19.11.10

USA: CONGRESS postponed 22% cut in MEDICARE medical payments.

USA new political payment policies separates PRIVATE medicine from STATE funded mnedicine.

15.11.10

ONTARIO LABORATORIES CLOSING and REDUCING OPENING TIMES.

To cut costs of lab. tests, Ontario Government has put a maximum approx $300,000/year per GP that Govt. will pay for lab tests. (With a patient list of 2500/GP, this equals $125/patient/year). Over that amount the labs will be paid ZERO. No such limitations for Specialists. Result is closing of labs; reducing working hours; not opening on Saturday; not collecting blood samples from GP offices. Ontario govt. no longer pays for screening Vit.D testing.