Skin & Allergy News articles from July 2005

Skin & Allergy News archives from July 2005

Derm wannabes raise hackles.(Practice Trends)
July 1, 2005... MAUI, HAWAII -- There's the family physician who bills herself as a skin care specialist--and the pathologist who is injecting Botox, as well as the emergency physician and the nephrologist who serve as medical directors for medi-spas offering...

Controversy heats up over sunlight and vitamin D: be prepared for questions from sun lovers.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... PHOENIX, ARIZ. -- Physicians, get ready. This summer, patients are likely to ask whether they should be spending more time in the sun, Darrell S. Rigel, M.D., warned attendees at a clinical dermatology conference sponsored by Medicis. He...

Regulations rising for physician extenders.(Practice Trends)
July 1, 2005... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Many dermatologic practices would be at a loss without physician extenders, but the assistants also present a host of ever-increasing legal liabilities that clinicians should be aware of and protected against, said David...

Vaccine cuts shingles rate, severity.(News)
July 1, 2005... A potent live zoster vaccine halved the incidence of herpes zoster and reduced its disease burden and complications even more dramatically in a large study of adults aged 60 years and older, said M.N. Oxman, M.D., of the University of...

SLN biopsy boosts disease-free melanoma survival.(News)(Selective Lymphadenectomy)
July 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Interim results from the Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial show a significant improvement in disease-free survival at 5 years for primary melanoma patients who underwent lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node...

Smallpox revaccination shows retained immunity.(News)
July 1, 2005... ST. Louis -- Patients previously vaccinated for smallpox will, with revaccination, experience a smaller erythematous response, a quicker time to pustulation, and a fourfold increase in antibody titers, compared with vaccine-naive patients. ...

Linezolid tops vancomycin for MRSA-based infections.(News)
July 1, 2005... MIAMI -- Linezolid was superior to vancomycin for treatment of presumed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-based infections in 717 patients, reported Kamal Itani, M.D., and associates in a poster presented at the joint annual meeting...

Expired TCA can get stronger.(News)(trichloroacetic acid)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- The potency of trichloroacetic acid increases with age, a finding that runs counter to the expectation that medical products weaken after their expiration date, Bruce Katz, M.D., said at a cosmetic dermatology seminar...

Texas doctors see some hope in tort reform.(News)
July 1, 2005... When it comes to tort reform in Texas, physicians there say "so far, so good." In 2003, the state enacted a tort reform law similar to California's, including a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages. So far, that's been good news for Texas...

Bounty hunters could help fight Medicaid fraud.(News)
July 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Private bounty hunters are one way to fight fraud in the Medicaid program, according to Stan Dorn, J.D., senior analyst at the Economic and Social Research Institute. Successfully used by Medicare, the bounty hunter approach...

Minority clinical trial participation needs boost.(News)
July 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- More needs to be done to encourage minority patients and providers to participate in clinical drug trials, several speakers said at a meeting sponsored by the Alliance of Minority Medical Associations, the National Association for...

Free guide helps docs cope with language access issues.(News)
July 1, 2005... A new guide produced by the California Academy of Family Physicians aims to bridge the gap between physicians and patients who have limited English proficiency. "Nationwide--but particularly in states like California, New York, Texas,...

Old foot ulcers heal better with new biopolymer.(News)
July 1, 2005... CHICAGO -- E-Matrix, a new bioactive copolymer, was effective in closing diabetic foot ulcers larger than 2 [cm.sub.2] and of more than 4 months' duration in a pilot study of 56 patients, William Marston, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the...

Psoriasis therapy: striking the balance.(Guest Editorial)
July 1, 2005... The biologics have had a revolutionary impact on psoriasis, significantly reducing the number of patients who, for years, had been undertreated because dermatologists worried about the side effects of prebiologics. But, if we are not careful,...

Who will take care of the patients?(Under My Skin)
July 1, 2005... My last student confirmed it: Derm is indeed white hot. Only the very brightest dare apply, she told me, and even they face long odds. One of her top classmates who failed to match in dermatology has taken a year off to do the research he needs...

Will health savings accounts leave people vulnerable to bankruptcy?(Pro & Con)
July 1, 2005... YES When we studied more than 900 people who had filed for personal bankruptcy, more than half of them cited medical causes (Health Aff. [Millwood] Feb. 2, 2005; [Web exclusive]). This was true even though three-quarters of the debtors had...

