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Does Medicare 'doughnut hole' spur increase in foreign drug imports?

Medill Reports: "Unless federal legislation closes the Medicare coverage gap colloquially known as the 'doughnut hole,' seniors may opt for online drug imports to alleviate steep prescription costs. ... 'As seniors start falling into the doughnut hole, they are going online to find deals on prescription drugs, whether they're based in the U.S. or in other countries,' said Gabriel Levitt, vice president of PharmacyChecker.com LLC, a leader in the evaluation of online and mail-order pharmacies in both the U.S. and abroad.

12 Mar 2010

Congress, Obama continue health reform push

"Health care reform takes center stage Thursday as President Obama and top congressional Democrats work behind closed doors to nail down a final agreement," CNN reports. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hosted a "meeting of the entire House Democratic caucus in the morning," while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to hold a news conference that will "build public momentum by framing the issue in more personal terms."

12 Mar 2010

PCMA poll: 74% of people oppose Congress' effort to change FEHBP’s prescription drug benefits

Seventy-four percent of those enrolled in the Federal Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) oppose a new effort by Congress to change the program’s prescription drug benefits, according to a new poll released by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association.

11 Mar 2010

Passage of legislation could spell disaster for Idaho's health care system

Hundreds of thousands of Idahoans struggling with the high cost of health care received bad news last night -- no relief and more problems are on the way. With the passage of the Idaho Health Freedom Act (House Bill 391), the Senate moved forward legislation that could spell disaster for Idaho's health care system, while addressing none of the health care issues plaguing families across the state.

11 Mar 2010

Idahoans buckling under soaring health care costs: No help from Idaho State Senate

Idahoans buckling under soaring health care costs didn't get any help from the Idaho State Senate tonight. In fact, with the passage of the Idaho Health Freedom Act (House Bill 391), they may have just made matters worse.

10 Mar 2010

FDA's Advisory Committee votes 9-3 to recommend approval of Esbriet for treatment of patients with IPF

InterMune, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted 9-3 to recommend approval of Esbriet® (pirfenidone) for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to reduce decline in lung function.

9 Mar 2010

NASDAQ halts trading of InterMune's common stock, FDA PADAC to discuss pirfenidone NDA

InterMune, Inc. announced that NASDAQ has today halted trading of InterMune's common stock. The Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration meets today to review and discuss the company's New Drug Application for pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

9 Mar 2010

Congress battles over broken health care system; Idaho's homegrown health care crisis may grow even worse

As Congress continues to battle over how to fix the broken health care system, Idaho's homegrown health care crisis may take a giant step towards growing even worse today. The controversial Idaho Health Freedom Act (HB 391) is up for a vote before the full state Senate today. AARP opposes the bill as it could wreak havoc on Idaho's health care system -- resulting in even higher premiums, while costing the state both money and jobs.

9 Mar 2010

State Roundup: N.Y. drug pricing, Vermont hospital ads, Massachusetts nursing homes and anti-psychotics

Poughkeepsie Journal: A new report on New York drug prices, "issued by the New York Public Interest Research Group, Consumers Union, the Center for Medical Consumers and AARP, looked at the price of the 10 most popular drugs found in the state's pharmacies provided through a Freedom of Information Law request. The analysis found a drastic price difference in the same drugs offered in different locations" (Campbell, 3/6).

9 Mar 2010

ISTA Pharmaceuticals' sNDA for once-daily XiDay: FDA assigns PDUFA action date

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced the Company's supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for once-daily XiDay™ (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) has been accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

8 Mar 2010

UTSA celebrates grand opening of NVI facility in the greater San Antonio region

The University of Texas at San Antonio celebrates the grand opening of its New Venture Incubator, a facility with laboratory, office and meeting spaces to support technology start-ups in the greater San Antonio region. The incubator, housed on UTSA’s Main Campus, will serve as a bridge between San Antonio entrepreneurs and the region’s research and development community.

