House passes major Medicare payment reform; what will the Senate do? :: Nov. 23, ... Pay will be cut Jan. 1, 2010, unless the Senate acts. Meanwhile, the Senate's newly unveiled health reform bill passed a procedural hurdle, opening debate. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/30/gvl11130.htm- 31.5KB

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Hospitals and EMRs: Stimulating a connection :: Nov. 23, 2009 Changes in Stark laws allow hospitals to offer EMR-implementation subsidies to physicians. Physicians can also tap into federal stimulus money for EMRs. How will the two funding options converge? http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/bisa1123.htm- 37.1KB

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Digital divide emerges at hospitals serving poor patients :: Nov. 23, 2009 Slower adoption of health IT may be hurting care quality. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsb1123.htm- 31.7KB

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AMA meeting: 'Don't ask, don't tell' said to hurt patient care; repeal urged :: ... The House of Delegates also said a lack of marriage rights contributes to health care disparities that affect gay families. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsc1123.htm- 33.6KB

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AMA meeting: Are doctors responsible for controlling health care costs? :: Nov. ... A CEJA open forum explored the role of physicians in an age of ever-rising medical spending. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsi1123.htm- 32.9KB

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Reform bills aimed at coverage shortages could fall short, insurers warn :: Nov. ... Health plans say insurance exchanges may not lead to more choices, and young people could see higher premiums. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/16/gvsa1116.htm- 32.3KB

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Health care fraud a challenge to system reform :: Nov. 16, 2009 Annual federal recoveries continue to top the $1 billion mark, but a new bill proposes to bolster anti-fraud provisions in broader reform legislation. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/16/gvsb1116.htm- 32.4KB

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Health care spending for middle-age Americans booming :: Nov. 9, 2009 Experts say increased use of services, expanded screening, technical advances and more in-office procedures are driving costs. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/09/bisa1109.htm- 31.0KB

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What commentators are saying about the Senate's public plan option :: Nov. 9, ... Other Views on Medical News - Commentary from other news and opinion sources http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/09/edsa1109.htm- 29.6KB

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House passes health reform bill, debate moves to Senate :: Nov. 9, 2009 Democratic leaders prevailed with help from anti-abortion members of the caucus. The House could vote on Medicare physician pay the week of Nov. 16. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/09/gvl11109.htm- 29.4KB

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Are health system reform polls meaningful? :: Nov. 9, 2009 Americans' opinions about reform proposals depend in part on how survey questions are worded, pollsters say. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/09/gvsb1109.htm- 31.7KB

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AMA's 7 guiding principles for health system reform :: Nov. 2, 2009 AMA Leader Commentary - A message to all physicians about current events in medical practice http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/02/edca1102.htm- 32.0KB

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Health reform review: The Massachusetts experience :: Nov. 2, 2009 The state's universal insurance program has solved some access issues, but it's not a panacea. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/02/gvsa1102.htm- 43.6KB

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Higher hospital spending linked to better outcomes :: Nov. 2, 2009 An examination of six California teaching hospitals contradicts conclusions of the Dartmouth Atlas Project. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/02/gvsc1102.htm- 31.3KB

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Medicare's no-pay rule has little financial impact :: Oct. 26, 2009 Hospitals would lose an average $368 annually in nonpayment for preventable conditions, a study finds. This could undermine CMS' economic case to improve patient safety. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/26/prsc1026.htm- 32.7KB

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Health plans eye Medicaid as profit source :: Oct. 26, 2009 As other business lines become less attractive and enrollments in Medicaid spike, managed care companies are angling to get a piece of this market. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/26/bisa1026.htm- 30.9KB

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Women pay more for health care :: Oct. 26, 2009 Thirty-four states offer no protection against higher individual market premiums for women, but some say medical lawsuits are to blame, too. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/26/gvsb1026.htm- 33.1KB

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Scientific method offers view to solving liability crisis :: Oct. 19, 2009 AMA Leader Commentary - A message to all physicians about current events in medical practice http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/19/edca1019.htm- 31.6KB

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Ability to find, afford care is deteriorating in many states :: Oct. 19, 2009 A national scorecard again ranked Vermont's health system No. 1 and Mississippi's last, but all states have room to improve. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/19/gvsb1019.htm- 35.2KB

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Mandating cultural competency: Should physicians be required to take courses? :.. More states are moving toward requiring cultural competency training. Physicians question the need for a mandate. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/19/prsa1019.htm- 37.7KB

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Retail clinics expanding services more than locations :: Oct. 12, 2009 .. ... Some physicians are skeptical of the suitability of walk-in clinics for treatment beyond episodic care. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/12/bisa1012.htm- 31.1KB

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Medicaid pay could be cut again when stimulus money runs out :: Oct. 12, 2009 ... Thirteen states have reduced Medicaid rates for physicians in fiscal 2010, the most since at least 2004. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/12/gvl11012.htm- 35.3KB

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Medicaid drug fraud targeted by government watchdog group :: Oct. 12, 2009 .. ... Some physicians are concerned that increased scrutiny of the prescribing process for controlled substances could hurt legitimate care. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/12/gvsb1012.htm- 32.6KB

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Medicare use found to vary significantly by location :: Oct. 5, 2009 .. American ... The preliminary MedPAC report partially confirms Medicare spending analyses by the Dartmouth Atlas Project, but diverges on some points. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/05/gvsc1005.htm- 31.7KB

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Nonprofit Blues plans report declining earnings in 2008 :: Oct. 5, 2009 .. ... Experts predict higher premiums and co-pays, and tougher contract negotiations for physicians. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/05/bisb1005.htm- 33.8KB

