Internal Medicine News articles from October 2006

Internal Medicine News archives from October 2006

Pay issues drive anesthesia debate.(News)
October 1, 2006... Working together, gastroenterologists and anesthesiologists have won a partial victory in the continuing dispute over third-party payment for monitored anesthesia care during gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures. After months of lobbying...

Average Medicare payments for elective inpatient procedures.(VITAL SIGNS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Average Medicare Payments for Elective Inpatient Procedures Heart valve $38,528 Stomach and esophagus* $27,239 Kidney and bladder* $16,199 Gallbladder removal...

Blood glucose self-testing under review by CMS: panel considers optimal use of monitoring.(News)
October 1, 2006... BALTIMORE -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is taking a close look at the role of blood glucose self-monitoring among Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes. Medicare currently pays for up to 100 glucose testing strips...

Valsartan may lower rate of new-onset atrial fib.(News)
October 1, 2006... BARCELONA -- Valsartan-based antihypertensive therapy significantly reduced new-onset atrial fibrillation, compared with amlodipine in 15,314 randomized hypertensive patients, Dr. Roland Schmieder reported at the joint meeting of the European...

Top inpatient cardiovascular procedures.(DATA WATCH)(Statistical data)(List)
October 1, 2006... Top Inpatient Cardiovascular Procedures (in thousands) Diagnostic cardiac catheterization 1,414 Open heart surgery 666 Percutaneous coronary intervention 664 Cardiac...

Plavix.(NEW & APPROVED)
October 1, 2006... Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate, Sanofi-Aventis/Bristol-Myers Squibb) This antiplatelet agent has a newly approved claim for reducing the rate of death from any cause and the rate of a combined end point of death, reinfarction, or stroke...

Emend.(NEW & APPROVED)(Drug overview)
October 1, 2006... Emend (aprepitant, Merck) A substance P/neurokinin 1 (N[K.sub.1]) receptor antagonist approved for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Approved in 2003 for preventing nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy,...

Percentage of type 2 diabetes patients who have uncontrolled blood sugar (Hb[A.sub.1c] >6.5%).(DATA WATCH)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Percentage of Type 2 Diabetes Patients Who Have Uncontrolled Blood Sugar (Hb[A.sub.1c] >6.5%) Note: Based on 2003-04 data from Surveillance Data Inc. Source: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL...

No standardization without investment.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2006... The current situation with electronic health records reminds us of the state of affairs at the beginning of the automobile industry when several dozen brands competed for market share. Only a few were left standing by the 1940s ("Group...

Decision makers slurred.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2006... As an MD, I think of my position as one of decision making. I admire and respect fellow physicians who stand up and do what they feel is right, despite case managers or insurance companies who at times do not seem to have the patients' best...

Correction.(Correction notice)
October 1, 2006... In the story "Exenatide Benefits Treatment-Refractory Diabetics," (Internal Medicine News, August 1, 2006, p. 32), the correct dosage of exenatide over 16 weeks should have been 5 mcg twice daily for the first 4 weeks and 10 mcg twice daily...

It's no 'holiday' for doctors.(GUEST EDITORIAL)(Editorial)(Report)
October 1, 2006... Physicians have become the latest victims of smoke and mirrors budget management. Last month, federal officials declared a Medicare payment holiday and held Medicare payments to physicians and other health care providers for 9 days in an effort...

Should continuous glucose monitors be used routinely in adolescent patients?(POINT/COUNTERPOINT)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... Detecting trends can improve therapy. Routine monitoring of blood sugar is not enough to keep diabetes patients within the target range. Even when patients use as many as nine finger sticks a day, less than 30% of their glucose tests show...

Topical steroids, hand protection best for chronic paronychia.(Dermatology)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... WINNIPEG, MAN. -- Chronic paronychia is a variety of contact dermatitis that affects the proximal nail fold, so treating it with systemic antifungals is not useful, Dr. Antonella Tosti said at the annual conference of the Canadian Dermatology...

Nail SCC has variety of presentations.(Squamous cell carcinoma)(Dermatology)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... MANCHESTER, ENGLAND -- Squamous cell carcinoma of the nail unit is often misdiagnosed and its painful course protracted because its clinical features can resemble more mundane conditions such as paronychia, Dr. Mohamed Alrawi said at the annual...

'Gin and tonic dermatitis' traced to limes plus sun exposure.(Dermatology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... WINNIPEG, MAN. -- Taking a good history sheds the most light on a diagnosis of photoirritant contact dermatitis, Dr. Vincent DeLeo said at the annual conference of the Canadian Dermatology Association. If you see an adult with...

