The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) blog has an online petition asking for your support to streamline health insurance identification cards. Project SwipeIT calls for the issuance of machine-readable cards (with a magnetic strip much like a credit card) by 2010. The cards would save providers time and money by eliminating hassles of photocopying insurance cards, entering patient data into your computer system and more.

Here is the latest update on the H1N1 influenza virus (or, the swine flu) outbreak from the CDC. The number of reported cases has reached roughly 8,000 cases, up from 5,000 a week ago. There are now 11 deaths linked to the swine flu. Subscribers can read our coverage, which includes Medicare billing advice, here and here.

The New Yorker profiles health care in McAllen, Texas, in a story for its June 1 issue. The article notes that McAllen receives twice the amount of money per capita for Medicare patients than El Paso, Texas. The underlining complaint about care in McAllen is that medicine has become a business and is no longer focused on quality, patient-centered care. Some physicians apparently lack information and guidelines when ordering tests. One physician says costs are higher because they order tests out of fear that they could later be sued.

The Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (PPAC) holds its quarterly meeting on Monday, June 1 (yes, June -- 2009 is nearly half over!). Topics on PPAC's agenda include value-based purchasing and recovery audit contractors (RACs). Subscribers can read our coverage of the March meeting by clicking here.

Medicare's fraud, waste and abuse hotline (866-417-2078) in Florida doesn't always work, according to one good Samaritan and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.). The Miami Herald recently ran a short item about how one caller received a busy signal or was hung-up on when they called to report fraud. CMS told the newspaper because of the number of calls the hotline receives, the pilot program is not fully functional. CMS is planning to upgrade the line this summer.