OB GYN News articles from February 2003

OB GYN News archives from February 2003

Baby acquired West Nile virus in utero. (First Documented Case).
February 1, 2003... A New York woman infected with the West Nile virus gave birth to a brain-damaged infant in November who was also infected with the virus, according to a report from officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the...

Swedish study ties HRT to raised risk of breast ca: estrogen-only replacement therapy was not linked to increased breast cancer risk. (Combined Continuous HRT).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Progestin-containing hormone replacement therapy was associated with a markedly increased breast cancer risk, but estrogen-only replacement therapy was not, according to the findings of a huge Swedish study Indeed, the...

CPT changes focus on gynecologic procedures: new series of codes adds greater specificity. (Additional Endoscopy, Colposcopy Codes).
February 1, 2003... For those wondering about the biggest coding change in the 2003 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, look no further than the gynecologic procedure section. Several changes have been made to the pelvic endoscopy codes, explained...

Large study shows early-stage ovarian cancer still eludes ultrasound screening: low detection rate in high-risk women. (News).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- A total of 11,500 gynecologic ultrasound screenings in 4,150 asymptomatic women at high risk for ovarian cancer did not find a single stage I ovarian cancer, Dr. Leeber Cohen said at the 12th World Congress on Ultrasound in...

Breast cancer patients often fare better with dense-dose chemotherapy regimen. (Boosted Survival 26%).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Many women with lymph node--positive breast cancer are likely to receive chemotherapy on a novel compressed schedule as a result of a major clinical trial showing that this markedly improves outcomes. Moreover, this...

The HIV treatment pendulum. (Guest Editorial).
February 1, 2003... In HIV disease, the pendulum has recently swung toward delaying initiation of antiretroviral therapy. I would like to highlight potential pitfalls of this new approach and, perhaps, push the pendulum the other way. Perhaps we should not...

Letters.
February 1, 2003... Drug Use in Pregnancy There were several inaccuracies relating to the use of agents in pregnancy and breast feeding in "Drug Update: Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women" (Sept. 15, 2002, p. 30). It was stated that...

Calcium, vitamin D urged for epilepsy patients. (Preventing Bone Loss).
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Bone loss in epilepsy patients is a serious problem that has not received enough attention, experts said at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society. Some of those experts urged that all epilepsy patients, regardless...

Molecular profiling forecasts breast ca outcomes. (Broad New Epoch in Medicine).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- The recent successful demonstration that molecular profiling markedly improves prediction of outcome in breast cancer signals the beginning of a broad new epoch in medicine, Dr. Stephen H. Friend said at a breast cancer symposium...

Stress incontinence subtypes respond to TVT. (Cough Stress Test Not Necessary).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Results from separate studies of tension-free vaginal tape suburethral slings suggest that the procedure improves all five subtypes of stress urinary incontinence. Moreover, patients don't necessarily have to be awake to do...

Less expensive imipramine effective for overactive bladder. (Small, Retrospective Study).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Imipramine is effective and cheaper than more common drug therapies for treating overactive bladder, Dr. Karolynn T. Echols reported at the annual meeting of the American Urogynecologic Society. The most common...

Improved overactive bladder is a side benefit of new incontinence Tx. (Investigational Drug).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Treatment with the investigational drug duloxetine not only improved stress urinary incontinence, compared with placebo, in 683 women but decreased overactive bladder symptoms in those who had them, Dr. Peggy A. Norton said....

Conservative Tx safe for many small ovarian cysts. (Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- The development of high-resolution ultrasound in the past decade has improved ovarian imaging so well that many small, simple ovarian cysts that previously went unnoticed are now commonly detected in asymptomatic postmenopausal...

Transvaginal sonohysterography can hone diagnosis of suspected myomas. (Supplement to Ultrasound).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Adding transvaginal sonohysterography to transvaginal ultrasound improved diagnostic confidence in a prospective study of 72 women with suspected or known leiomyomas, Dr. Eduardo Becker Jr. reported at the 12th World Congress on...

