Monday, April 30, 2012

In Hopeful Sign, Health Spending Is Flattening Out - NYTimes.com

In Hopeful Sign, Health Spending Is Flattening Out - NYTimes.com

Sued Over An $1,800 Hospital Bill - Kaiser Health News

Sued Over An $1,800 Hospital Bill - Kaiser Health News

Dire Medicare outlook assumes deep physician pay cuts - amednews.com

Dire Medicare outlook assumes deep physician pay cuts - amednews.com

Prices for doctor services lag behind inflation - amednews.com

Prices for doctor services lag behind inflation - amednews.com

Physicians fight "unworkable" Medicare overpayment rule - amednews.com

Physicians fight "unworkable" Medicare overpayment rule - amednews.com

No out-of-state insurers offer plans in Georgia  | ajc.com

No out-of-state insurers offer plans in Georgia  | ajc.com

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Smaller hospitals, solo docs struggling with EHR adoption - FierceHealthIT

Smaller hospitals, solo docs struggling with EHR adoption - FierceHealthIT

CMS proposes higher hospital payments in value-based purchasing - FierceHealthcare

CMS proposes higher hospital payments in value-based purchasing - FierceHealthcare

West Penn Allegheny accuses UPMC of bribing docs - FierceHealthcare

West Penn Allegheny accuses UPMC of bribing docs - FierceHealthcare

CMS final rule aims to save $1.6B in fraud - FierceHealthcare

CMS final rule aims to save $1.6B in fraud - FierceHealthcare

Medical News: Robotic Surgery Dominant in Prostate Cancer - in Urology, Prostate Cancer from MedPage Today

Medical News: Robotic Surgery Dominant in Prostate Cancer - in Urology, Prostate Cancer from MedPage Today

Few Doctors Consider Themselves Rich, Survey Says – Capsules - The KHN Blog

Few Doctors Consider Themselves Rich, Survey Says – Capsules - The KHN Blog

Times-Georgian - Tanner program to fight region’s ‘obesity epidemic’

Times-Georgian - Tanner program to fight region’s ‘obesity epidemic’

Wealthiest Georgia counties enjoy best health but all pay for poor care, data show | The Augusta Chronicle

Wealthiest Georgia counties enjoy best health but all pay for poor care, data show | The Augusta Chronicle

The Onset Of Coronary Artery Disease May Be Influenced By Fat Outside Of Arteries

The Onset Of Coronary Artery Disease May Be Influenced By Fat Outside Of Arteries

Breast Cancer Survivors Need To Let Go To Boost Quality Of Life

Breast Cancer Survivors Need To Let Go To Boost Quality Of Life

House panel votes to repeal reform provisions - Healthcare business news and research | Modern Healthcare

House panel votes to repeal reform provisions - Healthcare business news and research | Modern Healthcare

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

If The Health Care Overhaul Goes Down, Could Medicare Follow? : Shots - Health Blog : NPR

If The Health Care Overhaul Goes Down, Could Medicare Follow? : Shots - Health Blog : NPR

Health Insurers Switch Baseline for Out-of-Network Charges - NYTimes.com

Health Insurers Switch Baseline for Out-of-Network Charges - NYTimes.com

Medicaid fraud in the spotlight

Medicaid fraud in the spotlight

Cancer Doc Brawley Says The U.S. Health Care System Is Sick : Shots - Health Blog : NPR

Cancer Doc Brawley Says The U.S. Health Care System Is Sick : Shots - Health Blog : NPR

Appendix removal: Huge sticker shock in study - Yahoo! News

Appendix removal: Huge sticker shock in study - Yahoo! News

Poll: Doctors Fall Short In Helping Many Seniors – Capsules - The KHN Blog

Poll: Doctors Fall Short In Helping Many Seniors – Capsules - The KHN Blog

Monday, April 23, 2012

General Surgery News - Hospitals Feeling the Pain of Sedative Shortage

General Surgery News - Hospitals Feeling the Pain of Sedative Shortage

Bariatric surgery maintains, doesn't gain - amednews.com

Bariatric surgery maintains, doesn't gain - amednews.com

More physicians calling the shots in latest round of ACOs - amednews.com

More physicians calling the shots in latest round of ACOs - amednews.com

Medical News: Obesity, GI Issues May Take Root in Gut Flora - in , ACP from MedPage Today

