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The Big Three
Another year... and another round of changes to the Stark Law are in the offing. The federal physician self-referral regulations — commonly known as Stark — impose complex restrictions on the financial relationships between referring physicians and entities that provide "designated health services" (DHS) to Medicare recipients. Because of changes laid out in the final rule, issued on July 31, 2008, some relationships will need to be restructured or unwound to comply, said Mark Lewis, an attorney in the healthcare practice of Nashville-based Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry...
SHARON H. FITZGERALD |
Stark Contrast
Is the Stark Law Still Meeting its Original Intent?When Congress passes a bill, any necessary regulations usually follow within a reasonable time. Otherwise, the law's in limbo. When it comes to the Stark Law, you might say that its evolution has been in stark contrast to conventional lawmaking, and that's only one of the reasons why the law keeps physicians and their attorneys up at night.
"This is the law that some people have jokingly referred to as The Full Employment Act for Lawyers," said Joan Krause, professor and co-director of the Health Law and Policy Institute at the University of Houston...
SHARON H. FITZGERALD |
Physician Spotlight: David Tribble, MD
Although much of his career has focused on end-of-life care, David Tribble, MD, has always embraced new beginnings. As the recently-named chief medical officer and vice president for medical services at Nashville's Alive Hospice, he will continue to look for innovative and effective ways to help the patients he serves...
KELLY PRICE |
Physician, Teacher and Writer... Sergent Shares Healing Words
John Sergent, MD, is vice chairman for education, professor of medicine and director of the residency program at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. But he has always been primarily a communicator – whether debating in high school and college, writing for the school paper, editing numerous professional journals and publications, teaching house staff and medical students or writing his well-known op-ed pieces.
KELLY PRICE |
Counting Calories
Nashville is on the brink of becoming the first city in the Southeast … and among the earliest adopters nationwide … to embrace caloric menu labeling for food service establishments with 15 or more outlets.
"Because the rate of consumption of away-from-home meals has increased dramatically, the distinction between requiring nutrition information for packaged but not restaurant products is no longer reasonable," opined Jennifer L. Pomeranz, JD, MPH, and Kelly D. Brownell, PhD, in the September 2008 issue of the American Journal of Public Health...
CINDY SANDERS |
Reflections & Resolutions
A Conversation with Commissioner Susan Cooper
As we put the old year to rest and turn our attention to what promises to be a fiscally challenging 2009, Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, took time to share with Nashville Medical News her reflections on current programming and resolutions for a healthier citizenry.
CINDY SANDERS |
New State Cancer Control Plan Emphasizes Prevention
Preventing Tennesseans from getting cancer and helping ensure better treatment for those who do is the purpose of the Tennessee Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition (TC4), which last November unveiled its Tennessee Cancer Control Plan covering 2009 to 2012. The state's first plan, published in 2005, covered three years.
SHARON H. FITZGERALD |
Endocrine Society Releases New Practice Guidelines to Prevent, Treat Childhood Obesity
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
In light of today's lifestyle choices, however, the old adage should probably be rephrased to more accurately depict 21st century America — the deep fried apple pie doesn't fall far from the fast food chain.
Considering the number of overweight and obese adults in this country, it shouldn't be surprising that the nation is raising more and more overweight and obese children. Still, this issue somehow seems to catch many parents and healthcare providers off guard.
CINDY SANDERS |
Nashville: A National Leader in Lung Cancer Research
Is it any surprise that more nicotine patches will be sold in the United States this month than in any month of the year? As Tennessee smokers again try to live up to their New Year's resolution to break their tobacco addiction, perhaps they should consider this: "Lung cancer kills more people than breast, colon, prostate and stomach cancer all put together. It's kind of the silent killer, because people don't realize what a problem it is," David Carbone, MD, said.
SHARON H. FITZGERALD |
Healthcare Enterprise: onFocus | Healthcare Helps Hospitals Plan for the Future and Measure Success
With the U.S. economy in recession, hospitals are looking to do more with less. Brentwood-based onFocus | Healthcare believes its products and services can help hospitals and other provider organizations do just that.
"They need a higher level of execution. Our clients are telling us now that they have to get it right the first time. There's no margin for error, and the stakes have increased in terms of their shareholders' and other stakeholders' expectations," said onFocus President and CEO Steven Mason...
SHARON H. FITZGERALD |
Vital Signs
With 2009 just beginning and a new president about to take his seat in the Oval Office, many are waiting to see what's store for the healthcare sector in the coming year.
Since the campaign season, the debate over healthcare reform has remained a quiet rumble in the background as financial institutions and carmakers screech in Congress' collective ears with calls for bailouts...
Special to Medical News from Walker Duncan, NashvillePost.com |
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