Below are links to stories about the challenges that physicians and nurses face in the daily practice of medicine.
Routine Breast Cancer Screening Should Start at Age 40: USPSTF, April 30, 2024. Medscape.
Three in Five US Physician Practices Now Owned by Nonphysicians: Report, April 12, 2024. Medscape Medical News
Panel Recommends Small Bump in 2025 Medicare Physician Pay, Jan. 12, Medscape Medical News
The Struggle to Provide Gender-Affirming Care to Youth, Jan. 5, Medscape Medical News
Medicare 2024 Base Rate Cut Triggers Calls for Pay Overhaul, Nov. 3, 2023. Medscape Medical News.
Lack of Medical Device Tracking Leaves Patients Vulnerable, Sept. 27, 2023. Medscape Medical News.
Canadian Guidelines Call for Shots, Nasal Spray in Naloxone Kits, Aug. 29, 2023. Medscape Medical News.
Secret Fed Database of MD Discipline Should Go Public, Group Says, Aug. 17, 2023. Medscape Medical News.
Are AI-Powered Skin-Check Tools on the Horizon for Dermatologists, PCPs?, Aug. 1, 2023. Medscape Medical News.
Rising Patient Costs Tied to Private Equity Ownership, July 20, 2023. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare 2024 Base Pay Cut Announcement Spurs Calls for Reform, July 14, 2023. Medscape Medical News.
Only Physicians With Relevant Expertise Should Handle Prior Authorization Disputes: Doctors Groups, March 3, 2023. Medscape Medical News.
New Challenge for Docs: End of COVID Federal Public Health Emergency, Feb. 14, 2023. Medscape Medical News.
How the health care sector contributes to climate change: a research roundup and explainer, Dec. 14, 2022. The Journalist’s Resource.
CMS Proposes Bid to Speed Up Insurers’ Prior Authorization Decisions, Dec. 12, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
AMA Seeks to Protect Residents From Private Equity Career Fallout, Nov. 22, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
New Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Leaves Docs Fuming Over Pay Cuts, Nov. 4, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
HHS Seeks to Prevent Discrimination by Clinical Algorithms, Nov. 2, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Belief in Antibiotics for Appendicitis Tied to Fewer Surgeries, Oct. 26, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Allergists Seek to Bolster Adherence to Shots, Sublingual Drops Treatments, Sept. 26, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
AMA Joins in Lawsuit Accusing Cigna of Underpaying Physicians, Sept. 13, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Tips for covering the creation of the 988 Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, Jan. 3, 2022. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
U.S. prepares to launch 3-digit mental health crisis hotline with a text option, Jan. 3, 2022. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Patient-safety leader challenges hospitals nationwide to establish 10 crucial teams , Dec. 14, 2021
Find out how to prepare your audiences to respond if they find errors in their medical records, Dec. 6, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Hospital ratings: How journalists can help consumers have important conversations, Nov. 30, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Tracking the Senate confirmation process for next FDA chief, Nov. 17, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
The Mental Health Justice Act: A Q&A with U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D.-Orange County, Calif.), Nov. 10, 2021. Webinar, Association of Health Care Journalists.
FDA warns that breast implants are not “lifetime devices”: Tips for covering this story, Nov. 2, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists.
Joint Commission campaign may spark new stories on discrimination in medical care, Oct. 19, 2022. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Another lobbying battle looms on surprise medical bills, Oct. 4, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Biden’s bid for a nursing home vaccine mandate faces obstacles, with Liz Seegert, Sept. 1, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Use of term ‘low value’ may leave Black, Latinx patients with questions about access to care, Aug. 20, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Study estimates how often people on Medicare may be harmed by ‘low-value’ care, with Liz Seegert, Aug. 19, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Disease-awareness campaigns merit extra scrutiny, experts say, with Liz Seegert, Aug. 5, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Explaining Biogen’s controversial ‘MCI’ advertising to your audience, with Liz Seegert, Aug. 4, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
New Alzheimer’s drug draws attention from federal, independent groups, July 8, 2021. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
IHI’s Patient Safety Congress examines virtual care, racism and workplace violence, May 11, 20201. Association of Health Care Journalists website.
Can Moving HIV Medicine Into Primary Care Reduce Stigma?, Aug. 19, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Study Supports Etomidate for General Anesthesia in Older Patients, Aug. 18, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Stopping JIA Drugs? Many Can Regain Control After a Flare, Aug. 11, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
New Guidelines Show How to Cut Pollution From Anesthesia, July 6, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Cataract Surgery: Humana Prior Authorization Plan Raises Concerns, July 8, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Appendectomy or Antibiotics? Large Trial Helps Decision Making, Jan. 19, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
MedPAC Draws AMA Ire With Vote on 2023 Physician Pay, Jan. 14, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Outrage, Praise for CMS’ Proposed Aducanumab Payment Policy, Jan. 13, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Intends to Limit Payment for Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug, Jan. 11, 2022. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Premium Hike Reassessed Due to Aduhelm Price Cut, Jan. 10, Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Proposes Direct Payments to PAs, Telehealth Expansion, July 14, 2021. Medscape Medical News.
