Firefighters saving time with PDAs

<p>Another good article about the use of PDAs in the field...paramedics doing their part with paperless transmission and saving valuable times and lives at the same time.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>SAN MARCOS – Until recently, San Marcos firefighter/paramedics were spending hours each day answering questions and filling in bubbles on medical, insurance and billing forms at the hospital. <p>The new method uses FieldSaver personal digital assistants, or PDAs, loaded with customized electronic menus that reduce the procedure to about 10 minutes, said firefighter/paramedic Jason Dobbins.<strong><u> Often, many questions can be answered before getting to the hospital, he said. </u></strong> <p>The one-time startup fee for the FieldSaver program is about $40,000, he said, and operating/maintenance fees are $6,000 a year. The charge is not based on the number of PDAs – San Marcos has 12 – but on the number of primary ambulances. <p>So far, the new technology has worked perfectly, said Dobbins, who spearheaded the change. “Everyone's really liked it,” he said. “Everyone was so excited. They actually did want to learn it.” <p>The company created its first PDA program in El Cajon and demand has been growing, said Hood, who also works as an emergency room doctor. The state doesn't require fire agencies to collect its EMS data in a standardized format, Hood said. As a result, many departments are still collecting the old-fashioned way, he said, but he sees that changing soon.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20070801-9999-1mc1smside.html">SignOnSanDiego.com > News > North County -- Firefighters saving time with PDAs</a></p>

Firefighters saving time with PDAs

Another good article about the use of PDAs in the field...paramedics doing their part with paperless transmission and saving valuable times ...

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More Than 40% Of New Orleans Adults Reported Worse Health Care Access After Hurricane Katrina

<p>Still lack of medical care, even with incentives being offered for physicians to locate to the area...BD</p> <blockquote>Many adults in the Greater New Orleans area have experienced problems with access to health care since Hurricane Katrina, according to a report released on Tuesday by the <a href="http://www.kff.org/">Kaiser Family Foundation</a>, the <a href="http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-7/118594917416750.xml&coll=1">New Orleans<cite> Times-Picayune</cite></a> reports (Moran, New Orleans<cite> Times-Picayune</cite>, 8/1). For the report, titled "Health Challenges for the People of New Orleans," researchers last fall conducted a survey of about 1,500 randomly selected adults younger than age 65 in the Greater New Orleans area that included questions about their health insurance status and access to health care before and after the hurricane.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78539.php">More Than 40% Of New Orleans Adults Reported Worse Health Care Access After Hurricane Katrina; Kaiser Family Foundation Survey Finds</a></p>

More Than 40% Of New Orleans Adults Reported Worse Health Care Access After Hurricane Katrina

Still lack of medical care, even with incentives being offered for physicians to locate to the area...BD Many adults in the Greater New Orl...

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Rep. Weiner To Introduce Legislation To Increase Medicare Reimbursement For Mammograms

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said he plans to introduce a bill this week that would<strong><u> increase Medicare reimbursement rates for mammograms</u></strong>, with the aim of reversing a decline in the number of women receiving the exams, the <cite>Orlando Sentinel</cite><cite> </cite>reports. Weiner said the measure, called the "Assure Access to Mammography Act," would help clinics offering mammograms stay open. <br>According to a report released last week by Weiner, the number of mammography clinics nationwide has decreased by more than 1,200, or 12%, since 1999  </p> <p>The average cost for a mammogram has increased by 25% to $125 since 2005, while the Medicare reimbursement increased by 2% to $83.69 during the same time period, the report found. <strong>Sixty-seven mammography facilities have closed in New York City since 1999, a 26% decrease, according to the report (Weiner release, 7/22). </strong></p> <p>The number of certified mammography clinics in Florida also decreased from 505 to 456 since 2001, according to the American Cancer Society.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78526.php">Rep. Weiner To Introduce Legislation To Increase Medicare Reimbursement For Mammograms</a></p>

Rep. Weiner To Introduce Legislation To Increase Medicare Reimbursement For Mammograms

  Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said he plans to introduce a bill this week that would increase Medicare reimbursement rates for mammogram...

