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Index 2004: News in brief

Government - Profession - Business - Health - 2003 - 2005

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Government & Medicine briefs 2004

• AMA to voice concerns to DEA over pain medication prescribing policy - Dec. 27
• Delegates back AMA's work on Medicare drug benefit - Dec. 27
• AMA supports asthma drugs in schools - Dec. 27
• AMA board to study uncompensated care proposal - Dec. 27
• Lupron maker settles suit over drug's pricing - Dec. 20
• CMS seeks input on Rx benefit - Dec. 20
• Government alleges kickback, asks for more time in Medco case - Dec. 20
• U.S. Supreme Court hears medical marijuana arguments - Dec. 13
• First person convicted of HIPAA violation gets jail time - Dec. 13
• Virginia medical society focuses on tort reform - Dec. 13
• Texas physician group loses appeal of antitrust complaint - Dec. 13
• Judges put ballot initiatives on hold - Dec. 6
• Doctors in the House and Senate - Dec. 6
• Pay for performance scrutinized - Nov. 22/29
• Physicians settle Medicare billing charges - Nov. 22/29
• Idaho SCHIP premium assistance gets federal OK - Nov. 22/29
• Court tosses out one of the lawsuits against nonprofit hospitals - Nov. 15
• Coverage satisfaction waning - Nov. 15
• Bush signs measure to fight juvenile diabetes - Nov. 15
• Part of Social Security increases to go to Medicare - Nov. 8
• Health centers do well by doing good - Nov. 8
• Panel rules against consolidating suits over hospital charges - Nov. 8
• Medicare adopts changes in pay for cancer drugs - Nov. 1
• Calif. officials support emergency department funding ballot question - Nov. 1
• N.J. panel votes against doctors' "access fees" - Oct. 25
• Senate passes anabolic steroid bill - Oct. 25
• Medicaid eats up state budgets - Oct. 25
• Health insurance tax credits' flaws dampen interest - Oct. 18
• Rx monitoring bill passes House - Oct. 18
• Early setback for Medicare PPOs - Oct. 18
• Medicare seeks help with DME bidding - Oct. 18
• Calif. medical staff governance bill signed into law - Oct. 11
• Doctors push for Washington state tort reform initiative - Oct. 11
• Court orders changes to Nevada liability reform ballot question - Oct. 11
• High-risk pool funding gets Senate panel's nod - Oct. 11
• Rise in health insurance premiums outstrips earnings - Oct. 11
• Medicare expands PET coverage - Oct. 4
• Woman behind Roe v. Wade loses request to have case reopened - Oct. 4
• Chronically ill hit by high health costs - Oct. 4
• HHS extends its own HIPAA deadline - Oct. 4
• Patients mum about skipping drugs because of their cost - Sept. 27
• "Partial-birth abortion" ban again ruled unconstitutional - Sept. 27
• Advocates for breast cancer patients back drug reimportation - Sept. 27
• Medicare drug project enrollment falls below expectations - Sept. 27
• AIDS group sues drugmaker over prices - Sept. 27
• Physician pay increase cited in higher Medicare beneficiary premiums - Sept. 20
• HHS sued over interpreter rules - Sept. 20
• Insurers sue Pa. over coverage of addicts' medical care - Sept. 20
• Medicare plans coverage for new carotid stent - Sept. 20
• More Americans lack health insurance - Sept. 13
• "Partial-birth abortion" ban loses in court again - Sept. 13
• No second term for HHS' Thompson - Sept. 13
• Drug firm settles New York lawsuit over Paxil data - Sept. 13
• HIPAA privacy law nets first conviction - Sept. 13
• N.C. physician-hospital group settles antitrust charges - Sept. 13
• CMS pushes for faster adoption of medical technology in Medicare - Sept. 6
• Drug benefit demo expanded - Sept. 6
• Health savings accounts poll well, insurers say - Sept. 6
• NIH won't override Norvir patent - Aug. 23/30
• Stem cell research debated - Aug. 23/30
• New York City sues drug makers over Medicaid drug prices - Aug. 23/30
• Cost inflation alleged against N.Y. pharmacy benefit manager - Aug. 23/30
• Government stalling medical marijuana study, researchers charge - Aug. 23/30
• Mississippi abortion ban lifted - Aug. 16
• Parental consent law struck down - Aug. 16
• Drugmaker will pay millions to resolve Claritin pricing lawsuit - Aug. 16
• Medicare pay increases announced for hospitals and other facilities - Aug. 16
• Medicaid waivers questioned - Aug. 16
• Medicare fee update proposed - Aug. 9
• Tort reform on Wyoming ballot - Aug. 9
• Medicare outpatient drug benefit rule unveiled - Aug. 9
• SCHIP growth slows - Aug. 9
• Lawmakers target underage drinking - Aug. 9
• AMA urges Illinois court to uphold verdict against Philip Morris - Aug. 2
• Medicare changes policy on obesity - Aug. 2
• No drugs from Down Under - Aug. 2
• Judge rules against Missouri's "partial-birth abortion" ban - Aug. 2
• TAP officials acquitted in Lupron case in Boston - Aug. 2
• Senate leader lays out health plan - July 26
• Ohio voters support appeals - July 26
• Medicare drug discount site criticized - July 26
• Health centers, public hospitals missed out on drug discounts - July 26
• Percentage of uninsured children drops - July 19
• Lawmaker proposes health insurance without bounds - July 19
• Millions can't pay their medical bills - July 19
• Md. tort reform task force named - July 19
• HHS expands access to rapid HIV test - July 19
• Physicians express concern over "partial-birth abortion" subpoenas - July 12
• Medicare and NCI forge alliance - July 12
• AMA lobbies for patient safety legislation - July 12
• Washington state doctors file liability reform ballot initiative - July 12
• D.C. City Council contemplates liability reform - July 12
• FDA tobacco measure tied to tax bill - July 12
• Hospital charges to the uninsured to be investigated - July 12
• Physicians want naturopaths dropped from Medicare coverage committee - July 5
• AMA to study a separate Medicare for the disabled - July 5
• Physicians seek answers on exclusive credentialing - July 5
• Health plans should shorten doctors' phone wait times, AMA says - July 5
• Physicians request duty-free status for medical equipment donations - July 5
• AMA to study new EMTALA rules - July 5
• Doctors oppose self-referral law changes regarding imaging - July 5
• Use of DEA numbers should be tightened, doctors say - July 5
• Medicare pay delay nears for noncompliant electronic claims - June 28
• Tort reform will be election issue - June 28
• Reforms pass one hurdle in Illinois - June 28
• Miss. lawmakers vote to strengthen liability cap - June 28
