Family Practice News articles from May 2008

Family Practice News archives from May 2008

Virtual visits free physicians, patients.(Practice Trends)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By 10:00 on Saturday morning, Dr. John Bachman has already consulted with a handful of patients: He has prescribed an antibiotic for a urinary tract infection, adjusted the medication of a hypertensive patient,...

Top 10 therapeutic classes by U.S. sales in 2007.(VITAL SIGNS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... VITAL SIGNS Top 10 Therapeutic Classes by U.S. Sales in 2007 (in billions) Lipid regulators $18.4 Proton pump inhibitors $14.1 Antipsychotics $13.1 Antidepresants ...

Cardiac screening advised before starting ADHD Rx: selective ECG deemed medically indicated.(News)
May 1, 2008... Family physicians are likely to receive a deluge of questions from concerned parents regarding new recommendations from the American Heart Association suggesting that a child's risk for adverse cardiac outcomes should be evaluated before...

Stakeholders hammer out medical home principles.(Practice Trends)
May 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- A who's who list of physician organizations, advocacy groups, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and employers is throwing its weight behind the idea that the medical home model can cure much of what ails the health care system. ...

Vaccine reduces recurrence, death in patients with HER2 breast cancer.(News)
May 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Vaccination with a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu peptide vaccine increased immunogenicity, decreased breast cancer recurrence, and reduced mortality by 50% after a median of 3 years of treatment in node-positive and...

Physician burnout takes toll on quality of care.(News)
May 1, 2008... PITTSBURGH -- Adverse working conditions are not only associated with stress and burnout for primary care physicians, but also result in diminished quality of care for their patients. The fending, from the third and final phase of the MEMO...

'Use it or lose it' strategy confirmed to aid memory.(News)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Older adults with normal cognition who engaged in a mental fitness program for 1 hour a day, 5 days a week, for 8 weeks, demonstrated significant improvements in memory and nonmemory tasks, according to data presented at the annual...

Rosiglitazone patient guide addresses heart failure, other cardiac concerns.(News)
May 1, 2008... A Patient medication guide that explains the risks associated with rosiglitazone (Avandia) will be dispensed to patients with each new prescription, including refills, according to the Food and Drug Administration and GlaxoSmithKline Inc. ...

Analysis results may offer rational celecoxib use.(News)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- The cardiovascular risk of celecoxib is a function of both dose and dosing schedule, as well as a patient's baseline cardiovascular risk, according to a new National Cancer Institute-sponsored pooled analysis. Individuals at...

Heavy drinking, smoking found to hasten the onset of Alzheimer's.(News)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Heavy drinking and smoking are associated with a significantly earlier age of development of late-onset Alzheimer's disease, according to findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. In a...

High cholesterol in midlife ups Alzheimer's risk.(News)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- High cholesterol levels in midlife are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, data from a large, diverse cohort suggest. The analysis of more than 9,500 individuals showed that those...

Medical litigation benefits attorneys.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I was outraged to see the opinions of Miles Zaremski, J.D., published in FAMILY PRACTICE NEWS ("Noneconomic Damage Caps," Law & Medicine, April 1, 2008, p. 60). His views on noneconomic damage caps are false and contrary to the best...

Should insulin therapy be started earlier in type 2 diabetes patients? Early use of insulin improves [beta]-cell function.(POINT/COUNTERPOINT)
May 1, 2008... We should be using insulin earlier in type 2 diabetes. More than 40% of people with type 2 diabetes are not at the hemoglobin Ale goal of less than 7%. More than 50% are not at an [HbA.sub.1c] goal of 6.5% or less. The problem, I believe, is...

Should insulin therapy be started earlier in type 2 diabetes patients? Aggressive combination treatment is often enough.(POINT/COUNTERPOINT)
May 1, 2008... Is there a compelling reason to add insulin early? Dr. Abrahamson cited a few studies that used intensive insulin therapy for a period of time, with some follow-up. Maybe there is something to that. But is it the insulin or aggressive early...