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AMA To Congress: Stop Unfair Business Practices Of Health Insurers

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>"The AMA urges Congress to pass legislation that will: <br>-- Establish a strong federal prompt pay standard; <br>-- Protect more robust prompt pay state laws by ensuring the federal standard is the "floor;" <br>-- Establish concurrent jurisdiction over enforcement between the state and federal government; <br>-- Clarify that state prompt payment laws apply to all ERISA covered health plans; <br>-- Strengthen penalties to prevent plans from considering fines and other associated financial sanctions as merely the cost of doing business; <br>-- Protect physicians from retaliation by insurers if they pursue their remedies under the prompt pay laws; and, <br>--Expand protections to address other tactics utilized by health insurers to delay or decrease payments.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78563.php">AMA To Congress: Stop Unfair Business Practices Of Health Insurers</a></p>

AMA To Congress: Stop Unfair Business Practices Of Health Insurers

  "The AMA urges Congress to pass legislation that will: -- Establish a strong federal prompt pay standard; -- Protect more robust pr...

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CMS Announces Payment Reforms For Inpatient Hospital Services In 2008

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>Payments to all hospitals will increase by an estimated average of 3.5 percent for FY 2008 when all provisions of the rule are taken into account, primarily as a result of the 3.3 percent market basket increase. Payments to specific hospitals may increase more or less than this amount depending on the patients they serve. </p> <p>In the previous two years, Medicare made important, incremental changes while it studied comprehensive reform of the inpatient hospital payment system.  CMS is making some initial changes this year and is further studying how to better recognize the cost of expensive devices as it considers other improvements to its payments for FY 2009.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78557.php">CMS Announces Payment Reforms For Inpatient Hospital Services In 2008, USA</a></p>

CMS Announces Payment Reforms For Inpatient Hospital Services In 2008

  Payments to all hospitals will increase by an estimated average of 3.5 percent for FY 2008 when all provisions of the rule are taken int...

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DuPont Innovation Helps Allergy Sufferers Get A More Restful Night's Sleep

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>DuPont (NYSE: DD) today introduced a new innovation with Hybrid Membrane Technology (HMT) that will allow pillow and mattress covers to deliver unsurpassed protection from a range of harmful allergens without sacrificing personal comfort.</p> <p><a atomicselection="true" href="http://www2.dupont.com/Allergen_Barrier/en_US/products/index.html" target="_blank"><img align="right" height="111" src="http://www2.dupont.com/Allergen_Barrier/en_US/assets/images/pageimage_small.jpg" width="148"></a> <br>"For allergy sufferers, getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep can be a real challenge. Mattress and pillow protectors made with DuPont HMT will help allergy sufferers sleep better by providing an effective barrier that has been scientifically proven to seal off even the most microscopic allergens," Vice President & General Manager - DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems Thomas G. Powell, said. "Vinyl and films provide a high level of protection, but these materials are noisy and trap body heat and moisture near the skin. Alternatively, materials such as cotton are more comfortable but do not provide an effective barrier against microscopic allergens. With DuPont HMT, consumers benefit from the optimal combination of protection and comfort."</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78668.php">DuPont Innovation Helps Allergy Sufferers Get A More Restful Night's Sleep</a></p>

DuPont Innovation Helps Allergy Sufferers Get A More Restful Night's Sleep

  DuPont (NYSE: DD) today introduced a new innovation with Hybrid Membrane Technology (HMT) that will allow pillow and mattress covers to ...

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Wyeth Oral Contraceptive Lybrel Available In U.S.

<p> </p> <blockquote>Wyeth on Monday said its oral contraceptive Lybrel, which is designed to eliminate monthly menstrual periods, is now available in U.S. pharmacies. Lybrel, which contains a lower dose of synthetic hormones in a daily dose than traditional oral contraceptives, is taken 365 days a year with no placebo pills. The usual regimen for oral contraceptives is 21 active pills taken consecutively, followed by seven placebo pills. <a href="http://www.fda.gov/">FDA</a> approved the drug in May.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78530.php">Wyeth Oral Contraceptive Lybrel Available In U.S., Company Says</a></p>

Wyeth Oral Contraceptive Lybrel Available In U.S.

  Wyeth on Monday said its oral contraceptive Lybrel, which is designed to eliminate monthly menstrual periods, is now available in U.S. ph...