Melanoma care varies by region, hospital type.(Dermatology)(Report)
October 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- A review of more than 60,000 melanoma patients found they were more likely to have a sentinel node biopsy and receive adjuvant therapy with a biologic response modifier if they had commercial insurance and were treated at a teaching...

Merkel cell: rare, lethal, and often misdiagnosed.(Dermatology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... OUR LUCAYA, BAHAMAS -- Merkel cell carcinoma is more deadly than melanoma and is almost always misdiagnosed clinically, Dr. Henry W. Randle said at a meeting of the American Society for Mohs Surgery. In a recent survey including 135...

Tumor thickness could help assess prognosis in Merkel cell carcinoma.(Dermatology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Tumor thickness correlates with sentinel lymph node status in Merkel cell carcinoma and merits further investigation as a prognostic factor, Dr. Michael D. Alvarado reported in a poster at a symposium sponsored by the Society of...

Merkel cell carcinoma tied to other tumors.(Dermatology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... MANCHESTER, ENGLAND -- Patients with Merkel cell carcinoma are at high risk for multiple malignancies and should be closely examined at the time of diagnosis for other possible tumors, Dr. Julia K. Gass said at the annual meeting of the British...

High homocysteine levels common in psoriasis.(Dermatology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... MANCHESTER, ENGLAND -- The latest piece of evidence linking psoriasis with cardiovascular disease suggests that patients with the skin disease are at high risk of having elevated serum levels of homocysteine, Dr. Anne-Marie Tobin said at the...

Mothers more likely to pass psoriasis to children.(Dermatology)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... STOCKHOLM -- Women with psoriasis are more likely than men with psoriasis to have children with the disease, Stefani Kappel said at an international conference on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Researchers looked at genetic imprinting...

Migraine rate soars with deployment in Iraq.(Neurology)(Report)
October 1, 2006... Los ANGELES -- Nearly 40% of soldiers had migraines or probable migraines during their tours of duty in Iraq, but few had a history of migraines prior to their deployments, Capt. Brett Theeler, MC, USA, reported at the annual meeting of the...

Migraines may respond to herbal agent.(Neurology)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- An over-the-counter herbal supplement touted for headache relief proved reasonably effective in treating migraines, Dr. Sheena Aurora reported at the annual meeting of the American Headache Society. Dr. Aurora, of the...

FDA permits major changes to prominent PFO-Migraine Study.(patent foramen ovale)(Neurology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration has changed the clinical end point of a large study designed to assess the effectiveness of a patent foramen ovale closure device in patients with migraines. Researchers for the second Migraine Intervention...

Migraine traced to nickel allergy after PFO closure.(patent foramen ovale)(Neurology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Think nickel allergy in patients who complain of new-onset or worsening migraine following percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect, Dr. Jonathan M. Tobis advised at the annual meeting of the Society for...

Triptan-antidepressant combo linked to serotonin syndrome.(Neurology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... Physicians should be aware that concomitant use of a triptan and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or a selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor can lead to serotonin syndrome, according to a public health advisory issued by...

Physicians need resources on chronic pain Tx.(Neurology)(Report)
October 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Clinicians vary greatly in their levels of comfort and confidence in assessing and managing chronic pain, according to a survey presented during a poster session at the annual meeting of the American Pain Society. "Primary...

Few chronic pain patients see a specialist.(Neurology)(Report)
October 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Lack of nearby pain practices helps explain why only about 5% of U.S. adults with chronic pain ever see a pain specialist, Brenda Breuer, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Pain Society. The finding comes...

FDA warns manufacturers of compounded drugs: traditional compounding is not affected; the warning applies to unapproved inhalation drugs.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Report)
October 1, 2006... Three companies that have been compounding budesonide, albuterol, and other formulations of inhalation drugs have been warned by the Food and Drug Administration to stop manufacturing and distributing these products in the United States. ...

COPD often goes undiagnosed in both primary care, pulmonary care practices.(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)(Pulmonary Medicine)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Primary care and pulmonary physicians missed one in five cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a study conducted by a clinician working group that has developed a screening tool to identify people at risk. Primary...

Chronic anger in men may diminish lung function.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... Men with chronically high hostility have accelerated pulmonary decline as they age, Laura D. Kubzansky, Ph.D., and her colleagues reported. More-hostile men can lose as much as 9 mL/yr in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FE[V.sub.1])...