Moderately large waist measurements matter.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2008... COLORADO SPRINGS -- Marginally increased waist circumference is strongly associated with prevalent hypertension in normal-weight and overweight adults, according to data from a large National Institute of Neurological Disorders and...

ACE inhibitor/ARB combination does more harm than good.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(angiotensin-receptor blocker)(angiotensin-converting enzyme)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Telmisartan is as effective as ramipril in reducing vascular events in high-risk patients, but combining the two drugs provides no incremental benefit and increases side effects. That was the key message of ONTARGET (the Ongoing...

Ankle-brachial index adds to Framingham Risk Score.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- The Framingham Risk Score failed to identify a substantial number of people who were at risk for cardiovascular disease events on the basis of their ankle-brachial index, in a review of more than 1,700 asymptomatic people. An...

Home defibrillators failed to cut deaths in post-MI patients.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Myocardial infarction)(Clinical report)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Placing an automated external defibrillator in the homes of patients with a previous anterior-wall MI did not reduce mortality in a large randomized, multicenter trial. The primary end point of death from any cause was not...

Appropriateness of stress echocardiology testing updated.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
May 1, 2008... The American College of Cardiology Foundation and key specialty societies have released new appropriateness criteria for the use of stress echocardiography to help physicians keep abreast of rapidly changing imaging technology. The...

Simple steps improve diabetes self management.(Metabolic Disorders)
May 1, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO -- Here's what doesn't work when trying to help patients self-manage their diabetes: * Urging them to use more will power. "You need to get serious about your diabetes." * Threatening them with bad outcomes. "Do you want...

Financial incentives spur patients to slim down.(Metabolic Disorders)
May 1, 2008... Everyone knows that money talks. But when it comes to dieting, can money really motivate overweight patients to shed pounds? Dr. Joseph K. Chemplavil, an endocrinologist in Hampton, Va., thinks it can. He points to his own success in giving...

Assess 'global cardiometabolic risk' factors in patients with dyslipidemia.(Metabolic Disorders)
May 1, 2008... Lipoprotein management in patients with cardiometabolic risk is the focus of a joint consensus statement from the American Diabetes Association and American College of Cardiology Foundation. The evidence-based statement, written by a...

[HbA.sub.1c] may help flag impaired glucose tolerance in children.(Metabolic Disorders)
May 1, 2008... PHILADELPHIA -- Testing for hemoglobin [A.sub.1c] could be an effective means of screening children not only for type 2 diabetes but also for impaired glucose tolerance, according to the results of a study of 74 children. "Type 2 diabetes...

Low bone mass frequently gets overtreated.(Metabolic Disorders)
May 1, 2008... NEW YORK -- Overtreatment for low bone mass has been all too common in women aged 50-60 years since the introduction of the bisphosphonate drugs and the widespread use of bone scans, according to Dr. Stephen Honig. Routine bone scanning at...

Lower exercise intensity in obese boys.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Obese adolescent boys have a limited capacity to metabolize fat by exercising at the recommended moderate intensity level, and might do better with lower-intensity activity, according to Dr. Gautier Zunquin, a sports medicine researcher at the...

Breast-feeding and type 2 diabetes.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... reast-fed babies may be protected against /developing type 2 diabetes during childhood regardless of ethnicity, according to results from a study adjunct to the ongoing SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth investigation, by Elizabeth J. Mayer-Davis,...

Vitamin D cuts risk of type 1 diabetes.(Clinical Capsules)
May 1, 2008... Children receiving vitamin D supplementation are significantly less likely to develop type 1 diabetes, according to an analysis of observational studies led by Dr. Christos Zipitis of St. Mary's Hospital for Women and Children, Manchester,...

