Doctors

After she stepped away, Dr. MaryAnn Wilbur embarked on a project to conduct interviews with doctors who had either recently left their practice or were strongly considering doing so.

Increasingly, Americans pay for the privilege of seeing a doctor. Research shows concierge medicine can further hamper access to care for those who can’t afford the upgrade.

As artificial intelligence moves into medicine, perhaps no one has more to gain or lose than radiologists. Powerful new digital tools can improve accuracy, accelerate readings and reduce workloads.

Systems are increasingly stretching a velvet rope, offering “concierge physician service” to an affluent clientele who pay a yearly fee. Critics say the practice exacerbates primary care shortages.

The House Health Care Appropriations subcommittee unanimously advanced the measure, and it next goes to the Health and Human Services Committee before a floor vote.

Politicians keep talking about fixing primary care shortages. But flawed national data leaves big holes in how to evaluate which policies are effective.

The Senate Judiciary Committee forwarded the bill after adding limits on pain-and-suffering damages in lawsuits against doctors and hospitals.

Even in states where laws protect minors’ access to gender-affirming care, malpractice insurance premiums are keeping small and independent clinics from treating patients.

A legislative package, rolled out by Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and two key lieutenants, calls for spending nearly $900 million to, among other things, shift patients away from emergency rooms, offset hospitals’ training costs and help doctors pay off debt.

Some hospitals and physician groups are rejecting Medicare Advantage plans over payment rates and coverage restrictions, causing turmoil for patients.

In Missouri and North Dakota, health systems and advocates say the reason is the possibility of legal action against doctors and their employers for injuries related to the treatment, even many years later.

With the rise of AI, people who once turned to Google to check on medical issues are going to chatbots. Researchers say the bots are often more accurate but urge caution in the absence of regulations.