Internal Medicine News articles from July 2006

Internal Medicine News archives from July 2006

AMA tackles ads, insurance, clinics.(News)(Report)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Individual health insurance mandates, store-based clinics, and direct-to-consumer advertising topped the list of issues addressed at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association's House of Delegates. On the heels of...

Distribution of medical schools.(VITAL SIGNS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Distribution of Medical Schools Note: Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have three schools each. Source: Association of American Medical Colleges RICHARD FRANKI/ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS

New drug class for type 2 diabetes looks promising: two drugs inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase 4.(News)
July 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A new class of drugs for type 2 diabetes shows promise in reducing blood glucose, improving beta-cell function, and helping patients control their weight--all via one oral dose per day, researchers reported at the annual...

Panel endorses dasatinib for imatinib-resistant CML.(chronic myeloid leukemia)(News)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Based on input from an expert advisory panel, the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib may be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of imatinib-resistant or -intolerant adults with chronic myeloid...

FDA evaluates hepatic events linked to Ketek.(News)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2006... As a Senate committee investigated the approval of and postmarketing experience with the antibiotic Ketek, the Food and Drug Administration reportedly compiled data on cases of severe liver toxicity tied to the drug. In some cases, the toxicity...

Safety issues mar future of dual PPAR agonists.(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor)(News)(Report)
July 1, 2006... The future of dual [alpha]-/[gamma]-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists may now be in question since development of two agents has been halted after the completion of phase III trials. In May, AstraZeneca announced...

Once-weekly formulation of exenatide being developed.(News)
July 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A long-acting formulation of exenatide was well tolerated and lowered blood glucose effectively during 15 weeks in a study of patients with type 2 diabetes that Dr. Dennis Kim, of Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., and his associates...

Liraglutide, a once-daily incretin mimetic, lowers Hb[A.sub.1c] levels.(News)(Drug overview)
July 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A new glucagonlike peptide-1 agonist known as liraglutide significantly reduced Hb[A.sub.1c] when used as monotherapy in a phase II trial that was presented at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association....

Misconceptions reduce quality of cancer care.(News)(Report)
July 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- Cancer patients face numerous barriers to quality care that place them needlessly at risk for poor outcomes, researchers said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. In addition to the obvious barriers...

Recertification too burdensome.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... The American Board of Internal Medicine's participation in Medicare's Physician Voluntary Reporting Program is of great concern to me ("Medicare Data Tied to Certification," April 15, 2006, p. 1). There is no question that this added...

HPV vaccine won't replace screening.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... The article on Gardasil highlights a very important issue about which many physicians maybe underinformed: the fact that the HPV vaccine will be an important contribution to the elimination of cervical cancer, but will not replace the need for...

HSAs a 'viable option' for uninsured.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... Most evaluations assume that the alternative to the HSA-compatible high-deductible insurance plan is a comprehensive insurance policy ("Experts Debate Pros, Cons of Health Savings Accounts," March 15, 2006, p. 75). But for individuals who...

The global workforce challenge.(GUEST EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... The fact that a physician shortage is occurring and is expected to worsen in the next decade has been acknowledged by the Council on Graduate Medical Education and the Association of American Medical Colleges. By 2016, when the first of the 78...

Should physicians communicate with patients via e-mail?(POINT/COUNTERPOINT)(Report)
July 1, 2006... E-Mail Offers Advantages E-mail opens up the bandwidth of communication with our patients. With this medium, patients can initiate contact 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at their convenience, and physicians can reply at a time most...

'Clinical inertia' hampers diabetes management.(Endocrinology)(Report)
July 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- "Clinical inertia" is a common, chronic condition among U.S. physicians who treat patients with diabetes, according to several studies presented at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. ...

Tuning fork test for neuropathy found widely useful.(Endocrinology)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Results of a tuning fork test to identify neuropathy appear to be reproducible beyond the diabetic population, according to findings from a blinded, observational study. In a presentation at the annual meeting of the American...

New antiresorptive agents may be better tolerated.(Endocrinology)(Drug overview)
July 1, 2006... DESTIN, FLA. -- Investigational antiresorptive agents with novel methods of action and dosing regimens may improve patient compliance and persistence, but will not reduce the risk of fracture associated with osteoporosis beyond that seen with...