8 Mar 2010

Research Roundup: Childhood obesity, insurance coverage in cancer trials, hospitals stays and need for nursing homes

Health Affairs this month is devoted to the topic of childhood obesity, with the first study of the group - National, State, And Local Disparities In Childhood Obesity - pointing out that "new data from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health show that the percentage of children ages 10-17 who are overweight ... remained stable, while the national prevalence of obesity (BMI in the ninety-fifth percentile and higher) grew significantly, from 14.8 percent in 2003 to 16.4 percent in 2007.

6 Mar 2010

FDA's PADAC meeting to review pirfenidone NDA: InterMune posts briefing documents

InterMune, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted briefing documents for the March 9 Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee (PADAC) meeting to review the New Drug Application (NDA) for pirfenidone, InterMune's investigational drug candidate for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to reduce decline in lung function. The proposed trade name for pirfenidone is Esbriet®.

5 Mar 2010

2010 Federal Budget lacks substantive funding in support of heart health initiatives: HSF concerned

The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) is concerned with the lack of any substantive funding in support of heart health initiatives as outlined in today's 2010 Federal Budget.

5 Mar 2010

SXC Health Solutions reports 2009 financial results

SXC Health Solutions Corp., announces its financial results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2009. Financial references are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

4 Mar 2010

SXC Health Solutions and HealthSpring sign PBM contract

SXC Health Solutions Corp., a leading provider of pharmacy benefit management (PBM) products and services, today announced that its informedRx PBM unit has been awarded a contract with HealthSpring Inc.

4 Mar 2010

Clear One Health Plans launches Natural Health Plan for Oregon residents

Clear One Health Plans, Inc. today announced the launch of the first Natural Health Plan that focuses on holistic health insurance available in the state of Oregon. The new Natural Health Plan is available throughout the state of Oregon beginning February 1, 2010 to Oregon residents and is specifically designed with an emphasis on alternative medicine such as naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, and nutraceuticals (vitamins and minerals).

4 Mar 2010

Lawmakers work on Medicare drug and mental health legislation

House Democrats are preparing to introduce legislation on Medicare drug prices and an effort to tackle some individual health issues while Congress debates a comprehensive bill.

4 Mar 2010

InterMune seeks European marketing approval for pirfenidone

InterMune, Inc. today announced that it has submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking approval to market pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in the European Union (EU). Currently, there are no EMA-approved treatments for IPF in the EU.

2 Mar 2010

States continue to wrestle with Medicaid spending, budget issues; Utah legislation would criminalize illegal abortion

Cincinnati Business Courier: Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has signed a bill that will extend the state's mini-COBRA program from 12 to 15 months for small-business employees, according to a report in Columbus Business First (3/1).

2 Mar 2010

Prescription Drug News and Research

Does Medicare 'doughnut hole' spur increase in foreign drug imports?

Congress, Obama continue health reform push

PCMA poll: 74% of people oppose Congress' effort to change FEHBP’s prescription drug benefits

Passage of legislation could spell disaster for Idaho's health care system

Idahoans buckling under soaring health care costs: No help from Idaho State Senate

FDA's Advisory Committee votes 9-3 to recommend approval of Esbriet for treatment of patients with IPF

NASDAQ halts trading of InterMune's common stock, FDA PADAC to discuss pirfenidone NDA

Congress battles over broken health care system; Idaho's homegrown health care crisis may grow even worse

State Roundup: N.Y. drug pricing, Vermont hospital ads, Massachusetts nursing homes and anti-psychotics

ISTA Pharmaceuticals' sNDA for once-daily XiDay: FDA assigns PDUFA action date

UTSA celebrates grand opening of NVI facility in the greater San Antonio region

Research Roundup: Childhood obesity, insurance coverage in cancer trials, hospitals stays and need for nursing homes

FDA's PADAC meeting to review pirfenidone NDA: InterMune posts briefing documents

2010 Federal Budget lacks substantive funding in support of heart health initiatives: HSF concerned

SXC Health Solutions reports 2009 financial results

SXC Health Solutions and HealthSpring sign PBM contract

Clear One Health Plans launches Natural Health Plan for Oregon residents

Lawmakers work on Medicare drug and mental health legislation

InterMune seeks European marketing approval for pirfenidone

States continue to wrestle with Medicaid spending, budget issues; Utah legislation would criminalize illegal abortion

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