Face the facts when dealing with genital herpes: patient education is critical, especially since many who test positive are asymptomatic.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2008... BOSTON -- Genital herpes is a recurrent, lifelong viral disease. This is the one thing that patients and providers don't like to say, but there's no way around it, Laura J. Mulcahy said at a conference on contraceptive technology sponsored by...

Universal HIV screening renews disclosure debate.(EXPERT OPINION)
May 1, 2008... When a person discloses a positive HIV status to a partner, the disclosure eliminates many of the moral, ethical, and legal considerations inherent in the opposite scenario. Just what is our responsibility as physicians in this regard? Do...

Gonorrhea often goes undetected in gay men.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Despite visiting a sexual health clinic for screening tests, up to 35% of sexually active gay men might still have undiagnosed gonorrhea infections, Kristen Mahle said at a conference on STD prevention sponsored by the Centers for...

Self-collected swabs okay for STDs in men.(Infectious Diseases)(Sexually transmitted diseases)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Patient-collected rectal swabs are just as accurate as provider-collected swabs for diagnosing chlamydia and gonorrhea infections in men, Dr. Christine Wigen reported at a conference on STD prevention sponsored by the Centers for...

Eczema center emphasizes research, education.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2008... Since its debut in April of 2007, the Eczema Center at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego has received hundreds of e-mails, phone calls, and visits from families in western states and some from the East Coast, many desperate to find relief...

Tanning industry launches attack against 'melanoma hype'.(Skin Disorders)
May 1, 2008... Does tanning increase the risk of melanoma? Not according to the Indoor Tanning Association, which has launched a print and TV advertising campaign in seven major cities claiming there is no compelling scientific evidence linking tanning to...

Suicidality overlooked in diagnosis of depression.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO -- In a randomized trial involving actors portraying patients with major depression, internists and family physicians usually failed to ask these patients about suicidality, even when they correctly made the depression diagnosis,...

Seasonal allergies are linked to depression, rise in suicide rates.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2008... PHILADELPHIA -- Seasonal allergies might be associated with fatigue and mood disorders, including depression, in certain patients, Dr. Tedor T. Postolache reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and...

Doctor's visit a chance to screen teens for inhalant abuse.(Mental Health)
May 1, 2008... BY DENISE NAPOLI Assistant Editor WASHINGTON -- The drugs of choice for children aged 12 and 13 years are inhalants, surpassing pain relievers, marijuana, and any other illegal drug, with 3.4% of 12-year-olds and 4.8% of 13-year-olds...

Surgery sans radiation deemed an option in DCIS.(Women's Health)(ductal carcinoma in situ)
May 1, 2008... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- All women with ductal carcinoma in situ should have the choice of foregoing radiation therapy, according to updated breast cancer guidelines announced at the annual conference of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. ...

Women's health Web site unveiled.(Women's Health)(http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/out reach/womenshealthoverview.html)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The National Library of Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, is partnering with the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health to offer a one-stop Web resource with the latest information on significant topics in women's...

Drugs, pregnancy, and lactation: atypical antipsychotics.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2008... Data on the reproductive safety of certain psychotropics, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and anti-epileptic drugs, have increased in recent years, but information on the attendant risks of fetal exposure to antipsychotics...

Bacterial vaginosis may be risk factor for HSV-2.(Women's Health)(Clinical report)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Women with bacterial vaginosis might face a higher risk of acquiring herpes simplex type 2 infections, said Dr. Emilia Koumans, a public health official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her cross-sectional...

Partner history raises risk of BV in gay women.(Women's Health)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- The biggest risk factor for bacterial vaginosis among gay or bisexual women is having a sex partner with a history of the infection--an association that increases the chances of bacterial vaginosis by more than 400%, Dr. Jeanne...

Radiation to target prostate cancer risk.(Men's Health)
May 1, 2008... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- The use of three-dimensional conformal radiation or intensity-modulated radiation therapy is now mandated in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's new treatment guidelines for prostate cancer. Specific...