Don't switch drugs if BMD fails to improve.(Endocrinology)(bone mineral density)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... DESTIN, FLA. -- A lack of increase in bone mineral density does not necessarily indicate a failure of antiresorptive therapy for osteoporosis, and is not a reason to switch a patient's drugs, Dr. Michael McClung said at a rheumatology meeting...

Relative risk data favor benefits of bisphosphonates.(Endocrinology)
July 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Physicians and patients are less likely to favor bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis when efficacy is expressed in terms of absolute risk reduction as opposed to relative risk reduction, Dr. Christine A. Sinsky reported at...

Better detection key to rise in thyroid cancer.(Endocrinology)
July 1, 2006... Thyroid cancer incidence has more than doubled over the last 30 years in the United States, and virtually all of that increase has resulted from improved detection of small papillary tumors, reported Dr. Louise Davies and Dr. H. Gilbert Welch...

Thyroid disease rate increased in immunologic thrombocytopenia.(Endocrinology)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Immunologic thrombocytopenia was associated with an increased prevalence of thyroid disease in a retrospective longitudinal study. The data support routine screening for thyroid disease in immunologic thrombocytopenia. Treating...

Testosterone replacement therapy.(THE EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN)(Disease/Disorder overview)
July 1, 2006... Background The use of testosterone preparations to treat androgen deficiency is a controversial area in medicine. The Endocrine Society recently issued a clinical practice guideline to assist practitioners with this difficult topic. ...

Diagnostic manual takes psychoanalytic approach.(Psychiatry)(Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual)
July 1, 2006... The DSM-IV-TR and the ICD-10 are no longer the only handbooks for psychiatric diagnosis. A consortium of psychoanalytic groups has published its own guide to the full spectrum of disorders after more than 2 years of preparation: It is...

IOM: it's time to wake up to sleep disorders.(Psychiatry)(Institute of Medicine)
July 1, 2006... It's time for physicians and the public alike to wake up to the staggering impact of sleep disorders, a new report from the Institute of Medicine charges. An estimated 50-70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders such as...

Untreated insomnia may precipitate anxiety disorders.(Psychiatry)
July 1, 2006... MIAMI -- People with anxiety often present with insomnia, but recent evidence suggests untreated insomnia might lead to anxiety disorders, according to a presentation at the annual conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. ...

Insomnia.(DRUG UPDATE)
July 1, 2006... Several new prescription medications have been introduced recently for treating insomnia and have largely taken the place of the benzodiazepines, once the most commonly used medications for insomnia. The newer nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine...

Think bronchiectasis in frequent antibiotic users.(Pulmonary Medicine)
July 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Any patient who needs two or more courses of antibiotics within a year for respiratory tract infections deserves to be evaluated for bronchiectasis, Dr. Gwen A. Huitt asserted at a meeting sponsored by the National Jewish...

Sinus surgery curbs worst symptoms.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Patients who underwent surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis showed significant improvement in their most severe clinical symptoms, wrote Dr. Francis T.K. Ling in a poster presented at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings. ...

OSA treatment pearls include tennis balls on back.(Pulmonary Medicine)(obstructive sleep apnea)
July 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Because oral appliances and surgery don't cut the mustard as broadly applicable alternatives to nasal continuous positive airway pressure for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, what clinically useful options remain for the...

AMP challenge helps discriminate between COPD and asthma.(Pulmonary Medicine)(adenosine 5'-monophosphate)(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
July 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Measuring airway responsiveness to inhaled adenosine helps discriminate between a diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Dr. Riccardo Polosa reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Medication beliefs affect compliance with inhaled steroids in urban adults.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Adherence to a prescribed regimen of daily inhaled corticosteroids was associated with beliefs about these medications among inner-city adults with asthma, Dr. Diego Ponieman reported at the annual meeting of the Society of...

Cochrane review favors use of inhaled corticosteroids for chronic asthma control.(Pulmonary Medicine)
July 1, 2006... Inhaled corticosteroids are better than sodium cromoglycate in measures of lung function and asthma control in children and adults with chronic asthma, the first-ever systematic review of its kind has concluded. "The results suggest that...

Joint hypermobility syndrome underdiagnosed: in a series of unselected new patients referred to a rheumatology clinic, 45% met the diagnostic criteria.(Rheumatology)
July 1, 2006... GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- Joint hypermobility syndrome is profoundly underdiagnosed and its impact underestimated despite its being one of the most common causes of widespread chronic pain--and indeed it may be the most common rheumatic disorder,...