Feeling squeezed by the pay cut.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... I have quit taking on any new Medicare patients (they constitute 70% of my practice), and with the anticipated cut in reimbursement, I will continue this policy of no new Medicare patients ("CMS projects 4.3% Cut in Physician Pay for 2006,"...

Medicare's 'new math' doesn't add up.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... According to the AMA Member Connect survey, if Medicare payments are cut by 5% in 2006, 54% of medical practices will defer the purchase and implementation of medical information technology. Now Medicare wants physicians to implement this...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2005... Dermabond Advantages Misstated A recent article incorrectly stated that "wounds treated with Dermabond can withstand wetness, which is indispensable for patients who want to swim" ("Dermabond Provides Quick, Waterproof Incision Closure,"...

Would pay for performance result in better care?(Pro & Con)
July 1, 2005... YES Health care in the United States is fragmented and uncoordinated across practice settings. Performance measurement systems present an opportunity to establish evidence-based norms of care. In addition, valid and accepted indicators can...

Supreme court ruling stirs the pot.(Guest Editorial)
July 1, 2005... First, it was medical marijuana; next, it will be alcohol. The recent decision by the Supreme Court (Gonzales v. Raich) allowing federal prosecutors to go after patients who use medical marijuana, even in places where such use is legal...

Alcoholism end around.(Guest Editorial)
July 1, 2005... It all started with a booth at a medical meeting. It was a booth for Al-Anon, the group for family members, friends, and coworkers of alcoholics. The woman at the booth told me her story and how Al-Anon changed her life, and I was...

Think outside the box for Rosacea Tx options: therapies now available range from lasers to topical vitamin C to baby shampoo for ocular rosacea.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2005... MAUI, HAWAII -- A host of novel approaches ranging from vitamins to light therapies are being used to combat rosacea and its attendant flushing, telangiectasias, and papules and pustules. Speakers at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar...

New rosacea subtypes can direct individual's therapy.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2005... MAUI, HAWAII -- A new classification system for rosacea subtypes can help frame a clinician's approach to treating individual patients, Amy B. Lewis, M.D., said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease Education...

Propolis.(Cosmeceutical Critique)
July 1, 2005... Propolis, also known as bee glue, is an extract of beehives that has been used for hundreds of years in naturopathic medicine. Currently, some radiation therapists use propolis to treat actinic stomatitis and mucositis (Wurzbg. Medizinhist....

Consumers' faith in cosmeceutical products should be tempered by a dose of skepticism.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2005... ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- A small amount of science can translate into a profitable industry in the unregulated universe of cosmeceuticals, said James Spencer, M.D., at a cosmetic dermatology seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation....

The role of glycyrrhetinic acid in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2005... In response to the urgent clinical need for nonsteroidal therapy to treat inflammatory skin diseases, scientists have focused on an anti-inflammatory agent with intriguing pharmacologic properties. Glycyrrhetinic acid is part of the triterpene...

Double-duty moisturizer vehicle may help acne.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2005... MAUI, HAWAII -- When it comes to acne therapy, "vehicle matters," Emil Tanghetti, M.D., said at an annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation. "The ideal vehicle should combine an occlusive and a...

Adapalene gel shows promise in 1-year trial.(Dermatologic Therapy)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... MAUI, HAWAII -- An open-label trial of adapalene gel 0.3% offered a rare long-term look at efficacy beyond the standard duration of most clinical acne medication trials. "Most of the trials that we do with retinoids or topical acne...

Green tea ointment clears genital warts.(Dermatologic Therapy)
July 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- An investigational ointment containing extract of green tea successfully clears genital warts in about 60% of patients, Karl Beutner, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. The ointment,...

How to use Mohs to reconstruct the nose.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2005... VIENNA -- For skin cancers on the nose, Mohs micrographic surgery is associated with low recurrence rates and spares a maximal amount of healthy tissue, Abel R. Gonazalez, M.D., reported at the 10th World Congress on Cancers of the Skin. ...

Careful tumor examination can improve Mohs outcomes.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Successful Mohs micro-graphic surgery depends on two things: that the tumor is contiguous and that 100% of the surgical margins are examined histologically, Stuart J. Salasche, M.D., said at the 10th World Congress on Cancers of the...

