Internal Medicine News articles from December 2003

Internal Medicine News archives from December 2003

Gastric pacing may help curb hunger: device tested in 30 morbidly obese patients.(News)
December 1, 2003... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- A new surgical approach to obesity that doesn't alter the anatomy of the stomach appears to be effective, low risk, and reversible, Dr. Scott Shikora said at the annual meeting of the North American Association for the...

Intensive statin regimen can stop atherosclerosis: atorvastatin tops pravastatin: some experts urge caution about posthoc analysis of LDL cholesterol reductions.(News)(Low density lipoproteins)
December 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Daily treatment with 80 mg of atorvastatin led to a startling halt in the progression of atherosclerotic disease, measured by intravascular ultrasound, in a study with 502 patients. "Coronary atherosclerosis has...

Early RA therapy gets a boost from doxycycline: ACR 50 response: adds minimal cost to methotrexate tx.(News)(rheumatoid arthritis)(American College of Rheumatology response criteria)
December 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Adding doxycycline to conventional methotrexate treatment for early rheumatoid arthritis provided substantial clinical benefit at minimal expense in a 2-year double-blind study, Dr. James R. O'Dell said at the annual meeting of...

FDA warns about synthetic steroid used by athletes: tetrahydrogestrinone.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against the sale and use of tetrahydrogestrinone, saying that the supplement may pose a significant risk to the health of consumers. Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) is a newly identified...

Adverse events prompt warning on Cypher stent: FDA issues advisory.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Food and Drug Administration has issued an advisory to physicians regarding deaths and other adverse events involving the drug-eluting Cypher coronary stent. The agency has received more than 290 reports (more than 25 from outside the...

Cancer risk is high following first venous thromboembolism: within 3 months.(News)
December 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- A first episode of venous thromboembolism confers a whopping 76-fold increased risk of cancer being diagnosed within the next 3 months, according to new data from the Physicians' Health Study and the Women's Health Study. ...

Sexuality survives hysterectomy: two new studies.(News)
December 1, 2003... LA JOLLA, CALIF. -- Sexual function does not diminish and may even improve after hysterectomy, according to two new studies. In the first study, 70% of 70 women said they had no net change or an increased desire for sex at an average...

Medical marijuana ruling hailed by some doctors: seen as free speech issue.(News)
December 1, 2003... Dr. Marcus Conant is glad that he didn't get his day in court. On Oct. 14, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it had declined to take up the case of Conant v. Walters, in which Dr. Conant was the lead plaintiff. The case revolved around...

80-hour limit is old news.(Letters)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... Although the entire academic medical community is having difficulties adjusting to the new Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty-hours policies, I was quite struck by Dr. James Novak's letter "80 Hours Not the Limit" (Sept....

HIPAA helping the HMOs.(Letters)(Health Insurance Portablility and Accountability Act)(health maintenance organizations)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... In "Pro & Con: Is HIPAA helping in any way?" Both Dr. Richard Sacks-Wilner and Dr. David Kibbe seemed to skirt the real issues. They made certain rather blatant points, but then missed the forest for the trees (Oct. 1, 2003, p. 9). The...

Will you be getting the flu shot this year?(Talk Back Online)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 1, 2003... Will you be getting the flu shot this year? (November 1, 2003, p.8) NO 18% YES 82% Note: Table made from pie chart. To Talk Back, visit www.einternalmedicinenews.com

Simplifying the payment system.(Guest Editorial)
December 1, 2003... The administrative complexity of the payment system is a lose-lose proposition for all participants. It's costly, duplicative, and it needs to be simplified. Multiple credentialing, multiple clinical guidelines, multiple billing processes,...

Should physicians conduct spiritual histories of their patients?(Pro & Con)
December 1, 2003... YES Dr. Harold G. Koenig is an associate professor of medicine and psychiatry at Duke University, Durham, N.C. Growing research shows that religion makes a difference in physical and psychological health, prevention, and recovery. It...

Testosterone patch boosts sexual drive: surgically menopausal women.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Surgically menopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder experienced significant relief when wearing both an estrogen and a testosterone patch in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. "This is the first study to...

Exercise aids sexual function in naturally menopausal women: small, 5-year study.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Results of a 5-year study of sexual satisfaction in 27 naturally menopausal women suggest that exercise can help preserve sex drive. "There's no question that treating low libido with testosterone is effective, but there's a...

