Chiropractic OnLine Today's
In The News feature: Part Eight.
May 20 - June 10, 1996

WORKERS COMP COSTS DROP, COMPETITION RISES - STUDY - The costs of workers' compensation have dropped considerably in the last five years because of employers' focus on reducing claims, according to a Conning & Co study. [Reuters, 265 words]

AMA, STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PACS ARE STRONG PLAYERS IN LATEST FEC 15-MONTH TALLIES OF RECEIPTS AND CANDIDATE CONTRIBUTIONS. - AMA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE LED ALL HEALTH GROUP CONTRIBUTORS, giving over $570,000 to congressional candidates between Jan. 1, 1995 and March 31, 1996. [Health News Daily, 291 words] NewPage Direct 6/11/96

HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM COMPROMISE INCREASINGLY UNLIKELY THIS YEAR, CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS PREDICT JUNE 7; SENS. LOTT, KENNEDY DEBATEMSAS ON SENATE FLOOR. - LACK OF COMPROMISE ON MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS SAID TO BE DEATH KNELL for bipartisan health insurance reform legislation. [Health News Daily, 824 words]

N.Y. SENATE WC REFORM BILL FOR INJURED WORKERS PASSES - With New York Gov. George Pataki and the New York Senate in agreement on some ways to change the workers' compensation system in the state, a workers' comp. reform bill, SB 7164, passed in the N.Y. Senate on May 29. [National Underwriter Property & Casualty, 192 words]

NATIONAL HEALTH EXPENDITURES' GROWTH SLOWS AGAIN - WASHINGTON--National health expenditures rose to $949.4 billion in 1994, a 6.4 increase from 1993 and the smallest increase in more than three decades, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. [National Underwriter Life & Health, 247 words]

AETNA DEFENDS MERGER AT CONN. HEARING - Aetna Life and Casualty Co chairman Ronald Compton testified at a hearing on the proposed merger of Aetna and U.S. Healthcare Inc that Aetna had no choice but to combine forces with a managed care company. [Reuters, 257 words] NewPage Direct 6/10/96

FIFTY-EIGHT NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOSPITALS BECAME FOR-PROFIT IN 1995; PUBLIC CITIZEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH GROUP URGING STRICT SAFEGUARDS ON "MERGER MANIA". - NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOSPITALS CONVERTING TO FOR-PROFIT NUMBERED 58 IN 1995, accounting for about 15% of all hospital deals during year, Public Citizen's Health Research Group calculates in a report issued June 6. [Health News Daily, 554 words]

PHYSICIANS QUESTION AETNA DEAL;NEW JERSEY GROUP RAISES ANTITRUST ISSUES - TRENTON-The New Jersey Medical Society is asking insurance regulators in the state to examine carefully the proposed purchase of U.S. Healthcare Inc. by Aetna Life & Casualty Co. because of what it said are concerns over the practices ... [Business Insurance, 285 words] NewPage Direct 6/7/96

While treadmill testing is still better at identifying patients with abnormal heart function induced by exercise, mental stress testing may be an important indicator of future heart problems. AP 6/4/96

Also studied was the use of bases which release upon impact. Sliding injuries accounted for 13,000 emergency room visits in 1995, according to the report. Safety release bases which don't leave holes in the ground or parts of the base sticking up from the ground after impact may prevent or reduce the severity of some 6,600 sliding injuries every year. AP 6/4/96

For information about the free Amplicor testing, call 1-888-TEST-PCR.
AP 6/4/96

MANAGED CARE "ANTI-GAG RULE" BILL MARKUP EXPECTED BEFORE INDEPENDENCE DAY RECESS; AAHP, AMA TESTIFY ON HR 2976 BEFORE HOUSE COMMERCE/HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE. - PATIENT RIGHT TO KNOW ACT" TO BE MARKED UP BY JULY 4, bill sponsor Greg Ganske indicated at a May 30 House Commerce/Health Subcommittee hearing. [Health News Daily, 633 words]

BUSINESSES RETURN TO TEXAS SYSTEM; FALLING RATES, LIABILITY SHIELD REVIVE WORKERS COMP MARKET - AUSTIN, Texas-Heated rate competition in the Texas workers compensation market and more lawsuits against companies that opt out of the state system are spurring more employers in the state to buy traditional coverage again. [Business Insurance, 1379 words]

