What patients want: New tools ease path to medical home
August 3rd 2011More than 70% of primary care and multispecialty practices are on the path to becoming Patient-Centered Medical Homes, according to a new study, and some new technology is helping them gather the patient information they need to achieve that status. Learn about some products that can help your practice conduct affordable patient surveys.
Medicare Part D means more care in your office, fewer admissions
August 3rd 2011More affordable medications, courtesy of Medicare Part D, mean that more elderly adults now receive care in your office instead of in more costly hospitals and nursing homes, a new study suggested. See what effect that has had on care as well as cost.
SGR opponents hope YouTube video goes viral, influences Congress
August 3rd 2011Opponents of Medicare?s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula are hoping their YouTube video goes viral. The American Academy of Family Physicians and 10 other physician-led groups released the YouTube video as part of a coordinated effort to infect Congress with the desire to eliminate the SGR in any deficit-reduction plan. Here?s a preview.
NC malpractice caps saved when legislature overrides governor's veto
August 3rd 2011The effort to cap medical malpractice judgments in North Carolina looked like a lost cause when Gov. Beverly Perdue vetoed the bill, but the state House of Representatives overrode her veto to limit noneconomic damages to $500,000 for a negligent physician. Some 30 states have some form of malpractice caps, but legal challenges abound.
Proposed disclosure rule too burdensome for practices, associations say
August 3rd 2011More than 90% of medical practices responding to a recent survey said that it would be ?very? or ?extremely? burdensome to meet the requirements of the proposed ?accounting of disclosures? rule. Read more to find out what several associations are suggesting in place of that rule.
E-prescribing of controlled substances now possible with application approval
August 3rd 2011DrFirst?s release of the first application available nationwide and approved by the Drug Enforcement Agency for e-prescribing of controlled substances should make e-prescribing easier for physicians?and prescription abuse a little harder for patients. Learn more about the product and how you may no longer have to maintain a dual prescribing system?paper for controlled substances and electronic for everything else.
West Virginia Supreme Court upholds Medical malpractice awards cap
July 25th 2011The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled recently that the state's cap on medical malpractice pain and suffering damages is constitutional. The court approved a lower court's decision to reduce a lawsuit award from $1 million to $500,000, in accord with an amendment enacted by the state legislature in 2003.
AAFP wants change in RUC composition
July 25th 2011To increase parity between specialists and primary care providers (PCPs) and address the growing shortage of PCPs, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has called on the AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) to change its structure to give greater representation to primary care fields.