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Uninsured are more than just numbers :: Editorial Oct. 5, 2009 .. American ... The count of people without health insurance is growing, but the bigger issue is a lack of access to affordable coverage. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/05/edsa1005.htm- 29.1KB

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What editorial writers are saying about the Senate Finance Committee's health ... Other Views on Medical News - Commentary from other news and opinion sources http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/28/edsa0928.htm- 29.8KB

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Faces of the uninsured: Individuals behind the statistics :: Sept. 28, 2009 ... More than 46 million people in the U.S. are lacking health insurance. Here are four of them. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/28/gvsa0928.htm- 41.2KB

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Governors slam proposed Medicaid expansion :: Sept. 28, 2009 .. American Medical .. The Senate Finance health system reform bill would require many states to help cover the cost. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/28/gvsb0928.htm- 36.1KB

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Average family health plan premiums top $13,000 :: Sept. 28, 2009 .. American ... The cost of single coverage held steady, but deductibles and other cost sharing continued to climb in 2009. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/28/gvsc0928.htm- 34.3KB

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Doctors often register unconscious bias against blacks, study finds :: Sept. 28, ... Psychological testing shows white physicians have friendlier attitudes toward anonymous white people than toward black people. But is this linked to unequal treatment? http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/28/prsa0928.htm- 33.1KB

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Doctors, nurses, seniors target reform myths :: Sept. 21, 2009 .. American ... The AMA joins with AARP and the American Nurses Assn. to clarify positions on health system reform and help move the debate beyond anti-reform rhetoric. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/21/gvsb0921.htm- 32.9KB

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Two nations, one debate over how to achieve reform :: Sept. 21, 2009 .. American ... AMA Leader Commentary - A message to all physicians about current events in medical practice http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/21/edca0921.htm- 32.7KB

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Ending unequal treatment :: Editorial Sept. 21, 2009 .. American Medical News The Commission to End Health Care Disparities is uniting physicians and others to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/21/edsa0921.htm- 29.6KB

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U.S. uninsured total again tops 46 million :: Sept. 21, 2009 .. American Medical .. But fewer children were uninsured in 2008 than in any year since 1987, the first year the U.S. Census Bureau collected comparable data. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/21/gvsa0921.htm- 33.9KB

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States targeting Medicaid physician pay :: Sept. 14, 2009 .. American Medical ... The federal stimulus package that boosted Medicaid funding to states did not protect doctors from reductions. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/14/gvsb0914.htm- 29.3KB

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Insurers expect to pay out 10% more for medical care :: Sept. 7, 2009 .. American ... Physicians, who receive the largest percentage from medical spending, can expect continued aggressive medical management and intense contract negotiations. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/07/bisc0907.htm- 32.2KB

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Court OKs lawsuit against Hawaii Medicaid managed care :: Sept. 7, 2009 .. ... Physicians and patients say the state overlooked health plans' inadequate networks when it contracted to move some beneficiaries into managed care. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/07/gvsc0907.htm- 31.5KB

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Patients happy with San Francisco plan for uninsured :: Sept. 7, 2009 .. American ... Ninety-four percent of enrollees say they are satisfied overall with the city's 2-year-old program. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/07/gvsd0907.htm- 31.4KB

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Lawsuits challenge Calif. governor's budget vetoes :: Aug. 24, 2009 .. American ... Physicians say moves to further slash Medicaid and CHIP will hurt those who can least afford it. Schwarzenegger says the cuts are legal. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/24/gvsa0824.htm- 31.6KB

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End-of-life care provision stirs angst in health reform debate :: Aug. 24, 2009 ... The public outrage over reimbursement for patient counseling catches doctors by surprise but shows how delicate the discussion over advance-care planning can be. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/24/prsa0824.htm- 35.1KB

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What editorial writers are saying about accomplishing health reform :: Aug. 17, ... Other Views on Medical News - Commentary from other news and opinion sources http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/17/edsa0817.htm- 29.4KB

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Louisiana cuts physicians' Medicaid payments :: Aug. 17, 2009 .. American Medical ... Citing 'cataclysmic' reductions in federal matching money, the state will reduce doctor pay by about $19 million in fiscal 2010. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/17/gvsb0817.htm- 31.9KB

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Public support for health system reform drops :: Aug. 10, 2009 .. American ... Quick View - An occasional snapshot of current facts and trends in medicine. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/gvca0810.htm- 26.4KB

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Mass. doctors urge caution as state ponders shift to global payments :: Aug. 10, ... The state's Legislature will consider recommendations to move physicians away from a fee-for-service system. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/bisb0810.htm- 27.6KB

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'Making the sausage' that will reform broken system :: Aug. 10, 2009 .. American ... AMA Leader Commentary - A message to all physicians about current events in medical practice http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/edca0810.htm- 34.1KB

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Health reform bill awaiting House return retools public plan to encourage doctor .. Physicians who choose to accept patients enrolled in the public plan option would not be tied to Medicare rates. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/gvl10810.htm- 34.2KB

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Fla. jury rules for hospital that deported immigrant patient :: Aug. 10, 2009 .. ... The lawsuit has raised questions over how to provide health care to uninsured illegal immigrants. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/gvsa0810.htm- 33.7KB

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Fla. Medicaid reform pilot: More efficiency or less care? :: Aug. 10, 2009 .. ... Other questions surround the state's consumer-driven reform, but patient satisfaction remains high. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/gvsc0810.htm- 32.9KB

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Enhanced Medicaid plan sees low sign-ups, but high use :: Aug. 10, 2009 .. ... West Virginia's Mountain Health Choices is attracting less-healthy adults, but whether it is improving their health remains unclear. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/gvsd0810.htm- 31.9KB