By Ken Frantz and Mark Newman

Physicians and other healthcare providers are more concerned than ever about how they will implement electronic health record (EHR) systems in their practices by 2011 to qualify for the first phase of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds and ultimately be eligible for the maximum reimbursement. The systems can be complex, the reporting requirements and processes for demonstrating meaningful use are not yet clear, and the resources to help are still emerging.
With the recent release of the Final Rule for “meaningful use” requirements for …

By Patricia A. Costante
In recent months, there have been several reports published that have forecasted dramatic physician shortages in New Jersey. The New Jersey Physician Workforce Task Force Report published by the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals projects a shortfall of more than 2,800 physicians by the year 2020. Even more alarming is the fact that the 2009 report of the Resident Exit Survey (an annual report prepared by New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals) shows a precipitous decline in the number of graduating medical residents who are choosing …

By Steven H. Snyder, Esq.
The first challenge that faces intended parents in third-party reproduction is finding someone willing to act as a surrogate.  There are, however, several sources that intended parents can use to find an appropriate and reliable surrogate.
The first source is relatives, friends, or co-workers who are aware of the parents’ situation and volunteer to assist them.  One of the advantages of finding a surrogate with whom the parents have an existing relationship is that it maximizes the initial feeling of comfort and trust among the parties.  This initial …

By Robert E. Moffit

Don’t expect doctors to give the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act a clean bill of health. The act will reinforce the worst features of existing third-party payment arrangements in both the private and public sectors — arrangements that already compromise the professional independence and integrity of the medical profession.
Doctors will find themselves subject to more, not less, government regulation and oversight. Moreover, they will become increasingly dependent on unreliable government reimbursement for medical services. Medicare and Medicaid payment, …

By Joseph Lombardi, M.D.
You probably remember the tragic death of actor John Ritter in 2003. Recently, his family partnered with the Thoracic Aortic Disease (TAD) Coalition to shed light on the condition that took his life: aortic dissection. In addition to TAD Coalition’s “Ritter Rules,” which focus on recognizing, treating and preventing the condition, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology also released new guidelines designed to prevent unnecessary deaths.  Aortic dissection occurs when the wall of the aorta, the body’s main blood vessel, splits and blood flows …

By Ashish B. Patel, MD
In radiation therapy, higher doses produce better tumor control. Yet doses typically must be fractionated in order to limit damage or risk to nearby healthy tissue.
Technological developments years ago brought the introduction of noninvasive stereotactic radiosurgery for the brain, with greater beam precision allowing a higher radiation dose to be used in fewer treatments. This precise beam accurately targeted the lesion while posing low risk to surrounding tissue. Stereotactic radiosurgery achieved excellent results in treating certain brain tumors, with control rates equivalent to surgical resection.
Recently, stereotactic …

By Kasey Gahler, CFP
The sun was shining through my office window. The birds were chirping outside and the smell of spring time was in the air. Living in central Texas you tend to really cherish days in the mid-70s with a light breeze, as you know the 100 plus degree temps of summer are quickly approaching. However, this was no ordinary Monday morning. It was March 22; the Monday following the passing of the recent health care reform bill. Many questions came hurling into my office that day …

By Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), M.D.
With much fanfare and political wrangling on Capitol Hill, the signature domestic policy initiative of President Barack Obama’s administration – health care – has been signed into law.  From the very beginning of this debate, individuals of good faith on both sides of the political divide shared a common goal of expanding health coverage to more Americans.  However, there were many of us who opposed the Democrat health plan and firmly believe that the ultimate package was fundamentally flawed and failed to meet American principles …

After a year of contentious debate, Congress has finally passed the health care reform bill, which provides coverage to 32 million currently uninsured Americans and regulates the insurance industry.
Just before midnight Sunday, the House passed the measure by a vote of 219 – 212, with unanimous opposition from the Republican party.  The bill required 216 votes for passage.  The House also passed a second piece of legislation, the reconciliation bill that made corrections to the Senate version, by a vote of 220 – 211.
After the session ended, President Obama gave …

After more than a year of debate, it looks like there may be new health reform legislation after Sunday’s House vote on the reconciliation bill.  Now, even if the House passes this version of the bill, it can be stalled in the Senate through several parliamentary procedures.  But at this point, ultimate passage seems imminent.
So…what’s changed since the Senate passed its bill on Christmas Eve? Kaiser Health News lays out the major differences.  For physicians, the only significant addition is that primary care docs get a payment increase.  According to …