Health News 1998

JANUARY | 1998

• Columbia/HCA May Try to Settle Fraud Charges
• Federal Highway Administration Lowers Breath Alcohol Testing Requirements
• HealthSouth CEO Takes Helm at Troubled MedPartners
• HealthSouth Sharpens Focus on Occupational Medicine—Sells Long–Term Care Assets
• New Survey: Managed Care Increases Dominance of Healthcare Benefits
• Department of Labor Places Substance Abuse Information Database on the Internet
• New Study: Weightlifting Does Not Correlate with Degenerative Lumbar Disk Disease

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FEBRUARY | 1998

• Columbia/HCA to Post $ 1 Billion Fourth Quarter Loss
• New Study: 42 States Passed Managed Care Regulations or Benefit Mandates in 1997
• New OSHA Respirator Protection Standard to Take Effect on April 8, 1998

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MARCH | 1998

• U.S. Supreme Court Lets Stand Decision for Drug Testing of Employees with Potential Access to President
• AMA Charges Aetna/US Healthcare Contracts Interfere with Doctor–Patient Relationship
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Drop "Gatekeeper"
• 24–Hour Coverage: Market Response Mixed

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APRIL | 1998

• New Study: Top Managed Care Executive Compensation Averages $4.8 Million Per Year
• Proposed ANSI Ergonomic Standard Released
• US Healthcare Loses ERISA Protection in New Jersey Case
• Occupational Nurses Intervene in ACOEM Respiratory Protection Standard Lawsuit

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MAY | 1998

• Two OSHA Directives Clarify Regulations
• FHS to Sell Workers’ Compensation Insurance Operations to Superior National
• Latex Allergy Lawsuits Growing
• New Study: Hospitals Capture Largest Share of Benefits in Risk–Sharing Arrangements
• New Study: Strong Support for Integrated Benefits
• Appropriations Committee Considers ERISA Exemption Repeal

JUNE | 1998

• New NEJM Study Concludes EPA Model Overestimates Asbestos Risk
• United Healthcare—Humana Merger Creates Largest Player in Many Markets
• Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Announces a $2 Billion Rebate
• United States Supreme Court Rules ADA Protects Asymptomatic HIV Infection

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JULY | 1998

• OSHA Releases Guidelines for Injury Recording

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AUGUST | 1998

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Guilty of Medicare Fraud
• OSHA Expects to Act on New CDC Health–Care Worker HIV Exposure Guidelines

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SEPTEMBER | 1998

• Concentra Managed Care Loses 50% of Value in One Day
• Concentra Managed Care CEO Resigns

OCTOBER | 1998

• Drug Free Workplace Act of 1998: Who is a MRO?
• HealthSouth Shares Fall 28 Percent in One Day
• US Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Important Workers Compensation Case
• NAS Study Strengthens OSHA Resolve to Develop Ergonomics Standard
• New Study Find Chiropractic, Exercises Slightly Helpful in Low Back Pain

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NOVEMBER | 1998

• Concentra Establishes Committee to Evaluate Buy–Out Options
• The SSI Group Acquires Health Management Technologies
• The Crumbling Physician Practice Management Market: MedPartners to Divest
• COX–2 Inhibitors Near Approval

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DECEMBER | 1998

• Aetna Purchase of Prudential Will Create Nation’s Largest HMO

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