By James Arvantes http://www.aafp.org Two members of the Senate Finance Committee have announced that they are working on legislation to address payment issues for primary care physicians. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chair of the Senate Finance Committee, is expected to introduce legislation in the next several weeks that will increase Medicare payments for primary care physicians, […]

http://www.businesswire.com CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sermo (http://www.sermo.com), the largest physician-only online community, today formally announced the launch of its Discuss on Sermo initiative – a new environment closing the loop between medical researchers and practicing physicians. By linking physician-only discussions on Sermo to current medical research, ‘Discuss on Sermo’ is quickly becoming the world’s largest journal club. […]

By JIM SALTER/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.columbiamissourian.com/ CREVE COEUR — Missouri is seeing the benefits of medical lawsuit restrictions passed nearly three years ago, Gov. Matt Blunt said today. But critics say the law is keeping many people, especially the elderly and needy, from getting justice for medical mishaps. Blunt said that since the liability lawsuit […]

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/ ALBANY—Governor David A. Paterson applauded the work of New York’s hospitals this week and called them critical partners in continuing the State’s push to improve access to quality and preventive health care. During remarks to the Greater New York Hospital Association’s (GNYHA) Annual Meeting in New York City, the Governor said that New York […]

NJ-A.M.-BEST http://www.earthtimes.org/ OLDWICK, N.J. – (Business Wire) A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good) and issuer credit ratings to “a-â€? from “bbb+â€? of Physicians Insurance Mutual Group, which consists of Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company and its reinsured subsidiary, Western Professional Insurance Company. The outlook for the […]

By Charles Bankhead http://www.medpagetoday.com/ SEATTLE, April 22 — The general surgery workforce shrank by more than 25% between 1981 and 2005, potentially setting the stage for a severe shortage in the specialty, investigators here reported. The decline was steeper in urban areas (27%), but rural areas already had fewer general surgeons before a 21% decrease, Dana […]

By Derrick DePledge http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com Working under a tight budget, state House and Senate lawmakers have tentatively agreed to appoint a working group to study ways to lure doctors to rural and underserved areas. The group would discuss the idea of a student loan repayment program this year and report to lawmakers next year on how […]

by George Lauer http://www.ihealthbeat.org/ Virtual house calls — or virtual visits to the doctor, depending on your perspective — are making major strides toward the mainstream in North America. In the United States, two large insurers recently announced plans to reimburse physicians for online consultations with patients. Aetna expanded a three-state pilot project to the […]

By Halimah Abdullah http://www.macon.com/ Macon physician Harvey Jones makes less than $60,000 a year, drives a 14-year-old Cadillac and says continued cuts to Medicare reimbursements to physicians mean he is unable to afford medical insurance for himself or his employees. “All I do is pray. I try to take care of myself. I buy my […]