SUBJ: Nov. 23: AMA meeting: Delegate vote refines AMA stance on system reform Monday Nov. 23, 2009 - American Medical News - www.amednews.com Fresh news posted every weekday. Stay informed: http://facebook.com/amednews - http://twitter.com/amednews TOP STORIES AMA meeting: Delegate vote refines AMA stance on system reform Delegates rejected attempts to rescind AMA support of a U.S. House health reform bill and any new government-sponsored health insurance plan. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prl11123.htm Liability premiums stay stable, but insurers warn this might not last An overall dip in lawsuit frequency -- 30% or more in some places -- is the driving force behind premium moderation. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prl21123.htm ************************* ADVERTISEMENT ************************ Stay informed American Medical News helps you keep pace with a changing profession. Subscribe to RSS feeds for your site, your blog, or yourself. http://www.e-healthcaresolutions.com/AMA/amednews/112309 **************************************************************** GOVERNMENT & MEDICINE Abortion amendment threatens to derail health reform Language limiting federal funding of abortion coverage ensured initial House passage but is sparking rebellion by Democrats favoring abortion rights. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/gvsa1123.htm Physicians get 4th reprieve from FTC identity theft rule The postponement until June 2010 comes as lawmakers consider exempting some physician practices from the "red flags" rule. The AMA wants all doctors excluded. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/gvsb1123.htm Medicare paid $92 million for 2008 quality bonuses The number of doctors who received a PQRI bonus increased by a third from 2007, but the participant success rate was only about 55%. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/gvsc1123.htm PROFESSIONAL ISSUES Obese patients say some doctors disrespectful Physicians who specialize in treating obesity say education is key to remedying this bias. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsa1123.htm Digital divide emerges at hospitals serving poor patients Slower adoption of health IT may be hurting care quality. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsb1123.htm AMA meeting: "Don't ask, don't tell" said to hurt patient care; repeal urged The House of Delegates also said a lack of marriage rights contributes to health care disparities that affect gay families. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsc1123.htm AMA meeting: No flu shot mandate for doctors; hand sanitizer pushed The AMA will study if there's any benefit from requiring all health professionals to receive influenza vaccine. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsd1123.htm AMA meeting: Delegates support review of marijuana's schedule I status A change could make it easier for researchers to test potential medical uses and develop a drug delivery form safer than smoking. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prse1123.htm AMA meeting: Keep hands off the handhelds, drivers urged Delegates said the use of cell phones and other devices while on the road distracts drivers and endangers public safety. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsf1123.htm AMA meeting: Better data protection needed from Blues New AMA policy says the national insurer needs to expand its offer of credit protection for doctors whose information was on a stolen laptop. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsg1123.htm AMA meeting: Nap time mandate for on-call residents rejected Delegates support tracking studies of how resident fatigue affects patient safety, but they say medicine -- not politicians -- should devise duty-hour rules. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsh1123.htm AMA meeting: Are doctors responsible for controlling health care costs? A CEJA open forum explored the role of physicians in an age of ever-rising medical spending. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsi1123.htm Geriatric Consult - At what age do cancer tests offer more risk than benefit? http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prca1123.htm OPINION Ingenix database replacement: Seeking a FAIR solution on out-of-network pay rates The new, independent database in development should lead to more payment accuracy and transparency for physicians and patients. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/edsa1123.htm AMA Leader Commentary - AMA at a crossroad: Let basic values be our guide http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/edca1123.htm Letters - When considering reform, find out what doctors think about it; and others http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/edlt1123.htm BUSINESS Hospitals and EMRs: Stimulating a connection Changes in Stark laws allow hospitals to offer EMR-implementation subsidies to physicians. Physicians can also tap into federal stimulus money for EMRs. How will the two funding options converge? http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/bisa1123.htm H1N1: Same code for diagnosis, new one for vaccine CPT codes are the same for all flu, but H1N1 has separate procedure codes. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/bisb1123.htm Tricare contracts may be re-bid after losing plans protest About $40 billion in contracts to treat military members and their families might be put back into play. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/bisc1123.htm Alabama doctors file complaints against state Blues plan Physicians say the insurer has failed to follow the pay policies and other terms of a class-action settlement. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/bisd1123.htm Technically Speaking - EMR school offers help for doctors wary of technology http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/bica1123.htm _____________________________________________________________________ SITE QUICK-GUIDE: * Latest issue www.amednews.com/new * Past issues www.amednews.com/archives * Topics www.amednews.com/topics * Multimedia www.amednews.com/multimedia * RSS www.amednews.com/newsfeed * Twitter http://twitter.com/amednews * Facebook http://facebook.com/amednews _____________________________________________________________________ You are signed up as: xxxxx UPDATE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS: http://www.ama-assn.org/xxxxx MANAGE AMA E-NEWSLETTERS: http://www.ama-assn.org/xxxxx REPORT A PROBLEM: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/top/contacttech.htm - or simply reply to this mail. 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