Add dermoscopy to methods for melanoma Dx.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Dermoscopy can help you reliably diagnose melanomas as small as 3 mm, James w. Steger, M.D., said at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic. "The best method of diagnosis is not your naked eye by itself or...

Help lips shape up with proper use of fillers.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2005... PHOENIX, ARIZ. -- The lip that is enhanced with filler should meet definable proportions and yet retain its individuality, Arnold W. Klein, M.D., said at a clinical dermatology conference sponsored by Medicis. "Lips are about volume but...

Plasma method irons out lines and acne scars.(Dermatologic Surgery)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. -- Plasma skin resurfacing reduces acne scars and fine lines while minimizing downtime and adverse events, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. ...

Cosmetic Tx lasts longer with boost from Botox.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2005... PHOENIX, ARIZ. -- Adding Botox therapy to cosmetic dermatologic treatments can "extend the results for virtually everything we do," Jean Carruthers, M.D., said at a clinical dermatology conference sponsored by Medicis. Clinical studies...

Aminolevulinic acid plus IPL recommended for photoaging.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2005... LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. -- The adjunctive use of aminolevulinic acid with intense pulsed light treatment appears to be more effective than the light therapy alone for the treatment of photoaging, said Ashish Bhatia, M.D., at the annual meeting...

Laser hair removal works better with optical clearing agent.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Topical application of a special agent to improve the optical properties of darker skin types appears to significantly improve the efficacy of laser-assisted hair removal with fewer epidermal side effects, according to data...

Consider all angles before advising Mohs surgery.(Dermatologic Surgery)
July 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- If you recommend Mohs surgery for a melanoma patient, remember that you are one point along a spectrum of medical and emotional care for that person, Duane C. Whitaker, M.D., advised at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps...

Radiation for childhood cancer linked with BCC later in life.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- Survivors of childhood cancer who were treated with radiation develop basal cell carcinoma at up to 20 times the rate seen in the general population, with almost all of the lesions occurring within the radiation treatment field,...

Smoking tied to onset, aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Cigarette smoking plays a role in both the initiation and progression of pancreatic cancer, based on an analysis of more than 18,000 patients with the disease. "To our knowledge, this is the first compelling evidence for...

Certain lifestyles overexpose some to the sun.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... ST. Louis -- Higher income, binge drinking, and student status are all independent risk factors for sunburn, Tamu Brown reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. "We suggest targeting young adults,...

Skin Ca risk in women dictated by age, history.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- Family history is a strong risk factor for melanoma in women, while age appears to be the biggest risk for the development of basal cell carcinoma, Abrar Qureshi, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative...

Skin cancer program sharpens ability to see suspect lesions.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- A skin cancer curriculum significantly increases the ability of medical students to identify suspicious cutaneous lesions and augments their confidence in counseling patients about sun safety, Daven Doshi, M.D., reported at the...

Antimalarials in lupus patients.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Antimalarials may not only treat active lupus, but also benefit the heart, W. Joseph McCune, M.D., said at a symposium sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology. Lupus patients have an elevated risk of heart disease, and...

Reasons for vaccine refusal.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Approximately 69% of 277 parents of nonvaccinated children cited concerns that vaccines might cause harm, said Daniel A. Salmon, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and his colleagues (Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 2005;159:470-6). In...

Pocket pets may pack salmonella.(Clinical Capsules)(Author Abstract)
July 1, 2005... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 28 cases of Salmonella enteritidis subtype S. typhimurium associated with pet rodents including hamsters, mice, and rats between December 2003 and October 2004 (MMWR 2005;54:429-32). The...

Linezolid resistance seen.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Acquired resistance to linezolid has been selected in the laboratory, and has been observed in clinical isolates of gram-positive cocci, reported Venkata G. Meka, M.D., and Howard S. Gold, M.D., of Harvard Medical School, Boston. The...

Alzheimer's disease.(Drug Update)
July 1, 2005... Five drugs are approved to treat Alzheimer's disease, but none provides a cure. Four of the five drugs are cholinesterase inhibitors, which enhance cholinergic neurotransmission and may benefit patients with mild to moderate disease....

Serious infections similar with the different biologics.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND -- No important differences in rates of serious infections have been reported among patients treated with etanercept, infliximab, or adalimumab, according to a report from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics...