• New Mexico group settles price-fixing charges - June 28
• Texas sues drugmakers over Medicaid pricing - June 28
• Lawmakers call for investigation of Norvir price hike - June 28
• CMS creates EMTALA advisory group - June 21
• Wis. sues drugmakers over pricing - June 21
• Medicaid access to specialists is low - June 21
• Reimport request denied - June 21
• Senators urge CMS to review assumptions on physician payment - June 14
• Bush promotes community health center funding - June 14
• Sen. Byrd signs onto association health plan bill - June 14
• Tenn. Legislature passes teaching hospital immunity bill - June 14
• Iowa tort reform legislation rejected - June 7
• Study finds EDs face financial woes - June 7
• Medicare pays more for managed care - June 7
• Hospitals ready to report quality data - June 7
• Illegal immigrant ID bill defeated - June 7
• Health costs worry small firms - June 7
• Reimportation lawsuit filed in Minn. - June 7
• Minn. judge allows access to drugmakers' files in reimportation case - May 24/31
• Washington physician group settles fraud charges - May 24/31
• Senate passes Medicaid buy-in for children with disabilities - May 24/31
• Lawmakers ask Bush to ease stem cell restrictions - May 17
• Ky. Supreme Court ruling backs local smoking bans - May 17
• Missouri governor vetoes tort reform - May 17
• HHS offers blueprint to better health for Americans - May 17
• Study doubts costs savings from Medicare PPOs - May 17
• Bush wants electronic health records - May 10
• CMS addresses enrollment delays - May 10
• Telehealth legislation proposed - May 10
• Mass. tort reform bill gets panel's endorsement - May 10
• Judge moves to stop Texas Medicaid restrictions - May 10
• AIDS patients file class-action suit over Norvir price hike - May 10
• Medicaid jumps into drug pool - May 10
• U.S. House sits on genetics bill - May 3
• Improper billing collections just a drop in the bucket - May 3
• Drugmaker Web site links patients to discount programs - May 3
• Ohio liability insurers questioned about rate setting - May 3
• Medicare streamlines drug card enrollment - May 3
• CMS issues call for chronic care management demo - May 3
• Order flu vaccine now - April 26
• Iowa tort reform bill passes - April 26
• Georgia Legislature adjourns without tort reform - April 26
• Ohio passes liability insurance market backup plan - April 26
• Congressmen push for changes in physician pay formula - April 26
• HIPAA payment delay for noncompliant e-claims under fire - April 19
• CMA issues legal brief opposing "partial-birth abortion" law - April 19
• HIPAA lawsuit dismissed - April 19
• Encouraging high-risk health insurance pools - April 19
• Medicaid costs less - April 19
• Calif. doctors' need for speed - April 12
• Health centers expand access - April 12
• Organ donation funds authorized - April 12
• Low response to tax credit program - April 12
• Drug reimportation panel meets - April 5
• HSA-linked bill introduced - April 5
• Ohio malpractice panel issues report - April 5
• Michigan judge says doctor must share pertinent patient records - April 5
• Reimportation stance could be stumbling block for CMS candidate - March 22/29
• Disease management demo gives HHS unprecedented authority - March 22/29
• Calif. judge rules against records release in late-term abortion lawsuit - March 22/29
• HHS targets nation's waistline - March 22/29
• Pa. lawmakers consider patient tax - March 15
• Georgia committee passes tort reform; doctors find fault with bills - March 15
• Fight continues against government request for abortion files - March 15
• Oklahoma doctors rally for tort reform - March 15
• Missouri panel passes liability bill - March 8
• Wyoming voters back tort reform - March 8
• Judge again refuses to allow 5% Medi-Cal cut - March 8
• Calif. physician group settles in antitrust case - March 8
• Uninsured discounts OK, HHS says - March 8
• Drug reimportation on the rise - March 8
• Washington Senate passes tort reform - March 1
• Illinois bill aims to improve liability insurance climate - March 1
• Federal government backtracks on disparities report - March 1
• Stroke prevention bill offered - March 1
• SCHIP up by 5.8 million children - March 1
• Bill would halt growth of long-term-care hospitals - March 1
• Tort reform revival possible in Senate - Feb. 23
• Cracking down on Internet doctors - Feb. 23
• Doctors call for mental health parity - Feb. 23
• Australia bans drug reimportation - Feb. 23
• Insurer promises rate relief if Washington state passes tort reform - Feb. 23
• Virginia doctors lobby Legislature for cap on noneconomic damage awards - Feb. 23
• Doctors, governor rally for tort reform in Kentucky - Feb. 23
• CMS will take comments online - Feb. 16
• S.D. lawmakers opt against lowering medical malpractice award cap - Feb. 16
• OIG finds Medicare overpayment for drugs - Feb. 16
• Physicians continue to fight for change - Feb. 9
• Public has doubts about drug benefit - Feb. 9
• Bill would make ED check citizenship - Feb. 9
• Guarding against abuse - Feb. 9
• Medicare increases payments for critical access hospitals - Feb. 9
• NIMH's leader defends funding priorities - Feb. 9
• Medicare health plan pay to increase - Feb. 2
• Report finds problems with payment for assistants at surgery - Feb. 2
• Abbott settlement funds help state Medicaid programs - Feb. 2
• Drug reimportation fight continues - Jan. 26
• For-profit Medicare plans don't skimp more on expensive procedures - Jan. 26
• State fights court's rejection of N.H. parental notification law - Jan. 26
• Ephedra banned by FDA - Jan. 19
• CMS issues Medicare physician pay rule, extends participation deadline - Jan. 19
• Court ruling stops Calif. Medicaid cuts - Jan. 19
• Wash. physicians blast tort reform package - Jan. 19
• Senate takes aim at employer health benefits - Jan. 19
• Hospitals urged to help uninsured - Jan. 19
• Wis. governor signs patient compensation fund legislation - Jan. 19
• Mental health parity law renewed - Jan. 12
• Medical marijuana case allowed to proceed - Jan. 12
• HIPAA has its day in court - Jan. 5
• AMA to push for Medicaid tax credits - Jan. 5
• Doctors to fight for better Medicare infusion therapy pay - Jan. 5
• AMA members call for right to bargain collectively - Jan. 5
• AMA votes to push for weapons ban extension - Jan. 5
• Doctors vote for crackdown on unsafe online drug sales - Jan. 5
• AMA seeks protection of peer review materials - Jan. 5
• Doctors support FDA drug-tracking efforts - Jan. 5