Multifollicular ovaries may be a normal variant. (Nonhirsute, Ovulatory Women).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Thirteen of 33 nonhirsute women with normal ovulation had at least one multifollicular ovary on ultrasound examination, Dr. Jennifer Phy said at the 12th World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology The prospective...

Study suggests early catheter removal is safe. (Simple Hysterectomy).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes to see what may need changing in medicine. When an ob.gyn. resident questioned why indwelling catheters in women undergoing hysterectomy are left in place for 24 hours after surgery,...

Myolysis, ablation combo cuts need for reoperation. (Symptomatic Fibroids).
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Combining myoma coagulation with endometrial ablation for symptomatic fibroids and bleeding reduces the need for subsequent surgery, Dr. Herbert A. Goldfarb reported at an international congress sponsored by the Society of...

Athletic amenorrhea may increase risk of heart disease. (Endothelial Dysfunction Seen).
February 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Premature cardiovascular disease can be added to the list of adverse results stemming from athletic amenorrhea, Dr. Anne Zeni Hoch said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. ...

Weight loss ups pregnancy odds after tubal reversal. (BMI Less Than 25).
February 1, 2003... MIAMI BEACH -- A woman's odds of pregnancy after a tubal reversal get worse with increasing BMI. However, whether another procedure is done at the same time as sterilization is not a factor in whether a woman later becomes pregnant, Dr....

Extreme mountain biking linked to lower sperm count. (May also Compromise Sperm Motility).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Compared with noncyclists, roughly 90% of mountain bikers who logged 3,000 miles or more a year had lower sperm count, decreased sperm motility, and scrotal abnormalities, Dr. Ferdinand Frauscher said at the annual meeting of the...

Data Watch: Outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Technology Cycles.
February 1, 2003... DATA WATCH Outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Technology Cycles Single-Fetus Pregnancy 17.9% Multiple-Fetus Pregnancy 11.1% Indeterminate Number Of Fetuses * 1.7% Ectopic Pregnancy 0.6%...

Mortality rates equal for atrial flutter, tachycardia. (Fetal Polyarrhythmia).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Fetal atrial flutter gets diagnosed about 2 weeks later in pregnancy than does fetal supraventricular tachycardia, but mortality rates are similar in fetuses with either polyarrhythmia, according to results of a metaanalysis. ...

Breast-feeding rates still on the rise in the U.S. (Large Survey).
February 1, 2003... U.S. breast-feeding rates continue to increase, according to data from a large national survey conducted in 2001. In-hospital breast-feeding grew about 2% per year--and more than 3% in some groups--compared with 1996 rates. The largest...

Delay pregnancy until scleroderma stabilizes. (Diffuse Disease).
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Women with diffuse scleroderma, including those with a previous renal crisis, should delay pregnancy until their disease has stabilized, Dr. Virginia Steen said at the Third International Conference on Sex Hormones, Pregnancy,...

Prenatal anxiety poses risk to child. (Behavioral, Emotional Problems).
February 1, 2003... Prenatal anxiety and postnatal depression may act together to contribute to emotional and behavioral problems in children, but only anxiety poses a significant risk on its own, said Thomas G. O'Connor, Ph.D., of the Institute of Psychiatry...

Test at 35 weeks' gestation predicts postdartum urinary incontinence. (Preliminary Results).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Testing pregnant women for de nova urinary leakage at 35 weeks' gestation may provide early identification of those who will later develop clinically significant urinary incontinence due to pregnancy, childbirth, or aging,...

Maternal fever not linked to fetal death. (Large Danish Study).
February 1, 2003... Fever in women during early pregnancy does not increase the risk of fetal death, a large population-based study has shown. Of 24,040 pregnant women in the Danish National Birth Cohort Study, 3,752 reported at least one episode of fever...