Sleep apnea - stroke link warrants Tx.(Pulmonary Medicine)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Studies consistently show a link between obstructive sleep apnea and stroke, with the most recent data showing that sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for stroke and death. The cumulative data in regard to sleep...

Cough.(THE EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN)(Disease/Disorder overview)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... Background Cough is a common complaint in ambulatory patients. The American College of Chest Physicians recently published an updated guideline on the diagnosis and management of cough. Conclusions Cough of less than 3 weeks'...

Evidence-based mnemonic clarifies suicide risk.(Psychiatry)(Report)
October 1, 2006... SEATTLE -- An American Association of Suicidology expert consensus panel has developed the first evidence-based list of warning signs for suicide--and fashioned a mnemonic designed to help get out the message. AAS officials hope to...

Lithium: the unsung antisuicide medication.(Psychiatry)(Report)
October 1, 2006... SEATTLE -- Lithium is vastly underappreciated as a suicidality-reducing agent, Dr. Mark W. Viner asserted at the annual conference of the American Association of Suicidology. Lithium is supported by far and away the strongest evidence of...

Depression may be tied to delayed sleep phase.(Psychiatry)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Depression and delayed sleep phase syndrome are frequent comorbidities. Some have speculated that delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) and depression might share genetic susceptibility factors, but preliminary data from an...

With comorbid RLS, severity of depression is key factor.(Psychiatry)(Report)
October 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Depression severity is a key factor in determining how to treat comorbid depression and restless legs syndrome, Dr. John Winkelman said at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. The two...

Anxiety and sleep problems predict depression in elderly.(Psychiatry)
October 1, 2006... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- Residual anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances predicted recurrence of late-life depression in a study presented as a poster at a meeting of the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit sponsored by the National Institute of...

Zoloft led antidepressant sales in 2005.(DATA WATCH)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Zoloft Led Antidepressant Sales in 2005 Zoloft $3.1 billion Effexor XR $2.6 billion Lexapro $2.1 billion Wellbutrin XL $1.5 billion Cymbalta $0.7 billion All others $2.6 billion Note: Based on...

More adults, fewer youths report abusing drugs: lifetime use of methamphetamine has dropped by 19% since 2002, federal drug czar reports.(Psychiatry)
October 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Abuse of illegal drugs by young adults increased between 2004 and 2005, and drug abuse by adults in their 50s has climbed by nearly two-thirds over the last 4 years, according to survey data reported by the Substance Abuse and...

Drug use among U.S. workforce continues to decline.(DATA WATCH)(United States)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Drug Use Among U.S. Workforce Continues to Decline. Note: Based on workplace drug tests in federally mandated safety-sensitive workers and the general workforce combined. Source: Quest Diagnostics ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS

NIH panel urges better access to tobacco cessation programs.(Psychiatry)(National Institutes of Health)
October 1, 2006... BETHESDA, MD. -- Tobacco cessation programs that employ telephone quit lines and counseling and nicotine replacement therapy are highly effective, and they should be offered to more smokers and users of smokeless tobacco, according to a panel...

Sexual abuse cycle can be broken, experts assert.(Psychiatry)
October 1, 2006... ATLANTA -- The general perception is that society is at the mercy of sexual abusers and molesters, with little recourse besides knowing where they live. But that view is not shared by experts and professionals in the field. Prevention...

Of genes and Alcoholism.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... An extensive analysis of genetic variations that are potentially related to alcohol dependence has identified 51 small chromosomal regions that may be relevant, reported Catherine Johnson of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, and...

Treating resistant depression.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A single intravenous infusion of low-dose ketamine relieved treatment-resistant depression within 2 hours, and the "robust" response persisted for 1 week in a preliminary, placebo-controlled study of 18 patients, reported Dr. Carlos A. Zarate...

Screening for domestic violence.(CLINICAL CAPSULES)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... When being screened for exposure to domestic violence, women prefer to fill out written or computerized questionnaires rather than to be interviewed face to face by their health care providers, reported Dr. Harriet MacMillan of McMaster...

Injectable MTX better than oral form for RA.(Rheumatology)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- In the first direct comparison of oral versus subcutaneous methotrexate for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, the injectable formulation was significantly more effective, Dr. Jurgen Braun said at the annual European...

Azathioprine tablets recalled.(Rheumatology)(Roxane Laboratories)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Roxane Laboratories has recalled one lot of azathioprine tablets because of the potential for the bottles to contain the wrong drug. The company discovered that a single bottle of azathioprine tablets (50 mg) actually contained methotrexate...

