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EPA declares greenhouse gases a threat to public health; other health issues addressed at climate conference

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday "said greenhouse gases are a danger to public health and welfare in a decision that could eventually lead to new emissions regulations," the Wall Street Journal reports (Ball/Forelle/Talley, 12/7). According to the Associated Press/ABC News, the declaration on the opening day of the U.N. Climate Change Conference "signaled the [Obama] administration was prepared to push ahead for significant controls in the U.S. if Congress doesn't act first on its own" (Herbert/Cappiello, 12/7).

8 Dec 2009

Swine flu news round-up

The German government is looking to sell over 2 million leftover doses of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine, the country's health minister said Monday, Agence France-Presse reports. "A health ministry senior official in the state of Thuringia, Hartmut Schubert, said that the vaccines could even be donated and that there had been requests from Afghanistan and Eastern European countries including Ukraine," the news service adds (12/7).

8 Dec 2009

Aid agencies launch $378M 2010 aid request to improve health in Zimbabwe

More than 70 agencies, led by the U.N., launched a request on Monday for $378 million in aid, which will be used to improve health and food security, as well as water and sanitation, Reuters reports. Though Zimbabwe's power-sharing government has improved some "social conditions in the country," the agencies "say more needs to be done" (Banya, 12/7).

8 Dec 2009

Updated clinical data of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals’ delta selective PI3K inhibitor presented

Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leader in the development of isoform-selective phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced updated clinical data on CAL-101, the Company’s oral, delta selective PI3K inhibitor, presented during two oral presentations at the 51st American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

8 Dec 2009

RIVA System effective in automatically compounding IV doses in syringes with minimal contamination

A recent study demonstrated the RIVA System (Robotic Intravenous Automation) - a self-contained unit for aseptic compounding from Intelligent Hospital Systems (IH Systems) - is an effective tool in automatically compounding IV doses in syringes and bags with minimal drug contamination.

8 Dec 2009

Lieberman draws increasing ire from Democrats, Reid criticized for GOP/slavery comments

News organizations are honing in on key players in the health reform debate.

8 Dec 2009

Personal stories highlight how reform will affect some individuals

News outlets are focusing on the stories of individual consumers to explain how health care reform legislation may affect the lives and health of people around the nation.

8 Dec 2009

Public option 'compromise' may rest on private insurers

The Associated Press/The Washington Post reports that "private insurers - not the government - would offer coverage under a compromise Democrats are considering ... the latest idea bears little resemblance to the original vision outlined by liberals, and embraced by Obama, during the 2008 presidential campaign. That called for the government to sell insurance to workers and their families in competition with industry giants like UnitedHealthcare" (Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/8).

8 Dec 2009

Utah project seeks to reduce 'overuse of health care'

News outlets report on a pilot project in Utah to reduce overuse of services and Medicaid cuts in Kansas.

8 Dec 2009

The National Fragile X Foundation awards $100,000 grant for study of minocycline in FXS children

The National Fragile X Foundation has awarded a translational research seed grant of $100,000 to Dr. Randi J. Hagerman at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute in California for a study of minocycline in the treatment of children with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Hagerman is an internationally recognized clinician and clinical researcher on FXS, the most common cause of inherited mental impairment.

8 Dec 2009

Senate vote on abortion amendment - a major hurdle to health bill - could occur today

The Washington Post reports that lawmakers in the Senate began consideration Monday "of an amendment to restrict abortion coverage" and a vote is expected today. The provision, "co-sponsored by Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), would bar individuals who receive federal insurance subsidies from purchasing private policies that cover elective abortions. It also would ban abortion coverage under a government plan" (Murray, 12/8).

8 Dec 2009

Liberals may trade public option for expansion of Medicare, Medicaid

In exchange for accepting a proposed compromise on a public option in the health bill, liberal Democratic Senators are hoping to win expansions of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, The New York Times reports. "One of the changes being pushed by the liberals would lower the age of eligibility for Medicare to 55, from 65. Another would expand Medicaid to cover people with incomes up to 150 percent of the poverty level."