Study measures Pelvic Organ support changes in pregnancy. (Changes seen before Childbirth).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- The first study to measure pelvic organ support throughout pregnancy and at the antepartum visit described normal changes during pregnancy that should be considered when evaluating the impact of delivery on pelvic floor...

Data Watch: Abortions by Age in 1999.
February 1, 2003... DATA WATCH Abortions by Age in 1999 N = 444,408 <15 years 0.7% 15-19 years 18.1% 20-24 years 32.1% 25-29 years 23.6%...

First-trimester ovarian cysts often resolve. (Few Require Intervention).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Ovarian cysts spotted when pregnant women undergo first-trimester ultrasounds usually resolve spontaneously, and only a few require intervention, Dr. G. Condous reported. He and his associates prospectively checked the ovaries...

Short fetal nasal bone tied to 35% rise in down risk. (First Trimester).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- A short fetal nasal bone--not just a lack of one--was linked to an increased risk for Down synckome in a study of 1,027 fetuses at 11-14 weeks' gestation, David A. Krantz reported. The absence of a fetal nasal bone on...

Fish consumption. (Drugs, Pregnancy, and Lactation).
February 1, 2003... This column traditionally discusses the safety of medicinal drugs used to treat pregnant and lactating women. But every so often practitioners are asked by patients about environmental factors that may affect pregnancy outcome. So from time to...

IVIG plus heparin/aspirin may avert repeat fetal loss. (Antiphospholipid Syndrome).
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy may augment heparin and aspirin therapy for patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and recurrent fetal loss, Dr. Mary Stephenson said at the Third International Conference on Sex Hormones,...

Low-molecular-weight heparins in pregnancy may cause less bone loss. (Literature Review).
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- The antithrombotic low-molecular-weight heparins may cause less osteoporosis during pregnancy than unfractionated heparins, according to Dr. Munther Khamashta. He reviewed all of the available literature on osteopenia and...

Antiphospholipid pregnancy outcomes improving. (Neuropsychological Problems Possible).
February 1, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- The live birthrate of neonates born to women with primary antiphospholipid syndrome has risen, and their complications stem mostly from prematurity. Those findings emerged from two presentations given at the Third...

Caring for traumatic injuries during pregnancy. (Role of the Obstetrician).
February 1, 2003... SARASOTA, FLA. -- Trauma during pregnancy is the leading cause of nonobstetrical death in women under age 35, and obstetricians need to play a major role in the care of injured pregnant patients, Dr. Roger Newman said at a perinatal symposium...

Governors' report advises states on malpractice. (Damage Caps, Dispute Resolution).
February 1, 2003... With the help of states in the midst of a malpractice crisis, the National Governors Association has developed a list of ways that states can deal with, or try to stave off, problems of their own. The governors' advice appears in an issue...

Bioterrorism funds can't mitigate states' deep budget cuts. (Public Health Funding Still Down Overall).
February 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- Stepped-up federal funding for bioterrorism preparedness has yielded some beneficial effects at the state level, notably by helping health officials temper the impact of budget cuts, two state health officials said at the annual...

States face long, hard road to universal coverage. (No Huge Solution is Coming Forward).
February 1, 2003... BALTIMORE -- Although several states have attempted it, no state has successfully implemented a universal coverage program, and the chances of any state doing so in the near future are slim, several speakers said at a meeting on state efforts...

Most medication errors don't hurt hospital patients. (Performance Deficits).
February 1, 2003... Most medication errors that occur in hospitals do not harm patients, Diane Cousins said in a Webcast on medication errors sponsored by U.S. Pharmacopeia. Overall, 97.6% of medication errors that occurred in hospitals voluntarily reporting...

Controversial FDA panel pick. (Policy & Practice).
February 1, 2003... Dr. W David Hager, a Kentucky ob.gyn. who has been criticized for his antiabortion views, has been appointed to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration committee that will advise the agency on reproductive health drugs. Dr. Hager, a professor at...

