2012 CAL/AAEM News Service Archives

May 2012

• California Budget Deficit Has Grown to $16B, Brown Says -AND- Brown Calls for Deeper Health Program Cuts in Revised Budget CAL/AAEM News Service
• Medical Boards Offer Guidance on Clinicians' Use of Social Media -AND- Health care law increases payments to doctors for primary care CAL/AAEM News Service
• Important Dates from AAEM CAL/AAEM News Service
• Electronic-Records Goals Aren’t Met by 80% of U.S. Hospitals CAL/AAEM News Service
• Looming reimbursement cuts stifle hospital budgets CAL/AAEM News Service
• TeamHealth buys anesthesia groups -AND- TeamHealth continues Mid-Atlantic expansion CAL/AAEM News Service
• Few Doctors Consider Themselves Rich, Survey Says CAL/AAEM News Service
• California To Overhaul 30-Year-Old Medicaid Computer System CAL/AAEM News Service

April 2012

• Gov. Brown Says Deficit Could Be Bigger Than Estimated, Calls for Cuts CAL/AAEM News Service
• More physicians work part-time and flexible schedules CAL/AAEM News Service
• Health Data Exchange Use in EDs Linked to Lower Admissions, Costs CAL/AAEM News Service
• Payers make moves toward remote health CAL/AAEM News Service
• More hospitals customize ERs for older patients CAL/AAEM News Service
• San Diego Seeks Ways To Manage Frequent Users of Emergency Services CAL/AAEM News Service
• Physicians Wade Into Efforts To Curb Unnecessary Treatments CAL/AAEM News Service
• Fewer lab tests sought by docs with HIE access, -and- Medicaid payments for 'unnecessary' ER visits safe for now CAL/AAEM News Service
• Washington Sentinel CAL/AAEM News Service
• Gov. Jerry Brown's administration wants health care change, with or without federal law CAL/AAEM News Service

March 2012

• House Clears IPAB Repeal and Medical Malpractice Reform, -and- ERs to see more visits with changes in health insurance status CAL/AAEM News Service
• Judge: Calif. Violated Law by Not Disclosing Info on Medi-Cal Cuts CAL/AAEM News Service
• Health reform heads for legal showdown, -and- Supreme Court hears first arguments in ACA case CAL/AAEM News Service
• Hospital report cards fall flat at improving patient outcomes , -and- HHS Issues Final Rule on Federal Reform Law's Medicaid Expansion CAL/AAEM News Service
• MedPAC Report Stumps for SGR Repeal, 1% Hospital Pay Increase - and - H.R. 5 Headed to a Vote -- Contact Your Representative Now! CAL/AAEM News Service
• Medicaid patients with PCP barriers flock to ED--more coming soon CAL/AAEM News Service
• Accountable care drives demand for NPs, PAs, -AND- Report: Health System Quality Varies Among Calif. Communities CAL/AAEM News Service
• Affordable Care Act Demonstration to Expand Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care CAL/AAEM News Service
• California Hospitals Seek To Treat Fewer Patients Under Federal Overhaul -and - Study finds CT efficiency measure unreliable, invalid and inaccurate CAL/AAEM News Service
• CMS Rejects California's Plan To Require Medi-Cal Copayments & Gov. Brown Lobbies for Medi-Cal Waiver During Washington, D.C., Visit CAL/AAEM News Service
• Supreme Court Declines To Rule on Medi-Cal Reimbursement Suit & Supreme Court Review of the Health Care Reform Law CAL/AAEM News Service
• Supreme Court Declines To Rule on Medi-Cal Reimbursement Suit & Supreme Court Review of the Health Care Reform Law CAL/AAEM News Service

February 2012

• More Hospitals Asking Patients To Pay Before Receiving Routine Care & U.S. Supreme Court sends Medicaid case back to Court of Appeals CAL/AAEM News Service
• 10-Month Medicare 'Doc Fix' Passes House & President's budget proposes $320 billion in Medicare, Medicaid reductions CAL/AAEM News Service
• CMS opens bloodstream infection data to public & Hospitals lose reimbursement for 'unnecessary' ER visits CAL/AAEM News Service
• President's State of the Union Address Skimps on Health Care Issues & CMS Rejects California's Plan To Require Medi-Cal Copayments CAL/AAEM News Service
• Health Care Providers Creating Options To Alleviate Strain on EDs & CMS Requests Comments on EMTALA CAL/AAEM News Service
• President's State of the Union Address Skimps on Health Care Issues & State Senate hits stalemate on universal healthcare for California CAL/AAEM News Service

