Tammy Worth

Emergency medicine has been plagued in recent years with problems like physician shortages and diversion, or turning away ambulances because of overcrowding. One solution being used in many areas to reduce congestion and cut costs is the employment of nurse practitioners.

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 went into effect in July 2010 and for the most part, health plans are complying with the legislation and figuring out how to manage costs.

A report released last month by the California HealthCare Foundation found that total and operating margins in the state's hospitals were higher than they have been in the past nine years -- 5.1 percent and 3.1 percent respectively. But looking beyond those two basic numbers, hospitals are working on razor-thin margins.

Emergency medicine has been plagued in recent years with problems like physician shortages and diversion, or turning away ambulances because of overcrowding. One solution being used in many areas to reduce congestion and cut costs is the employment of nurse practitioners.