Patient Care

Comparison of Patient Safety Bills (H 663 and S 720*) The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act - 2003**

Comparison of Patient Safety Bills (H 663 and S 720**) The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act - 2003

Proposed Federal Guidance Threatens Patient Access to Medication

Importantly, in the drive to limits federal payments for pharmaceuticals, the guidance may lead to limited access to medication for all citizens, not just those patients in federal programs.

HMO Guidelines or New Mandates?

The key to cost-containment is consumer control over health care dollars. Personal financial incentives, such as medical savings accounts and federal health care tax deductions, will drive health care costs down by encouraging individual cost-consciousness. Although HMOs want their enrollees to believe treatment guidelines will provide safer and better medical care, patients should be cautious about embracing an initiative that may use words on a page to limit health care services.

Health Care Around the World

Sending American Health Care Dollars to Mexico? According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,"The United States and Mexico have reached a formal agreement to establish the U.S. - Mexico Border Health Commission (BHC)...The Commission will serve as a forum to discuss shared health concerns and find ways to improve the health status of people living along the border." Secretary Shalala signed the agreement on July 14, 2000.

Government-Supported Group Advocates Federal Reach into Doctor's Office

Government: A Wedge Between Patient and Doctor

The answer to fear and conflict lies in this principle: "He who holds the gold makes the rules." Until patients regain individual control and management of their health care dollars, outside administrative decisions and financial conflicts of interest will threaten medical judgment.

CCHF Opposes National Provider Indentification Number (ID)

We seek more informaiton on the NPI number and enforcement, and do not support mandatory enumeration of all providers, the proposed broad data collection that goes well beyond identification, the violation of statute regarding security of information exchanged, the addition of two transactions, the waiver proposal, or the central registry option.

EXIT INTERVIEW: David C. Anderson, M.D.

Certainly the reason to go to Arizona is not to make more money. My income will drop--maybe 30-40%. On the same hand the income factors in Minnesota are so driven by non-patient oriented mechanisms that my idealistic mind doesn't allow me to continue to practice that way.

The Confession of a Managed Care Medical Director