Practice Management News

The cover story in the Nov. 25, 2018, issue of Ocular Surgery News focuses on identifying and preventing embezzlement in ophthalmology practices. Here are some of the issue’s publication exclusives:

To address concerns that out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs have reduced access to essential medications, delegates at the Interim Meeting of the AMA adopted a policy supporting in-person purchase and importation of prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies in Canada.

As Medicare Advantage gains traction over traditional Medicare, there are several important potential issues that demand oversight, according to a paper published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

SAN ANTONIO – While he believes there is, “something terribly wrong with our health care system,” Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, vice provost for global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, said, “I’m widely optimistic about the future of health care in the U.S.”

CHICAGO — At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here, Cynthia Matossian, MD, FACS, discusses ways to prevent different forms of embezzlement in medical practices.

The FDA expanded the approved marketing of the 23andMe Personal Genome Service Pharmacogenetic Reports test to include information about 33 genetic variants that may be linked with a patient’s ability to metabolize some medications to help inform discussions with a health care provider, according to an agency press release.

ACP updated its policy recommendations for reducing gun-related injuries and deaths in the United States by building on, strengthening and expanding on current policies, according to a position paper published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

AMA recently announced that it will award $15 million in grant funding over the next 5 years to training programs that discuss the changing needs of patients, communities and the workforce needs of the current and future health care system.

CHICAGO – Transitioning from a volume-based system to a value-based one is the future of medicine in this country, and ophthalmology is a specialty best-suited to lead that charge, according to a speaker here.

CHICAGO – High drug costs and drug shortages negatively impact both patients and prescribing physicians, but encouraging market competition and education regarding cost differentials can lessen those impacts, according to a speaker here.