AHCPR EXPLORING PRELIMINARY RELEASE OF MEDICAL EXPENDITURE SURVEY RESULTS TO "DATA CENTER" RESEARCHERS FOR EDITING/CHECKING. - MEDICAL SPENDING SURVEY "DATA CENTERS" WOULD ALLOW EARLY RELEASE of survey results to researchers, who in turn would aid in editing and double-checking the data, under a concept that the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research is exploring. [Health News Daily, 976 words]

OXFORD HEALTH PLANS RECEIVES FULL ACCREDITATION FROM THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE - Oxford Health Plans, Inc. , one of the nation's most respected health care companies, has earned full, three-year accreditation, the highest level of accreditation, from the National Committee For Quality Assurance , reported Stephen F. Wiggins, the Company's chairman and CEO. [PR Newswire, 438 words] NewPage Direct 5/31/96

ANTHEM, INC., BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NJ TO MERGE DEAL WILL CREATE MULTI-REGIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE COMPANY - Anthem, Inc. and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey announced today they have agreed to merge, creating an integrated health care company with more than $9 billion in revenues, and significant market share in two separate regions of the United States. [PR Newswire, 705 words]

EARLY MEDICAL INTERVENTION NOT ALWAYS A HELP@ RELEASE AT 5 P.M. EDT (2100 GMT) - Conventional wisdom holds that vigilant medical care can ease pain, suffering and costs by catching health problems early, but a new study found that early intervention can sometimes do just the opposite. [Reuters, 402 words]

NEW JERSEY PSYCHOLOGISTS FILE PRECEDENT-SETTING LAWSUIT AGAINST MANAGED CARE COMPANY - The New Jersey Psychological Association announced today that, along with seven psychologists, it filed a complaint against MCC Behavioral Care, Inc. in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County. NJPA and the psychologists filed the complaint ... [PR Newswire, 611 words] NewPage Direct 5/30/96

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS AND INSTITUTE PASTEUR DE LILLE RESEARCHERS DISCOVER DNA SEQUENCE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROLLING OBESITY GENE LEPTIN GENE PROMOTER/ NEW DRUG DISCOVERY TOOL TO FACILITATE DISCOVERY <> - Scientists from Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and the Institute Pasteur de Lille reported today that they have discovered the promoter region responsible for controlling the expression of the human obesity gene, also called the leptin gene.

HEALTH CARE'S MARKET SHIFT -- RAPID CHANGE AND COST PRESSURE DRIVE TREND TO SERVICES AND OUTSOURCING - The health industry is undergoing major upheaval: Cost pressures and the need to deliver increasingly sophisticated services are beginning to drive hospitals, physicians, insurance firms, and health-maintenance organizations into forming close-knit health-care networks. [Information Week, 427 words] NewPage Direct 5/29/96

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE APPROVES CHANGES IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION - By Jim Davenport Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News May 24--The Senate on Thursday approved changes in the state's workers' compensation laws that would close a loophole that allowed businesses to avoid the system. [The State, 279 words]

COMMISSION CONTRACTS FOR LANDMARK STUDY OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PERMANENT DISABILITY - The California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation voted unanimously to contract with the independent research organization RAND for a comprehensive study of the California Workers' Compensation permanent disability program. [Business Wire, 469 words]

FDA PANEL RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF U.S. SURGICAL SPINE CAGE; FINAL FDA APPROVAL EXPECTED IN LATE SUMMER - United States Surgical Corporation announced today that the Food and Drug Administration's Orthopedic Devices Advisory Panel recommended approval of USS' Premarket Approval application for the Ray threaded spinal fusion cage. [PR Newswire, 444 words] NewPage Direct 5/28/96

The Jeffrey Modell Foundation: 800-JEFF-8444 or

The Immune Deficiency Foundation at: 800-296-4433
AP 5/19/96

Please note: Chiropractic OnLine Today provides recounts of these studies for informational purposes only. Readers are urged to review further information or contact your Doctor of Chiropractic for other preventive health measures.