MedPAC Proposes Path for Post-Pandemic Medicare Telehealth Pay, March 17, 2021. Medscape Medical News.
How the New ‘Patient Price Shopping’ Rule Can Affect Your Practice, March 15, 2021. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Finalizes 2021 Physician Pay Rule With E/M Changes, Dec. 2, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Faces Calls to Stop Physician Pay Cuts in E/M Overhaul, Oct. 14, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
Sleep disorders may be undetected precursors for cardiometabolic disease in U.S. Latinos, Sept. 3, 2020. MDEdge’s Chest Physician
CMS Seeks Feedback on Electronic Opioid Prescribing Rules, July 31, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
Pharma Execs Give Congress ‘Honest Assessment’ on COVID Vaccines, July 21, 2020. Medscape Medical News. Pharmaceutical executives urge immediate work on address what’s called vaccine hesitancy, readying the public to accept COVID-19 shots once they are available.
COVID Federal Aid Deadline for Medicaid Clinicians Reset to Aug 3, July 20, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
Physicians, Patients Need to Know Limits of DNA Privacy Law, July 13, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
Diet vs Medications for Recurrent Kidney Stones, July 3, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
Urologists Adapt to Telemedicine Amid Pandemic, July 3, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
Lawmakers Question Mental Health Disclosure Rules, July 2, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
Will PCPs Get Higher Medicare Payment ― at Specialists’ Expense?, June 9, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
New Advocacy Group Aims to Give ‘Every Physician’ a Voice, April 28, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
NYU Med School Offers Early Graduation for Help With COVID-19, March 25, 2020. Medscape Medical News.
Growing number of MS drugs brings challenges, December 2019, MD Edge’s Epilepsy Journey site.
AMA Backs More Healthcare Economics Education for Med Students, Nov. 19, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
CMS Sharpens Weapon to Kick ‘Problematic’ Docs Out of Medicare, Nov. 13, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
CMS Releases Final Physician Fee Schedule With ‘Significant’ E/M Overhaul, Nov. 11, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Much of US Healthcare Spending Wasteful, Researchers Say, Oct. 8, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
More Pregnant Women Need Encouragement for Flu, Tdap Shots, CDC Says, Oct. 8, 2019.
Medicare Plan for E/M Pay Draws Some Specialties’ Opposition, Oct. 4, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Trump Executive Order Seeks Proposals on Medicare Pay for NPs, PAs, Oct. 3, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Rule Buried in Proposed Medicare Fee Schedule Could Have ‘Chilling Effect’, Oct. 1, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Medical boards change or consider amending mental health-related licensing questions, MD Edge | Internal Medicine, Sept. 30, 2019.
AMA Releases 2020 CPT Codes With Almost 400 New Changes, Sept. 6, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Surgeon General Warns of Marijuana Risk in Pregnancy, Youth, Aug. 29, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Announces Coverage for CAR T-Cell Therapy, Aug. 8, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Doctors Need to Move Beyond Medical Societies, Eric Topol Says, Aug. 6, 2019
Docs Get Tiny Raises While Nonprofit Healthcare CEOs Get > $10M, Aug. 2, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
APA, Others Battle Trump Policy of Extended Use of ‘Junk’ Insurance, Aug. 1, 2019.
HHS Outlines Goals for Possible Future Canadian Drug Imports, July 31, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
A Nonagenarian Nurse: The Secret to Florence Rigney’s Long Career, July 10, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Trump Signs Order to Increase Kidney Donation, Home Dialysis, July 10, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
CMS Expands Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Coverage, July 4, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Threat to Cancer Care From State Policies, July 2, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Will I have a seizure today? A new tool may someday help patients predict their seizure risk, July 2019. MD Edge’s Epilepsy Journey site.
Diagnosing lupus: ANA testing comes under scrutiny, October 2018. MDEdge’s Lupus Journey.
Final CMS Decision on TAVR Reimbursement, June 25, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Telehealth Abortion Proves Safe in US Test, Researchers Say, June 17, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
‘ZIP-Code Risk’ in Healthcare Needs Attention, Experts Say, June 14, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Where Are the Nurses in Today’s Health News?, June 12, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Ordering Advanced Imaging? Get Ready for New Medicare Rules, June 11, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Tackling Economic, Emotional Toll of Clinician Burnout Critical, May 31, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Physicians Less Likely to Order Cancer Screening Late in Day, May 24, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Middle-Class Seniors Will Struggle With Housing, Health Costs, Study Shows, April 30, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Congress Faces Challenge With Future Medicare Physician Pay, April 23, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Sunshine Act May Reduce Patient Trust in Physicians, April 16, 2019. Medscape Medical News. Story about a paper published in JAMA Network Open , looking at the possible effects of the Open Payments database of industry payments to physicians. In an accompanying commentary, two researchers questioned the paper’s conclusion about a possible link between the establishment of a public database of payments and a potential slip in public trust in physicians.