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New high-resolution MRI machine comes to MIT

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>Last May, MIT acquired its first 3 Tesla Siemens MRI machine for noninvasive imaging of the human brain, located in the Martinos Imaging Center at<img align="right" src="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/scanner.jpg"> the McGovern Institute. This spring, a new, more powerful scanner moved in next to it, thanks to a gift from an anonymous donor. This scanner, a 9.4 Tesla Bruker magnet with a small (20 cm) bore, will be used for rodents and small primates, as well as live cell cultures and chemical preparations. It will help researchers make direct links between molecular and genetic techniques and live animal studies, and between animal studies and human studies.</p> <p> </p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/scanner-0731.html">New high-resolution MRI machine comes to MIT - MIT News Office</a> </p> <p>Hat Tip:  <a href="http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2007/08/117_tesla_bruker_biospin_mri.html" target="_blank">Medgadget</a></p>

New high-resolution MRI machine comes to MIT

  Last May, MIT acquired its first 3 Tesla Siemens MRI machine for noninvasive imaging of the human brain, located in the Martinos Imaging...

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CryoCor Receives FDA Approval For Right Atrial Flutter

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>Based on this approval, CryoCor intends to begin selling its cryoablation system in the United States over the next several months. The Company will place an initial focus on console placement in high-volume ablation centers in the U.S. and is currently evaluating its sales and marketing requirements for this strategy. The Company has targeted an initial installed base of approximately 120 to 160 consoles by December 31, 2008, growing to approximately 300 consoles by 2010.</p> <blockquote> <p><b>CONSOLE AND ARTICULATING CRYOARM™</b><br>The mobile Model 2020 Console is the control cente<img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="196" src="http://www.cryocor.com/images/SI_2020.jpg" width="235">r of the CryoCor™ Cardiac Cryoablation System. The console houses the control electronics, software and refrigeration components. With the Cryoablation Console, the user can initiate and control the cryo-ablation procedure using a few simple commands. A LCD screen displays command prompts and provides the operator with continual updates on system performance. The system uses a precooler located at the end of the articulating arm mounted to the console as part of a two-stage cooling process to optimize system efficiency and performance.<br></p></blockquote></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78663.php">CryoCor Receives FDA Approval For Right Atrial Flutter</a></p>

CryoCor Receives FDA Approval For Right Atrial Flutter

  Based on this approval, CryoCor intends to begin selling its cryoablation system in the United States over the next several months. The ...

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What drug rep visits cost you - By swearing off meetings with detailers, some doctors are seeing more patients—and watching their earning rise

<p>Interesting comment about the drug rep software being more sophisticated than the EHR being used for charting...they do have the information and tools to use...and they do use the information...overall good article on how to mix patient flow and retailer visits for a happy medium for all.   BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Hearing a drug spiel over a fajita wrap may not disrupt the schedule, but drop-ins and appointments eat up roughly 60 minutes a week, Health Strategies Group reports. If you used that extra time to see four established Medicare patients, using CPT code 99213 for an intermediate visit, you'd collect roughly $60 per visit, $240 per week, and $12,000 over 50 weeks. Subtract 50 percent for overhead, and you'd net an extra $6,000 a year—just a hair under what Brewer cleared after dropping rep visits.</p> <p>Benjamin Brewer agrees. "I got turned off being a sales target," he says. He couldn't stand drug reps tracking his every prescription with their computer software, <strong>which was more sophisticated than his EHR.</strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.memag.com/memag/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=443728&ref=25">What drug rep visits cost you - By swearing off meetings with detailers, some doctors are seeing more patients—and watching their earnings rise. - Medical Economics</a></p>

What drug rep visits cost you - By swearing off meetings with detailers, some doctors are seeing more patients—and watching their earning rise

Interesting comment about the drug rep software being more sophisticated than the EHR being used for charting...they do have the information...

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An effective way to use assistants - Training nurses and MAs to take histories and provide patient education boosts productivity, income, and quality of care

<p>Good article on how to maximize the team concept and get the most from medical assistants to help you add more to your bottom line....train them well...and the return is a much happier and productive staff too, so everyone gains with teamwork and proper training.  BD </p> <blockquote> <p><strong>With primary care reimbursement steadily dropping, having assistants do more of the clinical spadework is a cost-effective option to consider. You'll need to know how to get started, how team-based care works, and what some experts say about it.</strong></p> <p>Peter B. Anderson, a family physician in Newport News, VA, has three part-time nurses and a medical assistant—the equivalent of two full timers—who do nothing but take patient histories, document encounters, and teach patients to follow his treatment plans. These staffers cost a lot more than the single MA who supports the typical doctor. Yet in the four years since Anderson implemented "team-based care," he's seen his productivity—and his income—soar.</p> <p>Within a year, he was seeing 30 patients a day. Meanwhile, he hired two MAs and trained one of them to interview patients. By the next year, his daily count was 35 to 40, and his gross revenues had gone from less than $400,000 to $580,000. Despite the extra cost of the two MAs, Anderson now earns $240,000 a year, $100,000 more than in 2002—and he goes home earlier.</p> <p>When Anderson comes into the exam room, the nurse or MA hands him an EHR-generated list of current problems, meds, and lab results, and summarizes the patient's symptoms and history. The doctor follows up with the patient as needed, then conducts the physical exam while the assistant documents his findings and recommended treatment. The assistant spends another two to five minutes on patient education, while Anderson moves on to the next patient.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.memag.com/memag/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=443727&ref=25">An effective way to use assistants - Training nurses and MAs to take histories and provide patient education boosts productivity, income, and quality of care. - Medical Economics</a></p>

