ALSO NOTED: Rural areas could lose clinics; Maryland reconsiders fee structure; and much more...

> Many rural areas rely on physician's assistants to provide medical care in areas where there's no full-time doctors. The Missouri Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons wants the state to mandate that a doctor be present whenever a PA treats patients. That could have a serious impact on rural clinics. Article

> Outpatients who visit Maryland hospitals have seen a sharp increase in healthcare costs. The state may switch to a charge-per-case model to decrease costs. Article

> Chutes & Ladders: The American Hospital Association's has chosen William Petasnick as its next chairman. Report

> Cigna HealthCare has launched an Innovation Lab designed to develop integrated, top Six-Sigma level end-to-end service for medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health plan participants. Article

> A study of 24 cities has found that Jacksonville, FL seniors have the highest variation in Medicare drug plan prices. Report

And Finally... Despite the ethical dilemma, a handful of doctors and nurses have agreed to participate in executions. The few who will speak about their experience say the job "crept up on them." Article