Cover Story:
Payback! Steps Toward Reimbursement for Online Consultations
By Ed Fotsch, MD
On January 1 of this year, the American Medical Association released CPT code 0074T, which will provide the framework for physicians to receive reimbursement for online consultations with patients. In this article, Edward Fotsch, MD, the CEO of Medem, Inc, and one of the code’s principal authors, describes the code and the implications its release has for the healthcare community.

Feature Article:
Something to Believe In
Science Takes On Alternative/Complementary Medicine
By Frank Ferrara, Senior Editor
For too many years, the phrases “alternative medicine” and “complementary medicine” (ACM) have served as not-so-secret code names for “medicine that may or may not actually work,” with the probative value of available evidence of efficacy questionable at best. However, now that an exponentially growing group of patients is turning to unproven methods as a supplement to—or even as a replacement for—conventional therapy, the scientific community is being compelled to address ACM for the first time. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the large-scale research efforts currently underway aimed at evaluating ACM, and tell you how to educate your patients on this important topic. Finally, we’ll show you how to find information on a variety of specific forms of ACM, by using MD Net Guide’s new online ACM Resource Center.

Covering Your Assets:
Asset Protection Strategies
Robert J. Mintz, specialist in asset protection law, provides an overview of several commonly used asset protection strategies and describes their advantages and limitations, and explains how these plans can be used by physicians.

Departments:
Newswatch
Our regular roundup of recent, significant legislative and regulatory developments, and important bulletins from medical societies and organizations, patient’s advocacy groups, official government agencies and departments, and outlets of the professional and lay media.

PDA Resources
Each month we offer a collection of programs, downloads, and extras designed to help you get the most out of your handheld computing. And, beginning this month, we feature reviews of PDA software and applications from Editorial Board member Dr. G. Stephen Nace.

Events
What’s happening, when it’s happening, and where it’s happening

Continuing Medical Education
Both free and for-a-fee continuing medical education opportunities, all available in their entirety online, may be found in this month’s expanded CME section. You will also find a calendar listing key upcoming meetings and conferences in your specialty.

Clinical Focus
Here you’ll find a variety of condition-specific links in various categories. This month we focus on scoliosis.

Clinical Trials
Your connection to clinical trials nationwide, currently in the process of enrolling patients.

eAbstracts
This section provides links to studies published in whole or in part online, drawn from major professional journals in your field.

Medical Websites
We offer links to information resources for the wired physician. All sites are peer reviewed by a member of the MD Net Guide editorial board.

Patient Education Resources
You can find reliable, patient-oriented information at the sites listed in this section; refer your patients to these pages and remain aware of the sources of their information.