An effective way to use assistants - Training nurses and MAs to take histories and provide patient education boosts productivity, income, and quality of care

Good article on how to maximize the team concept and get the most from medical assistants to help you add more to your bottom line....train ...

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Healthcare, Computers and the Bottom Line

<p>Good article here about efficiency with medical records...all charges at the front desk based on input from the back office, no more sloppy hand written receipts either...another good reason for no more paper...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>A recent annual visit to my doctor's office showed me just how efficient electronic health records could be. I quickly noted that all of the healthcare professionals (doctors and physician assistants) were walking around with tablet PCs. These small laptops contain all of a patient's medical records that were formerly on paper. <p>In addition, my doctor's tablet PC contained patient screening protocols that assist the healthcare  professional in asking the right questions and not forgetting any important ones. My physician asked me a long list of questions such as do I wear seat belts, how much do I drink, etc. Additionally, he asked me some questions never asked before. It seemed obvious to me that all of these questions emanated from his computer, because he was looking at it as he was questioning me.</p> <p><strong><em>I had a pleasant surprise when I went to the reception desk to pay my bill. The receptionist already knew both the amount and the fact that the doctor didn't need to see me for one year. I asked, tongue in cheek, how the doctor could possibly beat me to the reception desk when I had just left him in the examining room.</em></strong> <p>She laughed and said that this was one of the wonderful features of the new computerized office -- appropriate information was immediately available to all of the staff. Therefore, there was no way that I could "beat" the flow of data from the examining room to the reception area.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.technewsworld.com/story/58565.html">Technology News: Data Storage: Healthcare, Computers and the Bottom Line</a> </p> <p>Hat Tip:  <a href="http://www.tabletpctalk.com/newsarticles.shtml#newsitemEElyEuAZyuKbDLfQha" target="_blank">TabletPCTalk</a></p>

Healthcare, Computers and the Bottom Line

Good article here about efficiency with medical records...all charges at the front desk based on input from the back office, no more sloppy ...

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Storm e-mail worm evolves as it wreaks havoc

<p>Watch for the emails telling you about a storm...according to the article the creator has reinvented the worm several times and can take control of your PC via a bot net.  BD</p> <blockquote>Storm first spread to e-mail in-boxes in Europe and the USA in January - enticing recipients to click on a link for a fake news story about a deadly storm or other dramatic event. Clicking on the link turned the PC over to Storm's controller.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20070803/tc_usatoday/stormemailwormevolvesasitwreakshavoconnet">Storm e-mail worm evolves as it wreaks havoc on Net - Yahoo! News</a></p>

Storm e-mail worm evolves as it wreaks havoc

Watch for the emails telling you about a storm...according to the article the creator has reinvented the worm several times and can take con...

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U.S. says 18 charged in illegal online pharmacy case - California

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eighteen people have been indicted in California on racketeering and other charges for operating an Internet business that illegally sold prescription drugs, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday. <p>The defendants included <strong><em>three physicians, two pharmacists, a pharmacy operator</em></strong>, an administrator, two recruiters of physicians and pharmacies, a credit card processor and eight affiliate Web site operators.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070803/wr_nm/usa_crime_pharmacy_dc">U.S. says 18 charged in illegal online pharmacy case - Yahoo! News</a></p>

U.S. says 18 charged in illegal online pharmacy case - California

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eighteen people have been indicted in California on racketeering and other charges for operating an Internet busi...