Medical News: Obesity, GI Issues May Take Root in Gut Flora - in , ACP from MedPage Today

Government says Medicare will save $200 billion through 2016 – USATODAY.com

Government says Medicare will save $200 billion through 2016 – USATODAY.com

Social Security, Medicare strained by slow economic recovery, aging workforce - The Washington Post

Social Security, Medicare strained by slow economic recovery, aging workforce - The Washington Post

OB-GYNs aim to deliver on the Hill - Kate Nocera - POLITICO.com

OB-GYNs aim to deliver on the Hill - Kate Nocera - POLITICO.com

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Hospital sued for diverting patients, defamation - FierceHealthcare

Hospital sued for diverting patients, defamation - FierceHealthcare

Patients choose hospitals based on social media - FierceHealthcare

Patients choose hospitals based on social media - FierceHealthcare

ACOs decide how to absorb losses - FierceHealthcare

ACOs decide how to absorb losses - FierceHealthcare

Costly helicopter transport linked with higher survival rates - FierceHealthcare

Costly helicopter transport linked with higher survival rates - FierceHealthcare

WellPoint is focus of aggressive effort to force political spending disclosures - The Washington Post

WellPoint is focus of aggressive effort to force political spending disclosures - The Washington Post

Insurance-Coverage Gaps for 48 Million Americans in 2011 — Study - Health Blog - WSJ

Insurance-Coverage Gaps for 48 Million Americans in 2011 — Study - Health Blog - WSJ

Medicare to Expand Competitive Bidding on Equipment - NYTimes.com

Medicare to Expand Competitive Bidding on Equipment - NYTimes.com

What’s wrong with our community health centers? | Georgia Health News

What’s wrong with our community health centers? | Georgia Health News

Patient data missing for 315,000 Emory patients  | ajc.com

Patient data missing for 315,000 Emory patients  | ajc.com

Baxter announces Covington manufacturing plant, 1,500 jobs - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Baxter announces Covington manufacturing plant, 1,500 jobs - Atlanta Business Chronicle

General Surgery News - Most C. difficile Infections Linked to Health Care Settings

General Surgery News - Most <em>C. difficile</em> Infections Linked to Health Care Settings

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Weight Loss Surgery Better Than Drugs For Very Obese Diabetes Patients

Weight Loss Surgery Better Than Drugs For Very Obese Diabetes Patients

For uninsured Georgians, specialty care can be hard to come by | Georgia Health News

For uninsured Georgians, specialty care can be hard to come by | Georgia Health News

FDA tangles with wireless medical-app makers - Brett Norman - POLITICO.com

FDA tangles with wireless medical-app makers - Brett Norman - POLITICO.com

Rise in Scientific Journal Retractions Prompts Calls for Reform - NYTimes.com

Rise in Scientific Journal Retractions Prompts Calls for Reform - NYTimes.com

U.S. cites Assurant unit over health premium hike | Reuters

U.S. cites Assurant unit over health premium hike | Reuters

Beyond drowsy, too little sleep ups diabetes risk  | ajc.com

Beyond drowsy, too little sleep ups diabetes risk  | ajc.com

Monday, April 16, 2012

Ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals at odds over expansion regulations - FierceHealthcare

Ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals at odds over expansion regulations - FierceHealthcare

Hospital-acquired infections quadruple ICU deaths - FierceHealthcare

Hospital-acquired infections quadruple ICU deaths - FierceHealthcare

Next generation of doctors sees gloomy future | Reuters

Next generation of doctors sees gloomy future | Reuters

General Surgery News - ‘Wait and See’ an Attractive Alternative in Some Rectal Cancers

General Surgery News - ‘Wait and See’ an Attractive Alternative in Some Rectal Cancers

