By HENRY L. DAVIS News Medical Reporter http://www.buffalonews.com The Buffalo Niagara region experienced a 10% loss in the number of physicians over a four-year period as the need continues to rise The Buffalo Niagara region lost 10 percent of its doctors from 2001 to 2005, the largest drop in the state and the continuation of […]

by Curt Mercadante http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/ It’s been two years since the Illinois voter uprising that forced the Illinois legislature – and governor – to enact medical liability reform legislation. Yet the full positive impact of those reforms has yet to be felt – due to uncertainty pending the trial lawyers’ challenge of the measure’s constitutionality in […]

By Dale Rodebaugh | Herald Staff Writer http://durangoherald.com In the first six months of 2006, Durango Family Medicine collected 54 percent of what it billed Medicare and 37 percent of what it billed Medicaid. “It’s frustrating,” said Dr. Martin Pirnat, one of the physicians at Durango Family Medicine. “All we want to do is take […]

By HINA ALAM The Lufkin Daily News As Woodland Heights Medical Center considers allowing doctors to hold shares in the hospital, its not-for-profit competitor has raised a number of ethical questions. Woodland Heights CEO Lance Jones said that while hospital authorities, trustees and board of directors were still considering the idea, the focus of the […]

By ROBERT PEAR http://www.nytimes.com

By Ann Wlazelek Of The Morning Call http://www.mcall.com/ At King’s Market in Allentown, shoppers can not only pick up a quart of milk and carton of eggs but also park their carts to get a lab test, medical diagnosis or treatment for anything from pink eye to strep throat. The Geisinger Health System, based in […]

By RYAN J. FOLEY | Associated Press Writer http://www.winonadailynews.com MADISON, WI — Gov. Jim Doyle said Thursday that he would ask lawmakers to approve a $30 million program to encourage health care providers to install electronic medical records systems. Doyle proposed a $20 million grant program to help nonprofit organizations transition from less reliable paper […]

By PATRICIA NORRIS http://www.masslive.com Springfield, MA-Medical Professional Mutual Insurance Co., the state’s largest insurer of physicians, surgeons, dentists and nurse midwives, will not increase malpractice insurance rates this year. High malpractice insurance rates have irked practicing physicians, particularly specialists such as obstetricians, neurosurgeons and others considered high risk. High rates are blamed for physician shortages […]

By BRETT BRUNE Houston Chronicle Dr. Swarna Balasubramaniam is an experienced surgeon hired by Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, which graded her as an “A candidate” for her top-tier surgical training, bright personality and practice-building acumen. But the Mayo Medical School graduate, who applied five months ago for a Texas medical license, is still waiting for permission to […]