Cloning criticism. (Policy & Practice).
February 1, 2003... New revelations have poked some holes in a company s claim that it produced a cloned human baby. Clonaid, a firm founded by the U.S.-based Raelian sect, made the announcement of an infant clone at the end of December. Now, Michael Guillen, who...

More prenatal care. (Policy & Practice).
February 1, 2003... The number of women receiving prenatal care has increased significantly, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says. The increase is steepest among black and Hispanic women. According to "Births: Final Data for 2001," a report from...

Health care deficit. (Policy & Practice).
February 1, 2003... State budget deficits spell trouble for public health insurance programs, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says. Budget deficits looming over state governments are expected to reach $60-$85 billion in fiscal year 2004--representing...

WellPoint offers drug coupon. (Policy & Practice).
February 1, 2003... WellPoint Health Networks is offering its members coupons to purchase an over-the-counter antihistamine at a reduced price. The health care company is partnering with Wyeth, manufacturer of Alavert (loratadine), to offer the discount. WellPoint...

Make fitness the focus of weight loss efforts. (Also Prevent Weight Gain).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Weight management efforts should emphasize making patients more fit rather than less fat, Dr. Robert B. Baron said at a conference on women's health sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco. When patients...

NSAIDs, aspirin cut colorectal ca risk by one-third when use exceeds 2 years. (Metaanalysis of 13 Studies).
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Regular use of aspirin or NSAIDs for longer than 2 years appears to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by one-third, Dr. Jia-Qing Huang said at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. This was a central...

Nix later start for colonoscopy screens. (Study Findings).
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Calls to begin screening colonoscopy in women a decade later than in men are off base, according to Dr. Philip S. Schoenfeld. Current American College of Gastroenterology guidelines recommend that both women and men begin having...

Gender matters when treating depression. (Little Comparative Data on Tx Outcomes).
February 1, 2003... ALBUQUERQUE -- Gender differences in response to antidepressant therapies dearly exist, no question. The trouble is, there's absolutely no consensus today as to exactly what those gender differences are, according to Dr. Paula Hensley, a...

Zoloft with pimozide contraindicated. (FDA, Pfizer Warning).
February 1, 2003... At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Pfizer has issued a warning on possible interaction between its drug sertraline (Zoloft) and the antipsychoric drug pimozide (Orap). Pimozide is indicated for the suppression of...

Depression. (Women's Health Adviser).
February 1, 2003... Asking a few simple questions about mood and life enjoyment during a routine exam can pinpoint women who might be suffering from depression and set the stage for further evaluation and treatment. Questions like "What have you enjoyed doing...

Heart Association endorses fish oil supplements. (Secondary CHD Prevention).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- How much fish can you eat? Or would you rather take supplemental capsules? Those are questions that primary care physicians should start asking patients with documented coronary heart disease (CHD) now that the American Heart...

Radiology fact sheets. (Products).
February 1, 2003... The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) offers five brochures designed to help physicians explain common diagnostic procedures. There are four brochures that discuss individual procedures--mammography, CT, abdominal ultrasound, and Mm....

Arimidex for breast cancer. (Products).
February 1, 2003... Arimidex (anastrozole) is now indicated for adjuvant treatment of hormone-receptor--positive early breast cancer in postmenopausal women. For more information, contact AstraZeneca, 800-456-3669, www.astrazeneca-us.com.

Effexor XR sprinkles. (Products).
February 1, 2003... Sprinkle administration of Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCI) has been approved for the treatment of depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Patients with swallowing difficulties can now open the capsule and sprinkle the contents onto a spoonful...

Avoiding patient harm. (Products).
February 1, 2003... The book "The Physician's Promise: Protecting Patients From Harm" discusses the physician's role in preventing patient harm through the analysis of the root causes of events such as operative and postoperative errors, treatment delays, and...

Zinecard approval. (Products).
February 1, 2003... Zinecard (dexrazoxane for injection) is now indicated for reducing the incidence and severity of cardiomyopathy that is associated with doxorubicin administration in those women with metastatic breast cancer, who have received a cumulative...

