U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services making Medicare claims database more available to public
In particular, the federal agency will relax its restrictions on the release of information about individual doctors who participate in Medicare, the $524 billion federal program for the elderly and disabled, reversing a three-decade position that doing so would violate physicians’ privacy rights.
New medical school hopes to bring 150 doctors to the Lehigh Valley
The new partnership between St. Luke’s Hospital and Temple University has 31 students in its first year.
UPMC acquires Erie Physicians Network
The Network is currently the largest independent physicians practice in Erie.
Osteopath professionals fear physician shortage
Decline of students entering medical school leaves osteopath professionals fearing physician shortage.
Medicare reimbursement rates will increase for midwives
By the end of January, midwives who provide the same services as physicians will receive equal Medicare reimbursement rates. In addition, the Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare has taken steps to collect data examining birth center’s Medicad reimbursement rates.
State to approve new medical personnel badges
Pennsylvania is working to approve medical personnel identification tags to distinguish between physicians and doctorate degrees.
A look at doctors’ fitness and medicinal habits
Most doctors exercise regularly, drink moderately, and have better cholesterol levels. They also visit fast food restaurants.
PA medical schools hope they can turn around predicted doctor shortage
Medical school growth is at its fastest since the 1970s.
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
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.