Life expectancy must guide prostate cancer treatment.(Men's Health)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Updated National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines stress expectant management--surveillance only with no other treatment--for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer. "We think it is...

Pyriformis syndrome frequently overdiagnosed: what's often labeled pyriformis syndrome is more likely proximal radicular pain or referred pain.(Musculoskeletal Disorders)
May 1, 2008... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Pyriformis syndrome as a cause of low back pain is greatly overdiagnosed, Dr. Zacharia Isaac asserted at a symposium sponsored by the American College of Rheumatology. "First of all, true pyriformis syndrome involves an...

Maneuvers, not imaging, can help confirm sacroiliac joint syndrome.(Musculoskeletal Disorders)
May 1, 2008... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Reserve an anesthetic block to diagnose sacroiliac joint syndrome for those patients having at least three positive pain-provoking tests on physical examination, Dr. Zacharia Isaac urged at a symposium sponsored by the...

Risk factors are identified for ovarian failure in SLE.(Musculoskeletal Disorders)
May 1, 2008... Higher disease activity, treatment with cyclophosphamide, an older age, and a certain ethnic background were each linked with a significantly increased risk for developing premature gonadal failure in a study of 316 women with systemic lupus...

Genetics is top of the list of risk factors for RA.(Musculoskeletal Disorders)
May 1, 2008... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Of the many putative risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis investigated to date, only three--genetics, smoking, and reproductive factors-are supported by strong and persuasive evidence, Dr. Sherine E. Gabriel said at a...

Update on diagnosing, managing celiac disease: short stature and dental enamel defects are added to the existing list of extraintestinal symptoms.(Digestive Disorders)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2008... MIAMI -- Ataxia, peripheral neuropathy; and epilepsy are among the extraintestinal manifestations of celiac disease when it presents in a child over age 15 months. The bowel symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain are more common in...

Colorectal cancer screening rises, but disparities persist.(Digestive Disorders)
May 1, 2008... The use of sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer has increased in recent years, according to Dr. D.A. Joseph and his associates at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Although this increase is...

Colonoscopy greatly underused in high-risk African Americans.(Digestive Disorders)
May 1, 2008... African Americans who had multiple first-degree relatives with colon cancer were much less likely to undergo the recommended screening colonoscopy than their white counterparts, according to the findings of a large cohort study. ...

With specialist shortage, obese kids turn to PCPs: the data suggest that geographic differences in endocrinologist supply may be driving variation.(Obesity)(primary care physicians)
May 1, 2008... The distribution of children with diabetes and obesity does not parallel that of pediatric endocrinologists in the United States, largely because of geographic disparities in the supply of these specialists, according to Dr. Joyce M. Lee and...

Responsiveness to external, internal cues tied to obesity.(Obesity)
May 1, 2008... BALTIMORE -- Children with greater body mass indexes appear to be more responsive to external food cues and less responsive to internal satiety signals, according to a study involving almost 11,000 children. The findings, which were...

Short sleep duration in infancy may predict childhood adiposity.(Obesity)
May 1, 2008... Sleep duration of less than 12 hours per day during infancy may predict childhood overweight, researchers reported. In a prospective study of 915 mother-child pairs, sleep curtailment at age 6 months to 2 years doubled the odds that, at age...

Adenotonsillectomy may not resolve sleep apnea.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Clinical report)
May 1, 2008... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Although adenotonsillectomy remains the first-line treatment for children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, only about 25%-30% will experience complete resolution of symptoms, according to a prospective study. ...

Preemie asthma tied to mom's chorioamnionitis.(Pulmonary Medicine)
May 1, 2008... PHILADELPHIA -- Children born prematurely to mothers who developed chorioamnionitis during pregnancy were about fourfold more likely to develop asthma and wheezing during the first 2 years of life, compared with term infants born to mothers...