Last year's news briefs - Back to top.

$19 billion of the stimulus bill is for incentives to encourage health IT adoption. Read more

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Professional Issues briefs 2004

• AMA finishes 2004 in the black - Dec. 27
• Harassment policy adopted - Dec. 27
• AMA encourages patient action on end-of-life-care issues - Dec. 27
• AMA to monitor draft plan - Dec. 27
• Patient safety advocate named to JCAHO board - Dec. 27
• $30 million verdict reinstated by Ohio judge - Dec. 20
• Mass. medical association to produce TV show - Dec. 20
• La. physician named country doctor of the year - Dec. 20
• Match expands its resident representation - Dec. 20
• JCAHO chief touts pay for performance - Dec. 20
• Boost in drug-monitoring funds - Dec. 13
• AHRQ budget increased - Dec. 13
• Visa program on track for extension - Dec. 13
• MSNJ president says high jury award underscores need for tort reform - Dec. 13
• Specialty physicians issue 2005 legislative agenda - Dec. 13
• First woman named neurosurgical chair - Dec. 13
• Feds petition Supreme Court to review assisted-suicide case - Dec. 6
• La. PAs get prescribing rights - Dec. 6
• HMO class action suit another step closer to trial - Dec. 6
• Okla. optometrists get OK for scalpel use - Dec. 6
• Cancer society elects surgeon as new president - Dec. 6
• Resident program rules see revamp - Nov. 22/29
• Medical school, physician honored for service, humanism - Nov. 22/29
• Kevorkian appeal denied - Nov. 22/29
• ACCME clarifies standards on conflict of interest - Nov. 15
• Physicians in crisis states contemplate moving - Nov. 15
• Former paramedic chosen as president of ACEP - Nov. 15
• Fla. physician honored - Nov. 15
• DEA drops pain FAQs from Web site - Nov. 8
• Md. voters express concern about liability crisis - Nov. 8
• AMA past president leading World Medical Assn. - Nov. 8
• Pennsylvania Medical Society names new president - Nov. 8
• Organ removal was not homicide - Nov. 1
• Kidney-transplant waiting list hits all-time high - Nov. 1
• Medical board honors doctor with award - Nov. 1
• AMA, WMA defend indoor smoking ban - Oct. 25
• Pain experts discuss drug dependence, tolerance at attorneys general seminar - Oct. 25
• Women's health expert to lecture in Philadelphia, receive service award - Oct. 25
• International virtual medical school moves forward with online curriculum - Oct. 25
• Researchers win prize for work on sense of smell - Oct. 18
• Schwarzenegger signs medical investigations bill - Oct. 18
• Judge clears Aetna settlement - Oct. 18
• W.Va. Supreme Court says no to physician's lawsuit - Oct. 18
• Second Match under consideration - Oct. 18
• New guide offers direction on cultural sensitivity - Oct. 18
• Fla. Supreme Court strikes down "Terri's Law" - Oct. 11
• Further rate reductions in Texas - Oct. 11
• Calif. medical staff approves settlement with hospital - Oct. 11
• Meeting explores time of Lewis, Clark - Oct. 11
• Internal medicine board appoints new vice president - Oct. 11
• Wyoming makes CME mandatory - Oct. 11
• Medical schools strengthen conflict-of-interest policies - Oct. 11
• Liability crisis forcing patients to change physicians - Oct. 4
• Liability rates go up in Maryland - Oct. 4
• Tort reform infomercials under fire - Oct. 4
• Family medicine residents favor keeping three-year programs - Oct. 4
• More organ solicitation Web sites developed - Oct. 4
• JCAHO appoints panel to study cultural issues in hospitals - Oct. 4
• 5.5 million health care workers needed - Sept. 27
• Eisenberg patient safety award winners announced - Sept. 27
• Doctor arrested for refusing to draw blood from stabbing suspect - Sept. 27
• CDC sponsors new fellowship in epidemiology - Sept. 27
• ACOG Red Alert list adds 3 states - Sept. 20
• NIH accepts applications for student loan repayment for research careers - Sept. 20
• Calif. oral surgeons lose legislative battle to expand scope of practice - Sept. 20
• Study says 17% of dying Oregonians discuss assisted suicide with families - Sept. 20
• Alliance of Specialty Medicine honors lawmakers with leadership award - Sept. 20
• Suspect charged in Mass. lab bombing - Sept. 20
• Doctors form insurance firm - Sept. 13
• On Death and Dying author dies - Sept. 13
• Former UC medical student loses discrimination case - Sept. 13
• Arizona doctor named Indian Physician of Year - Sept. 13
• Federal judge rules on witness pay - Sept. 6
• New members join AMA Foundation board of directors - Sept. 6
• Veteran California lobbyist dies - Sept. 6
• Christian Medical Assn. lobbies for adult stem cell research - Sept. 6
• Pfizer funds health literacy research - Sept. 6
• AHRQ announces grant limits - Sept. 6
• Personality tests could predict physician burnout - Sept. 6
• Ophthalmologist to receive humanitarian award - Sept. 6
• New course addresses patient-physician communication - Sept. 6
• Yale physicians win lawsuit - Aug. 23/30
• Horizon Blues lawsuit gets class-action status in N.J. - Aug. 23/30
• Tenn. Rx problems fail to materialize - Aug. 23/30
• National Medical Assn. names new president - Aug. 23/30
• AAMC honors diversity advocate - Aug. 23/30
• Report ups medical error death toll - Aug. 16
• Florida tracks physician CME online - Aug. 16
• Former AMA president working on new IOM project - Aug. 16
• Minn. court rules in genetic case - Aug. 16
• Alliance of Specialty Medicine gives honors - Aug. 16
• ACOG sees specialty's future imperiled by liability crisis - Aug. 9
• AOA names new leaders - Aug. 9
• U. of California settles medical resident suit for $1.3 million - Aug. 9
• Report: Living wills influence end-of-life care - Aug. 9
• Sports medicine society names new president - Aug. 9
• Study highlights value of tort reforms - Aug. 2
• AMA Foundation picks new president - Aug. 2
• Pa. physicians dissatisfied - Aug. 2
• Sleep medicine subspecialty OK'd - Aug. 2
• Maine to monitor prescriptions - Aug. 2
• Nurses working overtime make more errors - Aug. 2
• U.S. citizens studying medicine in Cuba get reprieve - Aug. 2
• Presumed organ donor consent bombs in Britain - Aug. 2
• Transplant surgeon's federal lawsuit against university dismissed - July 26
• Sleep-deprived residents can still master surgery - July 26
• Wis. society names first physician CEO - July 26
• Singers and musicians sought for VA music group - July 19
• Study details medical malpractice history for 2 Illinois counties - July 19
• Medical school for researchers opens - July 19
• Kentucky court says no to pharmaceutical lawsuit - July 12
• Charity care at issue in 18 lawsuits - July 12
• Illinois medical school put on probation - July 12
• $8 billion endowment to enrich medical campus - July 12
