MedWorm: Medical Law Top 20

Capitol Hill Report: Budget Offsets Could Fix SGR for One Year—or Permanently

American Academy of Neurology — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:06:07 +0100

Fixing the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula remains a top issue as we inch closer to the March 1 deadline for congressional action to prevent a 27.4 percent cut in Medicare physician reimbursement. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

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2012 Emerging Science Deadline is February 7, 2012

American Academy of Neurology — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:17:07 +0100

The AAN encourages abstracts from neurologists, neuroscientists, and other researchers whose work is of major scientific importance, warranting expedited presentation and publication. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

FTC investigation of CVS Caremark concludes with fine for overcharges of Medicare prescription drugs

Drug Topics - Legal News — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:04:04 +0100

CVS Caremark has agreed to pay $5 million to compensate consumers who purchased coverage for the 2008 plan year from a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan sponsored by Rx America, a subsidiary of Longs Drug Stores Corp., according to a company press release. (Source: Drug Topics - Legal News)

In the Supreme Court of the United States

Biotechnology Law Report — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:03:15 +0100

Biotechnology Law Report , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Biotechnology Law Report)

Judge: Insurer's Reliance On Record Reviews, Video Surveillance Reasonable

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:05:53 +0100

BOSTON - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that relied on record reviews and surveillance video in its decision to deny benefits to a claimant with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and fibromyalgia acted reasonably, a Massachusetts federal judge ruled Jan. 6 (Diahann L. Gross v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, No. 09-11678, D. Mass.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1595). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

EHR Incentive Program Registration Opening Soon, Are You Prepared?

American Academy of Neurology — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:04:00 +0100

Beginning January 3, 2011, eligible neurologists can begin the required registration for the 2011 Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

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Will You Lose Your Benefits this Week?

American Academy of Neurology — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:50:00 +0100

Time is running out for you to continue your investment in your professional future by renewing your 2011 AAN membership dues today. Pay your dues by December 31, 2010. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

Neurologists Encouraged to Use New Epilepsy Measures Published by AAN

American Academy of Neurology — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:04:00 +0100

The American Academy of Neurology has developed quality measures to help measure and improve the care of patients with epilepsy. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

AAN Press Release - Researchers: Pay More Attention to Epilepsy

American Academy of Neurology — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:51:00 +0100

Epilepsy, a common and serious neurologic disorder that affects millions of people, is not getting the public attention and funding for research it deserves. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

Claimant Petitions For En Banc Review Over 8th Circuit Finding

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:05:53 +0100

ST. LOUIS - A claimant with severe back pain on Dec. 20 filed a petition for en banc review with the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, asking for his appeal to be heard by all the justices despite a ruling last month by an Eighth Circuit panel upholding a disability insurer's reliance on record reviews and video surveillance in its decision to deny benefits (Troy J. Daigle v Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., No. 11-1847, 8th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 24349). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

U.S. Senator Suffers Stroke

American Academy of Neurology — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:16:07 +0100

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk has suffered a stroke, according to his U.S. Senate office. The Illinois Senator underwent surgery following his stroke Saturday. Learn more about stroke. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

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Law and ethics of deep brain stimulation.

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Schmitz-Luhn B, Katzenmeier C, Woopen C Abstract Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a non-destructive, adjustable, and mainly reversible method of continuously giving electrical impulses into a small area of the brain via implanted electrodes. It has been established as a standard form of treatment for specific cases of Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and dystonia. It is currently being evaluated for several mental disorders, dementia and even alcoholism. In spite of its growing practical importance, the legal issues have so far undergone almost no analysis. The article outlines both the essential legal questions of DBS from the perspective of German Law as well as major issues of the current ethical debate, and the correlation of both fields. PMID: 22244083 [PubMed...

Insurer Conducted Full and Fair Review, Judge Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:05:53 +0100

BROOKLYN, NY - A New York federal judge on Dec. 30 ruled that an ERISA-governed disability insurer that relied on record reviews and surveillance video in its decision to terminate benefits acted reasonably (Joseph E. Duncan v. Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, No. 10-CV-1164, E.D. N.Y.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150546). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Medical diagnosis of legal culpability: The impact of early psychiatric testimony in the 19th century English criminal trial.

