Insurance Status Affects Outcomes For Cardiac Valve Procedure Patients
The type of primary insurance patients carry affects outcomes of cardiac valve operations in the United States according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. As a result, the type of primary insurance should be considered as an independent risk factor during preoperative risk stratification and planning, the researchers reported. They found that uninsured and Medicaid patients incur worse unadjusted and risk-adjusted outcomes following cardiac valve operations compared with those who carry private insurance.
Large Pay Cut For Doctors By Medicare And Medicaid Services
A long awaited cut in physician pay has been proposed by the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) in its Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in calendar year 2012. The CMS has been told to base its fee schedule on current payment rules, which effectively means a 29.5% drop in reimbursements starting in 2012 - CMS said it used the SGR (Sustainable Growth Rate) formula when making its calculations. SGR was adopted in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 Announcements of cuts have been made 11 times in the past;
New Growth Needed In Supply Of Physicians, Physician Assistants And Advance Practice Nurses To Meet Demands Of Health-Care Reform
One consequence of the expanded access to health care facilitated by health care reform will be a shortfall in the necessary numbers of physicians and other advanced medical professionals. According to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the United States will face serious shortages in the combined workforce of physicians, advance practice nurses, and physician assistants over the next two decades. The study concluded that, without an adequate supply of advanced medical professionals, the U.