http://www.enttoday.org Health Policy Topic Rss http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/806379/Medicare_Battle_Heats_Up_Geographic_Disparities_spark_look_into_spending_variati.html In the wake of this year’s landmark health care reform legislation, one of the most hotly debated topics comes courtesy of the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, as politicians, analysts, researchers and physicians grapple over how to resolve the contentious issue of geographical disparities in health care spending. 2010-08-09T22:13:00Z http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/755993/Health_Reform_Perks_Employer_tax_credits_could_benefit_your_practice.html By now, you’re probably well versed in the clinical aspects of the health reform bill signed by President Obama in March. But what you may not know is that the bill includes a section that could benefit otolaryngologists and other physicians in their role as employers. 2010-07-02T00:19:00Z http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/737869/Harvard_Economist_Offers_Health_Reform_Solution_Says_change_must_focus_on_cost_c.html The newly adopted clinical practice guidelines (CPG) on hoarseness—and concerns that portions are overly simplistic and could harm care—took center stage here in a panel discussion at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, part of the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings held here April 28-May 2. 2010-06-09T03:55:00Z http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/737847/Not_So_Fast_New_quality_provisions_arent_ready_for_implementation_medical_groups.html The new health system reform law includes a number of quality provisions that physician organizations say are not ready for primetime and won’t be ready in the time frame established by Congress. 2010-06-09T03:22:00Z http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/690083/A_Better_Way_to_Implement_EMRs_Why_one-size-fits-all_wont_work.html I have been a strong advocate of electronic medical records (EMRs) for almost a decade. In fact, I used the phrases “It is the silver bullet for health care reform infrastructure” and “It is the cornerstone for health care reform infrastructure” to describe EMR plans when President Obama was campaigning. However, technology, like fire, can warm your house or burn it down, cook your food or kill you. Likewise, the wrong EMR will escalate inefficiency and raise health care costs.... 2010-05-02T16:41:00Z http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/690075/Digital__Dilemma_Physicians_oppose__EHR_requirements_.html The federal government’s proposed rule establishing incentive payments for physicians who “meaningfully use” electronic health records (EHRs) is too onerous and would discourage physicians from participating, some otolaryngologists say. 2010-05-02T16:35:00Z http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/690069/_Health_Reform_to_Insure_32_Million_Are_you_ready_for_them.html The new health system reform law is expected to reduce the number of uninsured Americans by 32 million people, and that means more paying patients for physician practices. Many doctors, however, worry that the law’s lack of Medicare payment reform and medical malpractice caps will exacerbate a looming physician shortage. This raises questions about how successful the law will be in increasing health care access. 2010-05-02T16:30:00Z http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/684953/Show_Me_the_Evidence_Comparative_effectiveness_research_could_aid__treatment_dec.html A push at the national level to fund more comparative effectiveness research could mean more information for otolaryngologists about which treatments work best for a given condition and in which patients. 2010-04-01T02:19:00Z http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/588769/Health_Care_as_a_Commodity_Competition_should_be_focus_of_health_reform_lecturer.html Donald Palmisano, Esq., MD, believes the key to curing the health care crisis in the U.S. involves respecting the sacredness of the doctor-patient relationship and capping the size of malpractice awards. 2010-03-01T23:51:00Z http://www.enttoday.org/details/article/558823/Quality_Over_Quantity_Accountable_care_organizations_link_physician_payments_to_.html Beyond the handful of long-established and well-integrated sites being labeled as de facto accountable care organizations (ACOs), advocates are seizing the moment and pushing for a bold vision of what role ACOs will play in the movement to reform the health care payment system across the country. 2010-02-01T19:06:00Z