Table of Contents: Nov 30, 2009

American Medical News vol. 52 no. 25. Posted online Nov. 23, 2009.

"For over a year, the AMA has continued to make the case to the FTC that physicians are not creditors, and the red flags rule should not apply to them -- now attorneys and members of Congress are also rightly raising concern with the FTC's broad interpretation," says AMA President-elect Cecil B. Wilson, MD.

THIS WEEK

Repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" urged
Delegates said the policy compromises the medical care of gay patients in the military.
Professional Issues
Stimulating EMR adoption
Hospital subsidies for doctors' EMRs are in flux now that federal funds are available.
Business
Teaching respect for obese patients
Education is key to remedying the bias patients feel some doctors have against them.
Professional Issues

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.

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.

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%.

Government news briefs:

Veterans' deaths linked to lack of health insurance
Medicare Part D earns strong marks from seniors in survey
Doctor settles HIV discrimination case

Professional Issues

Obese patients say some doctors disrespectful
Physicians who specialize in treating obesity say education is key to remedying this bias.

Digital divide emerges at hospitals serving poor patients
Slower adoption of health IT may be hurting care quality.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Geriatric Consult: At what age do cancer tests offer more risk than benefit?

Professional Issues news briefs:

Organized medicine files brief in juvenile sentencing case
Substance abuse resources
NIH awards grants to fund autism research

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.

AMA Leader Commentary: AMA at a crossroad: Let basic values be our guide

Letters:

When considering reform, find out what doctors think about it

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?

H1N1: Same code for diagnosis, new one for vaccine
CPT codes are the same for all flu, but H1N1 has separate procedure codes.

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.

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.

Technically Speaking: EMR school offers help for doctors wary of technology

Business news briefs:

Consultants' report finds CareFirst reserves not excessive
Public hearing scheduled to consider Coventry purchase of Kansas plan
MinuteClinic signs agreement with hospital chain

Vote refines AMA stance on health reform
The AMA House of Delegates rejected attempts to rescind support of a U.S. House health reform bill and any new government-sponsored health insurance plan during the 2009 Interim Meeting.
Story - AMA House - Slideshow