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Can't get enough Policy & Practice? Check out our new podcast each Monday. egmnblog.wordpress.com
Americans Uneducated on Diabetes
Americans earn a “failing grade” on diabetes awareness, according to an online survey sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Participants who answered a series of questions scored just 51% overall. Although more than three-fourths of respondents knew that not all diabetes patients need daily insulin injections, only 12% knew that the recommended diet for people with diabetes does not restrict starchy foods any more than does the diet recommended for all adults. “Many Americans have a very limited understanding of the basic facts about diabetes, as well as the serious consequences for health that accompany the disease,” Sue McLaughlin, the ADA's president for health care and education, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, numerous myths about diabetes exist, making it difficult for people to believe the science-based facts.” The survey of more than 2,000 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive.
Society Seeks More Stem Cell Study
The Endocrine Society would like to see an increase in federal funding for stem cell research, according to a new position statement from the group. The society wants the support to include what it calls promising yet neglected areas of stem cell research, such as cells generated through somatic cell nuclear transfer. “No research in recent history has offered as much hope as stem cell research in treating such a large number of debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease,” said Endocrine Society President Robert Vigersky. “For the full potential of stem cell research to be reached, the amount of federal funding and the scope of that funding need to be expanded.”
Bill Would Boost Bone-Health Efforts
Proposed federal legislation aims to create a national strategy against osteoporosis and other bone diseases. The Bone Health Promotion and Research Act (H.R. 3856) would expand research at the National Institutes of Health, fund states' surveillance of bone conditions, and increase education activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chief sponsors of the bill are Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), who was diagnosed with osteoporosis more than a decade ago, and Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-Tex.), a physician who has treated patients with the condition. “Osteoporosis and related bone diseases pose a public health issue of enormous proportions, affecting millions of Americans and costing billions of dollars,” Rep. Burgess said in a statement.
Kidney Data Beating Schedule
Incidence and prevalence data for end-stage kidney disease in the United States will be available online from the U.S. Renal Data System a year earlier than usual, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases announced. The data, available online at
www.usrds.org/qtr/qrt_report_table_new.html
HHS Eyeing Imaging Pay
Some time during the current fiscal year, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General will start reviewing Medicare's Part B payments to physicians for imaging services. The focus will include “the physician professional cost component, malpractice costs, and practice expense,” according to the OIG. For each service, staff will determine whether the payment “reflects the actual expenses incurred and whether the utilization rate reflects current industry practices.” The agency also will investigate diagnostic x-rays performed in emergency departments. Imaging there has increased, said the OIG, and in 2007 had cost Medicare about $207 million in physician payments. The report on imaging in emergency departments is due within the year, but the overall imaging report is not expected until FY2011, said the OIG.
Practice Revenues Decline
Medical practice revenues fell in 2008, possibly because of declining patient volumes and payments from people in financial hardship, according to the Medical Group Management Association. Medical practices responded by trimming overhead costs more than 1%, but that wasn't enough to offset shrinking revenues, the MGMA found in its yearly practice-cost survey. Multispecialty group practices saw a 1.9% decline in total medical revenue in 2008, with substantial drops in both the number of procedures and the number of patients. Bad debt in multispecialty group practices from fee-for-service charges increased 13% from 2006 to 2008.
Can't get enough Policy & Practice? Check out our new podcast each Monday. egmnblog.wordpress.com
Americans Uneducated on Diabetes
Americans earn a “failing grade” on diabetes awareness, according to an online survey sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Participants who answered a series of questions scored just 51% overall. Although more than three-fourths of respondents knew that not all diabetes patients need daily insulin injections, only 12% knew that the recommended diet for people with diabetes does not restrict starchy foods any more than does the diet recommended for all adults. “Many Americans have a very limited understanding of the basic facts about diabetes, as well as the serious consequences for health that accompany the disease,” Sue McLaughlin, the ADA's president for health care and education, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, numerous myths about diabetes exist, making it difficult for people to believe the science-based facts.” The survey of more than 2,000 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive.
Society Seeks More Stem Cell Study
The Endocrine Society would like to see an increase in federal funding for stem cell research, according to a new position statement from the group. The society wants the support to include what it calls promising yet neglected areas of stem cell research, such as cells generated through somatic cell nuclear transfer. “No research in recent history has offered as much hope as stem cell research in treating such a large number of debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease,” said Endocrine Society President Robert Vigersky. “For the full potential of stem cell research to be reached, the amount of federal funding and the scope of that funding need to be expanded.”
Bill Would Boost Bone-Health Efforts
Proposed federal legislation aims to create a national strategy against osteoporosis and other bone diseases. The Bone Health Promotion and Research Act (H.R. 3856) would expand research at the National Institutes of Health, fund states' surveillance of bone conditions, and increase education activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chief sponsors of the bill are Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), who was diagnosed with osteoporosis more than a decade ago, and Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-Tex.), a physician who has treated patients with the condition. “Osteoporosis and related bone diseases pose a public health issue of enormous proportions, affecting millions of Americans and costing billions of dollars,” Rep. Burgess said in a statement.