General Surgery News - Experts Discuss Endoscopic Repair of Colonic Perforations

General Surgery News - Experts Discuss Endoscopic Repair of Colonic Perforations

Search is on to cure EHR alert fatigue - amednews.com

Search is on to cure EHR alert fatigue - amednews.com

AMA seeks changes to Medicare hospital observation policy - amednews.com

AMA seeks changes to Medicare hospital observation policy - amednews.com

End-of-life care: Pain control carries risk of being called a killer - amednews.com

End-of-life care: Pain control carries risk of being called a killer - amednews.com

Medicaid, PeachCare cope with cash problem | Georgia Health News

Medicaid, PeachCare cope with cash problem | Georgia Health News

Medicare To Tie Doctors' Pay To Quality, Cost Of Care - Kaiser Health News

Medicare To Tie Doctors' Pay To Quality, Cost Of Care - Kaiser Health News

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Your Calls Needed Again for Bariatric Surgery Coverage Restoration

During the 2012 Georgia Legislative Session, funding to restore the coverage of bariatric surgery under the State Employees Health Benefit Plan was added to the 2013 fiscal year budget.

Now to ensure that the coverage is indeed restored, calls to Governor Nathan Deal's office are required.

Please call Governor Deal's office  at 404.656.1776.  Please pass this message along to your patients, staff and family members and ask them to call as well.

Dear Governor Deal,
Please support the budget language and the General Assembly’s legislative intent to restore the bariatric surgery benefit in the state health benefit plan.  Doing so will help produce better health outcomes for state beneficiaries, and reduce overall health care costs in the state health benefit plan.

HHS Announces ICD-10 Delay - in Practice Management, Information Technology from MedPage Today

Medical News:%20HHS Announces ICD-10 Delay - in Practice Management, Information Technology from MedPage Today

Pessimistic docs leaving hospitals - FierceHealthcare

Pessimistic docs leaving hospitals - FierceHealthcare

Out-of-state insurance law does nothing yet | Georgia Health News

Out-of-state insurance law does nothing yet | Georgia Health News

State won’t rush ‘redesign’ of health programs | Georgia Health News

State won’t rush ‘redesign’ of health programs | Georgia Health News

Colon Cancer Screening More Likely When People Are Given A Choice : Shots - Health Blog : NPR

Colon Cancer Screening More Likely When People Are Given A Choice : Shots - Health Blog : NPR

ICD-10 Likely to Be Pushed Back a Year - Health Blog - WSJ

ICD-10 Likely to Be Pushed Back a Year - Health Blog - WSJ

General Surgery News - Innovative and Affordable Advances in Surgical Technology

General Surgery News - Innovative and Affordable Advances in Surgical Technology

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Geriatric Emergency Units Opening at U.S. Hospitals - NYTimes.com

Geriatric Emergency Units Opening at U.S. Hospitals - NYTimes.com

Health-care law will add $340 billion to deficit, new study finds - The Washington Post

Health-care law will add $340 billion to deficit, new study finds - The Washington Post

General Surgery News - CMS Rolls Out Changes for Ambulatory Surgical Centers

General Surgery News - CMS Rolls Out Changes for Ambulatory Surgical Centers

General Surgery News - An Evolution in the Management of Colonoscopic Perforations

General Surgery News - An Evolution in the Management of Colonoscopic Perforations

With Cancer Care, The U.S. Spends More, But Gets More : Shots - Health Blog : NPR

With Cancer Care, The U.S. Spends More, But Gets More : Shots - Health Blog : NPR

Monday, April 9, 2012

State’s share in WellCare case: $33 million | Georgia Health News

State’s share in WellCare case: $33 million | Georgia Health News

Recession Boosted Hospital Expansions Into Affluent Areas, Study Finds – Capsules - The KHN Blog

Recession Boosted Hospital Expansions Into Affluent Areas, Study Finds – Capsules - The KHN Blog

Health worse in rural counties, study shows | Georgia Health News

Health worse in rural counties, study shows | Georgia Health News

Opioid Painkiller Prescriptions Pose Danger Without Oversight - NYTimes.com

Opioid Painkiller Prescriptions Pose Danger Without Oversight - NYTimes.com

Medical News:%20Breast-Sparing Surgery Means More Procedures - in Oncology/Hematology, Breast Cancer from MedPage Today