Topical anesthetic. (Products).
February 1, 2003... Ethyl Chloride Pain-Ease topical anesthetic can help to make patients more comfortable during venipuncture, intravenous procedures, minor surgical procedures, as well as injections. The anesthetic is available in cans in either a mist or stream...

Melt in your mouth relief. (Products).
February 1, 2003... Excedrin QuickTabs, headache relief tablets contain 500 mg acetaminophen and 65 mg caffeine, and can be taken without water. The spearmint or peppermint flavored tablets melt on the tongue, and come in 16-count and 32-count boxes. The suggested...

Don't overtreat HPV in adolescents. (Most Cases Transient).
February 15, 2003... NEW York -- There is no need to be overly aggressive with surgical or medical interventions for adolescent girls and young adults with cervical human papillomavirus infections, Dr. Liane Deligdisch said. Dr. Deligdisch, professor of...

WHI data prompt strict warnings on hormone products: black box warning must be added to all estrogen and estrogen-progesterone products. (Wyeth Revises Indications).
February 15, 2003... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- A black box warning outlining the increased risks of heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and breast cancer is now required in the labeling of all estrogen and estrogen-progesterone products. The Food and Drug...

Medicare cuts impacting Ob.gyn. practice: seeing more patients that others turn away. (Some Limit Medicare Exposure).
February 15, 2003... Ob.gyn. practices are being affected as physicians nationwide are rethinking treating Medicare patients. Internists and family physicians have begun limiting the number of Medicare patients they take on, have dosed their practices to new...

CDC fine-tunes smallpox vaccination program. (Guidelines for Lactating Women).
February 15, 2003... Contact with infants less than 1 year of age, vaccination site care, and autoimmune disease were among the last-minute issues pertaining to smallpox vaccination that were clarified in telephone conference calls held by the Centers for Disease...

Study confirms C-section's benefits for herpes patients. (Prospective Study).
February 15, 2003... A new study has confirmed for the first time the efficacy of using cesarean delivery to reduce the rate of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection. The prospective study found that women experiencing asymptomatic shedding and those who...

Letters.
February 15, 2003... Pelvic Exams in Older Women Articles on the new guidelines for Pap exam are usually written in such a way that older women are led to believe that they no longer need pelvic exams ("New Pap Smear Guidelines Issued," Dec. 15, 2002, p. 1)....

Correction.
February 15, 2003... A photo of Dr. Wayne B. Tuckson was incorrectly labeled as Dr. Carl W Zimmerman in "Look for Fascial Damage Patterns After Childbirth" (Dec. 15, 2002, p. 17). The photo of Dr. Zimmerman that should have been published with the article is shown...

Pro & Con: do all ultrasound units need 3-D capabilities? (Opinion).
February 15, 2003... YES Three-dimensional capabilities should be on every ultrasound machine, but 3-D doesn't have to be used on every patient who gets an ultrasound. If I'm in a room that doesn't have 3-D, I will often move to a different room, because I'm using...

Lichen sclerosus often persists into adulthood. (Study of 70 Prepubescent Girls).
February 15, 2003... PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC -- More than half of prepubescent girls with lichen sclerosus continued to have symptoms into adulthood, according to a follow-up study presented at the 11th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and...

Benign breast disease linked to higher ca risk. (Greatest in Women Over Age 50).
February 15, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Benign breast disease is an independent predictor of increased risk of developing invasive breast cancer, Dr. Jiping Wang said at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the San Antonio Cancer Institute. He presented a new...

Cushion lessens mammogram pain after lumpectomy. (Pain Decreased 54%).
February 15, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- The use of a special radiolucent foam cushion markedly lessens the discomfort of mammography in women who've undergone lumpectomy and radiotherapy, Dr. Cary S. Kaufman reported. The scar tissue resulting from...

