Issue of Feb. 8, 2010.

American Medical News Web-only issue. Posted online only

"Every year, seniors, military families and their physicians are unwilling players in a game of legislative chicken as Congress takes us to the brink before stopping Medicare cuts at the last minute," says AMA President-elect Cecil B. Wilson, MD.

THIS WEEK

Federal deficit targeted
Obama calls for a commission to address the national debt, projected to double by 2020.
Government & Medicine
California limits wait times for appointments
Primary care doctors in the state will have to see HMO patients within 10 days.
Professional Issues
Hospital mass layoffs hit new high in 2009
In addition, ambulatory care settings had their second-highest number of mass layoffs since the figures were first tracked in 1996.
Business

Government & Medicine

Obama targets federal deficit
The president wants a commission to address the national debt, projected to double by 2020, with Medicare and Medicaid consuming about a quarter of spending.

Another Medicare pay patch on the horizon?
Enactment of a debt limit bill would allow for a five-year Medicare rate freeze without a requirement to find offsets.

Government news briefs:

Wisconsin may expand doctor liability
3 groups to accredit imaging services
Veterans care bill signed into law
HIV/AIDS panel gets new members
California Medical Assn. gets new CEO

Professional Issues

Calif. limits how long HMO patients wait for appointments
Primary care doctors in the state will have to see patients within 10 days. Physician organizations say some requirements in the new regulation are troublesome.

Space invader: Meteorite hits Virginia doctors' office
The exam room where the space rock landed has become the most requested room among patients, who joke about wearing hard hats to appointments.

Mental health treatment varies by location
Mexican-Americans and blacks receive the least care for depression, researchers find. Another study says multiple prescriptions may be causing some harmful interactions.

Ethics Forum: Social media consults may harbor dangers

Professional Issues news briefs:

Murder conviction in Kansas abortion doctor's death
Gene patent case begins
Oversight sought for VA med centers' physician credentialing program

Opinion

What editorial writers are saying about health reform after Brown's election
The victory by Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown to fill the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat stalls Democratic attempts to pass national health reform legislation.

Letters:

Business

Hospital mass layoffs hit new high in 2009
The number of workers affected by layoffs of 50 or more people also was high in ambulatory health services settings.

Pa. Blues plan may pursue capitation
Highmark will confirm only that it's thinking about "alternative reimbursement approaches." The plan canceled its last capitated contract in 2006.

Practice Management: Job-sharing can boost work-life balance, cut practice expenses

Business news briefs:

Hospital mergers down in 2009
Final safe harbor rule for small retirement plans issued
Medical society requesting documents in United-Health Net deal

Space invader The exam room where a meteorite hit a Virginia doctors' office has become the most requested room among patients, who joke about wearing hard hats to appointments. Story