Healthcare Business Top Stories

The AMA has issued a strong criticism of the proposed 2014 Medicare physician-fee schedule, and also fired back against attacks on its Medicare physician payment advisory panel.
FULL STORY »

With the Aug. 1 implementation of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, the CMS has launched two mobile smartphone applications to help physicians, drug and medical-device manufacturers, and group purchasing organizations track payments and other transfers of value.
FULL STORY »

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is vowing to prevent a vote on immigration reform even though the latest reports from Capitol Hill suggest as many as 40 or 50 Republicans are willing to back some version of the legislation that passed the Senate last June.
FULL STORY »

The CMS is seeking public comment on how best to make physician-specific Medicare payment data publicly available while also protecting the privacy of patients. Physician organizations have vigorously opposed the release of physician-specific data but the dike appears to be crumbling.
FULL STORY »

It's more those smoking breaks than healthcare costs that make smokers more expensive employees.
FULL STORY »

Jeffrey Surges has resigned as the CEO and as a member of the board of directors of Merge Healthcare, following the release of what the Chicago-based radiology systems software company called “disappointing” second-quarter financial results.
FULL STORY »

Health insurers face a new requirement to rapidly communicate electronically with providers whether a patient has coverage and how much treatment will cost the patient in co-pays and deductibles.
FULL STORY »

Groups seeking to protect patients with chronic conditions from an increase in out-of-pocket spending beyond the limits set in the reform law aren't happy with a response from the Labor Department.
FULL STORY »

There may be new hope in the fight against obesity among American youth.
FULL STORY »

A federally chartered special work group with representatives from three federal agencies has submitted its draft recommendations on establishing a regulatory framework for health IT.
FULL STORY »