Healthcare System Issues

Congress Fails to Avert Medicare Payment Cut.pdf

According to this article, as federal lawmakers began the 2006 fall recess, physicians who care for Medicare patients were still facing a payment cut of 5.1 percent due to start Jan. 1, 2007.
(2006, September 30). Congress fails to avert Medicare payment cut [Electronic version]. AMA eVoice Alert. (PDF) 

Physicians Complain Medicare D Decisions Threaten Patient Care.pdf

This article discusses the challenges that physicians and patients are encountering as a result of the Medicare drug plans.
Glendinning, D. (2006, June 5). Physicians complain Medicare D decisions threaten patient care [Electronic version] American Medical News, 49(21), 1-2. Retrieved November 16, 2006.

Advisory Group Recommends Universal Coverage. Americans Would Be Willing to Pay Extra to Expand Access to Health Care, Finds a Panel Directed by Congress to Look for Answers.pdf

According to this article, a group charged by Congress with assessing Americans' views on how to fix the health care system concluded that most people find it "unintelligible" and recommended universal coverage by 2012.
Monaghan, E. (2006, June 26). Advisory group recommends universal coverage. Americans would be willing to pay extra to expand access to health care, finds a panel directed by Congress to look for answers [Electronic version]. American Medical News.  Retrieved November 13, 2006.

The Monster at Our Door. Uncontrolled Health Spending Poses Ugly Choices: Raise Taxes, Gut Other Programs or Run Ever-Larger and Dangerous Deficits.pdf

This article discusses the need to overhaul the Medicare system.  The author believes that the outgoing head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mark McClellan, has the opportunity to help define the needed debate on how to change the system.
Samuelson, R.J. (2006, September 18). The monster at our door. Uncontrolled health spending poses ugly choices: raise taxes, gut other programs or run ever-larger and dangerous deficits [Electronic version]. Newsweek. Retrieved November 15, 2006.

Doctors Pledge to Fight After Federal Tort Reform Bills Stall.pdf

According to this article, the U.S. Senate in early May halted Republican-backed medical liability reform legislation for the fifth time in four years, but trial lawyers and organized medicine continue to wrangle over the issue. Doctors vowed anew to fight for a national solution to stabilize premiums and preserve access to care.
Sorrel, A.L. (2006, June 5). Doctors pledge to fight after federal tort reform bills stall [Electronic version]. American Medical News, 49(21), 5, 7. Retrieved November 16, 2006.

Debate Flaring up Over Use of Dementia Screening.pdf

According to this article, organizations that issue screening guidelines should consider seriously whether physicians should discuss dementia with patients at age 50 and initiate annual dementia screening in those older than 75. This is according to a perspective piece published in April of 2006 in Alzheimer's & Dementia, the Journal of the Alzheimer's Assn.
Elliott, V.S. (2006, May 15). Debate flaring up over use of dementia screening [Electronic version]. American Medical News, 49(19), 23-24. Retrieved November 16, 2006.

Shouldn't Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency Be Offered Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy?.pdf

This analysis should encourage reluctant practitioners to at least consider growth hormone replacement therapy for patients with definite growth hormone deficiency--that is, patients with symptomatic panhypopituitarism.
Cook, D.M. (2002). Shouldn't adults with growth hormone deficiency be offered growth hormone replacement therapy? [Electronic version]. Annals of Internal Medicine, 137(3), 197-201. Retrieved September 26, 2005.