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HHS proposes ‘mystery shoppers’ for docs, 4-28-11, Modern Physician

Writer Andis Robeznieks reports on a HHS proposal to use a “mystery shopper” program to gauge primary-care physicians’ timeliness in accepting new patients.

A Fight Over How Drugs Are Pitched, 4-24-11, The New York Times

Writer Natasha Singer offers background to a Supreme Court case that centers around data used in electronic profiles by pharmaceutical marketers to pitch products to physicians.

AIA Testifies in Support of Workers’ Compensation Reform in North Carolina, 4-22-11, Insurance News Net.com

Read a press release from the American Insurance Association, which testified before the NC House Select Committee on Tort Reform in support of HB 709 – Protect and Put NC Back to Work on April 21, 2011.

Medical students (still) shun internal medicine, study finds, 4-26-11, Los Angeles Times/Chicago Tribune

LA Times writer Eryn Brown looks at a study in the Archive of Internal Medicine that finds little improvement in efforts to gain more interest among medical students in primary care medicine.

Should Specialists Join ACOs?, 4-26-11, Becker’s ASC Review

Writer Leigh Page examines whether specialists will become part of the ACO movement.

Medicare fight cranks up in N.C., 4-27-11, The News and Observer

Staff writer Rob Christensen reports on the political battle emerging in North Carolina over the proposed overhaul of Medicare. 

NC medical negligence changes heading to committee, 4-26-11, WRAL-TV, Associated Press

The AP reports that House and Senate versions of a medical liability reforms bill will now be worked out by a conference committee.

HB 542 turns its back on personal accountability, 4-27-11, Kinston Free Press

Guest columnist and Kinston attorney Matt Sullivan makes his case against HB 542 Tort Reform for Citizens and Businesses, which is being considered in the NC House.