Oral drug for cystic fibrosis shows promise in early trials.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Clinical report)
May 1, 2008... A drug for fixing a crucial defective protein in cystic fibrosis improved patients' lung function and sweat chloride levels, according to early results from a small randomized study. The investigational oral drug, VX-770, is still in phase...

Genetic marker may flag risk of asthma, poor lung function.(Pulmonary Medicine)
May 1, 2008... A protein linked to inflammation and tissue remodeling is a significant biomarker for asthma and poor lung function, and a variation in that protein's genetic code is also associated with asthma risk and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. A...

Treat pain to improve cognition in older adults.(Geriatric Medicine)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2008... ORLANDO -- Pain is a comorbid condition too often overlooked in the setting of geriatric psychiatry, despite the potential for better mental health outcomes when it is treated, Dr. Jordan E Karp said at the annual meeting of the American...

Many elderly, particularly in nursing homes, lack vitamin D.(Geriatric Medicine)
May 1, 2008... SALT LAKE CITY -- Even among nursing home residents receiving substantial vitamin D supplements, half or more show deficiencies in the nutrient, according to two separate posters presented at the annual symposium of the American Medical...

TPA fails in women with metabolic syndrome: the effect may be caused by defective endogenous fibrinolysis, a hallmark of metabolic syndrome.(Clinical Rounds)(Clinical report)
May 1, 2008... NEW ORLEANS -- The detrimental effect of metabolic syndrome on recanalization after intravenous thrombolytic treatment of acute ischemic stroke appears to be more pronounced in women than in men, according to the results of a prospective study....

Insulin resistance is linked to stroke risk in nondiabetics.(Clinical Rounds)(Clinical report)
May 1, 2008... NEW ORLEANS -- Insulin resistance independently predicted the risk of ischemic stroke and vascular disease in nondiabetic participants in the Northern Manhattan Study, a community-based, prospective cohort of 3,298 people. The results of...

MRI method may oust liver biopsy for sickle cell.(Clinical Rounds)
May 1, 2008... ATLANTA -- Children with sickle cell disease, [beta]-thalassemia, and other hematologic diseases may no longer need to undergo potentially painful and risky biopsies to assess the amount of iron accumulating in their liver as a result of...

Frequency of migraine with aura may be tied to cardiovascular risk.(Clinical Rounds)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Migraine frequency seems to be an indicator of increased risk of cardiovascular disease in migraineurs with aura, according to findings from a large cohort analysis presented April 17 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

More mild cognitive impairment seen in men.(Clinical Rounds)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Men have more mild cognitive impairment than women do, yet there is no gender difference in the prevalence of dementia, according to the results of one of the first studies to measure mild cognitive impairment prospectively in a...

Migraine and apnea may be linked in kids.(Clinical Rounds)
May 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Sleep apnea was observed in more than half of children with migraine in a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Evaluation by polysomnography revealed sleep apnea in 56% of children with...

Oral hygiene important for preventing oral mucositis.(Clinical Rounds)
May 1, 2008... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Good oral hygiene is essential for the prevention of oral mucositis, now considered to be the most troublesome and serious side effect of cancer therapy, according to a National Comprehensive Cancer Network Task Force report...

Data confirm link between breast cancer, alcohol intake.(Clinical Rounds)
May 1, 2008... SAN DIEGO -- Further evidence of a relationship between alcohol consumption and development of breast cancer was presented in two studies at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. Dr. Jasmine Q. Lew, a medical...

Radiofrequency ablation improves survival in lung cancer.(Clinical Rounds)(Clinical report)
May 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- Radiofrequency ablation resulted in 70% survival at 2 years in a study of 244 lung cancer patients. "Radiofrequency ablation is minimally invasive, with a high local success rate. It is a curative treatment in nonsurgical...

Reassurance is potent against pediatric migraines.(Clinical Rounds)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2008... LA JOLLA, CALIF. -- Nearly every child with a migraine headache who is referred to Dr. William Lewis for neurologic evaluation thinks he or she has a brain tumor. That's because the parents think the child has a brain tumor. "It's a...