• 4 physicians get Pride in Profession awards - July 12
• JCAHO wrong-site surgery prevention protocol implemented - July 12
• JAMA editorial independence reaffirmed - July 5
• Science drives AMA adoption policy - July 5
• AMA seeks to simplify CME logistics - July 5
• Student work-hour limits to be studied - July 5
• Distribution of disaster training program gets approval - July 5
• Updates to med ed suggested - July 5
• Gift restrictions reaffirmed - July 5
• AMA condemns prisoner abuse - July 5
• MSNJ seeks profile extension - June 28
• Mass. residents worry about liability crisis - June 28
• Heart surgeon to lead Cleveland Clinic - June 28
• Boston patients wait the longest for doctor appointments - June 28
• Pediatric errors cost lives, money - June 28
• PRN joins new partners - June 21
• Doctors feel undertrained to care for chronically ill - June 21
• Stem cell initiative on Calif. ballot - June 21
• Calif. board addresses medical marijuana - June 21
• Davis International Awards announced - June 14
• Scholarship aims to support research - June 14
• $50 million given for science education - June 14
• Kidney cancer patients found to do better at high-volume hospitals - June 14
• New Jersey society sues over release of malpractice information - June 7
• Class-action trial date pushed back - June 7
• California hospital may lose third residency - June 7
• New Jersey establishes stem cell research institute - June 7
• Wisconsin doctors see statewide work force shortage - May 24/31
• Medical boards group gives awards - May 24/31
• Residents say no to Pennsylvania - May 24/31
• Report questions assisted-suicide law's safeguards - May 24/31
• Physician group welcomes foreign doctors as observers - May 17
• Calif. doctors to get cash from Blues settlement - May 17
• Signatures for stem cell initiative - May 17
• Task force wants physicians to prescribe fluoride supplements - May 17
• Geriatricians in short supply - May 17
• Prescription monitoring fails again in Florida - May 17
• CIGNA settlement gets final OK - May 10
• "Conscience clause" bills advance in Michigan, vetoed in Wisconsin - May 10
• Medical schools land 45% of federal research dollars - May 10
• N.Y. society names new president - May 10
• Insurance issues force physician to send pain patients to new clinic - May 3
• Illinois OBs re-evaluate practices in light of liability climate - May 3
• Minnesota board greets new members - May 3
• Survey finds most Americans support caps - April 26
• HMO settlement information online - April 26
• Visa legislation in the works - April 26
• New York academy adds office on health disparities - April 26
• National awards from AMA Alliance - April 19
• Liability insurer sells renewal rights - April 19
• Women faculty want flexible work schedules - April 19
• UT gets $25 million gift for stem cell research - April 19
• Illinois physician won't get day before state Supreme Court - April 12
• FSMB supports Internet legislation - April 12
• Fewer seek plastic surgery career - April 12
• Illinois doctors face rising premiums - April 5
• California corps opens second year - April 5
• Medical and physician assistants among fastest-growing jobs - April 5
• AOA brings residency applications online - April 5
• O'Neill: It's safer to work at Alcoa than in health care - April 5
• Appeals court upholds rejection of first CIGNA settlement - March 22/29
• AAPS wants Limbaugh warrant deemed illegal - March 22/29
• AMA Foundation OKs new scholarship - March 22/29
• Medical society for concierge doctors - March 22/29
• Mass. groups work to simplify credentialing - March 22/29
• Harvard scientists giving free access to new stem cell lines - March 22/29
• Singers and musicians sought - March 15
• Study reveals impact of Medicare cuts on teaching hospitals - March 15
• Drug detail deductions done for? - March 15
• "Roe" again asks to reopen landmark abortion case - March 15
• N.J. aims to lower liability rates - March 8
• Nursing to see largest job growth, labor bureau says - March 8
• Alaska governor makes medical board appointments - March 8
• Florida Legislature once again confronting life-and-death issues - March 8
• D.C. court refuses to dismiss Match lawsuit - March 1
• Med students threaten to leave Pa. - March 1
• Ariz. physician named to head medical specialties board - March 1
• LCME accredits Temple; probation ends - March 1
• Group seeks $3 billion for stem cell research in California - March 1
• Appeals court rules in favor of Terri Schiavo's parents, Gov. Bush - March 1
• NPs, PAs form group - March 1
• Calif. physician's summary suspension overturned - Feb. 23
• Medical schools, teaching hospitals help fuel U.S. economy - Feb. 23
• Ohio Rx monitoring bill raises concerns - Feb. 23
• California board honors pediatrician - Feb. 23
• Cost of liability claims keeps rising - Feb. 16
• Court: Fla. doctor did not violate clinic act - Feb. 16
• Most pediatric residents happy with training - Feb. 16
• Minn. doctors seek input on patient safety - Feb. 16
• Wis. living organ donors will get tax break - Feb. 16
• Study says caps lower premiums - Feb. 9
• Pa. to keep malpractice case count - Feb. 9
• Medical school honors female scientist - Feb. 9
• Med students weak on clinical skills - Feb. 9
• Arizona computer registry for end-of-life choices proposed - Feb. 9
• U.K. ignores physicians' call for presumed consent organ donation - Feb. 9
• More states added to credentialing process - Feb. 9
• Medical society and foundation announce grants - Feb. 9
• Ohio transplant doctor gets visa - Feb. 2
• Class-action trial date pushed back - Feb. 2
• Florida physician honored by state medical board - Feb. 2
• Physician dead in apparent suicide - Feb. 2
• Massachusetts uses tobacco money to create patient safety center - Feb. 2
• Humana, physicians in Ohio settle - Jan. 26
• Johns Hopkins regains accreditation - Jan. 26
• AMA offers online CME series on treating pain - Jan. 26
• Audit praises Nevada board, makes recommendations - Jan. 26
• N.C. Blues sued over contract rights - Jan. 19
• Two physicians appointed to Arizona Medical Board - Jan. 19
• Web site offers forum for resident work-hour ideas - Jan. 19
• Maryland to get liability coalition - Jan. 12
• AAMC to rethink physician supply - Jan. 12
• N.C. medical board suspends physician's license over expert testimony - Jan. 12
• AMA to draft model scope legislation - Jan. 5
• AMA to look to change bankruptcy law - Jan. 5
• Visa complications slowing down noncitizen physicians - Jan. 5
• AMA to study drug price controls - Jan. 5
• Iraqi physicians visiting the United States - Jan. 5
• Residency programs in trouble - Jan. 5
• Ky. hospital given immunity in malpractice case - Jan. 5

