 28
• » Technically Speaking: Don't let EMRs cut into your doctor-patient time - Sept. 21
• » Promise of stimulus money drives up health IT stock prices - Sept. 14
• » Technically Speaking: How to determine an EHR's "usability" - Aug. 31
• » Once-influential health technology alliance set to disband - Aug. 31
• » Technically Speaking: Tap into proper expertise and support before joining EHR "gold rush" - Aug. 24
• » Open-source EHRs: Free software offers alternatives - Aug. 24
• » Health information networks gain wider use - Aug. 17
• » United, Cisco plan national telehealth network - Aug. 14
• » Wikipedia shows NIH scientists the basics of adding to site - Aug. 10
• » Louisiana creates loan program for EHR purchases - Aug. 6
• » AMA announces partnership with e-prescribing vendor - July 30
• » United predicts big savings in health IT adoption - July 28
• » Technically Speaking: Update employee policies to include guidelines for social networking - July 27
• » Mass. bill would offer tax breaks for e-prescribing - July 24
• » Technically Speaking: How CCHIT influences your health tech purchasing - July 20
• » AMA enhances its e-prescribing help site - July 14
• » N.J. bill would require certified health IT - July 10
• » Confidence low that stimulus will drive health IT adoption - July 2
• » United subsidiary joins with American Well to offer online visits nationally - July 1
• » GE offers EMR financing - June 30
• » Should doctors use Twitter? - June 29
• » Minn. health plan consortium develops online claims portal - June 29
• » Social Security says test proves benefits of health data exchange - June 24
• » AMA partnering with Microsoft on physician Web portal - June 22
• » Technically Speaking: Before buying an EMR system, learn from others' mistakes - June 22
• » Technically Speaking: Prepare to meet "meaningful use" EMR requirement - June 15
• » Researchers to study data from VA EMR system - June 8
• » More refining sought for computerized physician order entry systems - June 5

Health industry

• » Health care layoffs already exceed last year's totals - Nov. 2
• » Physician pay cuts on horizon at Michigan Blues? - Oct. 12
• » Nonprofit Blues plans report declining earnings in 2008 - Oct. 5
• » Insurers say system reform won't put them out of business - Sept. 28
• » Health insurers take to Twitter - Sept. 28
• » United, WellPoint accused of creating artificial grassroots lobbying efforts - Sept. 24
• » Mass. turns spotlight on insurance executives' pay - Sept. 23
• » California nursing association says insurers reject 22% of claims - Sept. 22
• » Promise of stimulus money drives up health IT stock prices - Sept. 14
• » Hospital profit margins improving - Sept. 10
• » More hospitals looking to merge, buy physician groups - Sept. 7
• » Companies say health system reform is driving layoffs - Sept. 4
• » Judge finalizes United, shareholder settlement on stock backdating - Aug. 26
• » Health plans get negative credit rating - Aug. 25
• » Health plans' profits decline along with membership numbers - Aug. 24
• » Uptick in medical supply sales suggests recession may be easing - Aug. 24
• » Blues plans choose online cost comparison tool - Aug. 21
• » Practices see slow progress in instant claims adjudication - Aug. 17
• » Patient satisfaction with PPOs driven down by administrative hassles - Aug. 17
• » United, Cisco plan national telehealth network - Aug. 14
• » 200 Kentucky doctors booted from Humana networks - Aug. 13
• » Employer mandates pick up another big business backer - Aug. 12
• » "Gently" manged care (America's Health Insurance Plans annual meeting) - Aug. 10
• » Facility fees added to patient bills have some crying foul - Aug. 10
• » Pennsylvania to examine its Blues market - Aug. 10
• » Humana, Health Net protest loss of Tricare contracts - Aug. 4
• » United to buy Health Net business in Northeast - Aug. 3
• » Indiana medical association files complaint against WellPoint over payment problems - Aug. 3
• » AMA report: Payers more accurate, transparent, but problems continue - Aug. 3
• » Connecticut law requires insurers to list full fee schedule - July 31
• » United predicts big savings in health IT adoption - July 28
• » Change in Tricare contractors disappointing news for Humana, Health Net - July 27
• » Nonprofit medical systems see their financial health worsening - July 27
• » Aetna offers small businesses plan with no co-pay for preventive visits - July 23
• » Wal-Mart backs employer mandate for health coverage - July 20
• » Mayo Clinic to open branch in Mall of America - July 9
• » Florida insurers forced to honor assignment of benefits - July 8
• » Insurers' tobacco investments questioned - June 23
• » Senate report criticizes plans' use of Ingenix database - July 13
• » Large health plans work together on medical home pilots - July 13
• » Tennessee Medical Assn. sues collections firm - July 6
• » Insurers defend rescissions, take heat for lack of transparency - July 6
• » United subsidiary joins with American Well to offer online visits nationally - July 1
• » Minn. health plan consortium develops online claims portal - June 29
• » Final health plan reaches settlement over Ingenix database - June 29
• » New York physicians want possible Health Net deal scrutinized - June 25
• » Insurers' tobacco investments questioned - June 23
• » Ingenix purchases claims-processing company - June 16
• » WellCare settles SEC probe; announces layoffs - June 12
• » Michigan attorney general tries to block Blues' rate hikes - June 11
• » Doctors in Indiana and Ohio want action on claims delays - June 8
• » Health plan CEO pay declines in weakened economy - June 1
• » Health plan requirements cost practices billions, with the per-doctor average near $70,000 - June 1