January 2012

• Governor Stumps for Tax, Pension Initiatives in State of State Address & Panel Sends Single-Payer Health Care Bill to Full Senate CAL/AAEM News Service
• AAEM Election Period Going On Now! CAL/AAEM News Service
• It May Be Time 'To Take the Pain' on Medicaid & Lawmakers Seek Smooth Passage of Longer-Term Medicare 'Doc Fix' Bill CAL/AAEM News Service
• CMS: Growth in health spending remains slow in 2010 & National Health Spending Grew Slowly In 2010 CAL/AAEM News Service
• Health Programs Face Significant Cuts Under Brown's Budget Plan & Hospitals employing 32% more physicians CAL/AAEM News Service
• Survey: Fewer Calif. Employers Offer Health Benefits for Workers CAL/AAEM News Service
• Survey shows California healthcare costs rising, benefits shrinking CAL/AAEM News Service
• Six Calif. Entities Are 'Pioneer' Accountable Care Organizations CAL/AAEM News Service

December 2011

• Medicare pay cut averted; Congress OKs two-month patch CAL/AAEM News Service
• Judge halts Washington state Medicaid limits on ED visits & Hospitals Try To Control Readmissions, Even When It Hurts Profits CAL/AAEM News Service
• Congressional Leaders Discuss Medicare 'Doc Fix, ' Payroll Tax Break & Washington Sentinel CAL/AAEM News Service
• GOP Proposal To Extend Tax Break Includes Two-Year Medicare 'Doc Fix' & Ryan, Wyden Introduce Bipartisan Proposal for Medicare Subsidies CAL/AAEM News Service
• Report: California's Health Care Spending Among Lowest in U.S. CAL/AAEM News Service
• Brown Expected To Propose Tax Hike for Inclusion on 2012 Ballot CAL/AAEM News Service
• Use of retail clinics skyrockets CAL/AAEM News Service
• Breaking news from the American Medical Association CAL/AAEM News Service

November 2011

• Calif. Medical Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Medi-Cal Payment Cuts CAL/AAEM News Service
• Breaking news from the American Medical Association CAL/AAEM News Service
• EDs Serving Medi-Cal, Minority Patients at Higher Risk of Closing & Calif. Medical Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Medi-Cal Payment Cuts CAL/AAEM News Service
• Supreme Court To Review Case Challenging Health Reform Law & Supreme Court surprise: Court will also hear Medicaid challenge CAL/AAEM News Service
• Register Now for the CAL/AAEM San Diego Speakers Series! CAL/AAEM News Service
• Register Now for the 18th Annual Scientific Assembly CAL/AAEM News Service
• Ruling knocks down Wash. state limits on Medicaid coverage of ER visits CAL/AAEM News Service
• Emergency departments save nearly $2M through HIE data use CAL/AAEM News Service
• Healthcare M&As to surpass 2010 deals, fueled by reform CAL/AAEM News Service
• CMS final rule to slash Medicare payments by 27.4% CAL/AAEM News Service
• CMS releases final, more physician-friendly rules for Medicare ACOs CAL/AAEM News Service
• AAEM updates - Elections, Awards, Scientific Assembly CAL/AAEM News Service
• California gets OK for large cuts to Medi-Cal CAL/AAEM News Service

