Lifestyle

Healthcare costs are too high, say 90% of the people surveyed in a recent poll by the Mayo Clinic. But eight out of 10 also say it’s very or extremely important that patients be free to choose whatever physicians or hospital they want to go to. And more than seven out of 10 don’t think that pre-existing conditions should be a barrier to coverage.

They may be wearing the green in Foley's Pub in New York City, but there will be no singing of "Danny Boy" during the month of March. Among the many reasons, according to pub owner Shaun Clancy, is the nature of the tune. "It's depressing," he says. "It's ranked among the 25 most

If you received a gift card over the recent holidays, you'd better get to using it fast. With US retailers hurting and many seeking bankruptcy protection, the value of your gift card could shrink to zero. Sharper Image, which recently filed for Chapter 11, has announced that it is suspending acceptance of gift cards at least temporarily.

Shrinking reimbursements and a lack of professional satisfaction are luring America's older physicians into retirement. According to a recent survey by the Association of American Medical Colleges, 30% of doctors over age 50 plan to retire in the next 10 years. By the time they reach age 65,

The recent US House of Representatives vote in favor of a bill that mandates health insurance parity for patients with mental illnesses has been hailed as historic, but some political observers are predicting a rocky road

There may never be a better argument for simplifying the federal tax code than the sorry record of IRS help line staffers who answer questions from confused taxpayers. Over several recent years, calling the IRS help line got you a wrong answer anywhere from 25% to 35% of the time.

French classical author Francois de la Rochefoucauld once noted that, "The only thing constant in life is change." That may be a depressing thought, because it's a well-known fact that change is hard. We're all creatures of habit, and when we find our comfort zone, change can be an extremely disruptive force in our lives.

Dutch researchers have come up with the somewhat startling conclusion that, contrary to popular belief, people who smoke or are obese cost the healthcare system less than those who are healthy. But a closer look at the study reveals a perfectly rational explanation for the

If a tool were available that would enable your medical practice to run more efficiently, generate more revenue, and improve patient satisfaction while reducing medical errors, you’d be on board for that, right?

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Social Security reform hasn't figured heavily in the news since the early years of the Bush Administration, but the issue recently resurfaced among Democrat presidential hopefuls. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) called for an end to the income level threshold at which Social Security tax stops being deducted, while remarking that most workers

Confusion reigns whenever the subject of gift taxes comes up. Many taxpayers think, incorrectly, that the person who receives the gift pays taxes on it. Actually, all gifts, no matter how large, are tax-free to

A hostile legal climate is creating a severe shortage of neurosurgeons in Florida, according to recent news reports, where malpractice insurance premiums are soaring. Neurosurgeons pay the highest malpractice rates, yet reimbursements for their services remain low.

The quick fix on the Medicare fee cutbacks that the US Congress passed late last year is due to end on July 1, when a 10% cut will be implemented unless the lawmakers act again. But when the US Senate Finance Committee, which is crafting a Medicare package, sits down to

If you're strapped for cash come April 15, you can use your credit card to pay your 2007 tax bill and to pay estimated taxes for 2008, but you'll pay dearly for the privilege. The company that

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When a pharmacy gets hit with a malpractice claim, it often settles quickly—and demands silence in return. If only physicians were so lucky? According to plaintiff attorneys, the majority of...

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Physicians are accustomed to poking and probing. They do it routinely as part of a better understanding of their patients’ health status. Of course, in those situations, it’s the doctor who does the probing.

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Back in medical school, we were all taught not to discuss in public potentially sensitive details about the patients under our care.

Slow pay and no pay. Those are two of the most common complaints that doctors have about insurance carriers. They take too long to pay, they bounce too many claims back to be resubmitted, and they deny claims that doctors think should be paid. But some health insurers do a better job than others.

Medication, education, plus a dose of lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. That is pretty much the standard treatment for hypertension. But a recent study published in JAMA shows that patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure can do better with blood pressure self-monitoring and regular contact with a healthcare provider through the Internet—and they do it with fewer doctor visits.

Physicians see the need [to keep people healthy], more than anybody. And physicians are in the prime position to see that this need is met, because they are altruistic by nature.

Prescription drug abuse is a growing concern among healthcare and law enforcement officials, as more addicts get their high from legal drugs. Two recent events pinpoint both sides of the problem. In Florida, a report from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission revealed that three times as many Floridians died from abuse of prescription drugs as those who overdosed on illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin.

“I’m not sure if a lot of the phenomenality of [the growth] is due to recognition more than explosive, exponential growth,” says Lou Ellen Horwitz, executive director of the Chicago-based Urgent Care Association of America. “Definitely, there is growth. We probably see a new one opening up every week. But prior to people paying attention, there may have been one opening every other week, but it wasn’t on the radar.”

A US District Court judge in New Jersey has approved a $255 million settlement in a class-action suit that involved members of California-based Health Net who used out-of-network physicians. The suit alleged that members who received care from out-of-network doctors and healthcare facilities got less money than they should have because the health insurer used an “invalid” database to determine reimbursement amounts. Under the settlement, Health Net will pay $215 million to the plaintiffs and make another $40 million worth of business practice changes.