By CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS, Staff Writer KIHEI – Moving to Maui was the “worstâ€? economic decision Dr. Benjamin Berry says he’s ever made in his career. A Wailuku physician specializing in obstetrics, gynecology and infertility, Berry told an audience of some 50 people that he is the last doctor still in private practice willing to […]

By Fred Bazzoli, Editor http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com According to the American Medical Association, medical liability reforms that put limits on non-economic damages help lower malpractice insurance premiums and increase the number of doctors. The analysis of independent research by the Chicago-based professional association is the latest salvo by the AMA to increase the prevalence of malpractice reforms […]

By Hawaii Medical Association, Home The Hawaii Medical Association strongly supports HB1992, HD1. This bill proposes to establish a cap on non-economic damages and limits on attorney fees. The HMA supports these actions because they will help to stabilize now volatile medical malpractice insurance premiums, which is a major cause of Hawaii’s patient access to […]

http://www.insurancejournal.com/ Professional Program Insurance Brokerage of Novato, Calif., has announced the latest enhancements to its MediSpa program. The policy now includes laser coverage for all skin types at no additional premium for technicians who have one year’s experience. This experience can include laser tattoo removal. The sub-limit for medical strength peels and off label Botox […]

By STEPHEN SINGER, AP Business Writer http://news.yahoo.com A group of doctors from New Jersey is opposing a plan by Aetna Inc. to drop coverage of a type of anesthesia used during colonoscopies. Gastroenterologists and other doctors say patients anxious about colorectal screening may balk unless they are assured that their insurance coverage includes the cost […]

http://www.dallasnews.com The politicians have it all wrong, J.R. Thomas says. The biggest problem facing the health care industry isn’t the quality or availability of treatment, he says. The real danger to our national medical system is the soaring cost of getting the bills collected. The chief executive of Irving-based MedSynergies Inc. sees this firsthand in […]

By JOHN GODFREY http://online.wsj.com The Bush administration would cut roughly $560 billion from Medicare over the next decade but would leave intact program subsidies to insurers worth an estimated $150 billion over the same period. The cuts would slow the program’s projected annual growth rate from 7% to 5% and are needed to slow “the […]

UW seeks to prevent ‘awareness’ in surgery By CHERIE BLACK P-I REPORTER http://seattlepi.nwsource.com Soon after being put under anesthesia to undergo a hysterectomy, Diana Todd began hearing voices. As she tried to listen to what the voices were saying, she felt the first cut. The pain was indescribable. She stopped counting after the fifth time […]

http://www.foxbusiness.com/ FPIC Insurance Group, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq:FPIC) announced today that John R. Byers, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Charles Divita, III, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) 12th Annual Insurance Conference in New York City on Monday, February 11, 2008 at 3:30 p.m., Eastern Time. […]