Web clipping: AvantGo.(Digital Assistance)
December 1, 2003... Overview: AvantGo is a free Web-clipping application for Palm and Pocket PC computers that permits downloading and viewing of specified Internet content during synchronization. A wide variety of medical and nonmedical content channels (Web...

Vaccine to prevent breast Ca recurrence promising: preliminary results of small trial.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- A vaccine so simple that it could potentially be administered by community physicians induced a durable and specific immune response in a small group of breast cancer patients at high risk of recurrence. No patient who had a...

Post-breast Ca fracture risk rises: analysis of WHI participants.(Clinical Rounds)(Women's Health Initiative)
December 1, 2003... MINNEAPOLIS -- Menopausal breast cancer survivors may have a 29%-32% higher risk of sustaining fractures at specific sites than do other menopausal women, according to data from the Women's Health Initiative. That finding suggests that...

Good enough? Or good enough to increase the odds of an MI in the next ten years?(myocardial infarction)
December 1, 2003... The data are clear: concurrently, even mild-to-moderate elevations of blood pressure and cholesterol can mean an increased risk of cardiovascular events. (1-3) Studies such as the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT), an...

Botox stops headache pain in recalcitrant cases: open-label study of 271 patients.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- A new study, the largest to date, adds to the evidence that botulinum toxin type A alleviates and prevents headache pain. Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) is an effective preventive therapy for headache pain in a variety of...

Disabled migraineurs often satisfied with available treatments: survey of 405 women.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- A patient's satisfaction with migraine treatment may depend substantially on personal expectations. Many migraineurs are dissatisfied with current therapies, but a significant proportion of highly disabled migraineurs are...

Leech therapy for pain and venous congestion.(Alternative medicine: an evidence-based approach)
December 1, 2003... * Leech therapy is undergoing a renaissance, with applications in surgery and pain control. * The saliva of Hirudo medicinalis, the medicinal leech, contains anticoagulant and analgesic substances thought to be responsible for the clinical...

More boomers seek new hips, knees: may outlive replacement part.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... Whether they're driven to maintain an active lifestyle or encouraged by the latest high-tech materials, baby boomers appear to be opting for joint, replacement surgery at significantly younger ages than previous generations. From 1996 to...

Obesity may persist despite joint replacement: better function doesn't help weight loss.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... BERLIN -- Total hip or knee replacement is not a ticket to weight loss. Patients with a disabling joint disease who are also overweight often say that their joint disease limits their physical activity, and that their ability to lose...

Meal replacements keep weight down over long term: 10-year data.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Longterm use of a premeasured meal-replacement plan appears to be an effective tool for weight-loss maintenance, Dr. George L. Blackburn reported in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the North American...

Diabetes mortality declines as prevalence rises: Danish study.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... Declining mortality among diabetic patients may account in part for the rising prevalence of the disease, a finding that calls into question the existence of a "diabetic epidemic," according to Danish researchers. "The increase in...

Insulin resistance may mediate obesity, asthma: predictor of atopy.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Insulin resistance appears to have a mediating effect on the immune response leading to atopy and asthma in women, Anthony Tagliaferro, Ph.D., said at a meeting sponsored by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program....

Weight loss in elderly may flag cognitive decline: BMI, hippocampal volume correlated.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... ALBUQUERQUE -- Weight loss in an elderly person with mild cognitive impairment could be a surrogate for neurologic deterioration, according to Dr. Michael Grundman. Imaging studies performed by Dr. Grundman and his colleagues showed a...

Divalproex may curb dementia-related behavior: elderly nursing home patients.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Divalproex sodium appears to improve behavior, mood, and sleep in elderly nursing home patients with dementia, Jane Meingold, Pharm.D., reported in a poster session held at a meeting of the International Psychogeriatric Association....

3-minute test offers fast screen for Alzheimer's: four-item quiz.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO--Researchers at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, reportedly have developed an effective, initial 1- to 3-minute screening test for Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Marta S. Mendiondo and her colleagues at the university's...

Surgery may reduce mortality in sleep apnea: retrospective study.(Clinical Rounds)(Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty)
December 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is an underused and understudied treatment for sleep apnea that may reduce mortality more effectively than simply providing continuous positive airway pressure, Dr. Edward Weaver said at the annual...