October 2011

• Residents' desire for hospital employment poses recruiting challenge for practices CAL/AAEM News Service
• CAL/AAEM San Francisco Speaker Series, November 3rd at Tres SF! - Registration closes Oct 31st CAL/AAEM News Service
• L.A. County expands no-cost healthcare CAL/AAEM News Service
• 70% hospitals, health systems plan more physician employment CAL/AAEM News Service
• TeamHealth buys Midwest Emergency Associates, -and- Washington Sentinel CAL/AAEM News Service
• California AAEM (CAL/AAEM) San Francisco Speaker Series - November 3rd CAL/AAEM News Service
• Doctors, Pharmacists Sue State, Seek Data on Effects of Medi-Cal Cuts CAL/AAEM News Service
• Docs admit malpractice fears lead to overly aggressive care, -and- UC-Davis Wins Emergency Services Lawsuit CAL/AAEM News Service
• California's noneconomic damages cap upheld, -and- Aetna, Humana, Kaiser, UnitedHealthcare team up to trend claims data CAL/AAEM News Service

September 2011

• President proposes $320 billion in Medicare, Medicaid reductions, -and- Brown OKs Health Industry Fees, Vetoes Budget-Related Measure CAL/AAEM News Service
• UnitedHealth buying 2, 300 doctors, -and- Hospital EDs Struggling To Care for More Mental Health Patients CAL/AAEM News Service
• Dominican Hospital parent weighing change in malpractice coverage, -and- Temporary ER staff associated with more severe errors CAL/AAEM News Service
• Registration Open for California AAEM San Francisco Speaker Series CAL/AAEM News Service
• Study: Medical Malpractice Cases Common, Payouts Are Not and As Hospitals Push ERs, States’ Medicaid Budgets Pressured CAL/AAEM News Service

August 2011

• Medicare Prepares Rule To Penalize Hospitals With High Readmission Rates CAL/AAEM News Service
• CMS testing program to encourage Medicare payment bundling and CAL/AAEM News Service
• Democrats Challenging Administration on Medicaid and MEMC Advance Registration Deadline 2 Sept CAL/AAEM News Service
• Analysis Finds Violence Against Hospital Staff Commonplace in State and Debt crisis averted, but Medicare physician payment issue remains CAL/AAEM News Service
• Insurers encourage less-costly ER alternatives and Deficit agreement could put Medicare provider payments at risk CAL/AAEM News Service
• CORRECTED: Analysis: Hospital Chain Admission Rates Higher Than State Averages and July Washington Sentinel CAL/AAEM News Service
• Analysis: Hospital Chain Admission Rates Higher Than State Averages and July Washington Sentinel CAL/AAEM News Service
• 5 cost-cutting healthcare trends to watch and 5 cost-cutting healthcare trends to watch CAL/AAEM News Service

July 2011

• CMA objects to California's request to slash Medi-Cal rates and Senate Proposes Bill to Cut Down on "Doctor Shoppers" CAL/AAEM News Service
• Does Coverage Matter? Evidence from the First Year of Oregon's Medicaid Expansion and Anthem Blue Cross promotes alternatives to expensive emergency room visits CAL/AAEM News Service
• Hospitals hope to save money by pre-screening ER patients and Managed Care Enters The Exam Room As Insurers Buy Doctor Groups CAL/AAEM News Service
• Medical Liability Insurance Premium Crisis may loom for Physicians at Catholic Healthcare West Hospitals on the West Coast CAL/AAEM News Service
• Diverting Patients Away From Crowded EDs Tied to Higher Mortality Rates and Medi-Cal To Face Hit From End of Stimulus Funding, Budget Cuts CAL/AAEM News Service
• Sixth Mediterranean Emergency Medicine Congress (MEMC VI) Sept 10-14 CAL/AAEM News Service
• Florida AAEM Hosts First Annual Scientific Assembly CAL/AAEM News Service
• The ER, 50 Years On and MGMA doc-pay survey finds mixed bag of gains, declines CAL/AAEM News Service

June 2011

• AMA reports rise in claims processing errors and Baptist Health to open four ER hospitals CAL/AAEM News Service
• Physicians compensated for volume, not quality and Report Says One-Third of Employers Could Drop Health Coverage in 2014 CAL/AAEM News Service
• Counties Start Moving Medi-Cal Beneficiaries to Managed Care and New ACOs Emerging in Northern California CAL/AAEM News Service
• ER docs order tests to avoid lawsuits first, help patients second and Emergency care, but not at a hospital CAL/AAEM News Service
• Physicians' Changing Politics and Many Public Hospitals Face Increasing Pressures CAL/AAEM News Service