HRT may cut risk of type 2 diabetes by 35%. (Women with Heart Disease).
February 15, 2003... NEW YORK -- Hormone replacement therapy has been shown to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in a large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease. But it may nor matter...

Rise of TVT shifts focus from laparoscopic to vaginal surgery. (Less Emphasis on Laparoscopy Training).
February 15, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO--Three little initials account for much of the decline in enthusiasm for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery in recent years: TVT, Dr. Mark D. Walters said. The ease and economy of the Gynecare TVT Tension-Free Support for...

Phenylephrine gel treats fecal incontinence without surgery. (Investigational Agent).
February 15, 2003... ST. LOUIS -- Phenylephrine gel is a promising nonsurgical therapy for fecal incontinence, Dr. Wayne B. Tuckson said at 'the 12th International Pelvic Reconstructive and Vaginal Surgery Conference. When applied around the anus, this topical...

Less time, costs with TVT compared to Burch. (Analysis of 92 Women).
February 15, 2003... MIAMI BEACH -- Tension-free vaginal tape saves operating room time and money in the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence, Dr. Briana Walton said at the annual. meeting of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists....

More anal incontinence seen after abdominal hysterectomy. (Small Study).
February 15, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- A small study designed to test the hypothesis that abdominal hysterectomy increases the risk of chronic constipation found instead that it's associated with an increased risk of anal incontinence. Vaginal hysterectomy,...

Fetal oximetry clarifies need for surgical deliveries. (Not Endorsed by ACOG).
February 15, 2003... CANCUN, MEXICO -- Intrapartum monitoring of fetal oxygenation by pulse oximetry is a valuable tool that may help obstetricians avoid malpractice suits and lead them to do surgical deliveries for the right reason, Dr. Frank H. Boehm said. ...

IBD should be controlled before pregnancy. (Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease).
February 15, 2003... SEATTLE -- A The most important advice regarding pregnancy for women with inflammatory bowel disease is to attempt conception only while in clinical remission, Dr. Daniel H. Present said at the annual meeting of the American College of...

Pelvic floor problems common after multiples. (Urinary, Flatal, Fecal Incontinence).
February 15, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Half of 733 women who gave birth to multiples reported urinary incontinence in a survey conducted a mean of 8 years after their last delivery, Dr. Roger P. Goldberg said. In the first study of rates of incontinence and...

Rh immunization: don't get lulled into complacency. (Maintain Vigilence).
February 15, 2003... CANCUN, MEXICO -- The decrease in lost fetuses because of Rh immunization is one of the major triumphs of modern obstetrics, but because cases are now uncommon, the few that do occur can slip through the cracks more easily. All Rh-negative...

U.S. abortion rate hits lowest point in 26 years. (Number of Providers Declines).
February 15, 2003... The U.S. abortion rate continued to decline in 2000, reaching the lowest level since 1974, according to research presented during a teleconference sponsored by the Alan Guttmacher Institute. The rate for 2000--21.3 abortions per 1,000 women...

Pregnancy deaths low with cardiomyopathy. (Study of 100 Women).
February 15, 2003... Most women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be reassured that their absolute risk of mortality during pregnancy remains low, even though it's higher than that in the general population, study results suggest. Of 100 women with...

Texas denies Medicaid abortions. (Policy & Practice).
February 15, 2003... Texas does not have to pay for abortions for low-income women who need them for health reasons, the state's Supreme Court has ruled. The Texas Supreme Court's ruling reverses a lower court's decision that said such a Medicaid funding ban...

Where health care dollars go. (Policy & Practice).
February 15, 2003... Physician and clinical services spending may have increased 8.6% in 2001--but Medicaid, hospital, and prescription drug costs continue to reign as the fastest growing spending categories. That finding comes from a Centers for Medicare and...

License plate row revived. (Policy & Practice).
February 15, 2003... A case involving Louisiana's "Choose Life" license plates may be headed back to court. Legal wrangling over the plate's message has gone on for years: Abortion rights supporters there say their First Amendment rights are being infringed upon...