House proposal would allow states which expanded Medicaid to be fully funded through 2020
The Wall Street Journal (3/3, Peterson, Hackman, Armour, Subscription Publication) reported the House Energy and Commerce Committee is drafting legislation to reshape Medicaid that would allow states which expanded the program under the Affordable Care Act to receive Federal funding at current levels until 2020. The bill is…
For Your Health’s Sake, Do Not Keep Up with the Kardashians
By Casey L. Penn The Information Superhighway. It can be a conduit to reliable, user-friendly health resources for patients (e.g., the Mayo Clinic's easy-to-navigate website, with facts and information written with laypersons in mind), or it can be a passage into a morass of exploited trends, suspect sources,…
Drug-related overdose deaths increasing nationally
The article below from the AMA Morning Rounds (2/24/17) brings new light to this national epidemic. Make sure you are registered and utilizing the Arkansas Prescription Drug Program to help fight drug abuse in your community. You may also delegate access to designated staff in order to save…
Using the Law in Patient Care
By Frank Griffin, MD, JD* Does it take more that health care to cure Americans’ ailments? One area often overlooked in diagnostic and treatment plans are the many social determinants that can affect a patient’s health. For example, poverty can lead to malnutrition, which can lead to immunocompromise and…
UAMS College of Medicine Chair to be named after AMS
The Arkansas Medical Society Board of Trustees has approved a six-year plan to raise $500,000 of the $1.5 million needed to endow The Arkansas Medical Society Distinguished Dean's chair. The AMS and UAMS College of Medicine share strong bonds dating back over 130 years. By helping to establish…
AMS Welcomes 13 New Members in January
By joining the Arkansas Medical Society (AMS), the physicians listed below have illustrated their commitment to improving health care in their communities and our state. “As AMS members, these physicians are part of a statewide network of over 4,300 Arkansas physicians, residents and medical students, dedicated to protecting…
Sens. Collins, Cassidy unveil ACA replacement proposal
The New York Times (1/23, Pear, Subscription Publication) reports that on Monday, Sen. Susan Collins (R-MA) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) unveiled “a partial replacement for the Affordable Care Act” which “would allow states to continue operating under the law if they choose.” The article says it is…
Aetna-Humana merger blocked by US District Judge
The New York Times (1/23, Picker, Abelson, Subscription Publication) reports Judge John D. Bates of the US District Court for the District of Columbia has blocked the proposed $37 billion merger of insurers Aetna and Humana. Bates said in his ruling that he “mostly agrees” with the argument…
WRMC Participating in Global Study
AMS Board Member, Seth Barnes, MD and member Deborah A. Johnson, MD, are part of the team conducting this worldwide clinical study governed by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Article from www.whiteriverhealthsystem.com, January 11, 2017. White River Medical Center (WRMC) is currently the only hospital in the…
ACA Update from Washington
CBO says repealing ACA would result in 18 million losing coverage in first year The New York Times (1/17, A1, Pear, Subscription Publication) reports on its front page that according to the Congressional Budget Office, some 18 million Americans would lose healthcare coverage in the first year if…
The One SURE THING in Medicine
It has been an interesting 2016, has it not? Governor Hutchinson proposed – the Arkansas Legislature passed; and HHS has issued a waiver for – a revision to Arkansas Medicaid Expansion; we have survived a campaign season and election which went very differently from what many pundits had…