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UC Irvine Raises $120.1 Million, Setting Campus and County Record

<p> </p> <blockquote>IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of California, Irvine raised $120.1 million in private gifts and grants for the 2006-07 fiscal year, nearly a 19 percent increase over last year. This amount breaks the single-year fundraising record not only for the campus, but also for any organization or institution in Orange County. UCI also received a record number of gifts -- 26,881. During the last five years, annual private gift/grant support to the university has increased nearly 243 percent (from $35 million to more than $120 million); the number of gifts has increased by more than 57 percent (from 17,088 to 26,881); and the endowment has increased nearly 97 percent (from $117.1 million to more than $230 million).</blockquote> <p><a href="http://sev.prnewswire.com/education/20070801/LAW09801082007-1.html">University of California Irvine :: UC Irvine Raises $120.1 Million, Setting Campus and County Record</a></p>

UC Irvine Raises $120.1 Million, Setting Campus and County Record

  IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of California, Irvine raised $120.1 million in private gifts and grants for the 200...

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Washington Times Looks At Potential Effects Of Massachusetts Health Law On Small Businesses

<p>One more article about Massachusetts and health insurance and the effects on small business...It' already getting difficult for many of the newly insured to find a primary MD, and added cost certainly won't help.  bD </p> <blockquote> <p>About two-thirds of uninsured state residents work at small businesses, "making those employers more susceptible to an increase in health care costs as more people fall in line with the mandate to buy health insurance," the <cite>Times</cite> reports. Felland said, "When these people want health insurance, they'll turn to their employer, and in turn, cost will go up," adding, "There is a concern about how prepared the small-employer market is for this change."</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78399.php">Washington Times Looks At Potential Effects Of Massachusetts Health Law On Small Businesses</a></p>

Washington Times Looks At Potential Effects Of Massachusetts Health Law On Small Businesses

One more article about Massachusetts and health insurance and the effects on small business...It' already getting difficult for many of ...

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Health Care When You Want It

<p>Something doesn't make sense here...with the new insurance law in Massachusetts, it is becoming increasingly difficult for those who did not have insurance prior to get set up with a primary care MD and there is a long wait...and now the state is one of a few wishing to block the use of retail clinics?   It seems like the clinics could be helpful in some areas.  BD</p> <blockquote>Some physician organizations, however, including ones in Illinois and Massachusetts, are pushing for new regulations that would impede the growth of convenient care clinics through expensive permitting requirements (which physician practices do not have to face), further limitations on the number of nurse practitioners that an individual physician can supervise, and prohibitions against advertising that compares the fees of convenient care clinics with those of physicians. This is exactly the kind of price transparency our health-care system needs. In addition, the American Medical Association passed resolutions at its recent annual meeting that push for government intervention, legislation and other measures that could curtail the expansion of convenient care clinics.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118601813375385623.html?mod=googlenews_wsj">Health Care When You Want It - WSJ.com</a></p>

Health Care When You Want It

Something doesn't make sense here...with the new insurance law in Massachusetts, it is becoming increasingly difficult for those who did...

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CIGNA HealthCare Acquires Sagamore Health Network

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Aug. 1, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA HealthCare announced today that it has acquired Sagamore Health Network, Inc., the largest leased health care provider network in Indiana. <p>Sagamore provides access to an extensive preferred provider network consisting of 9,400 primary care physicians, 26,600 specialists, 1,100 ancillary providers and 210 hospitals. Sagamore also offers access to a broad range of utilization review and case management services. The company serves health claims payer organizations, self-insured employers and third-party administrators (TPAs) in Indiana and parts of Kentucky and Ohio. <p>The terms of the purchase were not disclosed.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NEW08301082007-1.htm">CIGNA HealthCare Acquires Sagamore Health Network</a></p>

CIGNA HealthCare Acquires Sagamore Health Network

  BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Aug. 1, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA HealthCare announced today that it has acquired Sagamore Health Network,...

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Investigation of found medical records continues

<p>This time it was paper...BD </p> <blockquote> <p>The box contained information about lab tests and insurance approvals as well as other medical issues. The documents are not medical charts, but do contain patient names and contact information. Under HIPAA guidelines, documents such as the ones found are supposed to be kept confidential and then shredded before being disposed of.<br>At the time the Post first interviewed Dr. Padilla, he said the office followed HIPAA guidelines very carefully and that the rule in the office was to shred all documents being disposed of. He said he didn’t know how the box ended up in the trash bin and speculated it might have been accidentally thrown out by the building’s cleaning crew.<br>Dr. Padilla spoke to the Post on Monday and said he was trying to figure out what had happened.<br>“The action we take all depends on how the material got into the Dumpster in the first place,” Dr. Padilla said. “That’s what we want to find out. We have a process in place to prevent this from happening.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/greenwich/21034.shtml">Investigation of found medical records continues</a></p>

Investigation of found medical records continues

This time it was paper...BD  The box contained information about lab tests and insurance approvals as well as other medical issues. The do...

