Skin & Allergy News articles from August 2004

Skin & Allergy News archives from August 2004

FDA panel knocks down tazarotene.(News)
August 1, 2004... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- A joint advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration voted against approval of oral tazarotene for moderate to very severe plaque psoriasis, citing an inadequate risk management program, the need for more safety data,...

FDA approves imiquimod to treat superficial BCCs: but the new indication doesn't cover lesions of the head, face, or hands.(Dermatologic Therapy)(basal cell carcinoma)
August 1, 2004... The age-old curette has a new nonsurgical rival in the battle against superficial basal cell carcinoma. The Food and Drug Administration last month expanded imiquimod's approved indications to include the treatment of superficial basal...

Melanoma testing: warn patients of limited value: expect patients to ask for the genetic test.(News)
August 1, 2004... AUSTIN, TEX. -- Expect increasing numbers of patients worried about their melanoma risk to show up in dermatologists' offices seeking germline genetic susceptibility testing that recently became commercially available, Dr. Jean Bolognia said at...

Case of the month.
August 1, 2004... A 27-year-old woman presented with an elbow mass. A physical exam showed multiple, firm nodules. Some nodules were skin colored and others were pinkish red. Her history included development of unexplained bilateral cataracts at age 12 years. At...

Study: laws against youth tanning can work successfully.(News)
August 1, 2004... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Tanning salons in states that have longstanding regulations against youth tanning regularly comply with such laws, suggesting that regulating youths' access to tanning salons in most states could be successful, Dr. Eric...

Supreme Court decision on HMOs irks physicians.(News)
August 1, 2004... The Supreme Court's recent ruling that patients cannot sue their health maintenance organizations will be detrimental to patients, according to leaders from several physician organizations. "It is a bad thing for patients," said Dr. Michael...

AMA seeks solutions to health coverage crisis: although the AMA favors the tax credit option, its 'highly unlikely' that a single plan for reform will work.(News)(American Medical Association)
August 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- The American Medical Association House of Delegates approved language at its 2004 annual meeting to urge congressional support for a variety of state-based initiatives aimed at providing health coverage to low-income patients. ...

Delegates reject proposal to deny care to trial lawyers: 'all we can do is attempt to clean up the mess--and we have a very big mess.'.(News)
August 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Everyone deserves medical care--even trial lawyers. The American Medical Association's House of Delegates embraced this idea by swiftly rejecting a controversial resolution that sparked the ire of physicians and caused a public...

Many physicians think liability caps are key.(News)
August 1, 2004... For many physicians, the arguments on medical liability reform boil down to caps. "We think that a cap [on noneconomic damages] is critical to any kind of liability reform," said Dr. Angela F. Gardner, an emergency physician in Dallas and...

Topical [alpha]-lactalbumin--oleic acid combination benefits skin papillomas.(News)
August 1, 2004... A topical formulation of [alpha]-lactalbumin and oleic acid appears to be effective against skin papillomas, but was harmless to healthy, differentiated cells surrounding the lesions, according to a three-phase study by Lotta Gustafsson and her...

Melanoma on the decline? Don't believe the hype, expert cautions.(News)
August 1, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Every once in a while, a newspaper article will report that the incidence of melanoma in the past year held stable, or even declined slightly. Dermatologists should not believe it, Dr. Darrell Rigel said at a symposium...

'New' not necessarily 'improved' in melanoma genetic testing.(News)
August 1, 2004... AUSTIN, TEX. -- Truly Internet-savvy patients seeking genetic testing for melanoma may show up in dermatologists' offices requesting the "new" test rather than the "old" germline CDKN2A mutation test, according to Dr. Jean Bolognia. What...

Reagan's death reinvigorates stem cell advocates.(News)
August 1, 2004... WASHINGTON--Sensing an opening made larger by President Ronald Reagan's death, stem cell research advocates have stepped up their campaign to overturn or loosen the Bush Administration strictures on the field. By early summer, the effort...

Bioethicists propose end to stalemate in stem cell research: 'there's a ... moral distinction between causing a wrong and benefiting from a wrong.'.(News)
August 1, 2004... BOSTON -- Can President Bush allow funding of research into embryonic cell lines derived after Aug. 9, 2001, and remain faithful to his position on the inherent moral status of embryos? John A. Robertson, J.D., sees a way out: Simply...

