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The federal government announced a final rule that will implement a pay increase for primary care physicians who treat Medicaid beneficiaries starting in the new year.

Over the last 30 years, Medicare spending in the U.S. has grown at a rate nearly three times faster than it has in Canada.

More than a year after the Institute of Medicine set standards for clinical practice guidelines, few guidelines meet them.

Doctors should be graded on their overuse of low-value procedures, such as imaging tests for patients with uncomplicated lower back pain, advocates a new paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, Republicans and Democrats agree that the future does not look good for the American healthcare system.

Tort reform was the most frequently cited issue doctors said they would like to ask the presidential about in a poll on physician social media site Sermo.

Medical Economics readers discuss concierge services, look toward a seemingly inevitable economic crash, offer their healthcare wish list, and talk about how information sharing can save money.

Robert Berenson discusses the future of primary care when it comes to payment, practice structure, and technology.

Despite all the problems and challenges facing the medical industry, the physician profession remains a popular career choice.

Fears of sustainable growth rate payment cuts and instability in Medicare payments are keeping many physician practices from participating in new payment delivery models or demonstration programs, according to a new report.

The idea is to reward doctors for providing better care - not just more care - but recent research from the field of behavioral economics suggests that pay-for-performance may not improve patient care.

Salaries for primary care physicians have barely budged from 2008-2011, according to data from Medical Economics' latest physician earnings survey, the 48th annual installment. In this survey, primary care includes family and general practitioners, internists and pediatricians.

The October 3 presidential debate swayed physician opinions on the candidates. Find out how in our coverage of two new polls.

Health exchanges will be implemented in January 2014. As they go online, performances and outcomes will be important.

Medical Economics readers discuss the legal quandary arising from medical marijuana, whether the French healthcare model really can be an example for the United States, allowing patients to keep their records, and recertification.

The 2012 presidential election is less than a month away. Find out where the two candidates stand of primary care

A conversation with Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHC, reveals his view of what the practice of medicine will look like in the future. He also shares advice for recent medical school graduates.

Several physicians were among the 91 people recently charged by a Medicare fraud task force for alledgedly making roughly $430 million in false billing claims.

President Obama's plans for healthcare reform would result in about 27 million uninsured Americans by 2022, compared with Romney's 72 million, according to new analysis from the Commonwealth Fund.

Medical students who lean toward primary care are more likely to support the Affordable Care Act, according to new research.

Twenty-five million new health insurance customers aren't expected to overwhelm the system or drive up costs immediately after obtaining coverage.

Physicians overwhelmingly support Republican challenger Mitt Romney by 19 points over President Barack Obama in the 2012 election, according to a new poll.

A new 2% sequester on Medicare spending could exacerbate problems caused by Medicare physician payment cut.

Physicians' views of the medical profession are declining along with the number of patients they are seeing. Find out what's troubling doctors.

A conversation with Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, about the challenges facing tort reform, reducing healthcare costs, and the role of accountable care organizations.

Only 11% of Americans have a high level of understanding of the key aspects of federal health reform, despite substantial media coverage in the 2-plus years since the legislation's passage.

Health providers are in danger of being stuck with $11 billion in Medicare cuts beginning in January when automatic federal spending cuts are due to take effect, the White House warned in a report.

The American Academy of Family Physicians is asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to adopt several short- and long-term strategies that strengthen the Medicare program through primary care enhancements.

Insurance companies must more actively engage physicians in quality measurement programs, suggests new research.

The financial incentive of shared savings may lead to "coding biases" whereby practices list more diagnoses per patient visit than they otherwise would, according to a recent study.