Jane Anderson

Psych Care Often Inaccessible

Two-thirds of primary care physicians said they couldn't get outpatient mental health services for their patients, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change. The 2004–2005 data are from the center's Community Tracking Study Physician Survey and other sources. A total of 67% of primary care physicians said they couldn't access mental health services for patients, compared with 34% who said they couldn't get specialist referrals and 30% who had trouble getting diagnostic imaging. Problems were related to health plan barriers, inadequate insurance coverage, and shortages of providers. The study, funded by the Commonwealth Fund, was published online in Health Affairs.

CMS Considers Hospice Rule

Physicians certifying patients for Medicare-covered hospice stays would be required to write a brief explanation of why a patient has 6 months or less to live, under a new rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Currently, physicians need only sign a certification to qualify someone for hospice services, although the CMS also requires the medical record to include documentation supporting a terminal prognosis. However, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has noted an increasing number of hospice patients with stays longer than 180 days, and the proposed rule is designed to provide more accountability for hospice certification, the CMS said. Comments, including whether the requirement would increase physician engagement in the certification process, are due by June 22.

Medical Discipline Declined

State medical boards seriously disciplined far fewer doctors in 2007 and 2008 than they did in 2004, the peak year for such actions against doctors, according to an analysis by the consumer-advocacy group Public Citizen. In 2008, there were 2.92 serious disciplinary actions per 1,000 physicians, the same rate as in 2007 but 21% lower than in 2004. The states that disciplined the most doctors per 1,000 practitioners were Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Minnesota disciplined the fewest physicians, and California, Florida, Maryland, South Carolina, and Wisconsin ranked low on the list, Public Citizen said. The annual rankings are based on data from the Federation of State Medical Boards. Serious disciplinary actions include license revocations and surrenders, suspensions, and probation with restrictions on practice.

Proposed ESRD Policy Risky

A proposed change in Medicare reimbursement policy could make it more difficult for African Americans with kidney disease to access dialysis services, a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggested. Under the possible policy change, the CMS would make a single bundled payment to dialysis units to cover both dialysis and injectable medications, which have been reimbursed separately. The analysis of 12,000 patients starting dialysis found that African Americans had lower initial hemoglobin levels, compared with levels in whites who were beginning treatment. The study also found that the average required dose of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents over the first 2 months of dialysis was 11% higher in African American patients. Since dialysis centers no longer will be reimbursed more for the higher doses, the researchers said they are concerned that the new policy could create a financial disincentive for centers to accept African Americans. “If race is not included as a payment adjuster, African Americans could be disadvantaged by this policy change,” asserted study coauthor Dr. Areef Ishani of the University of Minnesota.

PhRMA Revises Trial Standards

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has revised its voluntary standards for how drug manufacturers run clinical trials and communicate trial results. The new PhRMA standards call on drug makers to register on a public Web site all interventional clinical trials—including some phase I studies. The standards also call for companies to “greatly expand transparency in medical research” by providing summaries of results from for all interventional clinical trials, regardless of whether the research is discontinued or the medication being studied is ever approved. Finally, the new standards call for drug makers to adopt the authorship standards of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. The committee says, for instance, that only individuals who make substantial contributions to a manuscript should be included as authors.

Routine HIV Testing Urged

The American College of Physicians and the Infectious Disease Society of America have jointly called for routine HIV testing for sexually active adults, pregnant women, and newborns. Federally supported health care programs should provide coverage for such testing, said the policy statement, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. In addition, public health officials should promote evidence-based interventions to minimize the risk of HIV transmission—comprehensive sex education, condom distribution, and syringe-exchange programs—the two groups said. They also urged that all patients living with HIV/AIDS in the United States have access to care provided by physicians trained in AIDS treatment.

Psych Care Often Inaccessible

Two-thirds of primary care physicians said they couldn't get outpatient mental health services for their patients, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change. The 2004–2005 data are from the center's Community Tracking Study Physician Survey and other sources. A total of 67% of primary care physicians said they couldn't access mental health services for patients, compared with 34% who said they couldn't get specialist referrals and 30% who had trouble getting diagnostic imaging. Problems were related to health plan barriers, inadequate insurance coverage, and shortages of providers. The study, funded by the Commonwealth Fund, was published online in Health Affairs.

CMS Considers Hospice Rule

Physicians certifying patients for Medicare-covered hospice stays would be required to write a brief explanation of why a patient has 6 months or less to live, under a new rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Currently, physicians need only sign a certification to qualify someone for hospice services, although the CMS also requires the medical record to include documentation supporting a terminal prognosis. However, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has noted an increasing number of hospice patients with stays longer than 180 days, and the proposed rule is designed to provide more accountability for hospice certification, the CMS said. Comments, including whether the requirement would increase physician engagement in the certification process, are due by June 22.

Medical Discipline Declined

State medical boards seriously disciplined far fewer doctors in 2007 and 2008 than they did in 2004, the peak year for such actions against doctors, according to an analysis by the consumer-advocacy group Public Citizen. In 2008, there were 2.92 serious disciplinary actions per 1,000 physicians, the same rate as in 2007 but 21% lower than in 2004. The states that disciplined the most doctors per 1,000 practitioners were Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Minnesota disciplined the fewest physicians, and California, Florida, Maryland, South Carolina, and Wisconsin ranked low on the list, Public Citizen said. The annual rankings are based on data from the Federation of State Medical Boards. Serious disciplinary actions include license revocations and surrenders, suspensions, and probation with restrictions on practice.

Proposed ESRD Policy Risky

A proposed change in Medicare reimbursement policy could make it more difficult for African Americans with kidney disease to access dialysis services, a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggested. Under the possible policy change, the CMS would make a single bundled payment to dialysis units to cover both dialysis and injectable medications, which have been reimbursed separately. The analysis of 12,000 patients starting dialysis found that African Americans had lower initial hemoglobin levels, compared with levels in whites who were beginning treatment. The study also found that the average required dose of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents over the first 2 months of dialysis was 11% higher in African American patients. Since dialysis centers no longer will be reimbursed more for the higher doses, the researchers said they are concerned that the new policy could create a financial disincentive for centers to accept African Americans. “If race is not included as a payment adjuster, African Americans could be disadvantaged by this policy change,” asserted study coauthor Dr. Areef Ishani of the University of Minnesota.

PhRMA Revises Trial Standards

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has revised its voluntary standards for how drug manufacturers run clinical trials and communicate trial results. The new PhRMA standards call on drug makers to register on a public Web site all interventional clinical trials—including some phase I studies. The standards also call for companies to “greatly expand transparency in medical research” by providing summaries of results from for all interventional clinical trials, regardless of whether the research is discontinued or the medication being studied is ever approved. Finally, the new standards call for drug makers to adopt the authorship standards of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. The committee says, for instance, that only individuals who make substantial contributions to a manuscript should be included as authors.

Routine HIV Testing Urged

The American College of Physicians and the Infectious Disease Society of America have jointly called for routine HIV testing for sexually active adults, pregnant women, and newborns. Federally supported health care programs should provide coverage for such testing, said the policy statement, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. In addition, public health officials should promote evidence-based interventions to minimize the risk of HIV transmission—comprehensive sex education, condom distribution, and syringe-exchange programs—the two groups said. They also urged that all patients living with HIV/AIDS in the United States have access to care provided by physicians trained in AIDS treatment.

Psych Care Often Inaccessible

Two-thirds of primary care physicians said they couldn't get outpatient mental health services for their patients, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change. The 2004–2005 data are from the center's Community Tracking Study Physician Survey and other sources. A total of 67% of primary care physicians said they couldn't access mental health services for patients, compared with 34% who said they couldn't get specialist referrals and 30% who had trouble getting diagnostic imaging. Problems were related to health plan barriers, inadequate insurance coverage, and shortages of providers. The study, funded by the Commonwealth Fund, was published online in Health Affairs.

CMS Considers Hospice Rule

Physicians certifying patients for Medicare-covered hospice stays would be required to write a brief explanation of why a patient has 6 months or less to live, under a new rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Currently, physicians need only sign a certification to qualify someone for hospice services, although the CMS also requires the medical record to include documentation supporting a terminal prognosis. However, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has noted an increasing number of hospice patients with stays longer than 180 days, and the proposed rule is designed to provide more accountability for hospice certification, the CMS said. Comments, including whether the requirement would increase physician engagement in the certification process, are due by June 22.

