Health maintenance organizations; HMO qualification determinations and compliance actions--HCFA. Notice

This notice sets forth the names, addresses, service areas or modified service areas, and dates of qualification or expansion of entities determined to be Federally qualified health maintenance organizations (FQHMOs) during the period April 1, 1992 through September 30, 1992. It also includes the service expansion area for one FQHMO that had been inadvertently omitted from the previous Federal Register notice that covered the period August 6, 1991 through March 31, 1992. Additionally, it sets forth compliance actions taken by the Office of Prepaid Health Care Operations and Oversight for the period April 1, 1992 through September 30, 1992. This notice is being published in accordance with our regulations set forth at 42 CFR 417.144 and 417.163, which require publication in the Federal Register of certain determinations relating to FQHMOs.     

Organization and methodological activities of Russian Center for Forensic Medical Expert Evaluations Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Analyzes the organization and methodological activities of Russian Center for Forensic Medical Expert Evaluations in 1996-1998. Informs about the federal law on forensic medical expert evaluations and norm-setting acts aimed at improvement of forensic medical service in the Russian Federation, which have been developed at the Center. Offers recommendations on improving the quality control of expert evaluations at territorial centers and continuous education of experts. Formulates the main tasks of the Center fort the nearest future.     

Medical restrictive covenants in Illinois: at the crossroads of Carter-Shields and Prairie Eye Center

This article examines the history, development and treatment by Illinois courts of medical restrictive covenants. The authors highlight two recent cases from Illinois, one from the Supreme Court and the other authored by an appellate court panel. The article concludes by providing not only a forecast of how such covenants should be treated by Illinois state courts in the future, but also a pathway for the expectations of health care practitioners who wish to use restrictive covenants in their employment relationships with their colleagues.     

Knight v. Beverly Health Care Center: in the Supreme Court of Alabama

HELD: Before tube feeding may be withdrawn from a person who is unconscious, pursuant to the directives of a living will, there must be a finding by clear and convincing evidence that the patient is in a "persistent vegetative state" as defined in her living will, or in a "permanent unconscious state" as defined by state statute.     

HMO enrollment: a study of market forces and regulations

This paper investigates the influence of market forces and state regulations on enrollment in prepaid group practices (PGPs)--the dominant form of HMO. Using data at the metropolitan-area level, the paper estimates a lagged-adjustment model in two stages. The first stage estimates the determinants of the existence of a PGP of viable size. Using a technique appropriate for censored samples, the second stage estimates the determinants of enrollment given viability. The result of greatest relevance for policymakers is that restrictions on corporate employment of physicians hinder the growth of PGPs.