health policy report
Senate may roll back 10 percent Medicare fee cut for MDs
As we've reported here previously, Medicare is poised to slash physician fee schedules... Read more...
Health plan introduces health "gift card"
If you can't afford healthcare services, why not use a coupon? That's the kind of thinking promoted by a new product from Pennsylvania-based insurer Highmark, which has just launched a new Healthcare... Read more...
Trend: Physicians dispensing drugs in offices
While it's far from an established practice, physicians are increasingly beginning to sell prescription drugs in their offices. Right now, only 10 percent of U.S. physicians do so, but the number... Read more...
HHS fights disclosure of Medicare physician claims data
When it comes to turning over its claims data, officials at HHS aren't going down without a fight. The agency has filed official notice that it's appealing an August court decision which would have... Read more...
Trend: Med school applications up in '07
While nobody can point to a single specific reason, it appears that interest in attending U.S. medical schools went up a great deal this year. A new study published by the Association of American... Read more...
"Behind the counter" non prescription meds considered
The FDA is looking at establishing a new category of drugs known as "behind the counter" which won't require a prescription but also, won't go out unless a pharmacist is involved. Before a patient... Read more...
House bill would reverse Medicare anemia drug limits
Of late, anemia drug administration has become a hot potato, particularly when Medicare announced that Read more...
Program involves pharmacists in chronic disease care
A new pilot program underway at a string of federally-funded community health centers hopes to improve patient care and lower costs by involving pharmacists in the care of chronically-ill patients.... Read more...
Medicare cracking down on physician self-referrals
CMS is lowering the boom on physician self-referral, setting plans to ban Medicare payments for many self-referred services. New CMS rules on this subject, which are part of regs proposed for the... Read more...
Trend: Auto workers train for healthcare jobs
A growing number of former auto-industry workers who accepted buyouts from auto makers are now looking into healthcare jobs. The workers include former Ford employees, many of whom accepted a buyout... Read more...
