legislators
NJ officials say more hospital closures are OK
Things look bad for many New Jersey hospitals. Four have closed in the last 18 months, four others are planning to close, five filed for bankruptcy protection and about half of the others are losing... Read more...
GA may approve sweeping CON changes
Georgia seems well on its way to approving a new bill that would remove most of the state's Certificate of Need restrictions. The state House of Representatives is considering a measure, championed... Read more...
NYC's Cabrini to close
New York City's Cabrini Medical Center will be closing its doors earlier than expected after failing to make payroll this week. The 236-bed hospital originally was slated to close in June. "They have... Read more...
IL bill could choke retail clinic growth
Keeping up the battle between traditional medical practices and retail clinics, the Illinois State Medical Society is trying to help push through a measure that would severely cut down on the growth... Read more...
Congress targets MD-owned specialty hospitals
For a while new, some key members of Congress have been gearing up to impose new... Read more...
ALSO NOTED: WA gives health plan premium controls to commissioner; Egyptian doctors consider strike; and much more...
> Washington's insurance commissioner will now get to decide whether health plans can raise their premiums. Article >... Read more...
FDA rules on off-label article distribution issued
The FDA may soon be loosening its guidelines for distribution of journal articles discussing unapproved uses of approved drugs and devices, a move which some consumer advocates (and some legislators)... Read more...
MN officials focus on chronic disease care
Increasingly, states are beginning to focus on management of chronic diseases as a means for getting massive healthcare costs under control. This week, Minnesota is joining the pack. Legislators... Read more...
Blue Cross of CA halts patient info requests
Yesterday, we told you about Blue Cross of California's practice of sending letters to physicians asking them to look for--and report--medical conditions that could be used to cancel their patients'... Read more...
Physician ratings laws are inevitable
Physician ratings laws are inevitable Nearly every day, it seems, another health plan introduces a physician rating or ranking system--and doctors get angry. While the nuances of the debate vary... Read more...
