Category: M

The condition of having insufficient income to pay for adequate medical care without depriving oneself or dependents of food, clothing, shelter, and other essentials of living. Medical indigency may occur when a self-supporting individual, able under ordinary conditions to provide basic maintenance for himself and his family, is, in time of catastrophic illness, unable to…

A clearinghouse of information on people who have applied for life insurance in the past. Any adverse medical findings on previous medical examinations are recorded in code and sent to companies subscribing to the service. Raises interesting confidentiality questions, especially with respect to information produced by medical examinations.  

An organization of physicians, generally sponsored by a State or local medical association. Sometimes called a foundation for medical care. It is a separate and autonomous corporation with its own board of directors. Every physician of the medical society may apply for membership in the foundation and, upon acceptance, participate in all its activities. A…

The Federal income tax deduction for expenditures on health insurance (one half of such expenditures up to a maximum of $150) and other medical expenses in excess of three percent of income. In effect, the only national health insurance program in the United States, with a deductible of three percent of income and coinsurance of…

A nationally standardized test generally required or strongly recommended by nearly all medical schools in the United States as part of their admission process. The results of the test are evaluated along with other evidence of student ability to handle medical school course work by admissions committees. The test, administered by the Psychological Corporation, is…

Retrospective medial care review in which an in-depth assessment of the quality and or nature of the use of selected health services or programs is made. Restudy of an MCE study assesses the effectiveness of corrective actions taken to correct deficiencies identified in the original study, but does not necessarily repeat or replicate the original…

An extension of the Professional Activities Study, in which data are displayed in comprehensive quarterly reports by hospital department. The reports are for use by hospital clinical departments in conducting a comprehensive medical audit and in retrospective utilization review. A specific program of data display formerly offered by the Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities…

The health care program for the poor authorized by title XIX of the Social Security Act, known as Medicaid.  

A health program which serves, solely or primarily, Medicaid beneficiaries, typically on an ambulatory basis. The mills originated in the ghettos of New York City and are still found primarily in urban slums with few other medical services. They are usually organized on a for profit basis, characterized by their great productivity, and frequently accused…

Physician assistant programs developed specifically for former military medical corpsmen with independent duty experience. They train physician assistants, especially for general practioners in rural areas. Most Medex, as graduates of the programs are called, have been trained to work specific physicians. The first such program was begun in 1967 by Richard A. Smith at the…