Last year's news briefs - Back to top.

Patients needing a kidney transplant wait about 5 years for a donated organ. Read more

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Business briefs 2004

• Quarterly HMO profits top $3 billion - Dec. 27
• JCAHO offers principles on quality pay - Dec. 20
• HealthSouth aims for legal settlement - Dec. 20
• HCA grows in outpatient market - Dec. 20
• Suit claims WellPoint owes back taxes - Dec. 13
• Select Medical agrees to buy SemperCare - Dec. 13
• MedCath announces new president - Dec. 13
• HealthSouth to sell "digital hospital" - Dec. 13
• Mich. Blues introduce bonus program - Dec. 6
• One-third of hospitals in the red - Dec. 6
• For-profit hospital company expands - Dec. 6
• Physician buys Tenet hospital - Dec. 6
• Retainer practice organizations merge - Dec. 6
• United companies pay fine - Nov. 22/29
• MedQuist reports "unreliable" - Nov. 22/29
• Tenet kickback trial opens - Nov. 15
• AHRQ awards multimillion grant - Nov. 15
• Group urges health infotech charity - Nov. 15
• Illinois Blues fire accused ID thief - Nov. 15
• Dialysis companies receive subpoenas - Nov. 15
• Coventry buys First Health - Nov. 8
• Select Medical goes private - Nov. 8
• Quest boosts stake in QMed - Nov. 8
• "Personalized medicine" group forms - Nov. 8
• Groups receive performance bonuses - Nov. 8
• UnitedHealth profits up - Nov. 1
• Tenet to sell 3 Mass. hospitals - Nov. 1
• Groups feel cost pressure - Oct. 25
• Texas osteopathic hospital closes - Oct. 25
• National foundation awards grants for online disease management research - Oct. 25
• South Carolina Blues implements Internet telephony - Oct. 25
• UnitedHealth hires airline exec - Oct. 18
• Empire test-drives e-visits - Oct. 18
• Health care venture capital down - Oct. 18
• Tenet to sell 4 hospitals - Oct. 18
• Report details Calif. ED crisis - Oct. 18
• WebMD uncovers financial mistakes - Oct. 11
• Kaiser unveils ad campaign - Oct. 11
• EMR certification group sets goals - Oct. 11
• Physicians buy Tenet hospital - Oct. 4
• PacifiCare buys Wis. HMO - Oct. 4
• MinuteClinic gets financing - Sept. 27
• Mich. societies sues Blues - Sept. 27
• HealthSouth appoints new CFO - Sept. 27
• Another California hospital to close - Sept. 27
• HMO profits up - Sept. 20
• Tenet sells more hospitals - Sept. 20
• UnitedHealth enters claims clearinghouse market - Sept. 20
• Calif. regulator: Dismiss Anthem suit - Sept. 13
• Seattle HMO workers strike - Sept. 13
• Blues plan appeals Alaska decision - Sept. 13
• Indiana physician-owned hospital in bankruptcy - Sept. 13
• Ex-HealthSouth executive barred from all boardrooms - Sept. 13
• R.I. Blues leader gets severance - Sept. 6
• Scrushy's trial reset - Sept. 6
• Tech firms ally in e-prescribing effort - Sept. 6
• MedQuist overhauls billing practices - Sept. 6
• AMGA issues income report - Aug. 23/30
• Triad announces uninsured discounts - Aug. 23/30
• Study looks at drug rep visits - Aug. 16
• Survey: Hospital CEO salaries increase - Aug. 16
• HCA profits increase - Aug. 16
• Vanguard is acquired - Aug. 16
• Calif. Blue Cross pays quality bonuses - Aug. 9
• Tenet sells four hospitals - Aug. 9
• Group plans efficiency measure - Aug. 9
• Tenet sells troubled Calif. hospital - Aug. 2
• Ex-HealthSouth execs plead innocent - Aug. 2
• ChartOne to acquire eWebHealth - Aug. 2
• More consumers surf health plan sites - Aug. 2
• WebMD acquires ViPS - July 26
• Report: Health care still hot investment option for venture capitalists - July 26
• Filmmaker Moore to take on health care - July 26
• RelayHealth raises $10 million - July 19
• Maryland commissioner moves to Amerigroup - July 12
• HealthSouth hires new COO - July 12
• Delegates define hospital day - July 5
• Tenet raises $1 billion - July 5
• Ex-lender gets jail time - July 5
• MedQuist delisted from NASDAQ - July 5
• HIMSS buys research firm - June 28
• Most hospitals up tech spending - June 28