Medical News:%20Breast-Sparing Surgery Means More Procedures - in Oncology/Hematology, Breast Cancer from MedPage Today

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Republicans Examine Alternatives to Obama Health Plan - NYTimes.com

Republicans Examine Alternatives to Obama Health Plan - NYTimes.com

Rock Center with Brian Williams - Health Care Hustle: Patients caught in middle of high-stakes numbers game

Rock Center with Brian Williams - Health Care Hustle: Patients caught in middle of high-stakes numbers game

Nonprofit hospital execs see pay bumps amid layoffs - FierceHealthcare

Nonprofit hospital execs see pay bumps amid layoffs - FierceHealthcare

Doctor Panels Urge Fewer Routine Tests - NYTimes.com

Doctor Panels Urge Fewer Routine Tests - NYTimes.com

Higher-spending hospitals see better emergency outcomes - FierceHealthcare

Higher-spending hospitals see better emergency outcomes - FierceHealthcare

America's Obesity Epidemic Significantly Worse Than Previously Believed

America's Obesity Epidemic Significantly Worse Than Previously Believed

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Medicaid payments for 'unnecessary' ER visits safe for now - FierceHealthcare

Medicaid payments for 'unnecessary' ER visits safe for now - FierceHealthcare

Medicaid payments for 'unnecessary' ER visits safe for now - FierceHealthcare

Medicaid payments for 'unnecessary' ER visits safe for now - FierceHealthcare

Health Insurers Move Ahead, With Or Without Individual Mandate - Kaiser Health News

Health Insurers Move Ahead, With Or Without Individual Mandate - Kaiser Health News

CMS e-prescribing incentives soar - FierceHealthIT

CMS e-prescribing incentives soar - FierceHealthIT

Albany fax case fails, but makes legal history | Georgia Health News

Albany fax case fails, but makes legal history | Georgia Health News

Health Care Journalist Predicts Turmoil for Patients, Businesses, No Matter How Supreme Court Rules | Public Broadcasting Atlanta

Health Care Journalist Predicts Turmoil for Patients, Businesses, No Matter How Supreme Court Rules | Public Broadcasting Atlanta

Monday, April 2, 2012

A powerful voice in health care — Q & A with David Cook | Georgia Health News

A powerful voice in health care — Q & A with David Cook | Georgia Health News

General Surgery News - Manufacturer Halts Sales of Lap-Band to Certain Centers

General Surgery News - Manufacturer Halts Sales of Lap-Band to Certain Centers

General Surgery News - Too Many Tacks Associated With Postoperative Hernia Pain

General Surgery News - Too Many Tacks Associated With Postoperative Hernia Pain

General Surgery News - ACGME To Change Standards For How Residents Are Measured

General Surgery News - ACGME To Change Standards For How Residents Are Measured

General Surgery News - Bariatric Surgery Boosts Cognitive Function, New Study Finds

General Surgery News - Bariatric Surgery Boosts Cognitive Function, New Study Finds

General Surgery News - Surgery Society Updates Guidelines on Breast Cancer Care

General Surgery News - Surgery Society Updates Guidelines on Breast Cancer Care<feff> </feff>

What survived, what sank in legislative session  | ajc.com

What survived, what sank in legislative session  | ajc.com

Georgia lawmakers look back on session ruled by extremes | jacksonville.com

Georgia lawmakers look back on session ruled by extremes | jacksonville.com

Genome sequencing to add new twist to doctor-patient talks - amednews.com

Genome sequencing to add new twist to doctor-patient talks - amednews.com

Criminal background checks provide patchwork protection against rogue doctors - amednews.com

Criminal background checks provide patchwork protection against rogue doctors - amednews.com

BMI Not Found To Play A Role In Surgical Complications Or In Survival

BMI Not Found To Play A Role In Surgical Complications Or In Survival

Participation, payments jump in quality reporting programs - Healthcare business news and research | Modern Healthcare

Participation, payments jump in quality reporting programs - Healthcare business news and research | Modern Healthcare