Kidney Data Beating Schedule
Incidence and prevalence data for end-stage kidney disease in the United States will be available online from the U.S. Renal Data System a year earlier than usual, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases announced. The data, available online at
www.usrds.org/qtr/qrt_report_table_new.html
HHS Eyeing Imaging Pay
Some time during the current fiscal year, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General will start reviewing Medicare's Part B payments to physicians for imaging services. The focus will include “the physician professional cost component, malpractice costs, and practice expense,” according to the OIG. For each service, staff will determine whether the payment “reflects the actual expenses incurred and whether the utilization rate reflects current industry practices.” The agency also will investigate diagnostic x-rays performed in emergency departments. Imaging there has increased, said the OIG, and in 2007 had cost Medicare about $207 million in physician payments. The report on imaging in emergency departments is due within the year, but the overall imaging report is not expected until FY2011, said the OIG.
Practice Revenues Decline
Medical practice revenues fell in 2008, possibly because of declining patient volumes and payments from people in financial hardship, according to the Medical Group Management Association. Medical practices responded by trimming overhead costs more than 1%, but that wasn't enough to offset shrinking revenues, the MGMA found in its yearly practice-cost survey. Multispecialty group practices saw a 1.9% decline in total medical revenue in 2008, with substantial drops in both the number of procedures and the number of patients. Bad debt in multispecialty group practices from fee-for-service charges increased 13% from 2006 to 2008.
Can't get enough Policy & Practice? Check out our new podcast each Monday. egmnblog.wordpress.com
Americans Uneducated on Diabetes
Americans earn a “failing grade” on diabetes awareness, according to an online survey sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Participants who answered a series of questions scored just 51% overall. Although more than three-fourths of respondents knew that not all diabetes patients need daily insulin injections, only 12% knew that the recommended diet for people with diabetes does not restrict starchy foods any more than does the diet recommended for all adults. “Many Americans have a very limited understanding of the basic facts about diabetes, as well as the serious consequences for health that accompany the disease,” Sue McLaughlin, the ADA's president for health care and education, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, numerous myths about diabetes exist, making it difficult for people to believe the science-based facts.” The survey of more than 2,000 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive.
Society Seeks More Stem Cell Study
The Endocrine Society would like to see an increase in federal funding for stem cell research, according to a new position statement from the group. The society wants the support to include what it calls promising yet neglected areas of stem cell research, such as cells generated through somatic cell nuclear transfer. “No research in recent history has offered as much hope as stem cell research in treating such a large number of debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease,” said Endocrine Society President Robert Vigersky. “For the full potential of stem cell research to be reached, the amount of federal funding and the scope of that funding need to be expanded.”
Bill Would Boost Bone-Health Efforts
Proposed federal legislation aims to create a national strategy against osteoporosis and other bone diseases. The Bone Health Promotion and Research Act (H.R. 3856) would expand research at the National Institutes of Health, fund states' surveillance of bone conditions, and increase education activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chief sponsors of the bill are Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), who was diagnosed with osteoporosis more than a decade ago, and Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-Tex.), a physician who has treated patients with the condition. “Osteoporosis and related bone diseases pose a public health issue of enormous proportions, affecting millions of Americans and costing billions of dollars,” Rep. Burgess said in a statement.
Kidney Data Beating Schedule
Incidence and prevalence data for end-stage kidney disease in the United States will be available online from the U.S. Renal Data System a year earlier than usual, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases announced. The data, available online at
www.usrds.org/qtr/qrt_report_table_new.html
HHS Eyeing Imaging Pay
Some time during the current fiscal year, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General will start reviewing Medicare's Part B payments to physicians for imaging services. The focus will include “the physician professional cost component, malpractice costs, and practice expense,” according to the OIG. For each service, staff will determine whether the payment “reflects the actual expenses incurred and whether the utilization rate reflects current industry practices.” The agency also will investigate diagnostic x-rays performed in emergency departments. Imaging there has increased, said the OIG, and in 2007 had cost Medicare about $207 million in physician payments. The report on imaging in emergency departments is due within the year, but the overall imaging report is not expected until FY2011, said the OIG.
Practice Revenues Decline
Medical practice revenues fell in 2008, possibly because of declining patient volumes and payments from people in financial hardship, according to the Medical Group Management Association. Medical practices responded by trimming overhead costs more than 1%, but that wasn't enough to offset shrinking revenues, the MGMA found in its yearly practice-cost survey. Multispecialty group practices saw a 1.9% decline in total medical revenue in 2008, with substantial drops in both the number of procedures and the number of patients. Bad debt in multispecialty group practices from fee-for-service charges increased 13% from 2006 to 2008.