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Toole CJ Abstract Fast-paced developments in psychiatry, neuroscience and emerging neuroimaging technologies place continual pressure on the legal recognition of mental illness and disease across jurisdictional boundaries. Nevertheless, the Canadian legal definition of exculpatory mental disease in the context of criminal liability has remained largely static, sheltered from the immediate influence of medical theory and advancements. In order to effectively reflect on the intersection of mental health and criminal justice systems in this area, it is important to understand its historical development and the English common law origins of the current approach. Specifically turning to the early 19th century, documented history and accounts of early medical witness testimony o...

Demonstration of liver metastases on postmortem whole body CT angiography following inadvertent systemic venous infusion of the contrast medium

International Journal of Legal Medicine — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:15:46 +0100

Abstract An 86-year-old woman was hospitalized for breathlessness and a large right-sided pleural effusion. Approximately 1 h after thoracentesis, she developed a hemothorax resulting in hypotension and death. Routine postmortem CT scanning showed a large volume right hemothorax and a markedly enlarged liver. In an attempt to determine the origin of bleeding prior to autopsy, a postmortem CT angiogram was performed. Following inadvertent cannulation of the left long saphenous vein and infusion of ∼1,700 mL of a polyethylene glycol 200 and iodine-based radiographic contrast solution into systemic veins using a mechanical pump, CT scanning revealed a dense hepatic "parenchogram" containing multiple large, filling defects indicative of metastases. These were confi...

AAN Launches Neurology Today for the iPad

American Academy of Neurology — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:03:29 +0100

AAN members now can turn to their iPad for clinical, research, policy, and practice news from Neurology Today®. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

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SGR Fixed Temporarily, 2012 Annual Participation Enrollment Program Extended

American Academy of Neurology — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:48:51 +0100

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate reached an agreement on a two-month extension of current Medicare payment rates. A longer-term agreement will be worked on in January with the House-Senate conference committee. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

NAD Participates in CI and Sign Language Conference

NAD Advocacy Blog — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:05:45 +0100

NAD joined nearly 100 other participants for the “Cochlear Implants and Sign Language: Building Foundations for Effective Educational Practices” conference held at Gallaudet University on April 15-17, 2009. The conference was attended by representatives from deaf schools and mainstream programs, as well as advocates and other interested parties. The purpose of the conference was to discuss effective practices to meet the needs of children with cochlear implants. Participants considered the challenges of effectively designing programs that include both spoken language and sign language. Conference goals were to: • share current research to practice considerations; • share effective strategies from individual programs; • explore issues of mutual concer...

The NAD Says: Register to VOTE!

NAD Advocacy Blog — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:08:01 +0100

Are you registered to vote? In 2004 – 18 percent of voting age citizens had not registered to vote. Did you vote in 2004? In 2004 – 64 percent of voting age citizens voted in the presidential election. That means 36 percent of voting age citizens did not vote. Do you wonder – “Does my vote matter?” Look at these elections: 2006 – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty won the election by 1 percent of the votes. 2006 – Jon Tester beat Conrad Burns by less than 1 percent of the votes to become a U.S. Senator. 2004 – Washington Governor Christine Gregoire won by 129 votes. 2000 – Remember the “hanging chads,” recounts, and Supreme Court action in the 2000 presidential election, when the outcome was not determined for more than a month? Every vote counts! Your vote c...

Centocor Answer: Women Fired Over 'Gentleman's Club'

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Arthritis Drugs Legal News — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 06:04:02 +0100

MINNEAPOLIS - Centocor has answered the complaint of two former Remicade drug representatives and putative whistle-blowers, saying the two were fired for violating company policy by escorting a customer to a "gentleman's club" (Melissa Funk and Heidi Greer v. Centocor Inc., No. 07CV1079, D. Minn.; See February 2007, Page 12). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Arthritis Drugs Legal News)