This is a topic that frankly seems to call for more coverage. The quality of the data on the Open Payments database seems to leave much to be desired. Drugmakers divvy up the costs of lunches and dinners, for example, into odd little amounts, such as the $0.01 and $0.02 “payments” that major drugmakers report for physicians who attend major conference and events. In many cases, physicians may unaware of these payments reported for them on a public database. Please feel to contact me through Twitter, @kdooleyyoung, if you have thoughts on this topic.
Medical Groups Support Bid to Add 15,000 Residency Slots, April 15, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Physicians’ Understanding of Disability Law Lacking, April 1, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Stop Limiting Access to Opioid Addiction Meds, Experts Say, March 22, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Senate Panel Tackles US Measles Outbreaks, Vaccine Exemptions, March 6, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Increased Bonuses Seen as Key in Pay-for-Performance Systems, Feb. 20, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Doctors’ Burnout: Explaining the Differences Between Countries, Feb. 14, 2019. Medscape Medical News.
Federal Task Force Highlights Ways to Limit Opioid Exposure, Dec. 31, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Influential Long-time NIAMS Director Katz Dies at 77 , Dec. 28, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Physicians Try CrossFit, Volunteerism to Aid Patient Fitness , Dec. 19, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Groups Pan Proposed Medicare Changes on Office Visits, Drugs , Sept. 13, 2018. Medscape Medical News. The AMA cited a ‘groundswell of opposition’ to a proposed payment change for routine office visits, joining other medical groups and AARP in criticizing the CMS proposal.
Most 2017 Participants in MIPS Qualified for Small Bonus, Nov. 9, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Advances Virtual Check-ins in Physician Pay Rule, Nov. 6, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Plans to Phase in Changes for Office-Visit Payments, Nov. 1, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Vitamin D: Will ongoing studies provide enough high-quality evidence to assess efficacy in MS? November 2018. MDEdge’s Multiple Sclerosis Journey site.
Diagnosing lupus: ANA testing comes under scrutiny, October 2018. MDEdge’s Lupus Journey.
ACOs Produce $314 Million in Net Medicare Savings, Group Says, Sept. 4, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
New Report Envisions Key Role for Joint Commission in EHR Safety, Aug. 30, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Groups See Progress in CMS’s EHR Approach in Hospital Rule, Aug. 7, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
AAFP, Insurers Back Medicare Bid for ‘Site-Neutral’ Pay Aug. 2, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
IVF Hits 40-Year Mark, But Challenges Remain, July 27, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Will Likely Face Pushback on Physician Pay Changes July 18, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Practice-Hospital Consolidation Increasing for Many Specialties July 13, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Proposes Major Physician Bookkeeping, Pay Changes July 12, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Court’s Travel Ban Ups Rigors, Reluctance for Foreign Clinicians July 2, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Should Surgeons’ Work Hours Be Capped Like Pilots’? June 28, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Physician Mocking Patient Draws Suspension, Investigation June 25, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
CMS Seeks Feedback on Physician Self-Referral Law, June 22, 2018, Medscape Medical News.
Physician Groups: Court Ruling May Harm Vulnerable Patients, June 21, 2018, Medscape Medical News. PDF version.
Vitamin D: Will ongoing studies provide enough high-quality evidence to assess efficacy in MS? November 2018. MDEdge’s Multiple Sclerosis Journey site.
Diagnosing lupus: ANA testing comes under scrutiny, October 2018. MDEdge’s Lupus Journey.
Informed Consent Ruling Could Burden Physicians, Experts Say, June 21, 2018, Medscape Medical News. PDF version.
Medical Societies Ask Court to Protect Key ACA Provisions, June 15, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Hospital Safety Efforts Saved 8000 Lives From 2014 to 2016, CMS Says, June 11, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
What Amazon and Uber Could Teach Medicine About EHRs, June 6, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Most MIPS-Eligible Physicians Participated in First Year, June 6, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
CMS Seeks Feedback on MIPS by June 1, May 31, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
New VA Rule to Ease Restriction on Telehealth Across State Lines, May 28, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Congress Passes Right-to-Try Bill, May 22, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
HHS Unveils New Abortion Restrictions on Title X Program, May 22, 2018.
Lawmakers Wrestle With Patient Privacy for Substance Abuse Records, May 9, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Primary Care Providers Wary, Optimistic About Genetic Testing in Survey, May 8, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
CMS Mulls Direct-Provider-Contracting Model Test Program, May 2, 2018. Medscape Medical News.
Physician, Patient Groups Protest Short-Term Insurance Plan Proposal, April 26, 2018, Medscape Medical News.
CMS to Recast ‘Meaningful Use’ Data Reporting Rules , April 25, 2018, Medscape Medical News.
Medicare Paid for Telehealth Services That Didn’t Meet Its Rules , Medscape Medical News, April 18, 2018.
CMS Allows More Leeway on Required Insurance Benefits, Medscape Medical News, April 10, 2018.
Billing Costs, Complexities for Physicians Called ‘Absurd’, Medscape Medical News, April 3, 2018.
CMS Simplifies Quality Reporting System With New Website. Jan. 4, 2018. Medscape Medical News
CMS Adds Alternative Medicare Bundled-Pay Model for Physicians. Jan. 10, 2018. Medscape Medical News.