8 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

As a society, we have to make choices. Do we want our doctors to be well-qualified practitioners using their experience and judgment to help as many patients as they can? Or do we want detached, disenfranchised doctors looking to their next career while practicing medicine with the mentality of postal workers? (Soumi Eachempati 12/7).

8 Dec 2009

Drug reimportation emerges again in health debate

The Hill reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "has agreed to allow Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) to bring an amendment to a vote this week that would allow the importation of cheaper prescription drugs from abroad despite the fact that it could blow up a truce between the White House, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on healthcare reform." Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) is among the amendment's co-sponsors.

8 Dec 2009

Consumer reports details the screening tests that may be unneccesary

Consumer Reports/The Washington Post: "Many Americans -- and their doctors -- seem to think that better health means more health care, including as many screening tests as possible. But many researchers are questioning that notion, saying that some common screening tests are unproven and can not only waste your time and money but also cause more harm than good."

8 Dec 2009

Senate staff raise idea of taxing indoor tanning salons

Roll Call: "The concept of an excise tax on tanning services, which could include salon walk-ins or tanning beds and sunlamps sold for residential use, was floated in a weekend Senate staff meeting on the health bill. Officials described the idea as preliminary and not being seriously considered at this time.

8 Dec 2009

New report: CBO underestimates savings from health bills but economists worry savings aren't enough

"Previous analyses have underestimated the potential cost-saving effects of the House and Senate health reform bill, according to a new report co-authored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and the Commonwealth Fund," Modern Healthcare reports.

8 Dec 2009

Medicare seeks to cut hospital readmissions with 'Care Transitions' project

The Associated Press reports that a "major push is underway around the country to cut rehospitalizations, in part by arming patients with simple steps to keep their recovery on track," such as getting quicker follow-up doctor visits and lessening medication confusion.

8 Dec 2009

FDA probes excessive radiation dose cases

The Associated Press/Wall Street Journal: "Federal health regulators are investigating reports of dangerous radiation levels at two more California hospitals, following earlier unsafe medical scans at a Los Angeles facility. The Food and Drug Administration is probing the use of CT scans at Glendale Adventist Medical Center and Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif. The brain scans are used to diagnose strokes.

8 Dec 2009

Health IT: W.Va. savings forecast; federal official foresees private-sector dominance

West Virginia could save $1.1 billion in health spending by government agencies, private insurers and consumers, if the health system would switch to electronic records and do a better job centralizing patient care, according to a new report by the West Virginia Health Care Authority, a governmental group, The Associated Press/New York Times reports.

8 Dec 2009

Research News and Research

EPA declares greenhouse gases a threat to public health; other health issues addressed at climate conference

Swine flu news round-up

Aid agencies launch $378M 2010 aid request to improve health in Zimbabwe

Updated clinical data of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals’ delta selective PI3K inhibitor presented

RIVA System effective in automatically compounding IV doses in syringes with minimal contamination

Lieberman draws increasing ire from Democrats, Reid criticized for GOP/slavery comments

Personal stories highlight how reform will affect some individuals

Public option 'compromise' may rest on private insurers

Utah project seeks to reduce 'overuse of health care'

The National Fragile X Foundation awards $100,000 grant for study of minocycline in FXS children

Senate vote on abortion amendment - a major hurdle to health bill - could occur today

Liberals may trade public option for expansion of Medicare, Medicaid

Today's opinions and editorials

Drug reimportation emerges again in health debate

Consumer reports details the screening tests that may be unneccesary

Senate staff raise idea of taxing indoor tanning salons

New report: CBO underestimates savings from health bills but economists worry savings aren't enough

Medicare seeks to cut hospital readmissions with 'Care Transitions' project

FDA probes excessive radiation dose cases

Health IT: W.Va. savings forecast; federal official foresees private-sector dominance

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