Commercial snoring remedies fail clinical test: study of 37 patients.(Clinical Rounds)
December 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- It was a hard day's night for three over-the-counter snoring aids that failed to reduce snoring in a clinical test. These products don't significantly ease snoring and may distract patients from seeking appropriate medical...

GI disorder therapy.(Products)(gastrointestinal motility disorders)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Pamine Forte 5 mg (methscopolamine bromide) is available in a dose pack of five blisters of 12 tablets. The drug is indicated for the treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders including abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, and bloating...

Shot pain device redesigned.(Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ShotBlocker has been redesigned to accommodate both intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. The plastic disk features a number of skin contact points and an opening for injections. The device is designed to block injection pain based on the...

Cream for injection pain.(Products)(L.M.X.4 )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... L.M.X.4 (lidocaine 4%) is available over the counter to relieve the pain associated with injections. The cream is safe for use in children. For more information, call Ferndale Laboratories Inc., 877-352-6294, or visit their Web site at...

Oral solution metformin.(Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Riomet (metformin HCl, 500 mg/5 mL) oral solution is approved for use as a monotherapy as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. For more information, contact Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc.,...

Darvocet A500 approved.(Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Darvocet A500 (propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen) is approved for the treatment of mild to moderate pain. The drug combines 500 mg of acetaminophen with 100 mg propoxyphene napsylate. For more information, contact aaiPharma Inc.,...

Prefilled pen for chronic HCV.(Products)(hepatitis C virus)(Peg-Intron (peginterferon [alpha]-2b) Redipen)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Peg-Intron (peginterferon [alpha]-2b) Redipen has received marketing approval for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C. The prefilled pen mixes and delivers a single dose. For more information, contact Schering-Plough Corp.,...

Hand hygiene video.(Products)("Hand Hygiene: Cleaning Up Our Act" video )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The "Hand Hygiene: Cleaning Up Our Act" video reviews new guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Produced with a grant from 3M Health Care, the review is available in VHS, CD-ROM, and DVD formats in English and...

Solution for allergic eyes.(Products)(Elestat)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Elestat (epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution) 0.05% is now approved for the prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. For more information, contact Allergan Inc., 714-246-4500, www.allergan.com.

Starlix for combined use.(Products)(thiazolidinedione)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Starlix (nateglinide) tablets are approved for use in combination with a thiazolidinedione in patients with type 2 diabetes who are not adequately controlled after a therapeutic response to a thiazolidinedione. For more information, contact...

Low back pain fact sheet.(Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... "About Low Back Pain and Treatments Your Doctor May Recommend" is a patient education fact sheet available from McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals. To order a free copy, contact 888-440-7903 or aboutlowbackpain@wrbcorp.com.

Paxil CR approved for SAD.(Products)(social anxiety disorder)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Paxil CR (paroxetine HCl controlled-release tablets) is approved for the treatment of social anxiety disorder. For more information, contact GlaxoSmithKline, www.paxilcr.com, 888-825-5249.

Shortage of RA drug is over.(Products)(rheumatoid arthritis)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Gold sodium thiomalate is available in the United States, ending a recent shortage. The injectable is indicated for the treatment of selected cases of active rheumatoid arthritis. For more information, contact SAB-Pharma Inc., 866-577-INFO or...

Hi-low exam tables.(Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The 622 and 623 model power exam tables extend from 18 inches to 37 inches above the floor to accommodate elderly and handicapped patients. For more information, contact Midmark Corp., 800-643-6275, www.midmark.com.

Medical equipment trolley.(Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Trolley cart can move medical equipment or small computers from room to room. For more information, contact Anthro Corp., 800-325-3841, www. anthro.com/_sp_trolley.asp.

New option for moderate to severe Alzheimer's: memantine available in 2004.(Rx)(N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist )
December 1, 2003... At the beginning of 2004, physicians in the United States will for the first time be able to prescribe a drug specifically approved for patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. Memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor...

New class of broadly active NSAID shows efficacy and tolerability: dual LOX-COX inhibitor.(Rx)
December 1, 2003... BERLIN -- A new type of NSAID that inhibits the production of leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes was as effective as and better tolerated than a standard NSAID or a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor for the treatment of...

Physician-patient partnership key to compliance: hands-on approach encouraged.(Rx)
December 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- A partnership with the patient can help improve compliance, Dawn Oetjen, Ph.D., said at the annual conference of the Medical Group Management Association. The paternalistic model where the patient follows the physician's...

