Later this year, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona will release a report, "The Health Consequences of Smoking," and a new database of medical research, treatment and smoking prevention information. This year's report will come 40 years after Americans first learned there were significant consequences of smoking, thanks to the efforts of then-Surgeon General Dr. Luther Terry, who was appointed during the Kennedy administration.
Organizational, operation review required for building health savings accounts
Consumers who receive guidance from their plans about the pharmacy benefit tend to make wiser choices
New cost estimate rises to $534 billion over 10 years, up from $410 billion
Insurers, PBMS back cards to gain market foothold, Medicare experience
A national health system recognized that its internal process was not improving
This controversial treatment can reduce long-term morbidities, but is it efficacious?
Navigating the quality-improvement strategy nationwide
In 2000, M+C enrolled healthier seniors and cost the government $3.2 billion.
Medical and behavioral care align for greater treatment compliance and patient satisfaction
Regulatory and financial incentives drive the use of credit card technology in healthcare
Financial affairs between a health plan and federal subcontractors requires continuous review
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona keeps America on a healthy course and away from bad choices
MCOs enhance benefits, cut fees to attract more Medicare beneficiaries
Expert analysis of DTR chart
Source: AIS's Directory of Health Plans, 2004
Legislation expands reimbursement, but concerns about liability, eligibility and privacy might constrain its broad range expansion
Using expensive drugs without assurances of necessity and greater efficacy can threaten plans' ability to provide other necessary care
According to the 2004 Almanac of Hospital and Financial Indicators, profitability will continue to suffer over the next few years
The oral contraceptive marketplace has undergone evolutionary changes over the years. Early oral contraceptive formulations contained higher doses of estrogen and progestin, which were associated with several safety concerns. Consequently, scientists returned to the laboratories to develop lower-dose formulations that would minimize risk without compromising efficacy. To date, numerous formulations have entered the marketplace that allow for tailored dosing to meet a woman?s clinical and individual needs. In order to provide additional treatment options and create more convenient oral contraceptive regimens, monophasic, multiphasic, extended-cycle, progestin-only, and chewable regimens have emerged. This article will review the main health risks and benefits of oral contraceptives, the concept of extended-cycle regimens, and the financial implications associated with oral contraceptive use.
The opioid oxymorphone (Numorphan, Endo) delivered in a new extended-release (ER) formulation significantly improves standard measures of pain and physical function in osteoarthritis (OA) patients, researchers reported at the American College of Rheumatology 67th Annual Scientific Meeting.
Memantine (Namenda, Forest) is the newest medication to receive FDA approval for the treatment of Alzheimer?s disease and the first to be approved with a moderate-to-severe indication. All previously approved Alzheimer?s disease treatments belong to the cholinesterase inhibitor class and are approved with a mild-to-moderate indication. Memantine has been used for more than 10 years in Germany and features a novel mechanism of action: N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonism. It has been shown to be effective in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials as monotherapy and in combination therapy with the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer?s disease.
Can occupational medicine produce a profitable outcome?
This month's analysis of employer data
Organizational support intented for moms can provide lifestyle benefits for all women in healthcare
Loss of potential competition is a loss of consumer welfare under antitrust laws
Incentives for personal gain are common, but those that motivate us to help others are rare and valuable
Source: Atlantic Information Services
Despite obstacles, post-acute and nursing-home facilities see value of IT in improving care
As healthcare delivery continues to change, the intertwined components have met a number of knots along the way. Processes to monitor, evaluate and encourage physicians to practice what is determined to be quality medicine seem to be particularly bound up in logistics.