Medical Discipline Declined

State medical boards seriously disciplined far fewer doctors in 2007 and 2008 than they did in 2004, the peak year for such actions against doctors, according to an analysis by the consumer-advocacy group Public Citizen. In 2008, there were 2.92 serious disciplinary actions per 1,000 physicians, the same rate as in 2007 but 21% lower than in 2004. The states that disciplined the most doctors per 1,000 practitioners were Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Minnesota disciplined the fewest physicians, and California, Florida, Maryland, South Carolina, and Wisconsin ranked low on the list, Public Citizen said. The annual rankings are based on data from the Federation of State Medical Boards. Serious disciplinary actions include license revocations and surrenders, suspensions, and probation with restrictions on practice.

Proposed ESRD Policy Risky

A proposed change in Medicare reimbursement policy could make it more difficult for African Americans with kidney disease to access dialysis services, a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggested. Under the possible policy change, the CMS would make a single bundled payment to dialysis units to cover both dialysis and injectable medications, which have been reimbursed separately. The analysis of 12,000 patients starting dialysis found that African Americans had lower initial hemoglobin levels, compared with levels in whites who were beginning treatment. The study also found that the average required dose of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents over the first 2 months of dialysis was 11% higher in African American patients. Since dialysis centers no longer will be reimbursed more for the higher doses, the researchers said they are concerned that the new policy could create a financial disincentive for centers to accept African Americans. “If race is not included as a payment adjuster, African Americans could be disadvantaged by this policy change,” asserted study coauthor Dr. Areef Ishani of the University of Minnesota.

PhRMA Revises Trial Standards

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has revised its voluntary standards for how drug manufacturers run clinical trials and communicate trial results. The new PhRMA standards call on drug makers to register on a public Web site all interventional clinical trials—including some phase I studies. The standards also call for companies to “greatly expand transparency in medical research” by providing summaries of results from for all interventional clinical trials, regardless of whether the research is discontinued or the medication being studied is ever approved. Finally, the new standards call for drug makers to adopt the authorship standards of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. The committee says, for instance, that only individuals who make substantial contributions to a manuscript should be included as authors.

Routine HIV Testing Urged

The American College of Physicians and the Infectious Disease Society of America have jointly called for routine HIV testing for sexually active adults, pregnant women, and newborns. Federally supported health care programs should provide coverage for such testing, said the policy statement, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. In addition, public health officials should promote evidence-based interventions to minimize the risk of HIV transmission—comprehensive sex education, condom distribution, and syringe-exchange programs—the two groups said. They also urged that all patients living with HIV/AIDS in the United States have access to care provided by physicians trained in AIDS treatment.

Stimulus Benefits Child Programs

Vaccine programs, child day care, and Head Start all will benefit from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act economic stimulus package, the Obama administration said. As part of the stimulus package, the federal government will use $300 million to promote immunization, purchase vaccines, and distribute them through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's immunization program. In addition, states will receive $2 billion from the stimulus package to pay for day care and expand facilities providing it. And the Head Start and Early Head Start programs will gain access to $2.1 billion grants that could expand coverage to more than 70,000 children, infants, pregnant women, and their families. Head Start will receive a separate $235 million increase in funding for 2009 through the stimulus package, the Obama administration said.

$60 Million to Autism Research

The National Institutes of Health said it will commit roughly $60 million in stimulus package funds to support autism research over the next 2 years.

Four grant programs collectively known as “Research to Address the Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders” will fund research to develop and test diagnostic screening tools, assess risks from prenatal or early life exposures to potential toxins, conduct clinical trials, and adapt existing interventions to a maturing population of people with autism-spectrum disorders.

The topics follow the strategic plan that came from the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, NIH said.

AAP, AAFP Want Case Overturned

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Georgia high court decision that could allow parents of autistic children to sue vaccine manufacturers.

Last October, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the case, which involves an autistic child who stopped speaking after being vaccinated, could go to trial. However, other state and federal courts have held that the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Act of 1986 preempts such lawsuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to take the Georgia case.

“If this [Georgia] decision is allowed to stand, it could lead to the very same crisis that Congress sought to prevent in passing the original legislation,” said Stephan Lawton, an attorney for AAP, in a statement.

“There is a genuine threat to our nation's public health if manufacturers abandon or consider abandoning the production of vaccines. [A decision to permit vaccine suits] would set our country back decades and have deadly consequences for our children.”

House Passes Wakefield Act

The House has passed, 390-1, the Wakefield Act to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children program. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

In the past 25 years, the program has funded state emergency services offices and supported projects that bolster children's emergency care. “It is no coincidence that since the EMSC program was established, death rates due to pediatric injury have dropped by an astounding 40%,” AAP President David Tayloe said in a statement.

The legislation, named for a family whose child survived a catastrophic auto accident because of excellent emergency care, would reauthorize the program for 5 more years.

Stimulus Benefits Child Programs

Vaccine programs, child day care, and Head Start all will benefit from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act economic stimulus package, the Obama administration said. As part of the stimulus package, the federal government will use $300 million to promote immunization, purchase vaccines, and distribute them through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's immunization program. In addition, states will receive $2 billion from the stimulus package to pay for day care and expand facilities providing it. And the Head Start and Early Head Start programs will gain access to $2.1 billion grants that could expand coverage to more than 70,000 children, infants, pregnant women, and their families. Head Start will receive a separate $235 million increase in funding for 2009 through the stimulus package, the Obama administration said.

$60 Million to Autism Research

The National Institutes of Health said it will commit roughly $60 million in stimulus package funds to support autism research over the next 2 years.

Four grant programs collectively known as “Research to Address the Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders” will fund research to develop and test diagnostic screening tools, assess risks from prenatal or early life exposures to potential toxins, conduct clinical trials, and adapt existing interventions to a maturing population of people with autism-spectrum disorders.

The topics follow the strategic plan that came from the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, NIH said.

AAP, AAFP Want Case Overturned

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Georgia high court decision that could allow parents of autistic children to sue vaccine manufacturers.

Last October, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the case, which involves an autistic child who stopped speaking after being vaccinated, could go to trial. However, other state and federal courts have held that the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Act of 1986 preempts such lawsuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to take the Georgia case.

“If this [Georgia] decision is allowed to stand, it could lead to the very same crisis that Congress sought to prevent in passing the original legislation,” said Stephan Lawton, an attorney for AAP, in a statement.

“There is a genuine threat to our nation's public health if manufacturers abandon or consider abandoning the production of vaccines. [A decision to permit vaccine suits] would set our country back decades and have deadly consequences for our children.”

House Passes Wakefield Act

The House has passed, 390-1, the Wakefield Act to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children program. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

In the past 25 years, the program has funded state emergency services offices and supported projects that bolster children's emergency care. “It is no coincidence that since the EMSC program was established, death rates due to pediatric injury have dropped by an astounding 40%,” AAP President David Tayloe said in a statement.

The legislation, named for a family whose child survived a catastrophic auto accident because of excellent emergency care, would reauthorize the program for 5 more years.

Stimulus Benefits Child Programs

Vaccine programs, child day care, and Head Start all will benefit from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act economic stimulus package, the Obama administration said. As part of the stimulus package, the federal government will use $300 million to promote immunization, purchase vaccines, and distribute them through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's immunization program. In addition, states will receive $2 billion from the stimulus package to pay for day care and expand facilities providing it. And the Head Start and Early Head Start programs will gain access to $2.1 billion grants that could expand coverage to more than 70,000 children, infants, pregnant women, and their families. Head Start will receive a separate $235 million increase in funding for 2009 through the stimulus package, the Obama administration said.

$60 Million to Autism Research

The National Institutes of Health said it will commit roughly $60 million in stimulus package funds to support autism research over the next 2 years.

Four grant programs collectively known as “Research to Address the Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders” will fund research to develop and test diagnostic screening tools, assess risks from prenatal or early life exposures to potential toxins, conduct clinical trials, and adapt existing interventions to a maturing population of people with autism-spectrum disorders.

The topics follow the strategic plan that came from the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, NIH said.

AAP, AAFP Want Case Overturned

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Georgia high court decision that could allow parents of autistic children to sue vaccine manufacturers.

Last October, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the case, which involves an autistic child who stopped speaking after being vaccinated, could go to trial. However, other state and federal courts have held that the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Act of 1986 preempts such lawsuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to take the Georgia case.

“If this [Georgia] decision is allowed to stand, it could lead to the very same crisis that Congress sought to prevent in passing the original legislation,” said Stephan Lawton, an attorney for AAP, in a statement.

“There is a genuine threat to our nation's public health if manufacturers abandon or consider abandoning the production of vaccines. [A decision to permit vaccine suits] would set our country back decades and have deadly consequences for our children.”

House Passes Wakefield Act

The House has passed, 390-1, the Wakefield Act to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children program. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

In the past 25 years, the program has funded state emergency services offices and supported projects that bolster children's emergency care. “It is no coincidence that since the EMSC program was established, death rates due to pediatric injury have dropped by an astounding 40%,” AAP President David Tayloe said in a statement.