Stem cell work urged despite elusive funding.(News)
August 1, 2004... BOSTON -- The head of the National Institutes of Health's stem cell task force has told scientists not to let Bush administration restrictions discourage them from applying for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Money is not...

Stem cells with genetic disorders could benefit research.(News)
August 1, 2004... BOSTON -- A private fertility clinic in Chicago has created the first embryonic stem cell lines with genes for muscular dystrophy and other inherited disorders, according to posters presented at a meeting of the International Society for Stem...

Stem cell transplant promising in scleroderma.(News)
August 1, 2004... BERLIN -- Autologous stem cell transplantation with high-dose immunosuppressive therapy for patients with severe systemic sclerosis appears promising based upon the European experience to date, although comparisons with conventional therapy...

Uncertainty about thrombotic risks prompts ongoing studies of erythropoietin safety.(News)
August 1, 2004... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- The possibility that recombinant erythropoietin drugs may increase the risk of thrombotic events and may stimulate certain tumors is being evaluated in clinical trials that are underway or are being planned. Concerns...

Values should set health priorities.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Figuring out how to provide health care coverage to all Americans has less to do with financing than it does with national values, Uwe E. Reinhardt, Ph.D., said at a conference sponsored by America's Health Insurance Plans. ...

West Nile virus buzzes into sunny southwest.(News)
August 1, 2004... The nation's first case of West Nile virus this year emerged on May 8, almost a month later than last year, but case trends suggest that the virus may have staying power in the long hot summer and fall that characterize the American Southwest,...

ACIP to health workers: vaccinate thyself for flu.(News)(Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices )
August 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- In an effort to put teeth behind its current recommendations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices drafted a separate statement calling on health care workers and their...

Influenza vaccine production to exceed 2003 supply.(News)
August 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- More influenza vaccine will be produced this year than in 2003, with demand projected to be strong during the upcoming flu season. "We can expect production to be over 100 million doses," Dr. Gregory Wallace said at a meeting of...

Shedding a tier.(Under My Skin)
August 1, 2004... "Good news!" says Stella as she unloads her samples. "Our class IV steroid, Esterhazicort, is now tier 2 on Babsoncare." Where do they get these names, I wonder, Hungarian focus groups? "How about the other insurers?" I ask. "Still...

Warding off false claims actions.(Guest Editorial)
August 1, 2004... Even though many physicians are concerned about protecting their practices from medical malpractice liability, action under the federal False Claims Act (FCA) is becoming much more likely and is a potentially more devastating threat to a...

Prevent frivolous lawsuits.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Protecting physicians against "frivolous" lawsuits, a new service offered by the Medical Justice Corp., is a good idea ("New Insurance Fights Against 'Frivolous' Lawsuits," May 1, 2004, p. 64). I wonder, however, why the major malpractice...

Tort reform opposition.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... I read with interest the article "Derms Join Societies" New Tort Reform Push" (March 2004, p. 55). The article mentioned that 49 Republicans in the U.S. Senate favor tort reform and 48 Democrats oppose it, implying that only Democrats...

Infliximab delivers in severe psoriatic arthritis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... BERLIN -- Inflimab for severe psoriatic arthritis resulted in rapid and marked skin and joint improvement sustained through 24 weeks in the pivotal phase III second Infliximab Multinational Psoriatic Arthritis Controlled Trial (IMPACT 2), Dr....

Adalimumab: fast results in psoriatic arthritis.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... BERLIN -- Adalimumab is a promising new treatment option in psoriatic arthritis, Dr. Christopher Ritchlin reported at the annual European Congress of Rheumatology. In a pilot study involving 15 patients with active psoriatic arthritis, a...

Diverse drugs drive up SCLE incidence rates.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus )
August 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- The incidence of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is on the rise because use of the many drugs that can trigger the disorder is growing. Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) can be induced by a long list of...

When faced with unexplained rash, 'always think drugs'.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- New drugs on the market mean new rashes on the skin, at least for some patients who receive them. Dr. Susan Burgin, speaking at a dermatology conference sponsored by New York University, summarized some of the cutaneous...

Adalimumab shows promise for psoriasis patients.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... TORONTO -- Psoriasis patients treated with the biologic agent adalimumab showed dramatic improvements in their quality of life scores, according to a study presented by Dr. Kenneth Gordon. Adalimumab, a TNF antagonist in clinical trials for...