Paper test can help diagnose childhood absence epilepsy.(Clinical Rounds)
May 1, 2008... MIAMI -- Absence epilepsy seizures can be differentiated from daydreaming or ADHD with a simple office procedure involving a piece of paper. "Hyperventilate the child by having them blow on a paper or on their own, and you will see loss of...

Bone mineral density deficits seen in children with epilepsy.(Clinical Rounds)
May 1, 2008... A study of children with epilepsy has found that their bone mineral density declines steadily relative to controls, starting even in the first year of treatment. The study compared 82 children with epilepsy with 32 age- and sex-matched,...

Ga. docs collaborate on EHRs.(Policy & Practice)(Georgia doctors)(electronic health records)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Georgia physicians are collaborating with the state's Department of Community Health on adoption of Medicare electronic health records, the department said. The department intends to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to...

Consumer-directed enrollment low.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... More employers are offering consumer-directed health plans in efforts to shift greater responsibility to workers for health care costs, lifestyle choices, and treatment decisions, according to a new survey on the plans. However, enrollment...

MA, Part D changes announced.(Policy & Practice)(Medicare Part D)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The out-of-pocket threshold for a beneficiary enrolled in a standard Medicare Part D drug plan will rise from $4,050 to $4,350 next year, while the initial deductible rises from $275 to $295, CMS announced. The out-of-pocket threshold is the...

Side effects underreported.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... One in six Americans who have taken a prescription drug experienced a side effect serious enough to send them to the doctor or hospital, but only 35% of consumers said they know they can report these side effects to the FDA, according to a...

AAMC adopts medical home.(Policy & Practice)(The Association of American Medical Colleges)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The Association of American Medical Colleges has adopted a formal position stating that every person should have access to a medical home. "We believe the medical home model holds great promise for improving Americans" health by ensuring that...

Gaps in child well-being.(Policy & Practice)(Report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Where a child is born and raised in the United States can make a huge difference to his or her chances of health and survival to adulthood, according to a report by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Every Child Matters Education Fund. Those born in...

SCHIP enrollment data misleading, say advocates.(Practice Trends)
May 1, 2008... The federal government's portrayal of enrollment growth in the State Children's Health Insurance Program in 2007 is disingenuous and somewhat misleading, advocates for children's programs said. According to the Centers for Medicare and...

MedPAC backs bundled pay for hospitalizations.(Practice Trends)
May 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has given its backing to bundling payment for hospitalization, which would essentially give hospitals and physicians an incentive to control costs and avoid readmissions. At its April...

Old drugs, new tricks.(Genomic Medicine)
May 1, 2008... As a former gene therapy researcher, I must confess that to me, nearly all attempts at gene therapy for genetic disorders have been disappointing. The sad fact is that our immune system is its own worst enemy as far as gene therapy goes,...

Medicare expands coverage of CPAP devices.(Practice Trends)
May 1, 2008... Medicare has expanded its coverage of continuous positive airway pressure therapy for obstructive sleep apnea to include patients who were diagnosed using home sleep tests. Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services handed...

CMS updates oversight of outpatient dialysis centers.(Practice Trends)
May 1, 2008... A new regulation on Medicare coverage at outpatient dialysis centers aims to bring the requirements in line with new technology and scientific advances. The final regulation, published in the Federal Register last month, also directs...

Coverage of computed tomographic angiography decided case by case.(Practice Trends)
May 1, 2008... Medicare reimbursement for computed tomographic angiography will not be limited, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The federal agency never had a formal policy on CTA, but the majority of local Medicare...

Medical Home pilot gets go-ahead from MedPAC.(Practice Trends)(Medicare Payment Advisory Commission)
May 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- The concept of a medical home is a step closer to reality for Medicare patients, after it received strong backing from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission at its April meeting. All 17 commissioners present at the meeting...