January/February Observer Contents

Features

What will new Medicare legislation mean for reimbursement, practice hassles, patient care?
The new Medicare law rules out physician pay cuts for two years, but there are long-term concerns.
Jan-Feb '04

Clinical Medicine

Promise, problems for molecular medicine
Researchers say they're getting close to bringing genomic testing into clinical practice.
Jan-Feb '04

Your Practice

With HIPAA rules, the actions of others can make or break physicians' efforts
Physicians scrambing to comply with new HIPAA transaction rules are being hamstrung by vendors and health plans.
Jan-Feb '04

Your next step in HIPAA compliance: the security rule
Designed to protect patient electronic health care information, the HIPAA security rule gives practices much-needed flexibility.
Jan-Feb '04

New changes to CPT codes that will affect internists
Important CPT changes include those for E/M, lab/panel and vaccine codes.
Jan-Feb '04

For Residents

Strategies to help you deal with difficult attendings
Talking about expectations and seeking support with tough attendings can resolve problems and enhance needed skills.
Jan-Feb '04

Commentary

Letters
Readers discuss HIPAA compliance problems, error disclosures.
Jan-Feb '04

College Watch

President's Column
ACP's long, continuing fight for better reimbursement
The College continues its efforts to advocate for better reimbursement for internists.
Jan-Feb '04

College's efforts to streamline the recertification process
Recent gains include tests offered via computer and a new member benefit to help answer recertification questions.
Jan-Feb '04

ACP's response to the performance measure movement
Regents' Chair Mary T. Herald explains how the College is tackling the performance measure trend that makes many internists nervous.
Jan-Feb '04

College names Harvard professor as new SVP of Medical Knowledge and Education Division.
Jan-Feb '04

Chapters present 11 Laureate Awards.
Jan-Feb '04

College Briefs

Wanted: internists for 5K fun run at Annual Session.
Jan-Feb '04

New Chair-elect of Governors named.
Jan-Feb '04

Washington Perspective

Responding to concerns about new Medicare reforms
While many College members support new Medicare reform legislation, others express their concerns.
Jan-Feb '04

Policy Briefs

ACP says interpreter guidelines still too onerous.
Jan-Feb '04

ACP criticizes report on incorrect payment rates as "preliminary."
Jan-Feb '04

Needed: standards to guide pharmacists on therapeutic substitutions.
Jan-Feb '04

College lab testing service wins five-year government contract.
Jan-Feb '04

Quiz

The MKSAP Challenge
A 62-year old woman is evaluated because of abnormal results on a chest X-ray.
Jan-Feb '04

Member News

Texas group gives internist end-of-life care award.
Jan-Feb '04

CME

January/February

Chapter Meetings

January/February

• Feb 2010
• Jan 2010
• Nov/Dec 2009
• Oct 2009
• Sept 2009

ACP Career Connection

Looking for a new internal medicine or subspecialty position?

ACP Career Connection can help you find your next job in internal medicine. Search internist and subspecialist positions nationwide that suit your criteria and preferences. Jobs are posted about two weeks before print publication of Annals of Internal Medicine, ACP Internist, and ACP Hospitalist. Exclusive “Online Direct” opportunities are updated weekly. Check us out online.

Sneak a peek at ACPs new and improved Clinical Information page! Test drive the beta version of our redesigned Clinical Information landing page, give us your feedback, and help us make it as easy to use as possible.

Twice a year, ACP participates in a journal readership survey of random internists. If you receive one of these surveys in the mail, please indicate if you read our journals and answer the questions about your reading habits of our journals.

Your voice in these surveys is very important to ACP and enables us to continue to produce the high-quality publications that you expect. Find out more.