Infliximab receives expanded psoriatic arthritis indication.(Rheumatology)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... The approved psoriatic arthritis indication for infliximab has been expanded to reflect data showing that the immune modulator has a positive impact on physical function and progression in joint destruction in people with psoriatic arthritis....

In psoriasis, joint pain may not mean psoriatic arthritis.(Rheumatology)
October 1, 2006... STOCKHOLM -- It may be wrong to assume that patients with psoriasis and joint pain have psoriatic arthritis, according to data presented at an international conference on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by Dr. Elinor Mody. "Joint pain in...

DMARDs alone inadequate for early rheumatoid arthritis.(Rheumatology)(disease-modifying antirheumatic drug)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- Initial therapy using traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs--even early, aggressively, and in combination--is inadequate for a significant proportion of patients with inflammatory arthritis, according to preliminary...

Osteoarthritis drugs offer minimal pain relief.(Rheumatology)
October 1, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- None of the commonly used pharmacotherapies for pain relief in knee osteoarthritis offer clinically meaningful benefit, said Dr. R. Andrew Moore at a satellite symposium held in conjunction with the annual European Congress of...

Health care use declines following fibromyalgia diagnosis.(Rheumatology)
October 1, 2006... AMSTERDAM -- The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is not followed by a surge in physician office visits, according to Dr. Ernest H.S. Choy, speaking at the annual European Congress of Rheumatology. A recent study using data from the U.K. General...

Automated HIV test.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2006... The fully automated EHIV immunoassay can be used for the qualitative determination of antibodies to HIV-1, HIV-2, and HIV-1 subtype O in serum and plasma. The assay is for use on the ADVIA Centaur immunoassay system. For more information,...

Generic Zoloft approved.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2006... The first generic versions of Zoloft (sertraline) tablets and liquid concentrate have been approved for the treatment of major depressive, obsessive-compulsive, panic, posttraumatic stress, premenstrual dysphoric, and social anxiety disorders....

Avandamet approved as initial Tx.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2006... Avandamet (rosiglitazone maleate and metformin HC1) is approved for use as initial treatment of type 2 diabetes, as an adjunct to diet and exercise. The drug combination was previously indicated as a second-line therapy. For more information,...

Glucose management software.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2006... DM Consumer Data Manager, a software program to be used by diabetic patients to manage glucose levels, has been approved for use with the DexCom STS Continuous Glucose Monitoring System, which measures glucose level via a sensor the patient...

Generic lotion for rosacea.(PRODUCTS)(Fougera)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A generic metronidazole lotion 0.75% has been approved by the FDA for the topical treatment of rosacea. The prescription lotion is rated bioequivalent to Galderma's MetroLotion by the FDA and comes in a 59-mL bottle. For more information,...

Generic versions of osteoarthritis drug.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic versions of Mobic (meloxicam) for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The new approvals of 13 generic meloxicam applications stem from the agency's cluster review approach, aimed at...

Keppra IV formulation approved.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration has approved levetiracetam injection 500 mg/5 mL for use as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. Manufactured by UCB and marketed as Keppra, the intravenous...

Oral contraceptive without placebo.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2006... Women using the Seasonique contraceptive regimen take 0.15-mg levonorgestrel/0.03-mg ethinyl estradiol pills for 84 days. Then, instead of taking 7 days of placebo pills, they take 7 days of pills containing 0.01 mg of ethinyl estradiol. For...

Drug combo for cervical cancer.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2006... The combination of Hycamtin (topotecan hydrochloride) and cisplatin is approved for the treatment of women with stage IVB (incurable), recurrent, or persistent cancer of the cervix, which spreads to other organs and is not likely to respond to...

Online calendar helps busy doctors.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2006... The One Look online calendar program lets doctors combine patient scheduling data with personal and departmental data from preexisting Microsoft Outlook programs. Physicians can access the combined schedules on desktop computers, laptops, or...

FDA: ibuprofen blocks aspirin's cardioprotection.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Food and Drug Administration)
October 1, 2006... Concerns that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can interfere with aspirin's cardioprotective effects received new attention following a Food and Drug Administration warning about concomitant use of low-dose aspirin and ibuprofen. ...

Excess deaths, MIs seem with drug-eluting stents.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
October 1, 2006... BARCELONA -- The cloud of uncertainty that has recently formed around the safety of drug-eluting coronary stents grew thicker when results from two metaanalyses suggested an excess of deaths and myocardial infarctions in patients who received...

