hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection causes chronic hepatitis, which frequently leads to hepatic fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc). alanine aminotransferase (alt) is a biomarker of hepatocyte injury and is associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis. advanced hepatic fibrosis also predisposes hcv carriers to a risk of hcc. in contrast, some cases with persistent hcv infection hav...

Medical liability coverage has become increasingly expensive and scarce since 2001, especially for obstetrics and other high-risk specialties. Physicians, whose own fees are constrained, see this as a crisis needing tort reform to cap payouts. Plaintiffs' lawyers fight caps; they blame insurance trends and call for stronger regulation of insurers and physicians. Doctors' arguments are somewhat ...

The authors explore the relation between ownership form and distribution system and test the determinants of each element of organizational structure. Controlling for ownership form as an exogenous variable, the authors find that independent agency insurers are likely to be associated with stock ownership, are characterized by higher liabilities relative to surplus, and are more likely to speci...

Insurers and payers are demanding performance measurement, whereas professional boards are urging practice-based quality improvement projects. Will these two streams improve day-to-day practice or add administrative burden?