The invention of the flexible fiberoptic endoscope by Basil Hirschowitz, MD, who founded UAB's Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, was one of the great leaps forward in modern medicine.

In February, Children's of Alabama was accepted into the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC), a collection of hospitals focusing on clinical trials for children with malignant brain tumors.

The first outpatient infusion centers started over 30 years ago in oncology clinics because of the intravenous delivery needed for chemotherapy drugs.

Amazon just announced that it will be expanding its Amazon Care program across the U.S. this summer. Originally only available to its employees, Amazon will now offer Amazon Care to other companies.

In 2014, the Affordable Care Act offered to fund states' Medicaid expansion with the federal government paying 100 percent of the costs for the first three years while phasing down to 90 percent by 2020 where it will stay.

Even prior to the public health and natural disasters of 2020, experts from across the healthcare spectrum were already looking into policy and regulatory recommendations to improve the country's ability to prepare for and respond to crises.

Effective January 1, 2021, evaluation and management coding (E&M) guideline changes were finalized as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2020 Physician Fee Schedule, but these changes are reflected with all payers. Here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions about the E&M coding changes in 2021.

"We want to anticipate what is needed and put ourselves in the patient's place," says Mellissa K. Meadows, Practice Manager at Hoover Primary Care, when asked about enhancing the experience patients have while interacting with the practice.

"They had a need," says Eric Blackman, CEO at Vulcan Imaging Associates (VIA).

A cardiac catheterization can be a stressful experience for patients.

As President Joe Biden was taking the oath of office in Washington, D.C., healthcare financial analysts gathered via video to share their thoughts on what a new administration and ongoing pandemic might mean for various industry sectors in 2021.

Medical Cannabis Appeared to Improve Neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's Patient

In November, Mississippi voted to establish a medical cannabis program while New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota and Montana legalized cannabis for adults over 21, bringing the number of states with some degree of legalization to 35.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a Special Fraud Alert from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) highlighting the fraud and abuse risks associated with the offer, payment, solicitation, or receipt of remuneration related to speaker programs sponsored by healthcare companies.

In September 2020, the state of Alabama was awarded $1.8 billion in Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act money to support health care organizations and providers, communities, and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children's of Alabama, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Mental Health, has found a way to help physicians facing the shortage of pediatric mental health providers in rural Alabama.

Known for its contributions in research and basic science, HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology in Huntsville also has a mission to bring that new knowledge to patient care.

Prior to COVID-19, most healthcare providers were benefiting from a strong economy, low unemployment and increased patient insurance coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act (but unfortunately not Alabama, which continues to refuse to expand Medicaid). Then, everything changed. The COVID-19 pandemic.

A UAB study, led by Sylvie Mrug, PhD and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, has identified soft drink consumption as a likely predictor of aggressive behavior.

On October 8, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") announced amended repayment terms for loans ("AAP Loans") issued under the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program (the "AAP Program"), to help ease the terms of repayment and recoupment.

Since early April 2020, the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund (PRF) has distributed $175 billion to healthcare entities impacted by the coronavirus.

"Most people know more about their car insurance than their health insurance," says Jerry Golden, and he wants to change that. Golden oversees five medical practices in Alabama as CEO of Forefront Medical Management and serves as administrator for Coastal Neurological Institute in Mobile with 10 neurologists and neurosurgeons.

At a time when Alabama has seen six rural hospitals close in nine years, Citizens Baptist Medical Center has remained a solid bastion of healthcare in Talladega.

In the face of a global health crisis that called for limiting close, in-person contact, it's not surprising telemedicine has enjoyed skyrocketing popularity in 2020.