Dual regimen a hair-raising success in bald men.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Two drugs may be better than one for treating androgenetic alopecia in men. The drugs are, of course, oral finasteride (Propecia) and topical minoxidil (Rogaine). "We're now at a point where, if a patient will do it,...

Alopecia areata may be arrested by bexarotene gel.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Bexarotene gel appears to provide some effectiveness in regrowing hair lost through alopecia areata, according to the results of a phase II, randomized trial, which were reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of...

TNF inhibitors promising for off-label derm use.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors )
August 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have shown some success for the off-label treatment of dermatologic disorders, according to several published case reports. This limited experience must be viewed cautiously because only a small...

Psoriasis patients can safely switch to biologics.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... TORONTO -- With the arrival of new biologic therapies to treat psoriasis, physicians are starting to face the relatively uncharted territory of transitioning their patients from traditional systemic therapy to a biologic. Disease rebound...

Long-term alefacept use for psoriasis showed no increase in adverse events.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... TORONTO -- Psoriasis patients receiving repeated courses of alefacept therapy over a period of 4.5 years showed no increase in serious adverse events, according to a new study. "The two things that everyone's worried about with biologic...

Apoptosis linked to etanercept safety, selectivity.(Demartologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... TORONTO -- Early data suggest that etanercept may induce apoptosis selectively in psoriatic plaques, and this may explain why it has a better safety profile compared with infliximab, according to a team of psoriasis researchers. The...

Avoid psoriasis rebound with efalizumab therapy.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... TORONTO -- Approximately 14% of psoriasis patients who are treated with efalizumab face the potential for disease rebound upon discontinuation of therapy--a risk not as yet seen with any other biologic therapy, Dr. Alan Menter said at the 10th...

Efalizumab effective for recalcitrant psoriasis in large study.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... TORONTO -- The first large, international study to prospectively evaluate efalizumab in the treatment of psoriasis confirms previous study results concerning safety and efficacy--and focuses on "high need" patients who have failed other...

Resistance breeds need for innovation in lice Tx.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... BALTIMORE -- Lice are becoming increasingly resistant to popular treatments, requiring more comprehensive and creative approaches, Dr. Dirk Elston said at a dermatology seminar sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. For example,...

Dermatologists get early crack at psoriatic arthritis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... TORONTO -- Dermatologists should play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis, since they are in the ideal position of treating the first manifestation of this condition: psoriasis. "It behooves us to see psoriasis...

Sanctura, Vidaza.(New & Approved)
August 1, 2004... Sanctura (trospium chloride, Indevus) An antispasmodic, antimuscarinic agent for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency. The fifth anticholinergic to become available...

Becaplermin beat bacitracin in wound healing study.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- The recombinant human platelet--derived growth factor becaplermin helps wounds heal faster than bacitracin, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the Wound Healing Society. In a study of acute wounds inflicted in...

Pain relievers.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... "Coffee too hot, or today's schedule of appointments?" "A full waiting room two weeks in a row? Face it, doctor: You're a patient magnet." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Let patients set the pace for imiquimod regimen.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Patients' degree of inflammatory response to imiquimod treatment of actinic keratosis, superficial basal cell carcinoma, or squamous cell carcinoma in situ can be used to guide treatment, according to speakers at a...

Gender, age, ACTH levels may help set speed of wound healing process.(Dermatologic Therapy)
August 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- The wound healing process appears to be slower in the elderly and in women, based on the findings of a study presented at the annual meeting of the Wound Healing Society. The study involved 120 paid volunteers aged 18-35 years...

Olive oil.(Cosmeceutical Critique)
August 1, 2004... A staple of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil has long been considered one of the most important of the natural essential oils. For as long as it has been a component of the human diet, olive oil (Olea europaea) has also been used for its...

3-cm excisions in melanoma: wide of the mark? Factors associated with survival turned out to be ulceration, thickness, gender, and site--not margins.(Dermatologic Surgery)
August 1, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Despite findings from a much-watched study published earlier this year, a 2-cm margin is probably adequate when removing a melanoma 2 mm or greater in thickness, Dr. Merrick I. Ross said at a symposium on skin cancer...