The legislation, named for a family whose child survived a catastrophic auto accident because of excellent emergency care, would reauthorize the program for 5 more years.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Fined

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. will pay $2.1 million—the largest fine allowed by law—for failing to report an agreement it reached with Apotex Inc. on generic competition for its blockbuster cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), the Federal Trade Commission said. Bristol-Myers Squibb didn't disclose that in 2006 the two companies made a deal to schedule the releases of their generic versions of the drug to reduce competition, according to the FTC. The agency said that failing to disclose the oral agreement violated both a 2003 FTC order and the Medicare Modernization Act, which requires that certain drug company agreements be accurately reported to both the FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2007, Bristol-Myers Squibb paid $1 million to settle a criminal complaint that the company had lied about the Plavix agreement with Apotex. The name-brand manufacturer has also settled several state actions arising from the generic-timing agreement, the FTC said.

EMR Applications Rise

As of the March 31 deadline, 64 companies had applied for certification of their electronic medical record (EMR) products, one-third more than had applied by the same time last year, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology reported. In addition, nearly 40% of the applications were for new EMR products, rather than renewals, according to the federally recognized commission. Nearly two-thirds of the applicants qualified as small businesses, the commission noted. The biggest category, with 26 applications, was for EMR products for children. Other applications covered cardiovascular medicine, emergency departments, and inpatient records. So far, 25 of the products have been certified, the commission said.

FDA Warns on Internet Ads

The Food and Drug Administration has warned 14 drug makers against using brief Internet ads to promote drugs, saying the ads are misleading because they fail to provide full information about risks and indications. The ads typically appear on search engines, such as Google, as “sponsored links” when patients search for information on medical conditions. The ads cited by the FDA include promotions for the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab), the cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), and the diabetes treatment Avandia (rosiglitazone). The sponsored links generally contain only a dozen or so words—not enough to convey detailed treatment or risk information, according to the FDA. The Pew Prescription Project, a nonprofit drug-safety group, has asked the FDA to articulate the rules regulating online advertising and to advise manufacturers on where risk disclosures may appear in Internet ads.

Massachusetts Clinics Are Busy

Community health centers in Massachusetts saw a significant increase in their patient load from 2005 to 2007, as the state implemented its health reform law, according to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The 34 federally qualified clinics, which provide comprehensive primary care for low-income and uninsured patients, served 482,503 patients in 2007, up more than 51,000 from 2 years earlier, the foundation reported. The state's reform aims at universal coverage, but many people remain uninsured. Although the number of health center patients lacking insurance declined, the clinics in 2007 cared for a much larger proportion (36%) of the state's uninsured population than before. The experience in Massachusetts shows that community health centers play a critical role in caring for newly insured patients while continuing to serve as the primary safety net for those who remain uninsured, the report concluded.

Issues of Drug Class Pending

Logistical and cost issues must be addressed before a behind-the-counter class of nonprescription drugs can be established officially in the United States, the Government Accountability Office said in a report on so-called BTC drugs. The GAO stressed that pharmacists must be ready to provide BTC counseling and that pharmacies must protect consumer privacy. In addition, policy makers should address cost issues, such as the availability of third-party coverage for BTC drugs and pharmacists' compensation for providing associated services. GAO researchers studied the experiences of five countries, including Italy and the Netherlands, that have a behind-the-counter or similarly restricted drug class.

Dr. Calman Appointed to Panel

The Obama administration has appointed family physician Neil Calman, president and CEO of New York's Institute for Family Health, to the new Health Information Technology Policy Panel. Dr. Calman will represent the interests of vulnerable populations as 1 of 13 panel members making policy recommendations on the development of a nationwide HIT infrastructure. He will serve a 2-year term on the committee, which was established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the economic-stimulus package. Under Dr. Calman's leadership, the Institute for Family Health was one of the first community health center networks to implement an EMR and practice management system. Dr. Calman is a member of the editorial advisory board of FAMILY PRACTICE NEWS.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Fined

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. will pay $2.1 million—the largest fine allowed by law—for failing to report an agreement it reached with Apotex Inc. on generic competition for its blockbuster cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), the Federal Trade Commission said. Bristol-Myers Squibb didn't disclose that in 2006 the two companies made a deal to schedule the releases of their generic versions of the drug to reduce competition, according to the FTC. The agency said that failing to disclose the oral agreement violated both a 2003 FTC order and the Medicare Modernization Act, which requires that certain drug company agreements be accurately reported to both the FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2007, Bristol-Myers Squibb paid $1 million to settle a criminal complaint that the company had lied about the Plavix agreement with Apotex. The name-brand manufacturer has also settled several state actions arising from the generic-timing agreement, the FTC said.

EMR Applications Rise

As of the March 31 deadline, 64 companies had applied for certification of their electronic medical record (EMR) products, one-third more than had applied by the same time last year, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology reported. In addition, nearly 40% of the applications were for new EMR products, rather than renewals, according to the federally recognized commission. Nearly two-thirds of the applicants qualified as small businesses, the commission noted. The biggest category, with 26 applications, was for EMR products for children. Other applications covered cardiovascular medicine, emergency departments, and inpatient records. So far, 25 of the products have been certified, the commission said.

FDA Warns on Internet Ads

The Food and Drug Administration has warned 14 drug makers against using brief Internet ads to promote drugs, saying the ads are misleading because they fail to provide full information about risks and indications. The ads typically appear on search engines, such as Google, as “sponsored links” when patients search for information on medical conditions. The ads cited by the FDA include promotions for the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab), the cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), and the diabetes treatment Avandia (rosiglitazone). The sponsored links generally contain only a dozen or so words—not enough to convey detailed treatment or risk information, according to the FDA. The Pew Prescription Project, a nonprofit drug-safety group, has asked the FDA to articulate the rules regulating online advertising and to advise manufacturers on where risk disclosures may appear in Internet ads.

Massachusetts Clinics Are Busy

Community health centers in Massachusetts saw a significant increase in their patient load from 2005 to 2007, as the state implemented its health reform law, according to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The 34 federally qualified clinics, which provide comprehensive primary care for low-income and uninsured patients, served 482,503 patients in 2007, up more than 51,000 from 2 years earlier, the foundation reported. The state's reform aims at universal coverage, but many people remain uninsured. Although the number of health center patients lacking insurance declined, the clinics in 2007 cared for a much larger proportion (36%) of the state's uninsured population than before. The experience in Massachusetts shows that community health centers play a critical role in caring for newly insured patients while continuing to serve as the primary safety net for those who remain uninsured, the report concluded.

Issues of Drug Class Pending

Logistical and cost issues must be addressed before a behind-the-counter class of nonprescription drugs can be established officially in the United States, the Government Accountability Office said in a report on so-called BTC drugs. The GAO stressed that pharmacists must be ready to provide BTC counseling and that pharmacies must protect consumer privacy. In addition, policy makers should address cost issues, such as the availability of third-party coverage for BTC drugs and pharmacists' compensation for providing associated services. GAO researchers studied the experiences of five countries, including Italy and the Netherlands, that have a behind-the-counter or similarly restricted drug class.

Dr. Calman Appointed to Panel

The Obama administration has appointed family physician Neil Calman, president and CEO of New York's Institute for Family Health, to the new Health Information Technology Policy Panel. Dr. Calman will represent the interests of vulnerable populations as 1 of 13 panel members making policy recommendations on the development of a nationwide HIT infrastructure. He will serve a 2-year term on the committee, which was established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the economic-stimulus package. Under Dr. Calman's leadership, the Institute for Family Health was one of the first community health center networks to implement an EMR and practice management system. Dr. Calman is a member of the editorial advisory board of FAMILY PRACTICE NEWS.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Fined

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. will pay $2.1 million—the largest fine allowed by law—for failing to report an agreement it reached with Apotex Inc. on generic competition for its blockbuster cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), the Federal Trade Commission said. Bristol-Myers Squibb didn't disclose that in 2006 the two companies made a deal to schedule the releases of their generic versions of the drug to reduce competition, according to the FTC. The agency said that failing to disclose the oral agreement violated both a 2003 FTC order and the Medicare Modernization Act, which requires that certain drug company agreements be accurately reported to both the FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2007, Bristol-Myers Squibb paid $1 million to settle a criminal complaint that the company had lied about the Plavix agreement with Apotex. The name-brand manufacturer has also settled several state actions arising from the generic-timing agreement, the FTC said.

EMR Applications Rise

As of the March 31 deadline, 64 companies had applied for certification of their electronic medical record (EMR) products, one-third more than had applied by the same time last year, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology reported. In addition, nearly 40% of the applications were for new EMR products, rather than renewals, according to the federally recognized commission. Nearly two-thirds of the applicants qualified as small businesses, the commission noted. The biggest category, with 26 applications, was for EMR products for children. Other applications covered cardiovascular medicine, emergency departments, and inpatient records. So far, 25 of the products have been certified, the commission said.

