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New Sedative-Hypnotic One Step Closer to FDA Approval

Written by Stephanie Wasek
Friday, 09 May 2008
Fospropofol disodium injection, an intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent for sedation in adults undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, is closer to an FDA OK after the agency's Advisory Committee on Anesthetic and Life Support Drugs voted 6 to 3 (with one abstention) in favor of approval, recommending that the drug be used only by appropriately trained healthcare providers. The committee also recommended additional studies be conducted in specific patient populations, including those with a variety of comorbidities, those weighing less than 60 kg and the elderly.
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Study Shows Majority of U.S. Hospitals Insolvent or At Risk

Written by Rob Kurtz
Wednesday, 07 May 2008
More than half of U.S. hospitals are now technically insolvent or at risk, according to a new Alvarez and Marsal study.
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Dear Colleague Letter Aims to Dispel Physician-Ownership Myth

Written by Stephanie Wasek
Wednesday, 07 May 2008
Reps. Rubén Hinojosa (D-Texas) and Sam Johnson (R-Texas) have sent another "Dear Colleague" letter to members of the House of Representatives in an effort to dispel the myth that ending physician-ownership in specialty hospitals and other facilities will end physician self referrals. The reality, they say, is that a ban on physician-ownership would only reduce competition in healthcare.
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Reminder: NPI Will Be Required for all HIPAA-Standard Transactions on May 23

Written by Stephanie Wasek
Tuesday, 06 May 2008
If you haven't already, you may want to test your National Provider Identifier-only system: Come May 23, the NPI will be required on all HIPAA-standard transactions.
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California Licensure and Accreditation Concerns -- Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Written by Gretchen Townshend, JD, and Amber Walsh, JD
Tuesday, 06 May 2008
A California court case in combination with action by the state Department of Health prohibiting the department from issuing licenses to ASCs has created some confusion regarding whether ASCs must be licensed or accredited or both to operate in California. This article briefly describes how wholly and partially physician-owned ASCs and non-physician-owned ASCs are likely to be treated in the aftermath of the case and department action.
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