Surgeons discuss possibilities of ‘natural orifice’ surgery
Many surgeons are enthusiastic about natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, or NOTES, but others question whether it is needed in cases where safe, only slightly invasive alternatives exist. Dr. David W. Rattner, chief of gastrointestinal surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, said patient safety is critical but added, “I think we’re proceeding very well so far.” Click here for more.

Family physicians moved beyond health care IT basics
An IT expert with the American Academy of Family Physicians says that 42 percent of the group’s members have adopted electronic health records and 11 percent are in the implementation process. “We’re at the stage where members want to look at what types of EHR features are the best for family practice,” he said. Click here for more.

Early treatment with Betaferon delays onsite of multiple sclerosis: Study
Bayer’s Betaferon, a medication for multiple sclerosis, delayed the onset of definite MS compared with initial placebo treatment in patients who received the drug at the first sign of the disease during a five-year study, the German company said. The finding highlights the importance of early therapy as some nerve damage can no longer be repaired with later treatment, the lead researcher said. Click here for more.

Finally, a mental health parity bill
U.S. lawmakers have agreed on legislation to require health insurers to provide parity in mental and physical health benefits. The deal has the support of insurers, business and the White House, but passage remains uncertain as a conference committee still has to work out differences in House and Senate language on how to pay the $3.4 billion cost to the government. Click here for more.

Editor’s Note: It is not clear if this important bill will be brought up for a vote due to the economic challenges Congress is now dealing with, but consider writing to your senators and congressmen to show your support so they know it is on the minds of their constituents.

New Kaiser Study shows Medicare benefits slightly less than employer-based plans
The dollar value of Medicare benefits on average is slightly less than that of a large employer health plan, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study. One reason is the comparatively high cost-sharing for short hospital stays. Click here for more.