FDA Warns on Internet Ads

The Food and Drug Administration has warned 14 drug makers against using brief Internet ads to promote drugs, saying the ads are misleading because they fail to provide full information about risks and indications. The ads typically appear on search engines, such as Google, as “sponsored links” when patients search for information on medical conditions. The ads cited by the FDA include promotions for the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab), the cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), and the diabetes treatment Avandia (rosiglitazone). The sponsored links generally contain only a dozen or so words—not enough to convey detailed treatment or risk information, according to the FDA. The Pew Prescription Project, a nonprofit drug-safety group, has asked the FDA to articulate the rules regulating online advertising and to advise manufacturers on where risk disclosures may appear in Internet ads.

Massachusetts Clinics Are Busy

Community health centers in Massachusetts saw a significant increase in their patient load from 2005 to 2007, as the state implemented its health reform law, according to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The 34 federally qualified clinics, which provide comprehensive primary care for low-income and uninsured patients, served 482,503 patients in 2007, up more than 51,000 from 2 years earlier, the foundation reported. The state's reform aims at universal coverage, but many people remain uninsured. Although the number of health center patients lacking insurance declined, the clinics in 2007 cared for a much larger proportion (36%) of the state's uninsured population than before. The experience in Massachusetts shows that community health centers play a critical role in caring for newly insured patients while continuing to serve as the primary safety net for those who remain uninsured, the report concluded.

Issues of Drug Class Pending

Logistical and cost issues must be addressed before a behind-the-counter class of nonprescription drugs can be established officially in the United States, the Government Accountability Office said in a report on so-called BTC drugs. The GAO stressed that pharmacists must be ready to provide BTC counseling and that pharmacies must protect consumer privacy. In addition, policy makers should address cost issues, such as the availability of third-party coverage for BTC drugs and pharmacists' compensation for providing associated services. GAO researchers studied the experiences of five countries, including Italy and the Netherlands, that have a behind-the-counter or similarly restricted drug class.

Dr. Calman Appointed to Panel

The Obama administration has appointed family physician Neil Calman, president and CEO of New York's Institute for Family Health, to the new Health Information Technology Policy Panel. Dr. Calman will represent the interests of vulnerable populations as 1 of 13 panel members making policy recommendations on the development of a nationwide HIT infrastructure. He will serve a 2-year term on the committee, which was established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the economic-stimulus package. Under Dr. Calman's leadership, the Institute for Family Health was one of the first community health center networks to implement an EMR and practice management system. Dr. Calman is a member of the editorial advisory board of FAMILY PRACTICE NEWS.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Fined

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. will pay $2.1 million—the largest fine allowed by law—for failing to report an agreement it reached with Apotex Inc. on generic competition for its blockbuster cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), the Federal Trade Commission said. Bristol-Myers Squibb didn't disclose that in 2006 the two companies made a deal to schedule the releases of their generic versions of the drug to reduce competition, according to the FTC. The agency said that failing to disclose the oral agreement violated both a 2003 FTC order and the Medicare Modernization Act, which requires that certain drug company agreements be accurately reported to both the FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2007, Bristol-Myers Squibb paid $1 million to settle a criminal complaint that the company had lied about the Plavix agreement with Apotex. The name-brand manufacturer has also settled several state actions arising from the generic-timing agreement, the FTC said.

Massachusetts Clinics Are Busy

Community health centers in Massachusetts saw a significant increase in their patient load from 2005 to 2007, as the state implemented its health reform law, according to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The 34 federally qualified clinics, which provide comprehensive primary care for low-income and uninsured patients, served 482,503 patients in 2007, up more than 51,000 from 2 years earlier, the foundation reported. The state's reform aims at universal coverage, but many people remain uninsured. Although the number of health center patients lacking insurance declined, the clinics in 2007 cared for a much larger proportion (36%) of the state's uninsured population than before. The experience in Massachusetts shows that community health centers play a critical role in caring for newly insured patients while continuing to serve as the primary safety net for those who remain uninsured, the report concluded.

FDA Warns on Internet Ads

The Food and Drug Administration has warned 14 drug makers against using brief Internet ads to promote drugs, saying the ads are misleading because they fail to provide full information about risks and indications. The ads typically appear on search engines, such as Google, as “sponsored links” when patients search for information on medical conditions. The ads cited by the FDA include promotions for the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab), the cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), and the diabetes treatment Avandia (rosiglitazone). The sponsored links generally contain only a dozen or so words—not enough to convey detailed treatment or risk information, according to the FDA. The Pew Prescription Project, a nonprofit drug-safety group, has asked the FDA to articulate the rules regulating online advertising and to advise manufacturers on where risk disclosures may appear in Internet ads.

FDA Seeks Data on Older Devices

The FDA has ordered manufacturers of 25 class III medical devices that were approved before 1976 to submit safety and effectiveness data to the agency by Aug. 7. The devices include an intra-aortic balloon and its control system, a ventricular bypass assist device, generators, materials for pacemakers, automated external defibrillators, and some types of hip joints. The FDA will decide whether to require a full approval application or reclassify the device to a lower-risk regulatory category. The Advanced Medical Technology Association issued a statement saying it was pleased the process is moving forward, but emphasized that “the device types subject to the FDA notice have already been thoroughly reviewed by the agency,” based on technological and performance data or, in some cases, clinical data.

Issues of Drug Class Pending

Logistical and cost issues must be addressed before a behind-the-counter class of nonprescription drugs can be established officially in the United States, the Government Accountability Office said in a report on so-called BTC drugs. The GAO stressed that pharmacists must be ready to provide BTC counseling and that pharmacies must protect consumer privacy. Also, policy makers should address cost issues, such as availability of third-party coverage for BTC drugs and pharmacists' compensation for providing associated services. GAO researchers studied the experiences of five countries, including Italy and the Netherlands, that have a behind-the-counter or similarly restricted drug class.

EMR Applications Rise

As of the March 31 deadline, 64 companies had applied for certification of their electronic medical record (EMR) products, one-third more than had applied by the same time last year, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology reported. Nearly 40% of the applications were for new EMR products, rather than renewals, according to the federally recognized commission. Nearly two-thirds of the applicants qualified as small businesses, the commission noted. The biggest category, with 26 applications, was for EMR products for children. Other applications covered cardiovascular medicine, emergency departments, and inpatient records. So far, 25 of the products have been certified, the commission said.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Fined

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. will pay $2.1 million—the largest fine allowed by law—for failing to report an agreement it reached with Apotex Inc. on generic competition for its blockbuster cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), the Federal Trade Commission said. Bristol-Myers Squibb didn't disclose that in 2006 the two companies made a deal to schedule the releases of their generic versions of the drug to reduce competition, according to the FTC. The agency said that failing to disclose the oral agreement violated both a 2003 FTC order and the Medicare Modernization Act, which requires that certain drug company agreements be accurately reported to both the FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2007, Bristol-Myers Squibb paid $1 million to settle a criminal complaint that the company had lied about the Plavix agreement with Apotex. The name-brand manufacturer has also settled several state actions arising from the generic-timing agreement, the FTC said.

Massachusetts Clinics Are Busy

Community health centers in Massachusetts saw a significant increase in their patient load from 2005 to 2007, as the state implemented its health reform law, according to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The 34 federally qualified clinics, which provide comprehensive primary care for low-income and uninsured patients, served 482,503 patients in 2007, up more than 51,000 from 2 years earlier, the foundation reported. The state's reform aims at universal coverage, but many people remain uninsured. Although the number of health center patients lacking insurance declined, the clinics in 2007 cared for a much larger proportion (36%) of the state's uninsured population than before. The experience in Massachusetts shows that community health centers play a critical role in caring for newly insured patients while continuing to serve as the primary safety net for those who remain uninsured, the report concluded.

FDA Warns on Internet Ads

The Food and Drug Administration has warned 14 drug makers against using brief Internet ads to promote drugs, saying the ads are misleading because they fail to provide full information about risks and indications. The ads typically appear on search engines, such as Google, as “sponsored links” when patients search for information on medical conditions. The ads cited by the FDA include promotions for the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab), the cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), and the diabetes treatment Avandia (rosiglitazone). The sponsored links generally contain only a dozen or so words—not enough to convey detailed treatment or risk information, according to the FDA. The Pew Prescription Project, a nonprofit drug-safety group, has asked the FDA to articulate the rules regulating online advertising and to advise manufacturers on where risk disclosures may appear in Internet ads.

