Health and Human Services News and Research

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First Edition: September 16, 2011

In today's headlines, reports that, despite dire predictions by health law opponents about the Medicare Advantage program, its premiums are falling and its enrollment is rising.

16 Sep 2011

HHS' BARDA contract advances development of novel anthrax vaccine, antitoxin

The advanced development of a novel next-generation anthrax vaccine and a new type of anthrax antitoxin have received support through new contracts funded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.

16 Sep 2011

Nation's battle against tobacco use reduces smoking rates, lung cancer: CDC report

The following is a statement of Matthew L. Myers President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: A new report published today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides powerful and concrete evidence that the nation's battle against tobacco use has not only driven down smoking rates, but is also saving lives by reducing lung cancer, the number one cancer killer in the United States.

16 Sep 2011

Medicare Advantage premiums to go down next year: HHS

On average, Medicare Advantage premiums will be 4 percent lower in 2012 than in 2011, and plans project enrollment to increase by 10 percent, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today.

16 Sep 2011

FDA creates Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today a streamlined, integrated approach to effectively and rapidly respond to human and animal foodborne illness outbreaks: the FDA Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network.

15 Sep 2011

CHK Nutrition, NeuroResearch Clinics sign consent to halt sale of unapproved amino-acid products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that two Minnesota companies have agreed to halt distribution of amino-acid products marketed to treat a number of diseases, until requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act are met.

15 Sep 2011

Navigating Cancer receives ONC-ATCB certification for Patient Engagement Portal

Navigating Cancer's Patient Engagement Portal, the industries only oncology specific solution that can integrate with any electronic health record (EHR) system, has received the federal government's "meaningful use" stamp of approval by earning (EHR) modular certification.

15 Sep 2011

Roundup: Major Mass. health system, insurer near reimbursement deal; HHS funds Planned Parenthood in N.H.; 10 Iowa towns to get healthy

Partners HealthCare System Inc. is close to reaching an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts that could provide relief to tens of thousands of insurance customers by slowing the rate of their premium increases, potentially by nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.

15 Sep 2011

Candidates in Monday's GOP debate clash on health reform, Medicare, vaccines

One of the questions emerging in this primary contest is whether entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security will continue to be a political "third rail," or if public concerns about government spending have overcome this conventional wisdom.

14 Sep 2011

Berwick offers hopeful prediction: The launch of 'pioneer' ACOs by end of year

Also in the headlines: the Department of Health and Human Services tells Delaware "no" in response to its medical-loss ratio waiver request. And on the state level, the AP reports that some Illinois lawmakers involved in developing their state exchange are receiving campaign cash from insurers.

14 Sep 2011

Autism Speaks introduces new tool kit to make blood draws and routine procedures less stressful

For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), routine medical procedures such as having their blood drawn can be very difficult. Communication and social interaction deficits and reliance on fixed routines experienced by many children with ASD are the significant factors to be considered when preparing a child with ASD for a blood draw.

14 Sep 2011

Older drugs may be better than newly approved ones

It is a common belief that drugs given the okay by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are safer and more effective than they have to be to win approval, according to a new study. Especially in the first few years after a drug becomes available, researchers note, there are still questions about how well it will work and whether it will have any serious side effects warn experts. For example FDA-approved painkiller Vioxx was pulled off the market in 2004 after longer-term evidence showed that it may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

13 Sep 2011

FDA announces organizational changes within CDER's Office of Oncology Drug Products

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced organizational changes within the office responsible for reviewing all drug and biologic applications for cancer therapies.

13 Sep 2011

PharmAthene completes 1,500 liter engineering production run for SparVax anthrax vaccine

PharmAthene, Inc. announced today that it has achieved significant progress in the development of its second generation anthrax vaccine, SparVax.

12 Sep 2011

Human gliomas release excess levels of glutamate and trigger seizures

Glioma, one of the most deadly and common types of brain tumor, is often associated with seizures, but the origins of these seizures and effective treatments for them have been elusive. Now a team funded by the National Institutes of Health has found that human gliomas implanted in mice release excess levels of the brain chemical glutamate, overstimulating neurons near the tumor and triggering seizures.

12 Sep 2011

Preventive benefits, exchanges and coverage options: A catch-all of health law implementation news

Media outlets report on a range of health law issues, including the latest estimates from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the number of Medicare beneficiaries getting free preventive care, what difficulties may be ahead for health exchanges and the adminstration's new "Enroll America" campaign.

9 Sep 2011

SAMHSA awards new grants to behavioral health systems serving American Indian/Alaskan Native communities

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is announcing seven new grants for a total of up to $6.4 million over up to three years to provide tribal and urban American Indian and Alaskan Native communities resources to plan and design a holistic, community-based system of care to support mental health and wellness for their children, youth and families.

9 Sep 2011

Health law subject to attack during GOP presidential debate

As candidates threw accusations at Democratic policies and each other, they didn't always get the specifics right. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney especially clashed on health policy issues. Meanwhile, Romney expressed his support for Medicaid block grants and Perry blamed the federal government for Texas' high number of people without health insurance.

9 Sep 2011

SAMHSA survey finds increase in use of illicit drugs among Americans between 2008-2010

The use of illicit drugs among Americans increased between 2008 and 2010 according to a national survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

9 Sep 2011

Elusys receives federal contract to develop prophylactic treatment against anthrax

Elusys Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing biodefense countermeasures, announced today that it has been awarded the first U.S. Government contract to develop an anti-toxin for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) use via intramuscular injection.

9 Sep 2011

Health and Human Services News and Research

First Edition: September 16, 2011

HHS' BARDA contract advances development of novel anthrax vaccine, antitoxin

Nation's battle against tobacco use reduces smoking rates, lung cancer: CDC report

Medicare Advantage premiums to go down next year: HHS

FDA creates Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network

CHK Nutrition, NeuroResearch Clinics sign consent to halt sale of unapproved amino-acid products

Navigating Cancer receives ONC-ATCB certification for Patient Engagement Portal

Roundup: Major Mass. health system, insurer near reimbursement deal; HHS funds Planned Parenthood in N.H.; 10 Iowa towns to get healthy

Candidates in Monday's GOP debate clash on health reform, Medicare, vaccines

Berwick offers hopeful prediction: The launch of 'pioneer' ACOs by end of year

Autism Speaks introduces new tool kit to make blood draws and routine procedures less stressful

Older drugs may be better than newly approved ones

FDA announces organizational changes within CDER's Office of Oncology Drug Products

PharmAthene completes 1,500 liter engineering production run for SparVax anthrax vaccine

Human gliomas release excess levels of glutamate and trigger seizures

Preventive benefits, exchanges and coverage options: A catch-all of health law implementation news

SAMHSA awards new grants to behavioral health systems serving American Indian/Alaskan Native communities

Health law subject to attack during GOP presidential debate

SAMHSA survey finds increase in use of illicit drugs among Americans between 2008-2010

Elusys receives federal contract to develop prophylactic treatment against anthrax

Event guide: 6th Operationalize Expanded Access Programs Summit East eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

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