Technology

The secret to getting a reprieve on Stage 2 requirements

Here’s a little holiday gift from the government: If you act quickly to qualify for this year’s incentive payments for implementing electronic health records, you get a year’s reprieve to meet the Stage 2 requirements. Here are the details. » More

Practice Management

What patients think of doctors in this difficult practice environment

With your medical practice seemingly under attack from all sides, it is nice to know that one group has your back: your patients. A recent study concluded that most patients “are highly satisfied with their outpatient medical care.” Learn what researchers found surprising about patients who had just average encounters with physicians. » More

Practice Finance

Slow to come back: Office visits still down for privately insured

Americans who tightened their belts during the recession have not yet loosened them when it comes to their own healthcare, according to an analysis by a healthcare foundation. Despite the official end of the recession in June 2009, the downward trend in physician visits by privately insured patients has not reversed. Are there any signs that the trend may be about to turn around? » More

We're going to Washington. Care to join us?

If you could say one thing to those in the federal government, what would it be? If you had one piece of advice for new physicians, what would it be? Send your ideas to lbowers@advanstar.com. We may fly you to the nation's capital to participate in a Medical Economics roundtable about pressing issues facing you and your peers.

Health Law & Policy

Averting a Medicare crisis: Can Congress find the funds?

Medicare providers yet again are facing the prospect of reduced reimbursements—as much as 27%—unless Congress intervenes by the end of the year. Legislators are generally in agreement on what they want to do; they just aren’t sure how to pay for it. How does the cost of the “doc fix” affect the chances that Congress will step in to prevent the cuts? » More

Liability & Risk Management

Physicians play game of chance in treatment decisions

The number of years spent in practice apparently is not the most important advantage when it comes to physicians who must make high-stakes decisions. A study mainly involving primary care physicians reported that, even after 64 training encounters, nearly half of the participating physicians, even those with the most experience, “performed at chance levels or worse.” What factor distinguished the highest performers from their less successful peers? » More

Health Law & Policy

California Medicaid cuts lawsuit could affect healthcare for poor nationwide

Do drastic cuts in Medicaid reimbursement adversely affect providers while also reducing access to medical care for the poor? Physicians in California think so and are joining with other healthcare providers in a lawsuit to try to block a 10% reimbursement rate cut by the state’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal. See how both doctors and patients are being enlisted in the cause. » More

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