Model health care sites opening across the nation

Rachel Zimmerman of Common Health looks at Donald Berwick, who is the new Director of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and his plan to expand model healthcare sites across the United States. The goal is to have these sites launched throughout the US by the end of 2011. These sites will focus on the safety of patients and quality care while maintaining an affordable cost. They will be the new model for how physicians are paid with the new plans for healthcare.

Non-compliance, requests for generics on the rise, says survey

Matthew Arnold of Medical Marketing & Media reports that, physicians say patient compliance is getting worse, and they're hearing more requests for generic or OTC alternatives to prescribed medications as the economic malaise takes its toll, according to a Pri-Med survey.

The Pri-Med survey used 473 respondents with 70% said they are hearing patients increasingly request generic or OTC alternatives, and 68% said they've noticed an increase in non-compliant behaviors with regards to medication usage among patients. More than half said they're seeing changes in patient payment, such as increased delinquencies or requests for payment plans, and 88% are seeing changes to patients' appointment behaviors, including increased cancellations and refusals of tests or screening procedures.

Physicans say that they are devoting more time to phone consultations and low-cost alternatives to help serve their patients needs.


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