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The article focuses on the combined therapy in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration in the U.S. These combined treatments include laser and medications including the intravitreal Kenalog, monotherapy regimen and the use of cancer chemotherapeutic anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. It also describes how to maximize the efficiency of the treatment and to minimize intraocular risk during surgery.

Presents information on Web sites on grants and grant writing in the U.S. WebQuest; American Federation of Teachers; Milken Family Foundation.

This article discusses the disadvantages of Mandated Health Insurance Benefit (MHIB) laws in the U.S. In a study published by the National Center for Policy Analysis, health economists John Goodman and Gerald Musgrave show that state regulators, responding to pressure from special-interest groups ranging from AIDS patients to bald-headed women, have imposed a myriad of MHIB laws. This kind of legislation, according to Goodman and Musgrave, forces all private health insurers to cover specific diseases and disabilities and specific health-care services. Consumer advocates argue that such laws are necessary so that the poor and people who are at high risk for certain illnesses and disabilities are guaranteed affordable health insurance. Ironically, these efforts have made basic health insurance for a rapidly growing number of U.S. citizens prohibitively expensive. MHIB laws force private insurers to insure ever-increasing numbers of high-risk people at below-market prices. To cover their increased costs, they must drastically overcharge low-risk consumers. As the number of low-risk people in the pool dwindles, insurance premiums for the average U.S. citizen rise even higher. The cycle makes it even impossible for the natural subsidization process to keep overall premiums low. As the number and kind of MHIB laws grow, insurers will view a larger and larger proportion of the population as potential risks. Indeed, the country is rapidly moving toward the day when no one will be able to purchase private medical insurance.

Reports on the oversupply of physicians in the United States and its impact on ophthalmology. Correlation between reducing cost of medical care and physician supply; Trends in medical practice; Growing income for general practitioners; Decreasing income for specialists.

Offers advice on practice management for ophthalmologists in the United States. Taking advantage of the consolidation trend in the managed care industry; Capitalizing on physician networks; Focus on integration and practice effective cost accounting for expense reduction. INSET: The ups and downs of going public..

Offers tips in building eyecare provider networks in the United States. Requirement of understanding requirements of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA); Hiring someone with NCQA experience; Importance of physician credentialing. INSET: Physician credentialing--how to do it..

Editorial. Focuses on the US Health Care Financing Administration's imposition of a plan for physicians' fees. Percentage cuts on ophthalmic surgical procedures; Organizations questioning the validity of the proposed methodology; HCFA's neglect to consider the high cost of state-of-the-art equipment; Inaccuracy of allocating indirect cost based on staff time only; HCFA's planned release of study results.