— For many patients on treatment waiting limits nationwide, higher prescribing limit expands access to FDA-approved, in-office medical treatment — RICHMOND, Va., /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — President Bush has signed into law an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act that will increase the availability of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence/addiction. The new law raises from […]

BY VALERIE MILLER http://www.lvbusinesspress.com Las Vegans who feel they’ve been victims of medical malpractice may have a tough time finding an experienced lawyer. Veteran plaintiffs’ attorneys are leaving the field or dramatically limiting the cases they take, in the wake of tort reform and dwindling jury awards. Big-name plaintiffs’ firms, such as Crockett & Myers, […]

http://www.suntimes.com In Illinois’ intense debate over the cost of medical malpractice, insurance companies and trial lawyers are often bitter enemies. Kim Presbrey is determined to change that.A former president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Presbrey has started an insurance company promising doctors more choice and better deals on expensive malpractice coverage. The Aurora attorney […]

http://www.insurancejournal.com The Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi is refunding up to 20 percent of premiums to its physician customers. According to Michael D. Houpt, MACM president and CEO, the malpractice insurance refund has been made possible almost entirely as a result of the significant reduction in incurred losses. “This phenomenon began to manifest itself shortly […]

How high medical liability insurance rates will affect the delivery of women’s By Dr. Ronald Uva Home As a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist I feel that I am uniquely qualified to write and speak on the subject concerning women’s healthcare as I have been delivering babies for more than 30 years (6,500-plus babies), have been born and […]

PHYSICIAN WATCH The American Medical Association says Indiana is relatively doctor-friendly when it comes to state laws governing medical liability and malpractice suits. The AMA says the Hoosier state is among eight nationwide in “stable” condition in what it describes as the country’s “medical liability crisis.” It claims excessive malpractice awards are driving doctors out […]

Nevada Insurance Commissioner Alice A. Molasky-Arman has approved revised classification relativities filed by the Medical Protective Co. for physicians and surgeons. The revised factors contemplate an average 5.4 percent rate decrease and are a reflection of the improving experience in Nevada. The Medical Protective Co. is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group and […]

By Susan Levine Washington Post Staff Writer D.C. patients will someday be able to go online to a city Web site and check their doctors’ credentials and experience and whether they have lost malpractice suits or been disciplined. Under legislation passed by the D.C. Council in its final session this year, District doctors, hospitals and […]

Article by Lena Robins and R. Michael Scarano, Jr. http://www.mondaq.com A number of Medicare reimbursement developments over the past year will have an impact on the medical device industry for years to come. These include the issuance by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of a guidance document on coverage with evidence development; […]