Some Mohs applications may be plagued by poor diagnostics.(Dermatologic Surgery)
August 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Mohs micrographic surgery is not just for nonmelanoma skin cancer anymore, but it has to be used carefully to avoid diagnostic pitfalls. Although basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas remain the target of the vast...

Back to the future: cryotherapy still delivers in treatment of BCCs, SCCs.(Dermatologic Surgery)(basal cell carcinoma)
August 1, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- with so much discussion of Mohs surgery and now imiquimod as effective treatments for basal cell carcinoma, it is easy to forget that cryotherapy is reported to be at least 95% effective--and for certain types of patients,...

Modified island pedicle closure for large wounds.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- A modification of the island pedicle flap can be one of the simplest, cleanest ways to close a large surgical wound, because it decreases the area of the wound that must be covered with the flap, Dr. Terrence A. Cronin Jr....

Going beyond repairing a defect.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Surgeons should think cosmetically when repairing a defect from an excision procedure, because there are sometimes opportunities not only to close the wound aesthetically but to actually improve the patient's appearance,...

Motivation for cosmetic surgery: men vs. women.(Data Watch)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Motivation For Cosmetic Surgery: Men vs. Women Men Women Look younger 39% 49% Work related 31% 18% Dating, getting 10% 8%...

S-lift is good introduction to field of face-lifts.(Dermatologic Surgery)
August 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- If you are looking for a way to ease your practice into the world of face-lifts, then perhaps you should consider the S-lift. Developed in Europe by Dr. Ziya Saylan, a cosmetic surgeon based in Dusseldoff, Germany, S-lift...

Separate fact from fiction with Botox techniques, safety.(Dermatologic Surgery)
August 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Does it really make sense to keep patients upright for 4 hours after Botox injections? Should breast-feeding patients not receive Botox? And is the use of too little Botox a virtue? Several expert panelists offered answers...

More surgery, lower cost tied to skin self-exams.(Dermatologic Surgery)
August 1, 2004... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Thorough skin self-examinations increase the amount of health service resources that patients use, but they also save a small amount of money, Dr. Martin A. Weinstock reported at the annual meeting of the Society for...

Spectroscopy helps assess burn depth, care needed.(Dermatologic Surgery)
August 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- Near-infrared spectroscopy shows promise for helping physicians determine the depth of burns and in the long term could revolutionize burn care, Dr. Karen Cross said at the annual meeting of the Wound Healing Society. Knowing...

Outpatient visits to primary care providers and referral status of non-primary care visits, 2002.(Data Watch)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
August 1, 2004... Outpatient Visits to Primary Care Providers and Referral Status of Non-Primary Care Visits, 2002 Outpatient Visits in Millions New Patient Established Patient Visits to primary...

Having a poor body image discourages thorough skin self-examinations.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The frequency of performing thorough skin self-examinations is associated with the tools a person is given to perform the examinations and the way a person views his or her body, according to several studies presented at the...

Striae gravidarum: blame genes, not weight gain.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Genetic factors appear to play a role in the development of striae gravidarum, rather than prepregnancy weight or increases in weight during pregnancy, Dr. Anne Chang said at the annual meeting of the Society for...

Number of toxic shock syndrome cases continues to rise.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... LA JOLLA, CALIF. -- An apparent rise in the number of cases of tampon-related toxic shock syndrome that have occurred, especially in adolescents, warrants extra vigilance by physicians, who should report cases to the Centers for Disease Control...

Data link tanning beds to skin cancer.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- One of the reasons it has been difficult for the dermatology community to discourage the use of tanning beds has been that there have been few data actually documenting an increased risk of skin cancer with theft use. ...

Patients can see some skin lesion changes in photos.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Patients who have learned how to perform skin self-examinations are moderately accurate at discerning new lesions and recognizing whether changes have appeared, Dr. Mohsin Malik reported at the annual meeting of the Society...

Launchers and printers.(Digital Assistance)
August 1, 2004... Featured App: Launchers From the Apple Newton era to the latest Pocket PC, handheld computing technology has advanced tremendously. The hardware has certainly evolved and, from the software standpoint, there are now literally thousands of...

What's eating you? An update on arthropods.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... BALTIMORE -- As warm weather sets in, people venture outside and encounter creatures that infest, bite, and spread disease, sending them back inside--often to the dermatologist's office. Lyme disease is the most common arthropod-borne...

