Physicians challenge Sierra Health acquisition
The American Medical Association, Nevada State Medical Association and Clark County Medical Society have filed joint comments opposing the U.S. Department of Justice’s proposed final judgment in the acquisition of Sierra Health Services by United Health Group. According to the AMA, the three physician organizations filed comments under the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, alleging the Justice Department’s actions will fail to protect high-quality medical care from a merger the groups feel is anticompetitive. “The acquisition of Sierra by UnitedHealth creates an unprecedented level of market concentration in Southern Nevada,” said AMA Immediate Past President William G. Plested, MD.
CMS plans to expand PQRI program for 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will offer new reporting options to encourage physicians to submit quality data. The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative allows the use of 119 measures, including two “structural measures” focusing on the use of electronic health records and electronic prescribing technology. The other 117 measures are clinical performance measures, developed by leading physician organizations. These measures include factors such as the percentage of patients who are receiving cancer screenings and flu shots.
GAO says feds fall short in monitoring nursing homes
A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office says nursing homes and the federal agency overseeing them are falling well short of the mark. The GAO study said federal monitoring of nursing homes does not give a clear picture of the level of care provided. Instead, it found “a continued understatement of serious care problems” and oversight weakness on the part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Since 1998, the GAO has repeatedly shown that state nursing home quality inspectors understate the seriousness of what they find.
Cleveland Clinic offers full tuition scholarships
Beginning this July, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University will offer all incoming students full tuition scholarships. CCLCM was formed in 2002 by a partnership between the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University. The College offers a medical school program that trains physician scientists to further medical research.