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House passes boost in kids' health plan

<p>Good point made on how long this is taking for the kids...how long will the rest of us have to wait for the health care legislation outcome.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>"If they fail to reach a compromise on covering kids, it would be pathetic," said Drew Altman, president of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, an information clearinghouse on healthcare issues. "If they can't agree on kids, what will they be able to reach a deal on when it comes to health reform? Failure to reauthorize [the children's program] would damage many of the most important state health reform efforts around the country."<br>Indeed, the outcome of the battle is crucial to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to expand coverage in California — and to competing proposals from Democrats. Both would rely on federal cash from the State Children's Health Insurance Program to cover all California children. The federal-state program, known in California as Healthy Families, expires Sept. 30. Its renewal is viewed as the most important health coverage decision in Washington this year.<br><strong><em>The California delegation split along party lines, with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed.</em></strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-na-kids2aug02,1,1491557.story?coll=la-health-medicine&ctrack=2&cset=true">House passes boost in kids' health plan - Los Angeles Times</a></p>

House passes boost in kids' health plan

Good point made on how long this is taking for the kids...how long will the rest of us have to wait for the health care legislation outcome....

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GP Physicians Under Increased Workload Pressure, Says BMA, UK

<p>UK physicians also facing bigger workloads....BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Family doctors in the UK are working even harder than they did 14 years ago despite working similar hours, according to the results of a new general practice workload survey published last Tuesday. The BMA says this is because current consultations with patients are longer and more complex and GPs are increasingly treating patients previously cared for in hospitals, raising the intensity and quality of workload to an all-time high. <br></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78434.php">GPs Under Increased Workload Pressure, Says BMA, UK</a></p>

GP Physicians Under Increased Workload Pressure, Says BMA, UK

UK physicians also facing bigger workloads....BD Family doctors in the UK are working even harder than they did 14 years ago despite worki...

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Deep Brain Stimulation Helps Near Vegetative Man

<p>Almost a return from the dead...and maybe hope for others...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Following pioneering brain stimulation treatment, and after six years in a near vegetative state, a man is talking again, can feed himself, and has told his mother "I love you Mommy". <br>The 38 year old American man was in a minimally conscious state following a horrific assault in 1999 where his skull was crushed and he was left for dead. His dramatic recovery came after doctors stimulated deep parts of his brain with electrodes. However, the doctors wished to warn families of other brain trauma patients not to expect the treatment to work on everyone.<br>A report on the treatment and results is published in the early online edition of the journal <i>Nature</i> and is accompanied by a short news piece.<br>The man, who cannot be named, has been in a minimally conscious state since his attack, confined to a bed in a nursing home. He could not swallow or speak and rarely opened his eyes, although he was mouthing words and making some attempts to communicate and respond. Brain scans showed that parts of his brain were intact and active.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78524.php">Deep Brain Stimulation Helps Near Vegetative Man Say "I Love You Mommy"</a></p>

Deep Brain Stimulation Helps Near Vegetative Man

Almost a return from the dead...and maybe hope for others...BD Following pioneering brain stimulation treatment, and after six years in a ...

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Workers are told to shape up or pay up

<p>Employers may pass along higher premiums to workers who are over weight....BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Looking for new ways to trim the fat and boost workers' health, some employers are starting to make overweight employees pay if they don't slim down.  Still, some lawyers say weight-based compensation plans may run afoul of other employment laws.  Still, some lawyers say weight-based compensation plans may run afoul of other employment laws.<br>Others, citing growing medical costs tied to obesity, are offering fit workers lucrative incentives that shave thousands of dollars a year off healthcare premiums.<br>In one of the boldest moves yet, an Indiana-based hospital chain last month said it decided on the stick rather than the carrot. Starting in 2009, Clarian Health Partners will charge employees as much as $30 every two weeks unless they meet weight, cholesterol and blood-pressure guidelines that the company deems healthy.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/careers/work/la-fi-obese29jul29,1,4203819.story?ctrack=1&cset=true">Workers are told to shape up or pay up - Los Angeles Times</a></p>

Workers are told to shape up or pay up

Employers may pass along higher premiums to workers who are over weight....BD Looking for new ways to trim the fat and boost workers' ...

