Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

PSA test for prostate cancer may confuse: Experts debate its continued use

According to new research the PSA test for prostate cancer does more harm than good. This week, the United States Preventive Services Task Force is expected to announce its recommendation against routine testing for blood levels of prostate-specific antigen, the protein that can be a signal of prostate cancer.

11 Oct 2011

For issues that can drive physicians to quit

One news article details the reasons that drove a primary care physician to quit practicing medicine. Meanwhile, the American Medical Association is launching a media campaign to permanently fix the formula that is used to calculate Medicare payments to doctors.

10 Oct 2011

MetCare wins South Florida Business Journal Excellence in Health Care Award

Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc., a leading provider of health care services in Florida, today announced that the company was the recipient of the South Florida Business Journal Excellence in Health Care Award presented on October 6th.

10 Oct 2011

NCI selects UT Southwestern, Parkland to improve colorectal cancer screening

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has selected UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health & Hospital System as a national site to improve screening for colorectal cancer, the nation's No. 3 cancer killer.

10 Oct 2011

Advocates prepare for battle on PSA testing; insurers review options

A day after a government panel said that healthy men should no longer get screened for prostate cancer, some doctors' groups and cancer patients' advocates began a campaign to convince the nation that the advice was misguided. Their hope is to copy the success of women's groups that successfully persuaded much of the country two years ago that it was a mistake for the same panel, the United States Preventive Services Task Force, to recommend against routine mammograms for women in their 40s.

10 Oct 2011

Endocrine Society strongly opposes MedPAC's recommendation on SGR

The Endocrine Society, representing more than 14,000 physicians and scientists in the field of endocrinology, strongly opposes the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) recommendation to reduce payments for specialists by 17.7 percent to partially fund the elimination of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

10 Oct 2011

Viewpoints: Defining 'essential benefits;' 'Super committee' special pleadings; Limiting consumer choice in prescriptions

The IOM report acknowledges that "the determination of the (essential health benefits) is a politically and socially charged endeavor."

7 Oct 2011

Research roundup: Health disparities; Prescription drug abuse in Medicare Part D; Medicaid's role for HIV patients

Achieving Equity In Health -- This policy brief examines the outlining factors that cause disparities in the health care system and focuses on the October issue of the journal, which is devoted to research on the subject.

7 Oct 2011

New set of strategies could improve U.S. health care system for vulnerable populations

A new set of strategies released today by the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System could dramatically improve how the U.S. health care system serves vulnerable populations-those in the U.S. who are uninsured, low-income, or members of racial and ethnic minority groups.

7 Oct 2011

Implementing electronic prescribing in primary care practices

Primary care physicians provide essential health services to patients of all ages and while a family physician's office is a warm, comfortable environment, a physician's practice also is a business.

7 Oct 2011

MedPAC plan to revamp Medicare physician pay draws intense opposition

A proposal by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to revamp the Medicare physician reimbursement system is drawing intense opposition from providers who say commissioners are demanding too much in health industry cuts to pay for the overhaul. Sternly worded letters from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA), along with physician specialty groups, will be in MedPAC's mailbox when the commission meets Thursday.

7 Oct 2011

Funding issues affecting health exchanges, community health centers

News outlets examine why some states are not pursuing funding to aid in the creation of health exchanges, and how community health centers - targeted for expansion by the health law in order to build the health system's capacity - are now facing cuts.

7 Oct 2011

Alzheimer Society urges Liberal Government to make good on their healthcare commitments

The Alzheimer Society of Ontario congratulates Ontario's re-elected Liberal Government and urges them to make good on their healthcare commitments.

7 Oct 2011

Longer looks: A new life for Bart Stupak; The Komen Foundation and BPA; moving primary care out of the ER

Former Democratic congressman Bart Stupak is relishing the good life. After nine terms in the House of Representatives, the once obscure, pro-life, conservative legislator who became the flash point in last year's historic health care debate gave up his seat to become a gilded Washington operative - a partner in the Government and Legislative Affairs Group of Venable LLP. … Even before he negotiated a last-minute deal with President Obama to ban federal funding for abortion and provided the defining vote, he called his life "a living hell." "I was the face of health care. Whatever you thought about it, I was it," he says calmly. "I'm surprised I never got shot."

7 Oct 2011

FDA grants 510(k) clearance to Carticept Medical's Navigator Delivery System

Carticept Medical, Inc., a developer of innovative products for the treatment of cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to market its Navigator™ Delivery System (Navigator DS) in the United States.

4 Oct 2011

Hospitalization for an acute event can lead to long-term institutionalization

Confirming many elderly patients' worst fears, a national study has shown that being hospitalized for an acute event, such as a stroke or hip fracture, can lead to long-term institutionalization in a nursing home. Equally alarming, researchers found that direct discharge to a skilled nursing facility -- a common practice designed to reduce hospital stays -- put patients at "extremely high risk" of needing long-term nursing home care.

4 Oct 2011

State highlights: Many states moving workers' children to CHIP plans

After a nine-year court battle, a landmark class-action settlement was preliminarily approved this week that would require the state to provide more effective mental health services for the children in or about to enter foster care. Its reach is expected to be significant. California has 61,000 children in the foster care system, and it runs the nation's largest child welfare system at a cost of about $4.7 billion per year.

1 Oct 2011

Hospital, physician groups work to advance, protect interests in deficit reduction debate

Hospital executives will lobby Congress next week to raise the eligibility age for Medicare instead of reducing payments to hospitals. Doctors are ginning up their grass-roots efforts to pressure the 'super committee' to repeal Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula.

1 Oct 2011

Researchers to create evaluation method to examine three childhood obesity programs

Projects and programs to combat childhood obesity have made great strides in health and behavior, yet the epidemic persists. Indeed, First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative has made the issue of childhood obesity a focal point and national priority.

1 Oct 2011

Hospitals confront budget strains, debt, market pressure

News outlets offer a variety of reports on how hospitals are faring in the health care marketplace. The outlook is full of challenges.

1 Oct 2011

Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

PSA test for prostate cancer may confuse: Experts debate its continued use

For issues that can drive physicians to quit

MetCare wins South Florida Business Journal Excellence in Health Care Award

NCI selects UT Southwestern, Parkland to improve colorectal cancer screening

Advocates prepare for battle on PSA testing; insurers review options

Endocrine Society strongly opposes MedPAC's recommendation on SGR

Viewpoints: Defining 'essential benefits;' 'Super committee' special pleadings; Limiting consumer choice in prescriptions

Research roundup: Health disparities; Prescription drug abuse in Medicare Part D; Medicaid's role for HIV patients

New set of strategies could improve U.S. health care system for vulnerable populations

Implementing electronic prescribing in primary care practices

MedPAC plan to revamp Medicare physician pay draws intense opposition

Funding issues affecting health exchanges, community health centers

Alzheimer Society urges Liberal Government to make good on their healthcare commitments

Longer looks: A new life for Bart Stupak; The Komen Foundation and BPA; moving primary care out of the ER

FDA grants 510(k) clearance to Carticept Medical's Navigator Delivery System

Hospitalization for an acute event can lead to long-term institutionalization

State highlights: Many states moving workers' children to CHIP plans

Hospital, physician groups work to advance, protect interests in deficit reduction debate

Researchers to create evaluation method to examine three childhood obesity programs

Hospitals confront budget strains, debt, market pressure

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

Freezing Point Osmometry in Life Science Applications

Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

Freezing Point Osmometry in Life Science Applications

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