Medscape Business of Medicine Headlines

Physicians Are Talking About: The Audacity That Physicians Should Take the Helm of Healthcare Reform

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 16:52:45 EDT

As the US healthcare reform movement gains momentum, Medscape Physician Connect commentators propose their own strategies for change.
Medscape Family Medicine

Who's to Blame for Our High Healthcare Costs? Payer, Payee, or Another Culprit?

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 15:39:26 EDT

Robert Morrow, MD, responds to "The Cost Conundrum," an article published in The New Yorker which blames high healthcare costs on excessive overuse of medicine.
Medscape Family Medicine

Why More Doctors Should Use NPs and PAs -- And Why They Don't

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 13:02:20 EDT

As physician reimbursements decline and universal healthcare seems possible, doctors can become more profitable and more competitive by using nurse practitioners and PAs.
Medscape Business of Medicine

Obesity on the Rise in US

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 12:30:45 EDT

The prevalence of obesity in US adults has increased by more than 25% in 2008; a separate report found that healthcare spending on obesity increased by 80% from 2001 to 2006.
Medscape Medical News

Health Services for Low-Income and Uninsured Women

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 16:33:11 EDT

In this video blog, Dr. Andrew Kaunitz responds to a reader's comment and discusses 3 nationwide programs that provide family planning and other health services to low-income and uninsured women.
Medscape Ob/Gyn & Women's Health

Changes in Medicare Pay Rules Could Have a Redistributive Effect

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 14:32:03 EDT

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced a series of proposed changes to the 2010 physician fee schedule.
Medscape Medical News

Tissue Retained in Arthroscopic Shavers After Cleaning, FDA Warns

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:05:19 EDT

The FDA has alerted healthcare professionals about the possibility of pieces of tissue remaining in arthroscopic shavers after cleaning.
Medscape Medical News

WHO Issues Patient Care Checklist for Influenza A (H1N1)

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 11:56:03 EDT

WHO has developed a new patient care checklist for hospitals worldwide to use when treating suspected or confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1).
Medscape Medical News

Tamiflu-Resistant H1N1 Flu in US?

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 11:46:24 EDT

Drug-resistant H1N1 flu is seen in a teenage traveler from San Francisco.
WebMD Health News

Obama Praises Public Insurance Plan on Healthcare

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 15:27:42 EDT

President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that a government-run, public health insurance plan would be one of the best ways to bring down costs and "force the insurance companies to compete and keep them honest."
Reuters Health Information

FDA Adds Stronger Warnings to Propoxyphene

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 14:05:43 EDT

The FDA is adding stronger warnings to pain medications that contain propoxyphene, such as Darvon and Darvocet, because of new data on fatal overdoses linked to propoxyphene products.
Medscape Medical News

Seattle Doctors Try Flat-Rate, No-Limit Primary Care

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 15:27:42 EDT

A Seattle primary care clinic for people fed up with insurance, started by doctors fed up with insurance, has gotten $4 million in private venture capital money to expand, it announced on Monday.
Reuters Health Information

U.S. Congress Back to Wrestle With Healthcare Reform

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 15:27:42 EDT

After a week of holiday barbecues and hometown parades, the U.S. Congress returned to work Monday to face what could be the year's most severe test -- finding common ground on a huge and costly U.S. healthcare overhaul.
Reuters Health Information

Jury Returns $1.67 Billion Drug Verdict Against Abbott

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 11:48:01 EDT

A U.S. federal jury returned a $1.67 billion verdict against Abbott Laboratories in a patent suit brought by Johnson & Johnson related to arthritis treatments, the drug companies said on Monday.
Reuters Health Information

US Comparative Research Proposal Includes Multiple Oncology Studies

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 10:48:30 EDT

The Institute of Medicine has drafted a list of 100 health topics as priorities in comparative research; $400 million are earmarked to conduct the studies, which include a variety of oncology-related topics.
Medscape Medical News

ACC Aghast at Proposed Cuts to Cardiology Payments in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2010

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 12:04:32 EDT

The CMS announced its planned 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule this week, which includes proposals that could result in cuts ranging from 10% to more than 40% in Medicare payments for various cardiology services, says the ACC.
Heartwire

Ferumoxytol Approved to Treat Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:03:54 EDT

Ferumoxytol injection may be more effective than oral iron for anemic patients in all stages of chronic kidney disease.
Medscape Medical News

ISSTDR 2009: Internet-Based Testing Improves Screening for Chlamydia Among Men

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:55:32 EDT

Internet-based chlamydia testing at home widens access to young people, and new DNA hybridization technology provides results at point of care.
Medscape Medical News

ASCO 2009: Oncology Insights

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:33:49 EDT

In this fascinating exclusive video interview, Dr. Maurie Markman talks with Dr. David Alberts about some of the greatest challenges facing oncologists in the current environment.
Medscape Hematology-Oncology

WHO Says Tamiflu-Resistant H1N1 "an Isolated Case"

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:12:00 EDT

The first H1N1 infection found to be resistant to the antiviral Tamiflu represents an "isolated case" with "no public health implication" at this time, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.
Reuters Health Information