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'Off-label' drugs denied to patients in Medicare D

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>Medicare patients who rely on "off-label" use of drugs for pain, rare diseases and other conditions are often barred from getting them through the new prescription drug program, says a patient advocacy group in a report out Thursday. <p>Under rules issued last year by the Bush administration for the Medicare Part D program, so-called off-label prescriptions written by doctors for their patients can be denied by insurers. "Off-label" means a drug is used to treat a condition for which it is not specifically approved by the FDA. <p><em><strong>"For the first time in more than 40 years, we have a Medicare statute interpreted as not covering medically necessary care," says Robert Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center.</strong></em></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2007-08-01-medicare-drugs_N.htm">'Off-label' drugs denied to patients in Medicare D - USATODAY.com</a></p>

'Off-label' drugs denied to patients in Medicare D

  Medicare patients who rely on "off-label" use of drugs for pain, rare diseases and other conditions are often barred from gett...

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Social Security Administration Facing Record Backlog Of Disability Claims Appeals

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>The Social Security Administration has a record backlog of 745,000 pending disability appeals, with the wait for a hearing averaging 17 months -- also a record, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-07-29-disabled_N.htm?csp=34"><cite>USA Today</cite></a> reports (Wolf [1], <cite>USA Today</cite>, 7/30). Of the 2.5 million U.S. residents who file disability claims annually, close to two in three initially are denied benefits. More than 60% of people with denied claims who appeal the initial decision eventually are granted benefits. <br>Claimants and SSA officials maintain that the "lengthy waits lead to bankruptcies and foreclosures, drinking and drugs, depression and divorce, even suicide," according to <cite>USA Today</cite>. Social Security appeals will increase by about 90,000 annually over the next five years, likely resulting in a backlog of one million cases by 2010, according to SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue (Wolf [2], <cite>USA Today</cite>, 7/30). <br>Astrue said he is attempting to reduce the wait times but noted that Congress over the past six years has provided about $1 billion less in SSA funding than what President Bush has sought. Astrue is seeking to make "compassionate" early decisions and hold more hearings electronically to limit geographic disparities. However, Astrue said, "I can't look the Congress in the eye right now and say we're doing our job as well as we can do it" (Wolf [1], <cite>USA Today</cite>, 7/30). </p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78262.php">Social Security Administration Facing Record Backlog Of Disability Claims Appeals</a></p>

Social Security Administration Facing Record Backlog Of Disability Claims Appeals

  The Social Security Administration has a record backlog of 745,000 pending disability appeals, with the wait for a hearing averaging 17 ...

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Crisis for poor as Medi-Cal funds end in California

<p>I guess it could be called "Black Thursday"....interesting comments by each political side below too as this will have a huge impact on health facilities more so than it has ever done in the past...as you read on, the republican leader of the State Senate is not overly concerned if the talks go on for months....and has more of a focus on dollars and tax revenue generated rather than healthcare for the poor and elderly...BD</p> <blockquote> <p>In an emerging crisis for California's elderly and poor, all Medi-Cal funding will be halted this week to an estimated 500 hospitals throughout the state and 11,000 nursing homes, hospices and adult day care centers. <p>Medi-Cal funds have run out because of the state's monthlong budget impasse, forcing community programs and other facilities into a frantic scramble to cover their bills. <strong>Some care facilities for the aged are making plans to close.</strong> <p>California has nearly 6.8 million elderly, frail and chronically infirm Medi-Cal beneficiaries, and many would be forced to find help elsewhere, or make do on their own, without emergency funding from the state Legislature. <p>But help is unlikely because both the Senate and the Assembly would have to approve an emergency bailout, and the Assembly has gone on summer recess. <p>"We have not been cut off from Medi-Cal funding before so early in the fiscal year," said Lydia Missaelides, executive director of the California Association for Adult Day Services. "The magnitude of this crisis is overwhelming." <p>Medi-Cal coffers ran dry last week when the state was scheduled to issue $223 million to managed-care providers. Instead, checks for only $143 million were issued.  <em><strong>On Thursday, $227 million was scheduled to be paid to assorted hospitals, clinics and other providers of Medi-Cal services. No money will be paid.</strong></em> <p>Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, predicted that Medi-Cal recipients will begin flooding hospital emergency rooms, "making the health crisis even worse ... (as) emergency rooms are already stretched to the breaking point."   She called the Medi-Cal crisis "highly irresponsible." <p><strong><em>Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Irvine (Orange County), said he is not overly concerned about the budget stalemate dragging out weeks or even months longer. He said the state continues to take in tax revenue and most agencies have plenty of money in reserve.</em></strong></p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/08/01/MN16RALPF1.DTL">Crisis for poor as Medi-Cal funds end</a></p>

Crisis for poor as Medi-Cal funds end in California

I guess it could be called "Black Thursday"....interesting comments by each political side below too as this will have a huge impa...

