New York Times essay: Referral system turns patients into commodities
Says the healthcare system needs a different approach to sending patients to a specialist.
Chester County doctor: To cut costs, doctors should order fewer procedures
The family physician says that doctors order too many unnecessary tests for patients whose conditions are easily diagnosable, and for a variety of reasons.
Rendell says he won’t renew MCARE program
Says that due in part to a decrease in medical malpratice lawsuits, malpractice insurance help for physicians is unneeded.
Many state healthcare groups support “apology legislation”
They hope that the bill, which would allow doctors to set forth apologizes without fear of automatic legal repurcussions, will reduce the number of medical malpractice suits.
More doctors are seeking fees at time of service
More and more physicians are asking for the patient’s share of that day’s medical fees, including any deductible set by the insurer, at the time of the visit, reports the Washington Post.
President of PA hospital council says health systems will become “one-stop shops”
Private physicians’ offices and hospitals are looking to consolidate in an effort to streamline care and costs.
Doctor examines pay-for-performance vs. traditional fee-for-service insurance reimbursement models
Pauline Chen, M.D. writes the opinion piece for the New York Times.
Doctor: Patients need to take more responsibility in their care
Today the Patriot-News published an op-ed by Mechanicsburg physician Dr. Nirmal Joshi, who says that patients need to be more proactive in discussing their care with their doctors.
New York Times: When doctors and nurses can’t do the right thing
In a piece for the Times, a doctor stresses his concern over the increasing phenomenon of doctors and nurses not being able to give patients the type of care they think is needed.
Number of primary care physicians in PA is declining
A new report published by the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania showed that the number of primary-care physicians in the state has declined by about 8 percent, reports the Erie Times-News.