• Sony exiting U.S. handheld market - June 28
• Big Calif. IPA reports gain - June 28
• New Minn. law protects physicians - June 21
• Physician incentive program expands - June 21
• Panel concocts e-prescribing recipe - June 21
• Tenet sells hospital in Spain - June 21
• Calif. to examine insurance merger - June 14
• United expands in Europe - June 14
• Computers miss prescribing errors - June 14
• Greenway lands venture capital - June 14
• Oxford CEO could get big payment - June 7
• HCA names insider to take over large division - June 7
• Ardent to buy Tulsa health system - June 7
• Thief does smash-and-grab for IDs - June 7
• Doctor impersonator sent to prison - June 7
• Symphony Healthcare hits a sour note - June 7
• Investor group buys hospital company - May 24/31
• Tenet moves headquarters to Dallas - May 24/31
• Aetna unveils end-of-life benefits - May 24/31
• Draft EMR standard approved - May 17
• AMA joins CCR effort - May 17
• Ex-HealthSouth execs plead guilty - May 17
• Health care deals slow, but value up - May 17
• HCA bolsters outpatient division - May 17
• Health Net gets fined - May 10
• Report: E-prescribing would be a big money-saver - May 3
• More government probes for Tenet - May 3
• HealthSouth loses with bondholders - May 3
• Tenet board members leaving - April 26
• Study finds economic power shifted to hospitals - April 26
• Highmark closes wellness centers - April 26
• WebMD acquires Dakota Imaging - April 26
• Tenet leaders buy stock - April 19
• N.Y.: Health plans short on info - April 19
• Primary care informatics group forms - April 19
• MedQuist investigates billing practices - April 19
• U.S. Oncology bought out - April 19
• Online consultations slow to take off - April 12
• Blues approve Anthem-WellPoint deal - April 12
• R.I. AG blasts plan giveback - April 12
• N.C. Blues could face reserve limit - April 12
• Florida Blues looks into overbilling - April 12
• HealthSouth delays report - April 12
• Tenet finances fall - April 5
• Hospital spending set to increase - March 22/29
• WebMD posts 4th quarter profit - March 22/29
• HMO profits rise - March 22/29
• Pay-for-performance program grows - March 22/29
• VHA probes hospital strategies - March 15
• PacifiCare CEO to be board chair - March 15
• Study claims tech can save billions - March 15
• Sprint forms mobile alliance - March 15
• Physician investor ousted as hospital chief - March 8
• Ill. seeks coverage for trainers - March 8
• Tenet names chief operating officer - March 1
• FTC clears giant PBM merger - March 1
• TeleVox buys SmartTalk - March 1
• HCA announces 2003 profit - Feb. 23
• Surgery center operator makes IPO - Feb. 23
• Executives gauge health future - Feb. 23
• More spent on health care mergers - Feb. 16
• Tenn. company gets funds for hospital purchases - Feb. 16
• WebMD buys Physicians Online - Feb. 16
• Highmark makes plans for surplus - Feb. 16
• Kaiser offers online health info - Feb. 16
• Zix acquires MyDocOnline - Feb. 16
• Drug companies form high-tech alliances - Feb. 16
• New board members join HealthSouth - Feb. 16
• ED care usually paid on appeal - Feb. 9
• Ohio hospital yanks privileges - Feb. 9
• Mass. Blues plan reports heart savings - Feb. 9
• MedicaLogic founder joins HIMSS - Feb. 9
• Survey: More businesses reaching cap on retiree health benefits - Feb. 2
• GE Medical sells SpaceLabs - Feb. 2
• Tenet whistle-blowers get $8.1 million - Jan. 26
• MGMA: Orthopedists' costs on rise - Jan. 26
• Analyst downgrades managed care - Jan. 19
• Pain care company grows - Jan. 19
• Gentiva raises outlook - Jan. 19
• Express Scripts gets CuraScript - Jan. 19
• DrFirst, ePocrates form alliance - Jan. 19
• Hospital bad debt expected to rise - Jan. 12
• Hospital turns to physicians for help - Jan. 12
• HealthSouth board members resign - Jan. 12
• Companies secure URAC accreditation - Jan. 12
• U.S. Oncology issues finance warning - Jan. 5
• ProxyMed buys PlanVista - Jan. 5

