A congressional plan to implement a five-year fix for the Medicare physician pay system is being met with strong resistance from some physicians who say they want a permanent solution to the problem.
New guidelines released for hospice patients with defibrillators
May 17, 2010
New guidelines covering implanted defibrillators in terminal patients should help patients, doctors and hospice caregivers decide how to proceed with end-of-life treatments, experts say.
Offering graduate medical education funding to nursing homes could help ready physicians for aging population,...
May 07, 2010
Medical policy experts are debating ways to help prepare physicians to treat the rapidly growing population of elderly Americans. Extending Medicare graduate education funding to nursing homes could be...
Senate likely to vote today to delay Medicare physician pay cut
Apr 15, 2010
Senators are expected to vote today to approve a temporary extensions bill that delays a 21.2% reduction in Medicare physician pay until the end of the month. It comes the same day that the hold on the...
Doctors, nurses clash over plan to expand role of nurse practitioners
Apr 15, 2010
More than half of all U.S. states are mulling the possibility of expanding the professional role of nurse practitioners as a primary care physician shortage looms, according to recent news reports.
New guidelines help identify problem drivers with dementia
Apr 14, 2010
A group of neurologists has released a set of guidelines to help physicians and family members determine when people with dementia should give up their car keys and stop driving.
Stalled physician pay bill affects Medicare Part B skilled nursing therapy rates
Apr 08, 2010
A bill that would delay a 21.2% cut in physician pay under Medicare is holding up the calculation of Medicare Part B therapy rates for skilled nursing facilities. The bill is awaiting action from the Senate,...
DEA loosens grip on nursing home pain medications
Mar 30, 2010
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday issued an interim rule that slightly relaxes its position on pain medications in nursing homes.
As patients age, their choices mean less to their doctors, report finds
Mar 24, 2010
Doctors of elderly patients who are incapable of making decisions are more likely to choose treatment that they believe is in the best interest of their patients, and not necessarily the treatment their...
Adequate pain management training sorely lacking, new report says
Nov 10, 2009
More needs to be done to train doctors and healthcare workers about treating chronic pain, according to a new report.