MARCH 1, 2018
[Georgia one of 20 states to] sue federal government, seeking end to Obamacare
Reuters
A coalition of 20 U.S. states sued the federal government on Monday over Obamacare, claiming the law was no longer constitutional after the repeal last year of its requirement that people have health insurance or pay a fine. READ MORE
Independent vs. employed: The doctor career decision (features MAG President Frank McDonald, M.D., M.B.A., and MAG members Eddie Richardson, M.D., Melissa Boekhaus, M.D., Steven Wilson, M.D., and Christopher Apostol, M.D.)
Georgia Health News
The life of the traditional independent physician will always have a certain appeal. It’s clear, though, that the balance is tipping toward the doctor who’s employed by a hospital or other large organization. | READ MORE
When health policy is local, this path can get your message heard (quotes MAG President Frank McDonald, M.D., M.B.A.)
AMA Wire
In the always trying effort to shape policy, Dennis Dimitri, MD, said it helps to remember the lessons of history as he recalled a famous quote from the Boston politician who served as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987. | READ MORE
Healthy Hall awards given to 14 professionals, providers (features MAG members Jack M. Chapman Jr., M.D., John Jeffrey Marshall, M.D., and Antonio Rios, M.D.)
The Gainesville Times
Robin Taylor was among 14 area health care professionals and providers honored at the Brenau Downtown Center Wednesday, Feb. 28, for “making a significant impact on our quality of life through excellence in health and wellness.” | READ MORE
Use of electronic prior authorizations is increasing
BenefitsPRO
Implementation of electronic prior authorization (ePA) solutions is increasing, as more states are adopting ePA language, more legislation is being proposed and electronic health record (EHR) systems are moving the needle forward on enabling solutions, according to CoverMyMeds’ 2018 ePA National Adoption Scorecard. | READ MORE
Will $100 million sports medicine center get OK from Georgia?
Georgia Health News
Since 2015, America’s leading sports medicine doctor and his investment partners have sought to build a $100 million facility in Alpharetta that would create 500 jobs. | READ MORE
Hospital Board approves construction of a new TRMC patient tower [in Tift County]
Tift Regional Health Center News
The Hospital Authority of Tift County voted on Wednesday to expand the physical facility of Tift Regional Medical Center. | READ MORE
Never too late to operate? Surgery near end-of-life is common, costly
Kaiser Health News
At 87, Maxine Stanich cared more about improving the quality of her life than prolonging it. | READ MORE
Overwhelmed in the ER: Georgia’s mental health crisis
WABE
A lot of us have probably been to the hospital emergency room: For a broken bone, an asthma attack, the flu. Chances are, it wasn’t the best experience. Long wait times in crowded lobbies. Doctors shuffling back and forth through the hallway. Cold, sterile rooms. | READ MORE
Pediatricians call for universal depression screening for teens
NPR Shots
Only about 50 percent of adolescents with depression get diagnosed before reaching adulthood. And as many as 2 in 3 depressed teens don't get the care that could help them. | READ MORE
Artificial intelligence may help prevent physician burnout
Medical Xpress
Artificial intelligence (AI), in which computers can be trained to recognize patterns in large quantities of data, may be able to reduce physicians' burdens, saving them time and energy, according to a report published in Medical Economics. | READ MORE
Are varicose veins a warning sign of potentially deadly clots?
CNN
Varicose veins may be an early warning sign of potentially deadly blood clots, suggests a study published Tuesday in the journal JAMA. | READ MORE
Want to avoid overbilling?
Medpage Today
ProPublica has analyzed data from CMS that shows that the practice of up-coding, which CMS defines as overbilling, remains an issue, and some doctors are still billing Medicare for the most expensive office visits most of the time. | READ MORE
Want to improve the patient experience? Fix the phone
Medpage Today
Vanguard Communications social media research has found that 53 percent of online health care complaints were about poor communications, particularly phone communications. | READ MORE
Advertise with MAG: Please contact Tom Kornegay at 678.303.9260 or tkornegay@mag.org if you are interested in running an ad in the Georgia Pulse, which is a weekly compilation of media reports that are related to health care and the medical profession. It is sent to more than 6,000 physicians in Georgia.
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
powered by emma
Subscribe to our email list.