Be careful relying on the internet to search for a doctor, warns the Post-Gazette
“Two years ago, WellPointe, a huge insurance company with health-care providers all over the country — teamed with survey maven Zagat to establish online physician ratings,” reports the newspaper. “In short, many doctors who ordered fewer tests for patients received higher recommendations from the insurers’ websites.”
Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10069/1041397-114.stm#ixzz0hmhNFvBn
Recently introduced bill would keep malpractice coverage for doctors from becoming too expensive
The bill is a response to the action last fall by Gov. Ed Rendell and lawmakers to divert $100 million from the Mcare fund to help balance the state budget.
As demand for healthcare reform increases, so does demand for primary care doctors
Medical experts say that when more people have health coverage, there will be an increased demand for physicians, and there might not be enough of them to go around.
Did you know…
….that by eating certain foods you can help fight the flu? That’s right, your kitchen can hold the keys to help combat the flu virus.
Advocacy groups say PA’s budget is going to hurt physician retention
By cutting funding to the Health Care Provider and Retention Account (HCPRA) and the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Errors (Mcare) fund, PA is discouraging doctors to practice here, say the groups.
Wall Street Journal examines “tangible and unseen” healthcare costs
The WSJ says that spending by doctors extends beyond insurance as many take steps to protect themselves; patients’ wishes push up bills, too.
Doctors who choose to see less patients, in exchange for offering more personalized care
The latest report on “concierge” practices.
Did you know…
…that a family was recently charged $6,000 for a doctor to put three stitches in a child’s mouth?
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine hope to up PA’s physician retention rate
Doctor retention is important; with the population aging, chronic health problems rising, and the number of physicians declining.
Republican-Herald touts Rep. Shapiro’s physician incentive bill
Rep. Shapiro has proposed a program to subsidize the tuition of any new physician who practices in-state for 10 years.
The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Josh Shapiro, would subsidize the tuition of any new physician who practices in-state for 10 years. Any physician who does not practice in-state for the entire 10 years would have to repay the entire loan.
By the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the plan would cost the state government $10 million a year. That, however, is a reasonable cost to ensure broad access to physicians and medical services.
Check out the rest of the editorial.