FDA Seeks Data on Older Devices

The FDA has ordered manufacturers of 25 class III medical devices that were approved before 1976 to submit safety and effectiveness data to the agency by Aug. 7. The devices include an intra-aortic balloon and its control system, a ventricular bypass assist device, generators, materials for pacemakers, automated external defibrillators, and some types of hip joints. The FDA will decide whether to require a full approval application or reclassify the device to a lower-risk regulatory category. The Advanced Medical Technology Association issued a statement saying it was pleased the process is moving forward, but emphasized that “the device types subject to the FDA notice have already been thoroughly reviewed by the agency,” based on technological and performance data or, in some cases, clinical data.

Issues of Drug Class Pending

Logistical and cost issues must be addressed before a behind-the-counter class of nonprescription drugs can be established officially in the United States, the Government Accountability Office said in a report on so-called BTC drugs. The GAO stressed that pharmacists must be ready to provide BTC counseling and that pharmacies must protect consumer privacy. Also, policy makers should address cost issues, such as availability of third-party coverage for BTC drugs and pharmacists' compensation for providing associated services. GAO researchers studied the experiences of five countries, including Italy and the Netherlands, that have a behind-the-counter or similarly restricted drug class.

EMR Applications Rise

As of the March 31 deadline, 64 companies had applied for certification of their electronic medical record (EMR) products, one-third more than had applied by the same time last year, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology reported. Nearly 40% of the applications were for new EMR products, rather than renewals, according to the federally recognized commission. Nearly two-thirds of the applicants qualified as small businesses, the commission noted. The biggest category, with 26 applications, was for EMR products for children. Other applications covered cardiovascular medicine, emergency departments, and inpatient records. So far, 25 of the products have been certified, the commission said.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Fined

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. will pay $2.1 million—the largest fine allowed by law—for failing to report an agreement it reached with Apotex Inc. on generic competition for its blockbuster cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), the Federal Trade Commission said. Bristol-Myers Squibb didn't disclose that in 2006 the two companies made a deal to schedule the releases of their generic versions of the drug to reduce competition, according to the FTC. The agency said that failing to disclose the oral agreement violated both a 2003 FTC order and the Medicare Modernization Act, which requires that certain drug company agreements be accurately reported to both the FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2007, Bristol-Myers Squibb paid $1 million to settle a criminal complaint that the company had lied about the Plavix agreement with Apotex. The name-brand manufacturer has also settled several state actions arising from the generic-timing agreement, the FTC said.

Massachusetts Clinics Are Busy

Community health centers in Massachusetts saw a significant increase in their patient load from 2005 to 2007, as the state implemented its health reform law, according to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The 34 federally qualified clinics, which provide comprehensive primary care for low-income and uninsured patients, served 482,503 patients in 2007, up more than 51,000 from 2 years earlier, the foundation reported. The state's reform aims at universal coverage, but many people remain uninsured. Although the number of health center patients lacking insurance declined, the clinics in 2007 cared for a much larger proportion (36%) of the state's uninsured population than before. The experience in Massachusetts shows that community health centers play a critical role in caring for newly insured patients while continuing to serve as the primary safety net for those who remain uninsured, the report concluded.

FDA Warns on Internet Ads

The Food and Drug Administration has warned 14 drug makers against using brief Internet ads to promote drugs, saying the ads are misleading because they fail to provide full information about risks and indications. The ads typically appear on search engines, such as Google, as “sponsored links” when patients search for information on medical conditions. The ads cited by the FDA include promotions for the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab), the cardiovascular drug Plavix (clopidogrel), and the diabetes treatment Avandia (rosiglitazone). The sponsored links generally contain only a dozen or so words—not enough to convey detailed treatment or risk information, according to the FDA. The Pew Prescription Project, a nonprofit drug-safety group, has asked the FDA to articulate the rules regulating online advertising and to advise manufacturers on where risk disclosures may appear in Internet ads.

FDA Seeks Data on Older Devices

The FDA has ordered manufacturers of 25 class III medical devices that were approved before 1976 to submit safety and effectiveness data to the agency by Aug. 7. The devices include an intra-aortic balloon and its control system, a ventricular bypass assist device, generators, materials for pacemakers, automated external defibrillators, and some types of hip joints. The FDA will decide whether to require a full approval application or reclassify the device to a lower-risk regulatory category. The Advanced Medical Technology Association issued a statement saying it was pleased the process is moving forward, but emphasized that “the device types subject to the FDA notice have already been thoroughly reviewed by the agency,” based on technological and performance data or, in some cases, clinical data.

Issues of Drug Class Pending

Logistical and cost issues must be addressed before a behind-the-counter class of nonprescription drugs can be established officially in the United States, the Government Accountability Office said in a report on so-called BTC drugs. The GAO stressed that pharmacists must be ready to provide BTC counseling and that pharmacies must protect consumer privacy. Also, policy makers should address cost issues, such as availability of third-party coverage for BTC drugs and pharmacists' compensation for providing associated services. GAO researchers studied the experiences of five countries, including Italy and the Netherlands, that have a behind-the-counter or similarly restricted drug class.

EMR Applications Rise

As of the March 31 deadline, 64 companies had applied for certification of their electronic medical record (EMR) products, one-third more than had applied by the same time last year, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology reported. Nearly 40% of the applications were for new EMR products, rather than renewals, according to the federally recognized commission. Nearly two-thirds of the applicants qualified as small businesses, the commission noted. The biggest category, with 26 applications, was for EMR products for children. Other applications covered cardiovascular medicine, emergency departments, and inpatient records. So far, 25 of the products have been certified, the commission said.

Accused Doctor Ends Practice

North Carolina developmental pediatrician Melvin Levine has signed a consent order that forbids him to practice medicine ever again, anywhere. The outcome followed an investigation in which Dr. Levine was accused of performing genital examinations that were not medically indicated on five patients and were documented improperly or not at all in medical records. If a hearing had been held, the consent order said, Dr. Levine was prepared to show that the physical exams in question, as well as neurologic exams, were appropriate and consistent with standard medical practice. The legal action will allow Dr. Levine to continue writing and lecturing in the field of learning disabilities.

CT Safe Practices Urged

Computed tomography operators should employ techniques that reduce youngsters' exposure to ionizing radiation, the National Quality Forum said. The recommendation was included as 1 of 34 recommendations in the membership organization's Safe Practices for Better Healthcare-2009 report, being showcased in a year-long Webinar series. The Forum noted that up to 7 million CT scans are performed on children annually in the United States (11% of the total) and estimated that the number of scans of children increases about 10% per year. This is the first time the NQF, with members including the American College of Radiology, has addressed pediatric imaging in its annual report focusing on patient-safety practices.

REAL Act Introduced

Congress is considering legislation that would authorize federal funding for comprehensive and medically accurate sexual education. The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), would establish the first grant program for comprehensive sex education. Programs funded would be age appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive of both contraception and abstinence information. Currently, federal funding is available only for sex-ed programs that exclusively promote abstinence before marriage—programs that opponents contend are unrealistically short on information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases.

FDA Launches SAFEKIDS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced agreements with five clinical partners to study the effects of anesthetics and sedatives on the neurocognitive development of infants and young children. The Safety of Key Inhaled and Intravenous Drugs in Pediatrics Initiative (SAFEKIDS) is a multiyear project designed to address major gaps in scientific knowledge on the topic. The International Anesthesia Research Society will oversee SAFEKIDS and the FDA announced that the following institutions will participate: Children's Hospital at Harvard Medical School, Boston; Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute in Little Rock; Columbia University in New York; and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “The long-term benefits of these studies will inform risk-benefit decisions that both anesthesiologists and parents must make when considering the choice of anesthesia in pediatric patients,” said FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Frank Torti in a statement.

Parents Give Bed-Sharing Reasons

Many parents believe that benefits of bed sharing outweigh concerns and warnings, including those from the American Academy of Pediatrics, according to a University of Pittsburgh study published in Academic Pediatrics. Researchers interviewed 28 caregivers who regularly sleep in the same bed with children. The adults contended that bed sharing allowed both parent and child to sleep better, noted the convenience of tending to a baby's needs without getting up, said they found comfort in the tradition of bed sharing, and reported a strong sense of bonding with their children. Contrary to evidence that bed sharing is dangerous, most caregivers reported believing that it protects their babies, and some identified it as a form of prevention against SIDS, saying they would know immediately if their babies were to stop breathing. “These findings should give physicians a better idea of the reasons behind bed sharing, allowing them to offer more customized advice on the subject,” said Dr. Judy Chang, senior author on the study, in a statement.

