JOSIE HUANG Staff Writer Portland Press Herald (Maine) http://www.innovations.harvard.edu Maine Medical Center and Tufts University today will announce a new physician-training program that could increase the state’s supply of doctors by reserving spots for Mainers and promoting the state as a good place to practice medicine. The program will start accepting applications this fall for […]

CareFirst disputes study that indicates impending shortage of doctors

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 […]

Dispensing DME offers convenience to patients and encourages compliance, advocates claim. By Mike Urban ORTHOPEDICS TODAY http://www.orthosupersite.com As reimbursements continue to be compressed and malpractice insurance rates skyrocket, a growing number of orthopedic clinics are dispensing durable medical equipment to increase revenue and improve patient outcomes. ORTHOPRACTICE trendsDurable medical equipment (DME) can be a lucrative […]

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 […]

Enrollment is outstripping state’s estimate By Alice Dembner Globe Staff / The subsidized insurance program at the heart of the state’s healthcare initiative is expected to roughly double in size and expense over the next three years – an unexpected level of growth that could cost state taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars or force […]