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Health & Science briefs 2004

• AMA clarifies policy on adolescents seeking confidential care - Dec. 27
• Making clinical trial data more available - Dec. 27
• NCI awards go to labs for cancer biomarker research - Dec. 27
• Prescription drug use rising for all age groups - Dec. 27
• Teens and pertussis - Dec. 20
• Stronger Accutane safeguards - Dec. 20
• HIV testing higher among targeted populations - Dec. 20
• Drinking water could benefit those with low blood pressure - Dec. 20
• AMA condemns NASCAR decision to allow liquor sponsorship - Dec. 13
• Radio frequency to help detect counterfeit drugs - Dec. 13
• Depo-Provera warning from FDA - Dec. 13
• Ovarian cancer may have early warning signs - Dec. 13
• NIAID initiates flu virus genome sequencing project - Dec. 6
• Older, generic NSAID may have lower GI complications - Dec. 6
• Tobacco control scores wins on election day - Nov. 22/29
• SSRI talking points issued by AACAP - Nov. 22/29
• Frequent Pap smears may be an option for young women with abnormal tests - Nov. 22/29
• Cardiac valve disease deaths run in the family - Nov. 22/29
• Study finds OTC meds can bring relief, and savings - Nov. 15
• Protein levels play role in targeting new drugs for epilepsy, Alzheimer's - Nov. 15
• Wrong grip on golf club can be a pain in the hand - Nov. 15
• Screening detects celiac before symptoms appear, but at older age - Nov. 15
• More flu vaccine available in January - Nov. 8
• Intra-abdominal fat raises risk for metabolic syndrome - Nov. 8
• WHI results for HT may not be relevant for younger women - Nov. 8
• SSRI warning ordered by FDA - Nov. 1
• Alzheimer's study would measure cognitive impairment - Nov. 1
• Sinusitis study supports treatment with antifungals - Nov. 1
• Study reinforces need for nutritional counseling after bariatric surgery - Nov. 1
• ACOG recommends gynecological exam for teens - Oct. 25
• Counseling helps stem alcohol use - Oct. 25
• Type of HT may determine degree of cardiovascular trouble - Oct. 25
• Injected osteoporosis drug shows effectiveness - Oct. 25
• Manufacturer voluntarily withdraws popular arthritis drug - Oct. 18
• Studies find more community-acquired drug-resistant infections - Oct. 18
• Dietary supplements yield health benefits and cost savings - Oct. 18
• Firm gets grant for avian flu vaccine - Oct. 18
• Drug-resistant bacteria meets phage therapy - Oct. 11
• Tobacco trial redux - Oct. 11
• CDC reinstates full pneumococcal vaccine recommendations - Oct. 11
• FDA committee recommends approval of meningococcal disease shot - Oct. 11
• Treatment guides issued for asbestos-related disease - Oct. 4
• Continuing 9/11 health risks studied - Oct. 4
• Study finds less underage drinking at campuses with AMA program - Oct. 4
• At-home sleep apnea test may be effective - Oct. 4
• Depressed patients' physical symptoms persist after treatment - Sept. 27
• Pneumococcal vaccine reduces mild, moderate illness - Sept. 27
• Study links high doses of arthritis meds to increased heart attack risk - Sept. 20
• Medication comparable to surgery for elderly chest pain patients - Sept. 20
• Study calls omega-3 fatty acid super brain food against Alzheimer's disease - Sept. 20
• Cancer risk from full-body scans? - Sept. 20
• HHS' pandemic plan on vaccines, flu - Sept. 13
• U.S. sees care as primary importance - Sept. 13
• Contraception risk of STDs - Sept. 13
• NIH releases strategy for obesity epidemic fight - Sept. 13
• Patients with type 2 diabetes may benefit from statins - Sept. 6
• Doctors may be overdoing colonoscopies - Sept. 6
• New tools approved against radiation contamination - Sept. 6
• Sedative abuse landing more people in ED - Sept. 6
• Fifth disease puts pregnancies at risk - Aug. 23/30
• Advances in psoriasis treatments - Aug. 23/30
• Cancer vaccine shows promise - Aug. 23/30
• Prions can replicate - Aug. 23/30
• Pediatricians cite barriers in talking about sexual risks - Aug. 16
• Immunization rates are up, but they could be better - Aug. 16
• Disaster response tool aids in pinpointing alternate sites for care - Aug. 16
• Food allergy law passed - Aug. 9
• Women's migraines strongly associated with menstruation - Aug. 9
• Alzheimer's drug shows some benefit - Aug. 9
• Low-salt diet benefits normotensives, too - Aug. 9
• Cancer therapy would include customized vaccinations - Aug. 2
• Children and television could equal health problems later in life - Aug. 2
• Niacin associated with reduced Alzheimer's risk - Aug. 2
• Programs targeting pediatric obesity come too late - Aug. 2
• Gains in treating Alzheimer's - July 26
• Rapidly rising PSA linked to prostate cancer mortality - July 26
• CDC again recommending third dose of pneumococcal vaccine - July 26
• Doubt cast on Alzheimer's drugs - July 26
• FDA issues antidepressant alerts - July 19
• SARS readiness questioned - July 19
• More states offering core newborn screening but many still fall short - July 19
• Sugar-free products could be contributing to obesity epidemic - July 19
• Number of teens smoking is down - July 12
• GAO scores pain meds on Internet in test - July 12
• AMA calls for development of return-to-work guidelines - July 12
• Direct-to-consumer genetic testing restrictions necessary - July 12
• AMA opposes FDA action on Plan B - July 5
• Smoking deserves an "R" rating - July 5
• AMA votes to support research on violence and abuse - July 5
• Improvements in prison health care needed - July 5
• Statins and lowering glaucoma risk - June 28