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Bayonne Med Center back to court - NJ.com

<p>But the good news is they have received a grant for electronic records...which could also help save the day with reduced cost and fewer errors....BD</p> <blockquote> <p>Bayonne Medical Center is due back in U.S. Bankruptcy Court today to deal with several issues touching on the future of the troubled hospital. <p>At noon, the court will review applications by the hospital on various financial matters, including a short-term extension of its $30 million credit line, a proposed one-year renewal of the contract for its interim administrator, Daniel Kane, and the hiring of a nursing administrator. <p>In a related development, BMC has secured a $300,000 grant through the U.S. Labor-Health & Human Services-Education Appropriations bill to install an electronic medical records system. BMC credited Rep. Albio Sires, D-West New York, with helping secure the funds.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1185862666318530.xml&coll=3">Bayonne Med Center back to court - NJ.com</a></p>

Bayonne Med Center back to court - NJ.com

But the good news is they have received a grant for electronic records...which could also help save the day with reduced cost and fewer erro...

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IPA, Inc. Chooses ITelagen for EMR Rollout and IT Support

<p>More activity on the IPA/HMO business in northern California.  As you can see by the dates projected, this is a long process for roll out to all.  As we all know, IT change has been reluctant and slow with small practices and this is perhaps another way to reach out and bring small practices in to the 21st century with technology.  We still see all the "fax chasers" and paper charts being carted manually from room to room in many offices.  More consumers are now cognizant too of whether or not an office is still using paper, it's noticed within the first few minutes normally of a visit with the rush and disorganization that is just not there with a practice that is organized and using electronic records and technology to manage their patient care.  Organized offices are spending less time on the phone these days as well so they can devote more time to the patient at the time of the visit.  BD</p> <blockquote>Muir Medical Group IPA's plan is to roll out EMR -- with ITelagen's help -- to 200 providers by 2010. "We were looking down the road," Haegeland said, "and seeing that it was going to be extremely difficult for an individual practice to survive as an island." ITelagen provides a fully staffed IT department with the expertise to keep networks, PC's, software and people running smoothly. The service also includes unlimited onsite and remote technical support for employees, antivirus software and management; plus proactive computer health monitoring and online backup of data.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NETU028A31072007-1.htm">Muir Medical Group IPA, Inc. Chooses ITelagen for EMR Rollout and IT Support</a></p>

IPA, Inc. Chooses ITelagen for EMR Rollout and IT Support

More activity on the IPA/HMO business in northern California.  As you can see by the dates projected, this is a long process for roll out to...

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When Medical Studies Collide

<p>Good points made here, things are not black and white today with health care..many differing opinions, studies, etc., sometimes too much for one to handle.  BD</p> <blockquote> <p>No wonder people are confused. And not just about echinacea. On this roller coaster of health advice, caffeine, carbohydrates, and replacement hormones for women after menopause are bad one day, good the next. One meta-analysis was enough to send sales of diabetes blockbuster Avandia plunging when it suggested heart side effects. "The average reader can't sort it out," says Jeanne P. Goldberg, director of the Center on Nutrition Communication at Tufts University.<br>The problem is,<u> the world of medical and health research is messier than most people realize. Black-and-white answers are rare, even when it comes to a single drug trial. In hormone replacement therapy, "people from the same study are disagreeing with each other,</u>" says Julie Buring, professor of medicine at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. </p> <p><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_32/b4045052.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_technology">When Medical Studies Collide</a></p></blockquote>

When Medical Studies Collide

Good points made here, things are not black and white today with health care..many differing opinions, studies, etc., sometimes too much for...

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Lawmakers In Health Care Brawl

<p> </p> <blockquote> <p>WASHINGTON - The premier health care brawl of 2007 - now showing in Congress - is over health insurance for some of the nation's poorer children, including tens of thousands in Connecticut.<br>Democrats are considering a huge expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, saying they have a rare chance to expand a program that, most agree, is popular and generally works well.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-husky0801.artaug01,0,4837187.story">Lawmakers In Health Care Brawl -- Courant.com</a></p>

Lawmakers In Health Care Brawl

  WASHINGTON - The premier health care brawl of 2007 - now showing in Congress - is over health insurance for some of the nation's poo...

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