Some Connecticut doctors have abandoned their offices for hospital ICU’s, while others struggle to maintain their practices.
doctors
Posted inHealth, Politics
Doc, now Rep. Petit, on health care, victims’ rights and small business
William Petit is one of 35 newly elected members of the Connecticut General Assembly, but he’s probably the only one whose November election made national news. He spoke with The Mirror about his new job as a legislator, changes in how doctors practice, diabetes, the federal health law, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s Second Chance Society criminal justice reform initiatives, victims’ rights, and the assumptions people have about him.
Posted inHealth, Politics
‘It’s a public health crisis:’ Malloy proposals target opioids
The proposals include requiring physicians to prescribe opioids electronically rather than on paper; allowing visiting nurses to destroy unused medication; and allowing patients to direct that they not be prescribed an opioid medication.
Posted inHealth
A lot at stake for Connecticut as Trump, GOP eye Medicaid changes
Medicaid is Connecticut’s largest source of federal funding and the largest single line item in the state budget. It covers close to one in five state residents – more than 750,000 poor children, adults and people with disabilities. A major change in federal Medicaid funding is a big worry for the state’s budget director.
Posted inHealth, Money
Same data, opposite conclusions: Did Medicaid cuts limit access to radiology?
When the state cut Medicaid payment rates for radiologists by 42.5 percent last year, doctors and patient advocates warned it would get harder for poor patients to get mammograms and other imaging services. A year and a half later, the state Medicaid agency says that hasn’t happened. But radiologists say it’s not that simple.
Posted inHealth
Study asks: Do doctors’ political views influence care?
A new study by Yale researchers suggests Republican and Democrat doctors have different views on the seriousness of politically charged issues such as marijuana use, abortion or having a gun at home – and might handle them differently with patients.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Justice Dept. sues to block Aetna-Humana, Anthem-Cigna mergers
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department filed lawsuits Thursday to block both proposed mergers between Aetna and Humana and Anthem and Cigna. The insurers said they would fight the suits.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Revised physician non-compete bill wins final passage
The proposal grew out of work by the Senate’s top Democrat and Republican to address the changing health care landscape, including the trend toward doctors giving up owning their own practices to work for hospital systems or large group practices.
Posted inHealth
State behind on funds to help troubled health care professionals
When Connecticut lawmakers raised the annual licensing fee for health care professionals by $5 last year, they assigned the additional money to go to a confidential assistance program for health care practitioners whose medical, mental health or substance abuse issues could prevent them from practicing safely. But so far, the program has yet to receive any of the money.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Law enforcement access to CT drug monitoring data raises privacy concern
WASHINGTON — Connecticut’s Prescription Monitoring Program aims to stop the misuse of opioids and other dangerous drugs and save lives. But some are concerned these programs have given law enforcement officers access to private information about prescription drugs in your medicine cabinet.
Posted inHealth
Congress ‘doc fix’ would halt big drop in Medicare fees
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives hopes to unveil a proposal this week that would end years of tension and bickering between Congress and the nation’s doctors. A 21 percent cut to fees paid to doctors by Medicare is hanging in the balance.
Posted inHealth
Providers, advocates call Malloy Medicaid cuts short-sighted
Critics say Malloy’s proposal to cut Medicaid is financially short-sighted and threatens to undermine recent progress in a program that has added thousands of new members as part of the federal health law, expanded the network of providers willing to treat them, and reduced its per-client costs.
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro tells Obama to end program enticing Cuban doctors to defect
WASHINGTON – Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, doesn’t think President Obama has gone far enough with opening relations with Cuba –and she has told him so. She and 14 other liberal Democrats sent Obama a letter Wednesday urging the end of a Bush-era program that makesit easier for Cuban doctors to defect.
Posted inHealth, Politics
The Basics: How the nurse practitioner bill could change health care
Here’s what you need to know about the controversial proposal to give nurse practitioners more independence, a measure that both supporters and opponents say could have a major effect on health care in Connecticut.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Play by play recap of nurse practitioner debate
The House debated a controversial measure that would allow nurse practitioners to practice independent of doctors. See how it happened.