Accused Doctor Ends Practice

North Carolina developmental pediatrician Melvin Levine has signed a consent order that forbids him to practice medicine ever again, anywhere. The outcome followed an investigation in which Dr. Levine was accused of performing genital examinations that were not medically indicated on five patients and were documented improperly or not at all in medical records. If a hearing had been held, the consent order said, Dr. Levine was prepared to show that the physical exams in question, as well as neurologic exams, were appropriate and consistent with standard medical practice. The legal action will allow Dr. Levine to continue writing and lecturing in the field of learning disabilities.

CT Safe Practices Urged

Computed tomography operators should employ techniques that reduce youngsters' exposure to ionizing radiation, the National Quality Forum said. The recommendation was included as 1 of 34 recommendations in the membership organization's Safe Practices for Better Healthcare-2009 report, being showcased in a year-long Webinar series. The Forum noted that up to 7 million CT scans are performed on children annually in the United States (11% of the total) and estimated that the number of scans of children increases about 10% per year. This is the first time the NQF, with members including the American College of Radiology, has addressed pediatric imaging in its annual report focusing on patient-safety practices.

REAL Act Introduced

Congress is considering legislation that would authorize federal funding for comprehensive and medically accurate sexual education. The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), would establish the first grant program for comprehensive sex education. Programs funded would be age appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive of both contraception and abstinence information. Currently, federal funding is available only for sex-ed programs that exclusively promote abstinence before marriage—programs that opponents contend are unrealistically short on information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases.

FDA Launches SAFEKIDS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced agreements with five clinical partners to study the effects of anesthetics and sedatives on the neurocognitive development of infants and young children. The Safety of Key Inhaled and Intravenous Drugs in Pediatrics Initiative (SAFEKIDS) is a multiyear project designed to address major gaps in scientific knowledge on the topic. The International Anesthesia Research Society will oversee SAFEKIDS and the FDA announced that the following institutions will participate: Children's Hospital at Harvard Medical School, Boston; Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute in Little Rock; Columbia University in New York; and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “The long-term benefits of these studies will inform risk-benefit decisions that both anesthesiologists and parents must make when considering the choice of anesthesia in pediatric patients,” said FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Frank Torti in a statement.

Parents Give Bed-Sharing Reasons

Many parents believe that benefits of bed sharing outweigh concerns and warnings, including those from the American Academy of Pediatrics, according to a University of Pittsburgh study published in Academic Pediatrics. Researchers interviewed 28 caregivers who regularly sleep in the same bed with children. The adults contended that bed sharing allowed both parent and child to sleep better, noted the convenience of tending to a baby's needs without getting up, said they found comfort in the tradition of bed sharing, and reported a strong sense of bonding with their children. Contrary to evidence that bed sharing is dangerous, most caregivers reported believing that it protects their babies, and some identified it as a form of prevention against SIDS, saying they would know immediately if their babies were to stop breathing. “These findings should give physicians a better idea of the reasons behind bed sharing, allowing them to offer more customized advice on the subject,” said Dr. Judy Chang, senior author on the study, in a statement.

Accused Doctor Ends Practice

North Carolina developmental pediatrician Melvin Levine has signed a consent order that forbids him to practice medicine ever again, anywhere. The outcome followed an investigation in which Dr. Levine was accused of performing genital examinations that were not medically indicated on five patients and were documented improperly or not at all in medical records. If a hearing had been held, the consent order said, Dr. Levine was prepared to show that the physical exams in question, as well as neurologic exams, were appropriate and consistent with standard medical practice. The legal action will allow Dr. Levine to continue writing and lecturing in the field of learning disabilities.

CT Safe Practices Urged

Computed tomography operators should employ techniques that reduce youngsters' exposure to ionizing radiation, the National Quality Forum said. The recommendation was included as 1 of 34 recommendations in the membership organization's Safe Practices for Better Healthcare-2009 report, being showcased in a year-long Webinar series. The Forum noted that up to 7 million CT scans are performed on children annually in the United States (11% of the total) and estimated that the number of scans of children increases about 10% per year. This is the first time the NQF, with members including the American College of Radiology, has addressed pediatric imaging in its annual report focusing on patient-safety practices.

REAL Act Introduced

Congress is considering legislation that would authorize federal funding for comprehensive and medically accurate sexual education. The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), would establish the first grant program for comprehensive sex education. Programs funded would be age appropriate, medically accurate, and inclusive of both contraception and abstinence information. Currently, federal funding is available only for sex-ed programs that exclusively promote abstinence before marriage—programs that opponents contend are unrealistically short on information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases.

FDA Launches SAFEKIDS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced agreements with five clinical partners to study the effects of anesthetics and sedatives on the neurocognitive development of infants and young children. The Safety of Key Inhaled and Intravenous Drugs in Pediatrics Initiative (SAFEKIDS) is a multiyear project designed to address major gaps in scientific knowledge on the topic. The International Anesthesia Research Society will oversee SAFEKIDS and the FDA announced that the following institutions will participate: Children's Hospital at Harvard Medical School, Boston; Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute in Little Rock; Columbia University in New York; and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “The long-term benefits of these studies will inform risk-benefit decisions that both anesthesiologists and parents must make when considering the choice of anesthesia in pediatric patients,” said FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Frank Torti in a statement.

Parents Give Bed-Sharing Reasons

Many parents believe that benefits of bed sharing outweigh concerns and warnings, including those from the American Academy of Pediatrics, according to a University of Pittsburgh study published in Academic Pediatrics. Researchers interviewed 28 caregivers who regularly sleep in the same bed with children. The adults contended that bed sharing allowed both parent and child to sleep better, noted the convenience of tending to a baby's needs without getting up, said they found comfort in the tradition of bed sharing, and reported a strong sense of bonding with their children. Contrary to evidence that bed sharing is dangerous, most caregivers reported believing that it protects their babies, and some identified it as a form of prevention against SIDS, saying they would know immediately if their babies were to stop breathing. “These findings should give physicians a better idea of the reasons behind bed sharing, allowing them to offer more customized advice on the subject,” said Dr. Judy Chang, senior author on the study, in a statement.

IOM: Health Coverage Is Essential

Health insurance, not just safety net access to care, is essential for people's health and well-being, an Institute of Medicine committee reported. Yet even if people have insurance, those living in areas where many others aren't covered find it more difficult to get needed care and have decreased satisfaction with their care, the panel found. Its report called on lawmakers to approve and implement universal health coverage while reducing costs and the rate at which health care spending is rising. The findings show that the societal consequences of having large numbers of uninsured Americans are growing, said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which provided funding for the work. “People without insurance do not get the care they need, and too many people live sicker and die sooner as a result,” Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey said in a statement.

Physicians Postponing Retirement

Fewer physicians left group practices in 2008 than in 2007, and a majority of group practice leaders believe that the change reflects more physicians delaying retirement because of the poor economy, said the American Medical Group Association. The group's annual survey of AMGA members reported about a 6% turnover of group practice physicians in 2008, compared with nearly 7% in 2007. The top reasons cited for leaving a group included poor fit with one's practice and need to relocate to be closer to family. Flexibility can keep physicians in a practice, according to respondents, nearly half of whom said part-time options encourage physicians to stay while meeting personal needs or to delay retirement. Almost three-quarters of group practices offer preretirement physicians reduced hours, 56% allow for no call responsibility, and 20% allow for concentration on certain patient groups.

Device Makers Set Ad Principles

The Advanced Medical Technology Association has released guidelines that it said will make direct-to-consumer advertising for medical devices more accurate and useful for patients. The document sets out best practices for disseminating clear, balanced information to patients about innovations and for encouraging dialogue between patients and their physicians, the association claimed. The guidelines promote use of consumer-friendly language, appropriate education of health care professionals prior to ad launch, and revision or withdrawal of ads if new information indicates a serious, previously unknown safety risk for a medical device. “We believe that DTC advertising can be a powerful tool to educate patients about new technologies and treatment options when conducted appropriately,” said the association's chairman, Michael Mussallem, in a statement.

87 Million Uninsured 2007–2008

Nearly 87 million Americans—1 out of 3 people under age 65—were uninsured at some point during 2007–2008, according to a report from the advocacy group Families USA. More than half of individuals and families with incomes between the federal poverty level and twice the poverty level—between $21,200 and $42,400 in annual income for a family of four in 2008— went without health insurance at some point in 2007–2008, the report said. In addition, most of those who went uninsured did so for periods: Almost two-thirds were uninsured for 9 months or more. Four of five of the uninsured were in working families, and most of these families included someone employed full time, the report said.

