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One study of schizophrenia drugs used in Georgia’s Medicaid program showed that, while step therapy saved the state close to $20 a month on drugs for every patient, the savings were more than offset by increased costs in other services. Indeed, the program saw a monthly increase of nearly $32 per patient in outpatient care.

Similar studies have shown that private plans utilizing step therapy saw hospital and emergency-room visits increase, resulting in higher overall costs.

What’s troubling is that step therapy is becoming more widely adopted. In 2000, 20 percent of private insurance carriers used step therapy. By 2008, it was half.

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The nursing expert witness may often be a Legal Nurse Consultant. Here, the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants answers:

What Does a Legal Nurse Consultant Do?

# Interviews witnesses and involved parties # Prepares persuasive graphic exhibits for trial # Assesses issues of damage and causation # Identifies and retains expert witnesses # Assists in obtaining medical records and identifying missing records # Organizes medical records and other medically-related litigation materials # Prepares chronologies of medical events and correlates them to the allegations # Developes collaborative case strategies with those practicing within the legal system # Provides support during discovery, depositions, trial and other legal proceedings

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According to a recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA), vehicular fatalities account for nearly 95 percent of transportation related fatalities. Drivers often think that warmer weather means safer road conditions, but the effects of winter weather often make for difficult spring road conditions. As March 20th marks the first day of spring, CURE Auto Insurance provides tips on how drivers can stay safe on the road this season.

1. Watch for potholes. Snow, ice and rain from the winter months often leave roads in bad shape. The repeated freezing and thawing of moisture seeps through road surfaces causing potholes. It is best to avoid potholes entirely. If that’s not possible, apply brakes before hitting a pothole and release them just prior to impact. Additionally, keeping your tires properly inflated will help reduce damage from potholes and other road hazards.

2. Spring showers bring May flowers–and wet driving conditions. Rain water that mixes with oil on the streets can result in slippery conditions that may cause unexpected skidding. Stay alert and avoid driving through large puddles ¬-the splashing water may affect your brakes.

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In Expert Witness – A Valuable Asset, William Gulya, Jr., construction expert witness and President & CEO, Middlesex Trenching Company, writes:

Expert witnesses often will be required to be deposed and testify under oath at trial. The attorney should know in advance how the expert would appear and perform under pressure. The expert should always be dressed in business formal attire, which sends a clear signal to the jurors the expert is respectable and professional.

The attorney should meet with the expert so he can observe the expert’s composure and tone and how he carries himself in a mock deposition or trial testimony atmosphere. Even some of the very best experts can get somewhat flustered during a rigorous and demanding cross-examination. The attorney should educate the expert in the redirect process so he or she fully understands the process and its importance.

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The House has approved a bill that requires utilities to pay for utilities expert witnesses who come before the state Public Service Commission to help make the case for rate hikes. Currently, those expert witnesses are paid for by taxpayers. The measure from state Rep. John Lunsford, a McDonough Republican, passed 114-49 on Wednesday. Opponents say the legislation allows utilities to pass the costs along to consumers and could lead to higher gas and electric rates.

Excerpted from RN-T.com.

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In The Social Worker as an Expert Witness in Suspected Child Abuse Cases: A Primer for Beginners, LeRoy Schultz offers guidelines to the social services expert witness:

Before the cross exam, in your pretrial conference with your attorney, you will have discussed the weakest points in your testimony. Ask for directions from your attorney on how to handle these. Be prepared for intense scrutiny of your information, argue well, but not emotionally. The intent of the opposing attorney is to discredit you. Expect denigration and sarcasm but stay calm and professional. You can be discredited in front of the jury by:

1. Lack of licensing or evidence of falsification of credentials.

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In Cheaper Medicines Not Always Better, medical expert Peter Pitts, President, Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and former associate FDA commissioner writes:

There are several reasons such a policy hurts our health system. For one, it is an assault on the relationship between physicians and patients. When a doctor decides on a treatment, he is employing years of medical experience and weighing countless factors, like the patient’s age, diet, and lifestyle. Patients, meanwhile, trust that the doctor knows best.

When it’s possible for a health care bureaucrat to override the decision of a trained medical professional, this valuable association between a patient and his doctor breaks down. A patient is no longer under the care of single medical expert, but is now being treated by faceless organization looking to cut corners.

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The nursing expert witness may often be a Legal Nurse Consultant. Here, the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants answers:

What Does a Legal Nurse Consultant Do?

# Acts as a liaison with attorneys, physicians and clients # Educates attorneys regarding medical facts and issues relating to a case or claim # Researches applicable literature and evidence to determine the merits of a case # Reviews and analyzes documents and compares them to the allegations # Summarizes medical literature # Screens for record tampering # Defines and evaluates the standards of care practices # Evaluates the possible breach of duty on the part of the healthcare practitioner or facility # Prepares witness and exhibit lists

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In Expert Witness – A Valuable Asset, William Gulya, Jr., construction expert witness and President & CEO, Middlesex Trenching Company, writes:

As in any profession, there are good and bad experts. An attorney should always talk with a prospective expert to obtain a sense of his or her demeanor, character, and experience in their field of expertise. One of the most common questions faced by experts from opposing legal council is “Mr. Expert, have you ever personally performed or supervised this type of task?” The ideal response would be “Yes, I have.” There are three types of experts — those with book knowledge only, those with hands-on field experience only, and those with both. Those experts who possess both book knowledge and hands-on experience in their field of expertise are the most desirable and sought after because they can answer “Yes.”

The most crucial component provided to the attorney is the expert’s report. After days of hearing conflicting testimony during trial, it is in large part the expert’s report that jurors will turn to for clarification. It must be neat, professional, properly formatted, grammatically correct, and organized. The report must present the facts of the case in a clear and concise manner and include a summary of the expert’s opinion to which laypersons and jurors will relate.

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The National Ground Water Association is offering the two-day course, “Guidelines for Groundwater Legal Consultation,” April 15-16 in Denver, Colorado. The course will introduce individuals to what is involved in being a groundwater expert witness – writing an opinion statement, grasping legal terminology, preparing for testimony, and setting up administrative benchmarks.

NGWA, a nonprofit organization comprised of more than 13,000 U.S. and international groundwater professionals – contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists, and engineers – is dedicated to advancing groundwater knowledge. NGWA’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association that advocates the responsible development, management, and use of water.

For more, see wateronline.com