Medical Economics Cartoon: The missing steps caper

Primary Care Collaborative leads first major study of uptake of new Advanced Primary Care Management codes.

About 1 in 3 U.S. adults avoid or delay blood tests, leaving physicians without results that inform most clinical decisions. Here's how easier scheduling, less-invasive collection options and clearer results communication can help patients complete ordered testing.

The top news stories in medicine today: At least 125 health professionals are on today's ballots as California votes on a clinic spending rule; a California doctor gets 15 years for $45 million in Medicare Botox billing; Medicare's prior authorization pilot curbs targeted services.

After private equity firms bought for-profit hospices, Medicare paid $993 more per hospice encounter and stays ran 6.3 days longer, with no increase in visits.

New patients in big metros wait about a month to see a physician, and shortage areas, coverage losses and a proposed Medicare pay cut are adding pressure ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.

Flu hospitalizations are arriving early this fall, and Johns Hopkins experts say a physician's recommendation remains patients' best path to vaccination, while a new mRNA flu vaccine faces a coverage question.

American Osteopathic Association leaders discuss the profession’s record growth, its training pipeline and the pressures facing practicing physicians.

Medical students can borrow up to $50,000 a year and $200,000 total in federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. See the lifetime cap, Grad PLUS rules and exceptions.