Drug update: [beta]-blockers for hypertension.(Rx)
December 1, 2003... Though demoted to add-on therapy in the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, a [beta]-blocker plus a low-dose thiazide diuretic is still an effective way to...

Key role for fibrate Tx in metabolic syndrome: well-tolerated adjuvant to statins.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
December 1, 2003... VIENNA -- Fibrate therapy appears to provide particularly robust cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with the metabolic syndrome, according to speakers at a satellite symposium held in conjunction with the annual congress of the European...

CHF and malnutrition.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... Most normal-weight patients with clinically stable congestive heart failure need to consume extra calories and protein to avoid malnutrition and limit the breakdown of body protein, according to Dr. Roberto Aquilani of the Scientific Institute...

Nisoldipine-ER helps blacks.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... The new extended-release formulation of the calcium channel blocker nisoldipine may be particularly effective for hypertensive African Americans, who tend to have high blood pressure levels throughout the night. Nisoldipine-ER recently was...

CV forecast in renal disease.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... Patients with end-stage renal disease and slightly high serum levels of cardiac troponin T and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) before the first dialysis session of the week are at high risk for later cardiovascular events and mortality, reported Dr....

Smallpox vaccine, myocarditis.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... A maladaptive immune response to the smallpox vaccine can result in eosinophilic-lymphocytic myocarditis, according to Dr. Joseph G. Murphy and his associates at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. They reported the case of a healthy...

Controversial decision on ICDs could be revised: CMS defends coverage policy.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
December 1, 2003... SANTA FE, N.M. -- A decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in June to restrict coverage of implantable cardioverter defibrillators to post-myocardial infarction patients with favorable QRS intervals was neither...

Protocol seeks to avoid ICD implants after cardiac arrest: Dutch LOHCAT study provides guidance.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
December 1, 2003... VIENNA -- Use of a standardized screening protocol following aborted sudden cardiac death permits tailored therapy that avoids universal placement of implantable cardiode fibrillators--while achieving a 5-year sudden cardiac death rate of less...

Gender disparity seen in management of acute MI: men receive better care.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
December 1, 2003... VIENNA -- Following a myocardial infarction, women receive substantially less aggressive care than men in the United States, and they have a 9% higher risk of death, according to an analysis of more than 170,000 patient records. "There is...

Raloxifene improves lipids in nonwhites: posthoc analysis of 7,705.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
December 1, 2003... MIAMI BEACH -- Raloxifene improves the lipid profiles as well in nonwhite women as in white women, according to data extracted from a posthoc analysis of the Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation. Women with the highest baseline...

Exercise benefits hinge on energy expended: best amount still unknown.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
December 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- The answer to the question of how much one needs to exercise, and how intensely, to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease is simple--no one really knows, according to Dr. Paul D. Thompson, director of preventive cardiology and...

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy okay in pregnancy: for patients with intractable symptoms.(Gastroenterology)
December 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- A total of 150 successful laparoscopic cholecystectomies have been reported in pregnant women who were unresponsive to medical management, suggesting that this procedure is safe during pregnancy, Dr. Raymond J. Lanzafame said. ...

Cholangiography adds only 4 minutes to surgery: cholecystectomy.(Gastroenterology)
December 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- In the tug-of-war over whether or not to perform cholangiography routinely during cholecystectomy new data add some pull for advocates of the imaging procedure, Dr. Donald Wenner reported. Attempting to perform a dynamic...

Oral vitamin A may ease proctopathy symptoms: pelvic irradiation.(Gastroenterology)
December 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Radiation-induced proctopathy symptoms significantly improved after 6 months of oral vitamin A intake, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled trial presented at the annual Digestive Disease Week. Pelvic irradiation...

Reasons unclear for later colon cancer diagnosis in women: regional or distant disease more likely.(Gastroenterology)
December 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Women are more likely to have advanced colon cancer at diagnosis and staging than are men, based on a study of Cincinnati-area colon cancer patients presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians....

Colon cancer screening 2003.(The Effective Physician)
December 1, 2003... Background Since the publication of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-sponsored consensus guidelines on colorectal cancer screening in 1997, new data regarding various screening methods have been published and screening rates...

PDT for cholangiocarcinoma.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... Photodynamic therapy plus biliary stenting may be the best palliative intervention for cholangiocarcinoma patients who don't respond to stenting only, reported Dr. Marianne E.J. Ortner of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne,...