Low-dose biologics cuts costs in rheumatic Tx.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND -- One promising strategy for holding down the cost of biologic therapy for patients with rheumatic diseases is to prescribe low doses when possible, results from two new studies have suggested. With infliximab, for...

Wider use of emergency contraception urged.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Physicians should routinely inform women of childbearing age about the availability of emergency contraception before the need arises, James Trussell, Ph.D., said at a conference on contraceptive technology sponsored by...

Low-dose drospirenone in OC eases premenstrual symptoms.(Clinical Rounds)(Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder )
July 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- A new drospirenone-based OC awaiting approval by the Food and Drug Administration is effective in relieving premenstrual symptoms because it is given in a low dose and for an extended regimen, according to new research. ...

NuvaRing at 1 year: 2.3% expulsion rate.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- In a year's experience with the NuvaRing contraceptive, only 2.3% of women experience an expulsion of the device, according to the pooled results of four large, phase III clinical trials, Marc Kaptein, M.D., and Edio...

Desquamative vaginitis: not an infectious entity.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... BETHESDA, MD. -- Most experts now believe that desquamative inflammatory vaginitis is not a diagnosis of one condition, but may represent a range of blistering disorders, such as lichen planus, mucous membrane pemphigoid, and pemphigus...

Know the risk factors that predispose women to VAIN.(Clinical Rounds)(vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia)
July 1, 2005... BETHESDA, MD. -- An older age, a history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and the presence of multifocal lesions in the upper third of the vagina are among the features associated with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, Thomas C. Wright...

Drugs impair keratinocyte DNA repair in culture.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Cyclosporine and ascomycin decreased DNA repair and reduced apoptosis in human keratinocyte cultures exposed to ultraviolet B light, Daniel B. Yarosh, Ph.D., reported at the 10th World Congress on Cancers of the Skin. Dr. Yarosh...

Combo Tx for melanoma lacks survival advantage.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Combination therapy with the brain cancer drug temozolomide and interferon alfa increased response rates, but not overall survival, when compared with temozolomide alone for patients with metastatic melanoma, Claus Garbe, M.D.,...

Follow-up data show MAL-PDT treatment effective: MAL-PDT equals other treatments' efficacy, topping them in cosmetic outcome and patient preference.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Topical methyl aminolevulinate in combination with photodynamic therapy should be considered one of the standard therapies for basal cell carcinoma, Colin A. Morton, M.D., reported at the 10th World Congress on Cancers of the Skin....

MAL-PDT passes muster in Bowen's; jury still out on SCC.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Insufficient evidence exists to support the use of topical photodynamic therapy in squamous cell carcinoma. But methyl aminolevulinate cream and photodynamic therapy may be a practical option in the treatment of Bowen's disease, Colin...

Data watch.(skin melanoma)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Incidence of Skin Melanomas Slowly Rising Male Female 1999 18.9 11.8 2000 19.4 12.3 2001 19.8 13.0 Note: Rates are per 100,000 persons and are age adjusted to the 2000...

Lymphangiogenesis tied to melanoma metastasis risk.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... VIENNA -- High rates of lymphangiogenesis within primary melanomas are associated with metastasis to the sentinel lymph nodes, and may induce lymphangiogenesis there, setting the stage for distant metastasis, Michael Detmar, M.D., reported at...

Melanoma prognostic markers may peg progression and survival.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Overexpression of metallothionein is a highly significant and independent factor for melanoma progression and survival. Using immunohistochemical staining for metallothionein, "it's quite possible to estimate risks for possible...

Inhaled cyclosporine for lung transplants assessed: advisory panel's split vote may prompt further studies on the drug's safety and efficacy.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- The FDA's Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted 8-8 last month on whether treatment with inhaled cyclosporine was behind the improved survival in a small study of lung transplant recipients. The advisory panel's...

Immunosuppression may spare steroids in myasthenia gravis.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- The off-label use of immunosuppressive agents for myasthenia gravis can significantly decrease the need for steroids, while improving symptoms. However, compared with prednisone, other immunosuppressants are much more...

Racial disparities persist in care of HIV patients.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... OAKLAND, CALIF. -- The gap in HIV care received by black patients compared with white patients has narrowed, but disparities remain a problem, William D. King, M.D., said at a conference sponsored by the American Foundation for AIDS Research....