• Calcium plays role in reducing risk of colorectal polyps - June 28
• Home blood pressure monitoring improves control - June 28
• CDC collaboration results in new test for anthrax - June 28
• Reports out on ovarian cancer screening, symptoms - June 21
• Pharmacy records don't tell the whole story - June 21
• Yo-yo dieting bad for immune system - June 21
• Hormone replacement benefits - June 14
• Aspirin helps women, too - June 14
• If asthma is bad, it's a girl - June 14
• Teens taking fewer risks - June 7
• Antidepressant withdrawn from U.S. market - June 7
• Diabetes linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's - June 7
• BMD confirmed as key to fracture risk - June 7
• WHO warns of diabetes' growing global impact - May 24/31
• Plans change for Plan B - May 24/31
• CDC sees burst of Lyme disease - May 24/31
• Frequent ear infections in childhood linked to asthma - May 24/31
• More Americans at risk for diabetes - May 17
• ACP recommends that more diabetics take statins - May 17
• Fish oil found to be heart healthy - May 17
• More gonorrhea cases resistant to oral antibiotics - May 17
• Smoking cessation success reported - May 10
• Serious dieting helps avoid diabetes, heart problems - May 10
• Young adult blood pressure readings could mislead - May 10
• Statin use does not increase breast cancer risk - May 10
• Final data from WHI's estrogen-only arm published - May 3
• Are politics stalling OTC status for emergency contraceptives? - May 3
• Smallpox trial halted - May 3
• Gentle injection method tested - May 3
• Correlation between aging population and increases in blindness - April 26
• STD awareness still lacking - April 26
• Hormone levels may indicate colorectal cancer risk - April 26
• Updated recommendations for alcohol screening - April 19
• Transcendental meditation can lower blood pressure - April 19
• New health survey finds most children in good health - April 19
• Intense multipronged diabetes management program can improve outcomes - April 19
• Osteoporosis drug cuts fracture risk - April 12
• FDA broadens antidepressant warnings - April 12
• Explanation for why viruses make asthma worse? - April 12
• Most schizophrenics don't take meds, raising health care costs - April 12
• Teen years peak time for inhalant abuse - April 5
• Smallpox rash most often a benign skin reaction - April 5
• Large study of treatments for childhood type 2 diabetes launched - April 5
• TB decline starts to slow - April 5
• Pneumonia-risk calculator available for handhelds - March 22/29
• Blood screening stymies spread of West Nile virus - March 22/29
• Harmless virus linked to longer life expectancy for HIV-positive men - March 22/29
• Children more likely to inherit heart disease from moms than from dads - March 22/29
• Cold kits stifle pleas for antibiotics - March 15
• Postal workers could become foot soldiers in the war against terrorism - March 15
• Antibiotics unnecessary for minor childhood skin infections - March 15
• Gestational diabetes rates increased 35% in a decade - March 15
• Cereal can be good for your heart - March 8
• Childhood flu shots cost-effective - March 8
• Many asthmatics sensitive to aspirin and don't know it - March 8
• As age increases, so does car-crash risk - March 8
• Fourth pneumococcal vaccine dose suspended temporarily - March 1
• Life expectancy longer than ever, infant deaths increase - March 1
• Salt and water - March 1
• Public health readiness - March 1
• Premature birth rate on the rise - Feb. 23
• HT linked to breast cancer recurrence - Feb. 23
• HHS to establish quitline network - Feb. 23
• Overnight noise levels at hospitals as loud as jackhammers - Feb. 23
• New TB vaccine advances - Feb. 16
• Additional BSE safeguards planned - Feb. 16
• Physicians should consider early measles vaccine for traveling babies - Feb. 16
• Patients taking antipsychotics should be screened, monitored - Feb. 16
• Lifestyle changes and supplements for mild menopause symptoms - Feb. 9
• Obesity costs tallied - Feb. 9
• Cost of injuries extends beyond medical expenses - Feb. 9
• Zoonotic infections studied - Feb. 9
• Cardiac disease factors up - Feb. 2
• Heavy drinkers use narcotics for back pain despite warnings - Feb. 2
• Asian bird flu hitting people, too - Feb. 2
• Benefits from a little exercise - Feb. 2
• FDA says no to silicone gel implants - Jan. 26
• Vitamin D could decrease risk of multiple sclerosis - Jan. 26
• Western medicine studies Eastern herbal remedy for jaundice - Jan. 26
• Adult-onset asthma may be different from child-onset asthma - Jan. 26
• Corticosteroids-fracture risk dispelled - Jan. 19
• Few fans of OTC allergy treatments - Jan. 19
• Air travel and DVT link studied - Jan. 19
• Carcinogens found in nonsmokers who hang around smokers - Jan. 19
• Doctors prefer prescribing newer blood pressure drugs - Jan. 19
• Knee replacement consensus - Jan. 12
• Potassium iodide should be widely available, report says - Jan. 12
• HIV-positive patients not getting safe-sex message - Jan. 12
• Expediting trip from bench to bedside - Jan. 5
• Support for NIH peer review system - Jan. 5
• AMA works to improve handling of mass casualties - Jan. 5
• People with developmental disabilities should have equal access to care, says AMA - Jan. 5

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Dialysis costs $71,000 a year per patient; posttransplant care for a kidney recipient is $17,000 a year. Read more

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