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New American Medical Association adverts blast Senate inaction on Medicare cuts

Reflecting physicians' frustration with a group of senators that blocked action last week on legislation that would stop harsh Medicare physician payment cuts, the AMA began airing new TV and radio ads urging opponents of H.R. 6331 to put patients' access to care before insurance profits.

1 Jul 2008

FDA approves generic Risperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic versions of Risperdal (risperidone) tablets. Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug used for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric conditions.

1 Jul 2008

Smoking ban triggered the biggest fall in smoking ever seen in England

Smokefree law in England has helped more smokers to quit than ever before and will help prevent an estimated 40,000 deaths over the next 10 years - according to new research being presented in Birmingham tomorrow (Tuesday).

30 Jun 2008

Anthrax attacks in the U.S. 'suspect' awarded $2.8 million

A former U.S. Army scientist has won his case against the United States Justice Department for being unfairly implicated in anthrax attacks in 2001.

30 Jun 2008

Smoking ban in Victoria sees large numbers quit

According to Cancer Council Victoria, since bars and clubs in Victoria were made smoke free a large number of people have quit or reduced smoking.

30 Jun 2008

WHO says smoking bans work and benefit everyone

A report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the effectiveness of smoking bans and their benefit for everyone.

30 Jun 2008

Microscopic needles effectively deliver drugs to the eyes

A new technique that effectively delivers drugs to the eyes, using microscopic needles, could offer hope to the millions of patients worldwide suffering from common eye diseases that threaten vision such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

30 Jun 2008

Study shows youth smoking rates have stagnated

An article in this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows, alarmingly, that the decline in smoking rates among high school students seen from 1997 to 2003 continues to stagnate. These results are an ominous sign as an overwhelming majority of smokers begin their deadly addiction during this critical stage of development in their lives.

26 Jun 2008

House votes 355-59 to approve legislation that would delay Medicare physician fee cut

The House on Tuesday voted 355-59 to approve legislation (HR 6331) that would delay for 18 months a 10.6% reduction to Medicare physician fees scheduled to take effect on July 1, among other provisions, the Washington Post reports (Kane, Washington Post, 6/25).

26 Jun 2008

Mississippi lawmakers should pass legislation to create sustainable funding for Medicaid, Gov. Barbour writes

Mississippi's Medicaid program "has a current $90 million shortfall, but what the program really needs is a fair, permanent, sustainable funding solution for the long term," Gov. Haley Barbour (R) writes in a Jackson Clarion-Ledger opinion piece.

26 Jun 2008

New York Times Editorial, column address provision in Medicare bill to delay DME competitive bidding program

The New York Times on Wednesday published an editorial and column that addressed a provision included in a Medicare bill (HR 6331) passed by the House that would delay for 18 months a competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment.

26 Jun 2008

Mailing error left 16,000 Commonwealth Care beneficiaries unaware of coverage cancellation, how to appeal decisions

Massachusetts state officials on Monday said a mailing glitch last month left 16,000 residents without proper notice that they could lose their health coverage under Commonwealth Care and information about how to appeal the decision, the Boston Globe reports.

26 Jun 2008

Sen. Reid says he will try to bring PEPFAR legislation to Senate floor on Wednesday

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said that he will attempt to bring legislation that would reauthorize the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to the Senate floor on Wednesday, CQ Today reports (Graham-Silverman, CQ Today, 6/24).

26 Jun 2008

U.S. should lift HIV/AIDS-related travel restrictions, opinion piece says

Since 2003, the U.S. through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has "extended a helping hand to" HIV-positive people living outside the country, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) write in a Washington Times opinion piece.

26 Jun 2008

Senate panel approves $153.1 billion for discretionary spending in labor-HHS-education bill for FY 2009

The Senate Appropriations Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Tuesday by voice vote approved a $631 billion fiscal year 2009 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, CQ Today reports.

26 Jun 2008

Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell says state could save $95 million annually by purchasing Medicaid drugs

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) says the state could save $95 million annually under a plan to centralize Medicaid prescription drug purchasing within the state Department of Public Welfare, but state Republicans say those savings would be offset by hidden expenses in the plan, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

25 Jun 2008

Future of Medicare at stake in Presidential election, opinion piece states

"At stake in the presidential election is whether we will all need to consult lobbyists to have our medical issues heard by a remote, bureaucratic Medicare program," Scott Gottlieb, a former CMS official and an American Enterprise Institute fellow, writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

24 Jun 2008

Reps. Barton, Dingell to introduce legislation that aims to spur nationwide adoption of electronic health records

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) and ranking member Joe Barton (R-Texas) on Tuesday plan to introduce a bill that would promote the adoption of a nationwide electronic health record system, CongressDaily reports.

24 Jun 2008

New Orleans teaching hospital that would replace charity will require state funds

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine on Thursday said that a 424-bed $1.2 billion teaching hospital planned to replace Charity Hospital in New Orleans will not turn a profit, as the original plan had stated, and that it would require state money to become sustainable, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports (Moller, New Orleans Times-Picayune, 6/20).

24 Jun 2008

House to vote on modified version of Senate Democrats' Medicare physician pay patch bill

The House on Tuesday is scheduled to vote on a modified version of Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus' (D-Mont.) legislation (S 3101) that would eliminate a 10.6% reduction to Medicare physician fees scheduled for July 1, CQ Today reports. According to CQ Today, "If the House moves a bill, it will put pressure on Senate Democrats and Republicans to reach an accord."

24 Jun 2008

Medical Legislation News and Research

New American Medical Association adverts blast Senate inaction on Medicare cuts

FDA approves generic Risperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Smoking ban triggered the biggest fall in smoking ever seen in England

Anthrax attacks in the U.S. 'suspect' awarded $2.8 million

Smoking ban in Victoria sees large numbers quit

WHO says smoking bans work and benefit everyone

Microscopic needles effectively deliver drugs to the eyes

Study shows youth smoking rates have stagnated

House votes 355-59 to approve legislation that would delay Medicare physician fee cut

Mississippi lawmakers should pass legislation to create sustainable funding for Medicaid, Gov. Barbour writes

New York Times Editorial, column address provision in Medicare bill to delay DME competitive bidding program

Mailing error left 16,000 Commonwealth Care beneficiaries unaware of coverage cancellation, how to appeal decisions

Sen. Reid says he will try to bring PEPFAR legislation to Senate floor on Wednesday

U.S. should lift HIV/AIDS-related travel restrictions, opinion piece says

Senate panel approves $153.1 billion for discretionary spending in labor-HHS-education bill for FY 2009

Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell says state could save $95 million annually by purchasing Medicaid drugs

Future of Medicare at stake in Presidential election, opinion piece states

Reps. Barton, Dingell to introduce legislation that aims to spur nationwide adoption of electronic health records

New Orleans teaching hospital that would replace charity will require state funds

House to vote on modified version of Senate Democrats' Medicare physician pay patch bill

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