QD: News Every Day--waiting for the weekend

ACP Internist's daily digest of news and events continues with this weekend's expected vote on health care reform, H1N1 influenza's ascendance as the dominant strain, and Texas' look at doctor-owned hospitals.

Health care reform
Everyone is gearing up for the expected weekend vote in the U.S. House on health care reform. ACP President Joseph W. Stubbs, FACP, said while the legislation doesn't have every proposal the organiation wants, it "... would represent an historic step forward to achieving ACP's desired future of a U.S. health care delivery system that provides access, best quality care and health insurance coverage for 100% of its people." The American Medical Association is supporting it, with its president saying in a press release that while the legislation is not perfect, "It goes a long way toward expanding access to high-quality affordable health coverage for all Americans, and it would make the system better for patients and physicians."

While the Congressional Budget Office estimates the legislation will cost $894 billion over 10 years and reduce the national deficit by $30 billion, the actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said he may not have an estimate ready by the weekend vote. While Congress is bound to budget office estimates, CMS figures may sway some votes. (The Hill)

H1N1 influenza
H1N1 influenza is now the dominant strain globally. Obesity may be a factor for complications. More on this will be reported in ACP InternistWeekly on Tuesday. (CNN, CBS News)

In case you missed it ...
This weekend's New York Times Magazine features the debate about evidence-based medicine--clinical judgment squares off against the scientific method, and what happens when doctors at Intermountain Healthcare create their own evidence base.

In Texas, legislators are debating how to treat doctor-owned hospitals. Texas has 67 physician-owned hospitals with about 50 more expected to open, state Rep. Sam Johnson told the Dallas Morning News. While pending legislation would severely curtail existing facilities and prohibit new ones, amendments may grandfather the existing ones. At is issue is whether these facilities cherry-pick the wealthiest patients.

Labels: evidence-based medicine, H1N1, health care reform, QD

posted by Ryan DuBosar at 10:47 AM