Revascularization recommended for severe refractory angina.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
October 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- A consensus committee of 10 experts recommended transmyocardial revascularization to provide relief for some patients with severe refractory angina, Dr. Anno Diegeler reported at the annual meeting of the International Society...

Lipid disorders in diabetes: good news, bad news.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
October 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Traditional lipid disorders appear to be less common and better managed today in adults with type 1 diabetes than in matched nondiabetic controls. That's the good news. The bad news is that overall lipid profiles in...

Lower blood pressure, lipid levels can reduce CVD risk.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
October 1, 2006... NEW YORK -- Both blood-pressure control and lipid lowering independently cut the rate of cardiovascular disease events in a post hoc analysis of data collected in a study with about 10,000 patients. In patients with stable coronary artery...

Stroke prevention tops new atrial fib guidelines.(Cardiovascular Medicine)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... New guidelines for managing patients with atrial fibrillation sharpened the definition of who should get antithrombotic prophylaxis and elevated the role for catheter ablation for this increasingly common disorder. The atrial fibrillation...

Groups issue guidelines on ventricular arrhythmia and SCD.(Cardiovascular Medicine)
October 1, 2006... In an attempt to pull together all the relevant data into one consensus reference guide, several prominent American and European cardiology professional organizations have issued guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ventricular...

U.S. urged to revise its pandemic influenza plan.(Infectious Diseases)(Report)
October 1, 2006... A revision of the national pandemic influenza plan could help to remedy the current patchwork of state plans "that will not adequately detect and control" an influenza pandemic, according to a review by Scott D. Holmberg, Ph.D., and his...

New Diagnostics sought to replace TB skin test.(Infectious Diseases)(Report)
October 1, 2006... LISBON -- Better diagnostic tests are seen as essential in the campaign to control the global tuberculosis epidemic--and help is on the way. The archaic, nearly 100-year-old tuberculin skin test was until recently the sole tool available...

World public health officials targeting drug-resistant TB.(Infectious Diseases)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... International public health officials have announced actions necessary to combat deadly new strains of tuberculosis that are resistant to most drugs on the market. Officials from the South African Medical Research Council, the World Health...

Tuberculosis deaths in HIV patients called preventable.(Infectious Diseases)
October 1, 2006... HIV/AIDS health workers need to accelerate efforts to prevent HIV patients from contracting tuberculosis and treat those who do, top public health officials said. Speaking at the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, leaders of...

HIV care: checklist optimizes planned visits.(Infectious Diseases)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Juggling the needs of HIV patients during planned visits can stretch the time management skills of any health care provider. "If we rely on memory alone for everything we're supposed to do for a patient, we will forget...

Rule out eight conditions before fatty liver disease Dx.(Gastroenterology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. -- Attribute a mild chronic elevation in alanine aminotransferase to fatty liver disease only after considering eight other diagnoses, Dr. Christopher L. Bowlus advised at an update in gastroenterology and hepatology...

Lamivudine is still useful against some hepatitis B.(Gastroenterology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. -- Lamivudine and interferon alfa still have independent roles to play in treating some patients with chronic hepatitis B, Dr. Eddie C. Cheung said at an update in gastroenterology and hepatology sponsored by the...

Acetaminophen linked to deaths in acute viral hepatitis.(Gastroenterology)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Even small amounts of acetaminophen can cause acute liver failure and death in some patients with acute viral hepatitis, according to research presented at the annual Digestive Diseases Week. Acetaminophen adducts--the toxic...

Diagnostic methods eyed in chronic pancreatitis.(Gastroenterology)(Clinical report)
October 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Endoscopic ultrasonography and magnetic resonance plus MRI-pancreatography are becoming preferred methods for helping clinicians diagnose chronic pancreatitis. But it's probably not necessary to use both of these imaging...

Medicare risk reduction demo.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are seeking proposals for a new demonstration project that will test the effectiveness of health promotion programs in the Medicare population. The Medicare Senior Risk Reduction...

DEA reverses pain Rx restrictions.(U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration)(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A new proposal from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration would allow physicians to issue up to a 90-day supply of schedule II controlled substances in a single visit. The notice of proposed rule making, which was issued in September, is...

Fueling the rise in Medicare costs.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The rapid growth in spending for Medicare beneficiaries is largely because of the increasing portion of those beneficiaries receiving treatment for five or more conditions in a year, according to a study published in an online edition of Health...

Mammography access 'adequate'.(POLICY & PRACTICE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The national capacity to provide mammography services is adequate, despite a 6% drop in the number of mammography facilities from 2001 to 2004, according to a recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. In addition to the...