Liver transplants for HCC.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... The 5-year survival rates after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma have increased steadily in recent years, reported Dr. Hwan Y. Yoo and associates from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Among 34,324 patients in the...

Common bile duct injury repair.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... Patients who experience a common bile duct injury during cholecystectomy should be referred to surgeons or institutions with substantial experience in repairing these injuries, said Dr. David R. Flum of the University of Washington, Seattle,...

Hypnotherapy for IBS.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... Hypnotherapy may offer patients 1-5 years of relief from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, reported Dr. Wendy M. Gonsalkorale and her colleagues at the University Hospital of South Manchester (England). They analyzed questionnaire...

Influenza vaccines do not trigger MS relapses: IOM report on adults.(Infectious Diseases)
December 1, 2003... Killed-virus influenza vaccines do not trigger relapse of multiple sclerosis in adults, according to a report on the possible association of the influenza vaccine with demyelinating neurologic disorders by the Institute of Medicine Immunization...

Many asthmatic patients don't get yearly flu shot: only one in five younger patients.(Infectious Diseases)
December 1, 2003... Millions of patients with asthma are not getting an influenza vaccination each year, increasing the risk that upper respiratory infection will seriously affect their health, a large national study has found. Just one in five people with...

Disease drop suggests Prevnar 'herd immunity': large California study.(Infectious Diseases)
December 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Postlicensure surveillance of pneumococcal heptavalent conjugate vaccine (Prevnar) has shown a striking and consistent decrease in invasive pneumococcal disease incidence, especially among adults of parenting age and in persons...

Guidance on vaccine cold chain maintenance: CDC advice on preserving potency.(Infectious Diseases)
December 1, 2003... Health care providers who administer vaccines should evaluate their cold chain maintenance and management, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised. Although previous CDC vaccine guidelines have addressed proper storage and...

HIV, HAART, and survival.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved survival for people with HIV, but the effects of age and exposure category on disease progression have changed over time. In 7,740 seroconverters, the effects of these and other...

Sulfonamide cross-reactivity.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... Patients who develop hypersensitivity to sulfonamides are likely to be predisposed to drug reactions; cross-reactivity between sulfonamide antibiotics and nonantibiotics doesn't appear to be a factor, according to Dr. Brian L. Strom of the...

Levofloxacin for TB.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... Levofloxacin is superior to ofloxacin when used as part of a multidrug regimen for the treatment of multidrug resistant TB, findings from a retrospective study suggest. In 40 patients with multidrug resistant TB who were treated with...

Terrorism preparedness.(Clinical Capsules)
December 1, 2003... State health departments are concerned about their ability to prepare for terrorist attacks, according to results of two surveys conducted between September 2000 and June 2003. As a result of an estimated $1 billion in federal funding, the...

Liability makes a hike.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... Operating costs for medical group practices increased by 7.47% in 2002, largely due to rising professional liability premiums, the Medical Group Management Association reports in its 2003 cost survey. Ob.gyn. practices, for example, had a 67%...

Insured drive up emergency visits.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... Emergency rooms aren't just for the uninsured anymore. The Center for Studying Health System Change reports that insured Americans account for most of the 16% rise in hospital emergency room visits. Capacity constraints experienced by...

Employers manage disease.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... Employers and health plans are taking aim at patients with chronic diseases, another HSC report observes. With the retreat of tight managed care networks, many employers are exploring disease management as a tool to save money and improve care....

Benefits bust.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... Big companies aren't the best places to get health insurance anymore. The Commonwealth Fund reports that one-fourth of the nation's uninsured are workers in large firms and their dependents--about 10 million people. The rate of uninsured in...

Debit card tools.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... The debit card is the latest advance in the area of consumer-driven health care, says Victoria Nipple, chief operating officer of mbi, the originator of employee benefits debit cards. The debit card removes the need to submit claim forms by...

States boost health literacy.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... Several states are taking innovative steps to improve health literacy, Trudi Matthews, chief health policy analyst with the Council of State Governments, said at a national conference on health literacy sponsored by Pfizer Inc. In July,...

Roadmap for research.(Policy & Practice)
December 1, 2003... The National Institutes of Health is embarking on a series of research initiatives known collectively as the "NIH Roadmap," to accelerate medical research. The roadmap focuses on three areas: new pathways to discovery in medicine, research...