S. aureus wound infection outcomes are worse in diabetics.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- Diabetes appears to be a predictor for identifying which patients with Staphylococcus aureus-infected wounds will develop severe complications or even die as a result, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Wound...

Tuning fork test may detect mild diabetic polyneuropathy earlier.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... BOSTON -- That ringing sound coming out of Dr. David Oyer's office could be music to the ears of endocrinologists looking for an accurate way to detect and monitor early signs of distal polyneuropathy in diabetic patients. For 25 years,...

Baldness--heart disease link based on faulty data?(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... BUDAPEST, HUNGARY -- The purported link between androgenetic alopecia and elevated risk of myocardial infarction is based on flawed studies, Dr. Alfredo Rebora said at an international symposium sponsored by the European Academy of Dermatology...

Age, gender predict postherpetic neuralgia risk.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... Older age and female sex are among the significant risk factors for persistent pain following shingles infection, a study has shown. Also predictive of substantial pain for 120 days or more after the onset of herpes zoster infection--a...

Chronic pain patients do better without opioids.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- A pain rehabilitation program that incorporates opioid withdrawal can significantly improve physical and emotional functioning while successfully eliminating opioids, said Dr. Jeffrey Rome of the Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation...

CAM solution proves popular for pain relief.(Clinical Rounds)(complementary and alternative medicine )
August 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- The use of complementary and alternative medicine is common among patients with chronic pain, Dr. Carmen R. Green of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Responses similar for montelukast and fluticasone.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Medicaid patients with asthma responded similarly to monotherapy with either montelukast or fluticasone propionate in a study presented as a poster at the 100th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society. ...

Budesonide improved recent-onset asthma.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Inhaled budesonide increased expiratory volume and morning expiratory flow in patients who had moderate to severe asthma for less than 2 years, Dr. William W. Busse reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of the...

Levalbuterol beat albuterol on hyperactivity.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Single doses of levalbuterol resulted in lower hyperactivit), scores than racemic albuterol among asthmatic adolescents, Dr. William Andrews reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy,...

Pets may prevent allergies, but not if parents puff.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Two years ago, Dr. Dennis Ownby published a report showing that children who grow up with at least two dogs or cats in their home have a 50% reduced risk of developing common allergies (JAMA 288:963-72, 2002). At this...

Study: vitamin E didn't help atopic asthma patients.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Vitamin E supplementation in adult patients with atopic asthma did not improve bronchial reactivity, according to a poster presentation at the 100th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society. P.J.K. Pearson...

Health may worsen with indoor dampness, mold.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Exposure to mold and damp indoor environments is associated with several respiratory problems, but many of the suspected adverse health effects of such exposure are not supported by solid evidence, according to a report from the...

Early Lyme disease.(Drug Update)
August 1, 2004... Management of Lyme disease focuses on treatment rather than prevention. A vaccine for Lyme disease, which was seemingly safe and effective but also carried a high price tag, was pulled from the market in February 2002 because of low sales and...

Oculorespiratory syndrome is better defined over time.(Clinical Rounds)
August 1, 2004... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Oculorespiratory syndrome is a newly recognized--but apparently not new--adverse event following influenza immunization, Dr. Nooshin Ahmadipour said at the National Immunization Conference sponsored by the Centers for...

NIH proposes cure to heal its ethics policies.(Practice Trends)
August 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Internal and external reviews have led Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health, to recommend deep changes in his agency's conflict of interest policies. "It is imperative that Congress and the...

Web-based ca advice can be dangerous.(Practice Trends)(cancer)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Many Web sites offering information about complementary and alternative medicine treatments for cancer offer some worthwhile information, but others are downright dangerous. That's what two British researchers concluded after evaluating 32...

Medicare's nursing home billing angers doctors.(Practice Trends)
August 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Medicare's new Consolidated Billing System for skilled nursing facilities may be easier on the facilities themselves, but it's a real headache for doctors, several council members said at a meeting of the Practicing Physicians...

Medicare offers bonuses to boost quality of care.(Practice Trends)
August 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are so determined to encourage quality care that they're willing to pay for it. Medicare currently has five initiatives that offer some type of "pay for performance"...

Isotretinoin legislation.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... If Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ.) have their way, significant restrictions soon will be placed on the use of isotretinoin (Accutane, Amnesteem, Sotret, Claravis). The Stupak/Smith bill, "Accutane Safety and Risk...