Professor of medicine, Washington University; Partner, Fox and Vuylsteke; President, St. Louis Metropolitan Medical Society http://www.stltoday.com Professor of medicine, Washington University Yes … ‘Safety movement’ and time-limited certification help safeguard patients. Medical practice is fraught with complexity and uncertainty. Thus, medical malpractice is not defined by an unfortunate outcome or a patient’s death. Rather, medical […]

By George Wallace http://www.suffolklife.com Less than a year after New York State raised medical malpractice premiums by 15%, and created a task force to look into nagging problems in financing medical practitioners’ insurance, some doctors in Suffolk County are up in arms about rumors that they may be in for another financial shock this year. […]

But others find support of large system simpler By Dorene Weinstein http://www.argusleader.com Fresh out of medical school, Mike Wilde joined the staff in internal medicine at Sanford USD Medical Center six years ago, in part because he liked the support of other physicians. Other doctors, including Michael McHale of Sioux Falls, prefer working independently. McHale, […]

by Bob Mook Denver Business Journal http://www.bizjournals.com A proposal to relax caps in medical malpractice lawsuits is scheduled to be heard by the Senate, State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Monday. Introduced on Thursday, Senate Bill 164, sponsored by Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver and Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, would raise the caps for non-economic […]

http://www.insurancejournal.com The Texas Medical Association reported it has joined a legal action aimed a protecting tort reforms passed by the Texas Legislature passed in 2003. TMA said it sued to resolve several constitutional challenges to the centerpiece of the 2003 reforms: a cap on noneconomic damages (such as for pain and suffering) that may be […]

Physicians object to a letter from Blue Cross seeking information that could lead to policy cancellations. By Lisa Girion, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer http://www.latimes.com The state’s largest for-profit health insurer is asking California physicians to look for conditions it can use to cancel their new patients’ medical coverage. Blue Cross of California is sending […]

By ANDY MILLER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution http://www.ajc.com Dr. Thaddeus Chapman hasn’t drawn a paycheck in two years. He’s run through his retirement account. And his wife’s. His credit score, he says, is “in the dumps,” and two business partners left the practice in search of a more profitable arrangement. “That’s not the American dream,” says […]

Report shows medical students are choosing higher-paid specialties because of heavy postgraduation debt By Diana Tith Contributing Writer As many UCSD premed students prepare to graduate and enter medical school, a realm of new experiences and challenges awaits them. Yet these students’ medical school experiences come at a price­­ — almost $130,000 in educational bills, […]

By Beth Walsh http://health-information.advanceweb.com Few would doubt that a physician dedicated to helping a hospital’s medical staff improve documentation and compliance can help improve the facility’s billing efficiency and its resulting bottom line. This recognition, in addition to the need for hospitals to be compliant with Medicare’s and Medicaid’s Conditions of Participation has resulted in […]