Aetna Offers Money-Saving Tips

The health insurer Aetna said it can help physicians pinch pennies in these tough economic times. The company estimated that physicians who use its free online tools for billing and administrative tasks could save up to $20 per patient visit. The figure assumes electronic transactions for eligibility and benefits inquiries, claim submissions, claim-status inquiries, remittances and funds transfers, and precertifications. For example, the cost to make an eligibility and benefits inquiry by phone or paper would be $3.70, compared with 74 cents electronically, according to Aetna. The savings are even greater for precertification, which costs more than $10 by paper or a phone conversation and about $2 when done electronically. Aetna's electronic tools are available at the company's secure provider Web site. More information is available through Aetna's automated phone service or online at

www.aetna.com/provider

Group Wants Ban on Industry CME

The consumer watchdog group Public Citizen has asked the American Medical Association to support a total ban on commercial support of continuing medical education. In a letter to the chairs of the AMA's ethical and CME councils, Public Citizen's Health Research Group said that it supported the ban “because the consequences of any corrupting influence of commercial support on CME are so significant.” The group chose the AMA, because, “as the voice of organized medicine, the AMA is well positioned to lead a reform effort,” said the letter. “Physician-supported CME” is a viable alternative to commercial funding, said the group. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said in a statement that a ban on commercial support of CME could prevent physicians from accessing critical information about treatments.

IOM: Health Coverage Is Essential

Health insurance, not just safety net access to care, is essential for people's health and well-being, an Institute of Medicine committee reported. Yet even if people have insurance, those living in areas where many others aren't covered find it more difficult to get needed care and have decreased satisfaction with their care, the panel found. Its report called on lawmakers to approve and implement universal health coverage while reducing costs and the rate at which health care spending is rising. The findings show that the societal consequences of having large numbers of uninsured Americans are growing, said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which provided funding for the work. “People without insurance do not get the care they need, and too many people live sicker and die sooner as a result,” Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey said in a statement.

Physicians Postponing Retirement

Fewer physicians left group practices in 2008 than in 2007, and a majority of group practice leaders believe that the change reflects more physicians delaying retirement because of the poor economy, said the American Medical Group Association. The group's annual survey of AMGA members reported about a 6% turnover of group practice physicians in 2008, compared with nearly 7% in 2007. The top reasons cited for leaving a group included poor fit with one's practice and need to relocate to be closer to family. Flexibility can keep physicians in a practice, according to respondents, nearly half of whom said part-time options encourage physicians to stay while meeting personal needs or to delay retirement. Almost three-quarters of group practices offer preretirement physicians reduced hours, 56% allow for no call responsibility, and 20% allow for concentration on certain patient groups.

Device Makers Set Ad Principles

The Advanced Medical Technology Association has released guidelines that it said will make direct-to-consumer advertising for medical devices more accurate and useful for patients. The document sets out best practices for disseminating clear, balanced information to patients about innovations and for encouraging dialogue between patients and their physicians, the association claimed. The guidelines promote use of consumer-friendly language, appropriate education of health care professionals prior to ad launch, and revision or withdrawal of ads if new information indicates a serious, previously unknown safety risk for a medical device. “We believe that DTC advertising can be a powerful tool to educate patients about new technologies and treatment options when conducted appropriately,” said the association's chairman, Michael Mussallem, in a statement.

87 Million Uninsured 2007–2008

Nearly 87 million Americans—1 out of 3 people under age 65—were uninsured at some point during 2007–2008, according to a report from the advocacy group Families USA. More than half of individuals and families with incomes between the federal poverty level and twice the poverty level—between $21,200 and $42,400 in annual income for a family of four in 2008— went without health insurance at some point in 2007–2008, the report said. In addition, most of those who went uninsured did so for periods: Almost two-thirds were uninsured for 9 months or more. Four of five of the uninsured were in working families, and most of these families included someone employed full time, the report said.

Aetna Offers Money-Saving Tips

The health insurer Aetna said it can help physicians pinch pennies in these tough economic times. The company estimated that physicians who use its free online tools for billing and administrative tasks could save up to $20 per patient visit. The figure assumes electronic transactions for eligibility and benefits inquiries, claim submissions, claim-status inquiries, remittances and funds transfers, and precertifications. For example, the cost to make an eligibility and benefits inquiry by phone or paper would be $3.70, compared with 74 cents electronically, according to Aetna. The savings are even greater for precertification, which costs more than $10 by paper or a phone conversation and about $2 when done electronically. Aetna's electronic tools are available at the company's secure provider Web site. More information is available through Aetna's automated phone service or online at

www.aetna.com/provider

Group Wants Ban on Industry CME

The consumer watchdog group Public Citizen has asked the American Medical Association to support a total ban on commercial support of continuing medical education. In a letter to the chairs of the AMA's ethical and CME councils, Public Citizen's Health Research Group said that it supported the ban “because the consequences of any corrupting influence of commercial support on CME are so significant.” The group chose the AMA, because, “as the voice of organized medicine, the AMA is well positioned to lead a reform effort,” said the letter. “Physician-supported CME” is a viable alternative to commercial funding, said the group. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said in a statement that a ban on commercial support of CME could prevent physicians from accessing critical information about treatments.

IOM: Health Coverage Is Essential

Health insurance, not just safety net access to care, is essential for people's health and well-being, an Institute of Medicine committee reported. Yet even if people have insurance, those living in areas where many others aren't covered find it more difficult to get needed care and have decreased satisfaction with their care, the panel found. Its report called on lawmakers to approve and implement universal health coverage while reducing costs and the rate at which health care spending is rising. The findings show that the societal consequences of having large numbers of uninsured Americans are growing, said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which provided funding for the work. “People without insurance do not get the care they need, and too many people live sicker and die sooner as a result,” Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey said in a statement.

Physicians Postponing Retirement

Fewer physicians left group practices in 2008 than in 2007, and a majority of group practice leaders believe that the change reflects more physicians delaying retirement because of the poor economy, said the American Medical Group Association. The group's annual survey of AMGA members reported about a 6% turnover of group practice physicians in 2008, compared with nearly 7% in 2007. The top reasons cited for leaving a group included poor fit with one's practice and need to relocate to be closer to family. Flexibility can keep physicians in a practice, according to respondents, nearly half of whom said part-time options encourage physicians to stay while meeting personal needs or to delay retirement. Almost three-quarters of group practices offer preretirement physicians reduced hours, 56% allow for no call responsibility, and 20% allow for concentration on certain patient groups.

Device Makers Set Ad Principles

The Advanced Medical Technology Association has released guidelines that it said will make direct-to-consumer advertising for medical devices more accurate and useful for patients. The document sets out best practices for disseminating clear, balanced information to patients about innovations and for encouraging dialogue between patients and their physicians, the association claimed. The guidelines promote use of consumer-friendly language, appropriate education of health care professionals prior to ad launch, and revision or withdrawal of ads if new information indicates a serious, previously unknown safety risk for a medical device. “We believe that DTC advertising can be a powerful tool to educate patients about new technologies and treatment options when conducted appropriately,” said the association's chairman, Michael Mussallem, in a statement.

87 Million Uninsured 2007–2008

Nearly 87 million Americans—1 out of 3 people under age 65—were uninsured at some point during 2007–2008, according to a report from the advocacy group Families USA. More than half of individuals and families with incomes between the federal poverty level and twice the poverty level—between $21,200 and $42,400 in annual income for a family of four in 2008— went without health insurance at some point in 2007–2008, the report said. In addition, most of those who went uninsured did so for periods: Almost two-thirds were uninsured for 9 months or more. Four of five of the uninsured were in working families, and most of these families included someone employed full time, the report said.

Aetna Offers Money-Saving Tips

The health insurer Aetna said it can help physicians pinch pennies in these tough economic times. The company estimated that physicians who use its free online tools for billing and administrative tasks could save up to $20 per patient visit. The figure assumes electronic transactions for eligibility and benefits inquiries, claim submissions, claim-status inquiries, remittances and funds transfers, and precertifications. For example, the cost to make an eligibility and benefits inquiry by phone or paper would be $3.70, compared with 74 cents electronically, according to Aetna. The savings are even greater for precertification, which costs more than $10 by paper or a phone conversation and about $2 when done electronically. Aetna's electronic tools are available at the company's secure provider Web site. More information is available through Aetna's automated phone service or online at

www.aetna.com/provider

Group Wants Ban on Industry CME

The consumer watchdog group Public Citizen has asked the American Medical Association to support a total ban on commercial support of continuing medical education. In a letter to the chairs of the AMA's ethical and CME councils, Public Citizen's Health Research Group said that it supported the ban “because the consequences of any corrupting influence of commercial support on CME are so significant.” The group chose the AMA, because, “as the voice of organized medicine, the AMA is well positioned to lead a reform effort,” said the letter. “Physician-supported CME” is a viable alternative to commercial funding, said the group. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said in a statement that a ban on commercial support of CME could prevent physicians from accessing critical information about treatments.