Atherosclerosis common in early inflammatory polyarthritis.(Rheumatology)
July 1, 2006... GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- Subclinical atherosclerosis is common among patients early in the course of inflammatory polyarthritis, even among those not considered to be otherwise at high risk for cardiovascular disease, Diane K. Bunn reported at the...

New total hip arthroplasty technique promising.(Rheumatology)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Less invasive hip arthroplasty techniques continue to progress and offer new advantages for patients, said Dr. Bryan J. Nestor. Anterior two-incision total hip arthroplasty (THA), only recently touted as being "revolutionary,"...

Ankle sprain pain: intermittent ice pack better.(Rheumatology)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Applying ice intermittently to mild or moderate ankle sprains resulted in better pain relief after 1 week than did applying ice continuously, researchers from Northern Ireland reported. Dr. Chris Bleakley of the University of Ulster and...

Abatacept yields sustained benefits in RA.(Rheumatology)(rheumatoid arthritis)
July 1, 2006... GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- Abatacept demonstrated "significant and sustained" clinical efficacy in two new studies, providing further evidence in support of the therapeutic concept of T-cell costimulation in rheumatoid arthritis, Dr. Paul Emery...

Anti-TNF merits 'extreme caution' in cancer survivors.(Rheumatology)(tumor necrosis factor)
July 1, 2006... GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- Data from a large cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-[alpha] therapy has determined that those with a history of malignancy are at heightened risk for additional cancers, and...

Avemar as supportive therapy in cancer.(ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE)
July 1, 2006... The Extract and Its Effects An extract of fermented wheat germ, Avemar, was developed during the 1990s by Hungarian biochemist Mate Hidvegi, Ph.D. Initially, Avemar was available as an over-the-counter dietary supplement, but in 2002 the...

More herbal therapies entering clinical trials.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... LA JOLLA, CALIF. -- An emerging trend in complementary and alternative medicine is a shift away from animal-only studies and toward clinical trials involving the use of herbs for cancer treatment, Dr. Mary L. Hardy said a meeting on natural...

Reagent recalled: screening tests for over 40 disorders could be inaccurate.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Adiagnostic reagent has been recalled because it may produce a weak signal that could translate into inaccurate results for tests used to screen more than 40 disorders. The reagent is used with the Vitros Immunodiagnostic ECi/ECiQ System...

Lab test cuts need for food challenge in suspected allergy.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Quantitative measurements of food-specific IgE antibodies are a useful shortcut in predicting symptomatic food allergy--provided they are interpreted cautiously, Dr. F. Dan Atkins said at a meeting sponsored by the National...

Few doctors comfortable treating food allergies.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Primary care and emergency department physicians provide care to a growing number of patients with food allergies, but they aren't necessarily comfortable doing so. That's the conclusion of a survey of 82 primary care and ED...

Ethicists debate ways to solve U.S. organ shortage.(Clinical Rounds)
July 1, 2006... The growing gulf between patients requiring organ transplants and the number of persons willing to give them is spurring some ethicists to call for new--and sometimes radical--ways to encourage donations. The proposals range from loosening...

Aggressive secondary prevention urged in CHD.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(coronary heart disease)
July 1, 2006... Updated secondary prevention guidelines pull together the latest data from clinical trials to advocate more aggressive management of patients with coronary heart disease. The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology...

Whole grain barley products can claim heart health benefits.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Certain whole grain barley products can now officially bear the claim that they may reduce the risk of heart disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized a rule that allows labeling on such products to state that "soluble fiber...

Imaging targets vulnerable coronary plaques.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- A furiously competitive race is on to develop new imaging methods capable of identifying vulnerable coronary plaques. The first of these technologies to undergo evaluation in prospective clinical trials are virtual histology,...

Sleep apnea treatment noted as cardioprotective.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
July 1, 2006... BOSTON -- Obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor for cardiac arrhythmias, and the diagnosis and treatment of this sleep disorder should be considered in terms of cardioprotective benefit, according to Dr. Maria Teresa La Rovere. In a...

Hemofiltration averts contrast nephropathy.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Hemofiltration is the first and only strategy for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy that rises to the standard of proven efficacy, Dr. Peter A. McCullough said at the annual meeting of the Society for Cardiovascular...