Economy

• » Florida hospital group shuts primary care centers - Nov. 19
• » Donations to health care institutions drying up - Nov. 18
• » Fewer temporary physicians needed - Nov. 16
• » Health care spending for middle-age Americans booming - Nov. 9
• » Recession leads many patients to skip routine care - Nov. 5
• » Health care layoffs already exceed last year's totals - Nov. 2
• » Practices lose financial ground as recession outpaces productivity - Oct. 26
• » Health plans eye Medicaid as profit source - Oct. 26
• » Michigan hospital to cut physician pay - Oct. 14
• » Physician pay cuts on horizon at Michigan Blues? - Oct. 12
• » Employers shifting more health costs to workers - Oct. 8
• » Number of health care jobs increasing - Sept. 30
• » Patients more confident they can afford care - Sept. 15
• » Rapid rise in COBRA enrollment creates billing hassles - Sept. 14
• » Hospital profit margins improving - Sept. 10
• » Job-hunting in a recession: It may take some searching - Sept. 7
• » More hospitals looking to merge, buy physician groups - Sept. 7
• » Companies say health system reform is driving layoffs - Sept. 4
• » COBRA enrollment doubles after premium subsidy kicks in - Sept. 2
• » Sliding economy leaves physicians wary about collections - Aug. 31
• » Patients choosing less-expensive options in plastic surgery - Aug. 27
• » Health plans get negative credit rating - Aug. 25
• » Health plans' profits decline along with membership numbers - Aug. 24
• » When patients lose jobs, physicians feel impact - Aug. 24
• » Uptick in medical supply sales suggests recession may be easing - Aug. 24
• » Number of retail clinics shrinking; growth slows as partnerships sought with hospitals - July 27
• » Nonprofit medical systems see their financial health worsening - July 27
• » Hospital job growth flattens - July 16
• » Confidence low that stimulus will drive health IT adoption - July 2
• » Quick View: Ways patients are cutting health care costs - June 29
• » Medical office buildings buffered from real estate slide - June 22
• » Reactor shutdown creates medical isotope shortage - June 16
• » Practices feel financial pressure as patients ration their own care - June 15
• » 5 answers to your recession questions: Tips to keep your practice solvent - June 15
• » Massachusetts considers capitated insurance payments - June 1
• » Health plan CEO pay declines in weakened economy - June 1

Hospitals

• » SEC inquiry sparks concern about HCA IPO - Oct. 28
• » Number of health care jobs increasing - Sept. 30
• » Hospital profit margins improving - Sept. 10
• » More hospitals looking to merge, buy physician groups - Sept. 7
• » Number of retail clinics shrinking; growth slows as partnerships sought with hospitals - July 27
• » Hospital financing gets easier with HUD's new insurance rule - July 20
• » Hospital job growth flattens - July 16
• » Hospital system tries letting patients read physicians' notes - July 6

States

• » Kids' BMI data may be added to vaccine tracking - Nov. 17
• » WellPoint subsidiary drops coverage in Illinois, Texas - Nov. 13
• » New database for out-of-network pay set to replace disputed Ingenix system - Nov. 9
• » Former managed care official fined in United-PacifiCare merger - Nov. 6
• » Individual insurance policy rules changing in Wisconsin - Nov. 6
• » Recession leads many patients to skip routine care - Nov. 5
• » Mass. physicians urge caution on payment overhaul - Oct. 29
• » Rescission legislation vetoed - Oct. 26
• » Contract Language: Plan to advertise? Be mindful of ethical, legal rules - Oct. 19
• » Indiana, Ohio link health exchanges - Oct. 2
• » United, WellPoint accused of creating artificial grassroots lobbying efforts - Sept. 24
• » When patients lose jobs, physicians feel impact - Aug. 24
• » 200 Kentucky doctors booted from Humana networks - Aug. 13
• » Mass. doctors urge caution as state ponders shift to global payments - Aug. 10
• » Pennsylvania to examine its Blues market - Aug. 10
• » Louisiana creates loan program for EHR purchases - Aug. 6
• » Connecticut law requires insurers to list full fee schedule - July 31
• » Mass. bill would offer tax breaks for e-prescribing - July 24
• » Californians back health insurance code of conduct - July 21
• » California begins licensing discount medical plans - July 15
• » N.J. bill would require certified health IT - July 10
• » Florida insurers forced to honor assignment of benefits - July 8
• » Tennessee Medical Assn. sues collections firm - July 6
• » Minn. health plan consortium develops online claims portal - June 29
• » New York physicians want possible Health Net deal scrutinized - June 25
• » Drug czar pushes Rx monitoring for all states - June 17
• » Michigan attorney general tries to block Blues' rate hikes - June 11
• » Doctors in Indiana and Ohio want action on claims delays - June 8
• » Indiana patients to get reminder: Pay your doctors - June 4
• » Massachusetts considers capitated insurance payments - June 1

Organized medicine

• » Indiana medical association files complaint against WellPoint over payment problems - Aug. 3
• » AMA announces partnership with e-prescribing vendor - July 30
• » AMA report: Payers more accurate, transparent, but problems continue - Aug. 3
• » AMA enhances its e-prescribing help site - July 14
• » Tennessee Medical Assn. sues collections firm - July 6
• » AMA partnering with Microsoft on physician Web portal - June 22
• » AMA, PPO group offer contracting guide - June 2