IOM: Health Coverage Is Essential

Health insurance, not just safety net access to care, is essential for people's health, an Institute of Medicine committee reported. Even insured people living in areas where many others aren't covered find it more difficult to get needed care and have decreased satisfaction with their care, the panel found. Its report called on lawmakers to implement universal health coverage while reducing costs and the rate at which health care spending is rising. The findings show the increasing societal consequences of having large numbers of uninsured Americans, said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which provided funding for the work. “People without insurance do not get the care they need, and too many people live sicker and die sooner as a result,” Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey said in a statement.

Physicians Postponing Retirement

Fewer physicians left group practices in 2008 than in 2007, and a majority of group practice leaders believe that the change reflects more physicians delaying retirement because of the poor economy, said the American Medical Group Association. The group's annual survey of AMGA members reported about a 6% turnover of group practice physicians in 2008, compared with nearly 7% in 2007. The top reasons cited for leaving a group included poor fit with one's practice and need to relocate to be closer to family. Flexibility can keep physicians in a practice, according to respondents, nearly half of whom said part-time options encourage physicians to stay while meeting personal needs or to delay retirement. Almost three-quarters of group practices offer preretirement physicians reduced hours, 56% allow for no call responsibility, and 20% allow for concentration on certain patient groups.

Device Makers Set Ad Principles

The Advanced Medical Technology Association has released guidelines that it said will make direct-to-consumer advertising for medical devices more accurate and useful for patients. The document sets out best practices for disseminating clear, balanced information to patients about innovations and for encouraging dialogue between patients and their physicians, the association claimed. The guidelines promote use of consumer-friendly language, appropriate education of health care professionals prior to ad launch, and revision or withdrawal of ads if new information indicates a serious, previously unknown safety risk for a medical device. “We believe that DTC advertising can be a powerful tool to educate patients about new technologies and treatment options when conducted appropriately,” said the association's chairman, Michael Mussallem, in a statement.

87 Million Uninsured in 2007–08

Nearly 87 million Americans—1 out of 3 people under age 65—were uninsured at some point during 2007–2008, according to a report from the advocacy group Families USA. More than half of individuals and families with incomes between the federal poverty level and twice the poverty level—between $21,200 and $42,400 in annual income for a family of four in 2008—went without health insurance at some point in 2007–2008, the report said. In addition, most of those who went uninsured did so for long periods: Almost two-thirds were uninsured for 9 months or more. Four of five of the uninsured were in working families, and most of these families included someone employed full-time, the report said.

Aetna Offers Money-Saving Tips

The health insurer Aetna said it can help physicians pinch pennies in these tough economic times. The company estimated that physicians who use its free online tools for billing and administrative tasks could save up to $20 per patient visit. The figure assumes electronic transactions for eligibility and benefits inquiries, claim submissions, claim-status inquiries, remittances and funds transfers, and precertifications. For example, the cost to make an eligibility and benefits inquiry by phone or paper would be $3.70, compared with 74 cents electronically, according to Aetna. The savings are even greater for precertification, which costs more than $10 by paper or a phone conversation and about $2 when done electronically. Aetna's electronic tools are available at the company's secure provider Web site. More information is available through Aetna's automated phone service or online at

www.aetna.com/provider

Group Wants Ban on Industry CME

The consumer watchdog group Public Citizen has asked the American Medical Association to support a total ban on commercial support of continuing medical education. In a letter to the chairs of the AMA's ethics and CME councils, Public Citizen's Health Research Group said that it supported the ban “because the consequences of any corrupting influence of commercial support on CME are so significant.” The group chose the AMA because, “as the voice of organized medicine, the AMA is well positioned to lead a reform effort,” said the letter. “Physician-supported CME” is a viable alternative to commercial funding, said the group. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said in a statement that a ban on commercial support of CME could prevent physicians from accessing critical information about treatments.

IOM: Health Coverage Is Essential

Health insurance, not just safety net access to care, is essential for people's health, an Institute of Medicine committee reported. Even insured people living in areas where many others aren't covered find it more difficult to get needed care and have decreased satisfaction with their care, the panel found. Its report called on lawmakers to implement universal health coverage while reducing costs and the rate at which health care spending is rising. The findings show the increasing societal consequences of having large numbers of uninsured Americans, said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which provided funding for the work. “People without insurance do not get the care they need, and too many people live sicker and die sooner as a result,” Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey said in a statement.

Physicians Postponing Retirement

Fewer physicians left group practices in 2008 than in 2007, and a majority of group practice leaders believe that the change reflects more physicians delaying retirement because of the poor economy, said the American Medical Group Association. The group's annual survey of AMGA members reported about a 6% turnover of group practice physicians in 2008, compared with nearly 7% in 2007. The top reasons cited for leaving a group included poor fit with one's practice and need to relocate to be closer to family. Flexibility can keep physicians in a practice, according to respondents, nearly half of whom said part-time options encourage physicians to stay while meeting personal needs or to delay retirement. Almost three-quarters of group practices offer preretirement physicians reduced hours, 56% allow for no call responsibility, and 20% allow for concentration on certain patient groups.

Device Makers Set Ad Principles

The Advanced Medical Technology Association has released guidelines that it said will make direct-to-consumer advertising for medical devices more accurate and useful for patients. The document sets out best practices for disseminating clear, balanced information to patients about innovations and for encouraging dialogue between patients and their physicians, the association claimed. The guidelines promote use of consumer-friendly language, appropriate education of health care professionals prior to ad launch, and revision or withdrawal of ads if new information indicates a serious, previously unknown safety risk for a medical device. “We believe that DTC advertising can be a powerful tool to educate patients about new technologies and treatment options when conducted appropriately,” said the association's chairman, Michael Mussallem, in a statement.

87 Million Uninsured in 2007–08

Nearly 87 million Americans—1 out of 3 people under age 65—were uninsured at some point during 2007–2008, according to a report from the advocacy group Families USA. More than half of individuals and families with incomes between the federal poverty level and twice the poverty level—between $21,200 and $42,400 in annual income for a family of four in 2008—went without health insurance at some point in 2007–2008, the report said. In addition, most of those who went uninsured did so for long periods: Almost two-thirds were uninsured for 9 months or more. Four of five of the uninsured were in working families, and most of these families included someone employed full-time, the report said.

Aetna Offers Money-Saving Tips

The health insurer Aetna said it can help physicians pinch pennies in these tough economic times. The company estimated that physicians who use its free online tools for billing and administrative tasks could save up to $20 per patient visit. The figure assumes electronic transactions for eligibility and benefits inquiries, claim submissions, claim-status inquiries, remittances and funds transfers, and precertifications. For example, the cost to make an eligibility and benefits inquiry by phone or paper would be $3.70, compared with 74 cents electronically, according to Aetna. The savings are even greater for precertification, which costs more than $10 by paper or a phone conversation and about $2 when done electronically. Aetna's electronic tools are available at the company's secure provider Web site. More information is available through Aetna's automated phone service or online at

www.aetna.com/provider

Group Wants Ban on Industry CME

The consumer watchdog group Public Citizen has asked the American Medical Association to support a total ban on commercial support of continuing medical education. In a letter to the chairs of the AMA's ethics and CME councils, Public Citizen's Health Research Group said that it supported the ban “because the consequences of any corrupting influence of commercial support on CME are so significant.” The group chose the AMA because, “as the voice of organized medicine, the AMA is well positioned to lead a reform effort,” said the letter. “Physician-supported CME” is a viable alternative to commercial funding, said the group. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said in a statement that a ban on commercial support of CME could prevent physicians from accessing critical information about treatments.

IOM: Health Coverage Is Essential

Health insurance, not just safety net access to care, is essential for people's health, an Institute of Medicine committee reported. Even insured people living in areas where many others aren't covered find it more difficult to get needed care and have decreased satisfaction with their care, the panel found. Its report called on lawmakers to implement universal health coverage while reducing costs and the rate at which health care spending is rising. The findings show the increasing societal consequences of having large numbers of uninsured Americans, said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which provided funding for the work. “People without insurance do not get the care they need, and too many people live sicker and die sooner as a result,” Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey said in a statement.

Physicians Postponing Retirement

Fewer physicians left group practices in 2008 than in 2007, and a majority of group practice leaders believe that the change reflects more physicians delaying retirement because of the poor economy, said the American Medical Group Association. The group's annual survey of AMGA members reported about a 6% turnover of group practice physicians in 2008, compared with nearly 7% in 2007. The top reasons cited for leaving a group included poor fit with one's practice and need to relocate to be closer to family. Flexibility can keep physicians in a practice, according to respondents, nearly half of whom said part-time options encourage physicians to stay while meeting personal needs or to delay retirement. