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Can't get enough Policy & Practice? Check out our new podcast each Monday. egmnblog.wordpress.com
Dr. Regina Benjamin Confirmed
Family physician Dr. Regina Benjamin has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Benjamin, founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre (Ala.) Rural Health Clinic, will start her work by responding to the A(H1N1) influenza pandemic, said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement. The American Academy of Family Physicians praised the confirmation. “All Americans will benefit from Dr. Benjamin's medical expertise, clinical experience, and advocacy for all patients,” said the academy's president, Dr. Lori Heim, in a statement. “She is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to health care, regardless of economic status.” Dr. Heim also praised Dr. Benjamin's perseverance in providing care to the underserved. Since the late 1990s, her clinic was destroyed by two hurricanes, Georges and Katrina, as well as a fire.
Family Docs Get Antiobesity Grant
The MetLife Foundation has awarded the American Academy of Family Physicians and the AAFP Foundation a $150,000 grant to provide family physicians with new ways to promote physical activity, nutrition, and emotional well-being. The antiobesity effort will produce educational materials to encourage children and older patients to talk with their family physicians about fitness and develop plans for the entire family to make and sustain healthy lifestyle choices, AAFP said. The organization will distribute the materials in mid-2010 to approximately 37,000 family physicians and residents. The new grant builds on an initiative launched in 2008 by AAFP and the MetLife Foundation, which to date has produced a DVD and a children's book discussing fitness for the family.
Medicare Premiums Set
Most Medicare beneficiaries will not see a Part B monthly premium increase in 2010, even though costs in the program have risen, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. A “hold harmless” provision in Medicare law prevents the CMS from increasing Part B premiums this year because beneficiaries will not get a 2010 cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits. The CMS had calculated that Part B premiums will rise to about $110 next year, from $96 in 2009. But under the hold-harmless provision, only 27% of beneficiaries will be charged the increased amount. Most of those are also Medicaid-eligible, which means that the government program will pay their Medicare premiums, including the increase. However, the Obama administration is urging Congress to hold down premiums for all beneficiaries, according to the CMS.
CMS Proposes Medicare Changes
The CMS has proposed stronger standards for Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans wanting to participate in the Medicare program. The agency said the proposed rule would hike program requirements for the more than 4,000 prescription drug and health plans offered to beneficiaries and would improve protections for the people who enroll in those plans. The rule would ensure “meaningful differences” between drug or health plans offered by the same company in a region, thereby eliminating duplication in offered plans, the CMS said. In addition, the proposal would protect beneficiaries from some costs by clarifying requirements relating to out-of-pocket charges.
New Fraud Prevention Tips
The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice have released new tips and information to help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries deter, detect, and defend against medical identity theft. The crime occurs when someone steals a patient's personal information and uses it to obtain medical care, to buy drugs and supplies, or to fraudulently bill Medicare. The two departments are warning Medicare beneficiaries to beware of offers of free medical equipment, services, or goods in exchange for their Medicare numbers. The departments also are encouraging patients to review their Medicare statements and medical bills regularly, and to report suspected problems and suspicious charges. Tips and a printable brochure are available at
Med Schools Enroll Most Ever
Enrollment in both new and existing U.S. medical schools continues to expand, according to data released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. First-year enrollment increased by 2% over 2008 to nearly 18,400 students, the AAMC said. Four new U.S. medical schools—Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami; Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton, Pa.; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Tex.; and University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando—seated their first classes this year, accounting for half of the 2009 enrollment increase. In addition, 12 existing medical schools expanded their 2009 class sizes by 7% or more. Still, the United States must expand medical school enrollment and residency training slots further to avert an expected shortage of 124,000 to 159,000 physicians by 2025, the AAMC said.
Can't get enough Policy & Practice? Check out our new podcast each Monday. egmnblog.wordpress.com
Dr. Regina Benjamin Confirmed
Family physician Dr. Regina Benjamin has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Benjamin, founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre (Ala.) Rural Health Clinic, will start her work by responding to the A(H1N1) influenza pandemic, said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement. The American Academy of Family Physicians praised the confirmation. “All Americans will benefit from Dr. Benjamin's medical expertise, clinical experience, and advocacy for all patients,” said the academy's president, Dr. Lori Heim, in a statement. “She is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to health care, regardless of economic status.” Dr. Heim also praised Dr. Benjamin's perseverance in providing care to the underserved. Since the late 1990s, her clinic was destroyed by two hurricanes, Georges and Katrina, as well as a fire.
Family Docs Get Antiobesity Grant
The MetLife Foundation has awarded the American Academy of Family Physicians and the AAFP Foundation a $150,000 grant to provide family physicians with new ways to promote physical activity, nutrition, and emotional well-being. The antiobesity effort will produce educational materials to encourage children and older patients to talk with their family physicians about fitness and develop plans for the entire family to make and sustain healthy lifestyle choices, AAFP said. The organization will distribute the materials in mid-2010 to approximately 37,000 family physicians and residents. The new grant builds on an initiative launched in 2008 by AAFP and the MetLife Foundation, which to date has produced a DVD and a children's book discussing fitness for the family.
Medicare Premiums Set
Most Medicare beneficiaries will not see a Part B monthly premium increase in 2010, even though costs in the program have risen, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. A “hold harmless” provision in Medicare law prevents the CMS from increasing Part B premiums this year because beneficiaries will not get a 2010 cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits. The CMS had calculated that Part B premiums will rise to about $110 next year, from $96 in 2009. But under the hold-harmless provision, only 27% of beneficiaries will be charged the increased amount. Most of those are also Medicaid-eligible, which means that the government program will pay their Medicare premiums, including the increase. However, the Obama administration is urging Congress to hold down premiums for all beneficiaries, according to the CMS.
CMS Proposes Medicare Changes
The CMS has proposed stronger standards for Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans wanting to participate in the Medicare program. The agency said the proposed rule would hike program requirements for the more than 4,000 prescription drug and health plans offered to beneficiaries and would improve protections for the people who enroll in those plans. The rule would ensure “meaningful differences” between drug or health plans offered by the same company in a region, thereby eliminating duplication in offered plans, the CMS said. In addition, the proposal would protect beneficiaries from some costs by clarifying requirements relating to out-of-pocket charges.
New Fraud Prevention Tips
The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice have released new tips and information to help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries deter, detect, and defend against medical identity theft. The crime occurs when someone steals a patient's personal information and uses it to obtain medical care, to buy drugs and supplies, or to fraudulently bill Medicare. The two departments are warning Medicare beneficiaries to beware of offers of free medical equipment, services, or goods in exchange for their Medicare numbers. The departments also are encouraging patients to review their Medicare statements and medical bills regularly, and to report suspected problems and suspicious charges. Tips and a printable brochure are available at
Med Schools Enroll Most Ever
Enrollment in both new and existing U.S. medical schools continues to expand, according to data released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. First-year enrollment increased by 2% over 2008 to nearly 18,400 students, the AAMC said. Four new U.S. medical schools—Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami; Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton, Pa.; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Tex.; and University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando—seated their first classes this year, accounting for half of the 2009 enrollment increase. In addition, 12 existing medical schools expanded their 2009 class sizes by 7% or more. Still, the United States must expand medical school enrollment and residency training slots further to avert an expected shortage of 124,000 to 159,000 physicians by 2025, the AAMC said.
Can't get enough Policy & Practice? Check out our new podcast each Monday. egmnblog.wordpress.com
Dr. Regina Benjamin Confirmed
Family physician Dr. Regina Benjamin has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Benjamin, founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre (Ala.) Rural Health Clinic, will start her work by responding to the A(H1N1) influenza pandemic, said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement. The American Academy of Family Physicians praised the confirmation. “All Americans will benefit from Dr. Benjamin's medical expertise, clinical experience, and advocacy for all patients,” said the academy's president, Dr. Lori Heim, in a statement. “She is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to health care, regardless of economic status.” Dr. Heim also praised Dr. Benjamin's perseverance in providing care to the underserved. Since the late 1990s, her clinic was destroyed by two hurricanes, Georges and Katrina, as well as a fire.
Family Docs Get Antiobesity Grant
The MetLife Foundation has awarded the American Academy of Family Physicians and the AAFP Foundation a $150,000 grant to provide family physicians with new ways to promote physical activity, nutrition, and emotional well-being. The antiobesity effort will produce educational materials to encourage children and older patients to talk with their family physicians about fitness and develop plans for the entire family to make and sustain healthy lifestyle choices, AAFP said. The organization will distribute the materials in mid-2010 to approximately 37,000 family physicians and residents. The new grant builds on an initiative launched in 2008 by AAFP and the MetLife Foundation, which to date has produced a DVD and a children's book discussing fitness for the family.
Medicare Premiums Set
Most Medicare beneficiaries will not see a Part B monthly premium increase in 2010, even though costs in the program have risen, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. A “hold harmless” provision in Medicare law prevents the CMS from increasing Part B premiums this year because beneficiaries will not get a 2010 cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits. The CMS had calculated that Part B premiums will rise to about $110 next year, from $96 in 2009. But under the hold-harmless provision, only 27% of beneficiaries will be charged the increased amount. Most of those are also Medicaid-eligible, which means that the government program will pay their Medicare premiums, including the increase. However, the Obama administration is urging Congress to hold down premiums for all beneficiaries, according to the CMS.
CMS Proposes Medicare Changes
The CMS has proposed stronger standards for Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans wanting to participate in the Medicare program. The agency said the proposed rule would hike program requirements for the more than 4,000 prescription drug and health plans offered to beneficiaries and would improve protections for the people who enroll in those plans. The rule would ensure “meaningful differences” between drug or health plans offered by the same company in a region, thereby eliminating duplication in offered plans, the CMS said. In addition, the proposal would protect beneficiaries from some costs by clarifying requirements relating to out-of-pocket charges.
New Fraud Prevention Tips
The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice have released new tips and information to help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries deter, detect, and defend against medical identity theft. The crime occurs when someone steals a patient's personal information and uses it to obtain medical care, to buy drugs and supplies, or to fraudulently bill Medicare. The two departments are warning Medicare beneficiaries to beware of offers of free medical equipment, services, or goods in exchange for their Medicare numbers. The departments also are encouraging patients to review their Medicare statements and medical bills regularly, and to report suspected problems and suspicious charges. Tips and a printable brochure are available at
Med Schools Enroll Most Ever
Enrollment in both new and existing U.S. medical schools continues to expand, according to data released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. First-year enrollment increased by 2% over 2008 to nearly 18,400 students, the AAMC said. Four new U.S. medical schools—Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami; Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton, Pa.; Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Tex.; and University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando—seated their first classes this year, accounting for half of the 2009 enrollment increase. In addition, 12 existing medical schools expanded their 2009 class sizes by 7% or more. Still, the United States must expand medical school enrollment and residency training slots further to avert an expected shortage of 124,000 to 159,000 physicians by 2025, the AAMC said.