Specialists look askance at rise in rosacea Dx.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... MAUI, HAWAII -- The number of patients being diagnosed with rosacea has grown exponentially in the last few years, but the veracity of all those diagnoses may be questionable, speakers said at an annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by...

Asmanex Twisthaler, Atacand.(New & Approved)
July 1, 2005... Asmanex Twisthaler (mometasone furoate inhalation powder, Schering-Plough) An inhaled corticosteroid for maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in patients 12 years of age and older. Also for asthma patients who need oral...

Monitor kids for malignant melanomas.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Although childhood malignant melanomas are rare, physicians must keep an eye out for them, Ronald C. Hansen, M.D., said at a pediatric update sponsored by Phoenix Children's Hospital. Although 70% of melanomas in...

Skin test helps find subclinical atherosclerosis.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... Orlando, Fla. -- A noninvasive point-of-care test that measures cholesterol in the skin is useful in identifying subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic middle-aged adults, James H. Stein, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the...

Metabolic syndrome spells trouble for angioplasty.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Metabolic syndrome raises the risk of adverse outcomes following percutaneous intervention, Vidyasagar Kalahasti, M.D., reported at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association. This new finding is...

Physicians slip up on rules requiring isolation gowns.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... LOS ANGELES -- Physicians were the least likely among health care workers to comply with hospital rules requiring isolation gowns in rooms of patients carrying multiresistant organisms, according to a study exploring ways to reduce severe...

Migraines affect 1 in 3 allergic rhinitis patients.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... San Antonio -- More than 33% of patients with allergic rhinitis experience migraine headaches, compared with only 3.5% of people without allergic rhinitis, according to a study by investigators in New York City. The findings highlight a...

Routine allergy testing urged for asthma patients.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... San Antonio -- Consider routine allergy testing for patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, Helen Smith, M.B., advised at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. "There's no doubt that rhinitis...

MRSA necrotizing pneumonia cases "not subtle".(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- There are two important things to know about the recently identified threat of staphylococcal necrotizing pneumonia: It generally follows an influenza illness, and a physician seeing a patient in the clinic or office is not...

High dietary fat, sodium linked to stroke risk.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- For the first time, physicians have evidence independently linking high dietary levels of fat and sodium to an increased risk of ischemic stroke, based on findings from an epidemiologic study in New York. Experts who heard...

Bevacizumab improved survival in leading cancers.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Adding the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab to standard chemotherapies for lung, breast, and colorectal cancer produced significant survival gains in phase III trials reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of...

Other VEGF inhibitors show promise.(vascular endothelial growth factor )
July 1, 2005... Bevacizumab's success in improving lung, breast, and colorectal cancer survival has raised interest in other experimental antiangiogenic agents with the same target. Notable among the trial results presented were updates on two such oral...

Retainer practices are reporting better care.(Practice Trends)
July 1, 2005... DALLAS -- Physicians in retainer practices are reporting better quality of care and fewer hassles, but the new approach is not without its flaws, according to a survey presented at a national conference on concierge medicine. The retainer...

Teen boys ignore sun protection.(Policy & Practice)
July 1, 2005... Boys aged 15-17 years are the group least likely to protect their skin from sun exposure, according to a survey released by the American Academy of Dermatology. Only 32% of these boys said that they are "very careful" or "somewhat careful"...

Bill to thwart Medicare cuts.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A bipartisan bill (H.R. 2356) introduced by Rep. Clay Shaw (R-Fla.) and Rep. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) seeks to halt impending cuts to Medicare physician payments and replace the flawed formula that determines those payments. Following up on a...

Sunscreen use falls.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... More and more Americans are going outside without their sunscreen, according to the results of a survey released by the Sun Safety Alliance. About 60% of American adults reported using sunscreen when outdoors this year, a drop from the 72% who...

Few seeking quality improvement.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A majority of physicians are not actively engaged in quality improvement practices and are reluctant to share information about the quality of care they provide with the general public, a survey of more than 1,800 physicians revealed. Only...

Medicaid patients and drug access.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Medicaid patients are finding it just as difficult as the uninsured to get access to prescription drugs. Researchers from the Center for Studying Health System Change found that 22% of Medicaid beneficiaries aged 18 and older could not afford...