Global survey: age is big factor in antibiotic noncompliance.(Infectious Diseases)
July 1, 2006... NICE, FRANCE -- Although many people are concerned about antibiotic resistance, far fewer understand how their actions contribute to the problem, according to a global patient survey. Results from the COMPLy (Compliance, Modalities by...

Clindamycin 'D test' called vital in MRSA.(Infectious Diseases)(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- The "D test" is a critical second-step test when methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus cultures come back showing erythromycin resistance and clindamycin susceptibility, according to Dr. Jeffrey Starke. "It should be...

Hospital's infection rate defies clean-hands effort.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... NICE, FRANCE -- A campaign to improve hand hygiene at a Danish hospital failed to decrease hospital-acquired infections, Dr. Sussie Laustsen and colleagues reported in a poster at the 16th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and...

Acyclovir may cut postherpetic neuralgia.(Infectious Diseases)
July 1, 2006... Intravenous acyclovir significantly reduced postherpetic neuralgia in half of the older patients who received it in an openlabel pilot study, reported Dr. Dianna Quan and her associates at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center,...

Old chlamydia variant tied to new STD outbreak.(Infectious Diseases)(sexually transmitted diseases)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... NICE, FRANCE -- An old nemesis appears to be the cause of a new outbreak of lymphogranuloma venereum proctitis. The Chlamydia trachomatis L2b variant was thought to be a new strain when it was first identified as the major cause of the...

Too many given 'unnecessary' gonorrhea tests.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- A majority of privately insured women tested for chlamydia are also checked for gonorrhea, which may be unnecessary given its significantly lower incidence, according to a study presented at a conference on STD prevention...

Screening colonoscopy questions are explored: studies address the value of screening at age 80 and older, and the 10-year interval after a negative result.(Gastroenterology)
July 1, 2006... Two studies that addressed unrelated, lingering questions about colonoscopy screening should help physicians decide when to recommend the procedure and should help patients decide when to undergo it. One group of researchers investigated...

Low literacy undercuts proper preparation for colonoscopy.(Gastroenterology)
July 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Low literacy was by far the most common independent predictor of poor bowel preparation and incomplete colonoscopy in a study presented at the annual Digestive Disease Week. Among 195 patients who underwent colonoscopy at an...

Diabetes, CAD linked to increased risk of colorectal adenomas.(Gastroenterology)(coronary artery disease)
July 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- The risk of developing colorectal adenomas is increased both in women with diabetes and in individuals with coronary artery disease, according to two studies presented at the annual Digestive Disease Week. Postmenopausal...

Watch for signs of gastric lymphoma.(Gastroenterology)
July 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Have a high index of suspicion for gastric lymphoma in a patient who presents with severe abdominal pain, weight loss, and melena, Dr. Ijeoma A. Azodo advised in a poster session at the annual Digestive Disease Week. "They...

Combination therapy for HCV assessed.(Gastroenterology)(hepatitis C virus)
July 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Extended combination therapy with consensus interferon for 72 weeks appears to help improve the viral response of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus who have previously relapsed after a 48-week course of treatment, according...

'Red flags' predict progression to Crohn's disease.(Gastroenterology)
July 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- A number of clinical, laboratory, and serologic "red flags" may distinguish patients with ulcerative colitis who will progress to a diagnosis of Crohn's disease, researchers reported at the annual Digestive Disease Week. Dr....

Wanted: docs to help craft pay for performance.(Gastroenterology)
July 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Physicians need to help design the pay-for-performance programs now being initiated by Medicare and other payers, or they may not like the results, Dr. Trent Haywood said at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical...

FDA accused of playing politics with Plan B.(Practice Trends)(Food and Drug Administration)
July 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration is once again under fire for its evaluation of the proposed over-the-counter use of the emergency contraceptive Plan B, with advocates for approval accusing the agency of putting politics first. Fueling the...

Feds seek electronic credential.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The ability to verify the identity and credentials of physicians after a disaster may be achieved via a chip or other technology, Anthony M. Cieri of the Department of Homeland Security said at a briefing sponsored by the Information Technology...

Survey: FDA influenced by politics.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Food and Drug Administration)(Survey)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... A majority of Americans--82%--believe the Food and Drug Administration is greatly influenced by politics when making decisions about the safety and efficacy of new prescription drugs, according to a Wall Street Journal online Harris Interactive...

