Emergency rooms struggle with crowding

Article Abstract:

Overcrowding problems in hospitals' emergency rooms across the US may be worsening. Patients wait for hours and ambulances sometimes must travel farther to hospitals because the closest ones are occupied. Some of the factors attributed to overcrowding include hospital closures, reduced hospital staff and lack of trained workers, particularly nurses. Some short-term and long-term solutions proposed include canceling elective surgeries during peak periods, longer office hours for doctors, increasing payments to hospitals, and training and recruiting more nurses.

Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers, Emergency Care Facilities

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Prescription for problems

Article Abstract:

Doctors are writing fewer prescriptions as health insurance companies increasingly require doctor groups to share the costs of providing prescription drugs. The insurers aim to control the rising drug spending by providing doctors with financial incentives to prescribe the lower- cost, most effective drugs. Under the controverial plan, insurers give the doctors a flat monthly fee of $9 to $15 per patient enrolled their practices to be used for medications by the group of patients. The doctors get the fee even if their patients use no drugs at all.

Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers, Medical Care Insurance, Physicians & Surgeons, Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists), Health insurance

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Health-care premiums on rise again

Article Abstract:

Health care costs are projected to increase in 2000, from 7% to 11% for large corporations and more for the smaller companies, according to analysts. This was unexpected by employers who turned to managed care services to avoid such annual rate increases. Health care costs increases resulted from higher drug costs, lesser competition due to massive consolidation, and insurers who took advantage of lower rates effected in the past.

Marketing procedures, Health Care and Social Assistance, Health Care

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