Medical Ethics

Democrats, relinquishing control of the House, wonder if the Missouri Republican can put small business interests ahead of party and ideology in the new Congress.

Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, who was expected to ascend to the influential post, may be challenged by Rep. Steve Chabot of Ohio.

A recent McKinsey survey reports that only 30% of healthcare industry executives say that their companies are ready for reform. Regardless of the specifics of the final legislation - o even if there...

Dr. John Kenagy, a surgeon, executive and scholar, argues that the key to health care reform is cost control, and that the key to cost control is the organization of delivery organizations. Here's...

A Seattle practice has recycled ideas of capitation, no insurance practices, and practice management companies. They tied it up, convinced some VC firms to put up money for what they think is an...

CMS has announced several proposals that will make dramatic revisions in physician payments, Consultation codes will be eliminated and the monies shifted to the E/M codes; imaging, physician provided drugs and other changes...

A study this week finds that physician practices too often fail to tell patient about lab results - including findings that require follow up and treatment. There are better practices.

A health care reform bill will pass Congress this year, and it's taking shape. President Obama spoke to the AMA today, and the public option proposal has a twist. Here's this week's update.

The swirling discussion, proposals, and disinformation are coming together to the passage of a health care reorganization plan this year. It's not at all like Canada or England. It will be different, but...

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons suggests that per-operative planning meetings - short and just prior to surgery - improve staff performance and patient outcomes. These types...

An article posted by Physician Practice magazine reminds us that "coffee stains on the flip down trays mean bad maintenace on the airplanes". Time to fix up the office without spending a lot...

Attorney General Holder and HHS Secretary Sebelius announced a new interagency effort to combat Medicare fraud. Here is the press release.

To lighten your day - from the WSJ's "Pepper.....and Salt"

A study from MGMA and fellow researchers found that some $21 = 31 billion of practice staff timne is spent interacting with health plans. Here is the press release and link to the...

Yesterday, a coalition of health trade associations committed to slow the growth of health care costs by 1.5% per year, potentially $2 trillion over the coming 10 years. Here are the links to...

It's all the news - a group of leading health care trade organizations are committing to cut $2 trillion in costs over the next decade. After a White House meeting set for late...

The Federal Trade Commission has delayed implementaton of the "red flag" rules for three months, giving practices additional time to comply with the regulations. These regs, which apply to all creditors (which includes...

The appearance of Susan Boyle on American Idol has spread by word of mouth (well, word of internet) - she doesn't "look" the part, but she can sing! Appearances can be deceiving, but...