Too many screening tests?(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Physicians are needlessly ordering certain diagnostic tests during routine preventive health exams, which is inflating the cost of medical care, according to a study from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. The U.S. Preventive Services Task...

J-1 visas for underserved areas.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... J-1 visas remain the primary tool for recruiting physicians to work in underserved areas, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office. The GAO surveyed 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S....

ICD-10 fraud concerns.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and the Medical Group Management Association are among those objecting to the planned implementation of ICD-10, the newest version of the comprehensive list of diagnostic billing codes used by health...

Medicare payments to hospitals are now posted.(Practice Trends)
July 1, 2006... Patients and physicians can now find out how much Medicare pays hospitals for certain common elective procedures and for other admissions, and by fall of this year, similar information regarding outpatient and physician services will be...

U.S. blacks more distrustful of clinical research.(Practice Trends)
July 1, 2006... Los ANGELES -- Older African Americans distrust clinical research significantly more than do older whites, according to results of a mail survey presented by Dr. Raegan W. Durant at the annual meeting of the Society of General Internal...

How about 'dark side of the moon'?(INDICATIONS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Could the iPod someday qualify as a medical device? A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial presented at this year's Digestive Disease Week found that letting patients listen to the music of their choice during colonoscopy reduced the need...

Then why is Utah so svelte?(INDICATIONS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Perplexingly, a study led by Dr. Kay Rhee of Boston University and published in the journal Pediatrics has found that strict parents have fatter kids. Of 872 families in 10 U.S. cities, 17% of children whose parents were deemed as "strict" via...

Pot causes pizza delivery, not cancer.(INDICATIONS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Got teenagers at home? Quick, hide your medical journals! Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, led by Dr. Donald Tashkin, found that--contrary to their expectations--smoking pot does not lead to cancer, even in heavy...

Just don't do it after a colonoscopy.(INDICATIONS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Substituting an exercise ball for an office chair significantly boosts the energy you burn while sitting, according to a poster presented by Jeannie M. Haller at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine. Eight hours of ball...

Fluffy? We had to have him fristed.(INDICATIONS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Tennessean newspaper reports that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, now shopping his memoirs to various publishers, is chagrined about his admission in his earlier book that as a medical student at Harvard, he would adopt cats from local...

Too bad we hear their conversations.(INDICATIONS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... According to an online report from the Associated Press, many high school students are using a cellular phone ring tone so high pitched that many adults--including their teachers--can't hear it, allowing the students to text-message each other...

Long-distance Care.(FYI)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The National Institute on Aging's new publication, "So Far Away: Twenty Questions for Long-Distance Caregivers," focuses on key concerns about long-distance care and offers ideas to help make the task more manageable. For more information,...

Contact lens Web site.(FYI)(Website overview)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health has launched a new Web site to offer comprehensive information about contact lenses. The site provides one-stop access to the latest information about contact lenses....

Forensic medicine exhibit.(FYI)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The National Library of Medicine's new exhibit, "Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body," traces the history of forensic medicine. Visiting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, through Feb. 16,...

ACIP outlines plan for Gardasil vaccine.(News)(Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices)
July 15, 2006... ATLANTA -- The quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine should be given to all girls at age 11-12, and to all females aged 13-26 who have not been previously vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on...

Medicare spending to increase by 25% in 2006.(VITAL SIGNS)
July 15, 2006... Medicare Spending to Increase by 25% in 2006 *Estimated costs. Source: Health Affairs 2006;25:w61-w73 ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS

Medicare proposal would hike pay for cognitive services: internists might see 5% increase in 2007.(News)
July 15, 2006... A new proposal from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services could result in a better bottom line next year for physicians who spend a lot of time on evaluation and management services. CMS officials are seeking to increase the work...

Rimonabant tied to blood pressure drop in obesity.
July 15, 2006... MADRID -- Rimonabant, the novel cannabinoid type 1 receptor-blocking drug that has been gaining considerable attention for its ability to induce weight loss, improve glucose metabolism, raise HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides, also...

Medicare panel grapples with 'Medically Unbelievable Edits'.
July 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- If you don't like medically "unbelievable" edits, how about medically "unusual" ones? Members of the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (PPAC), which advises the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on issues...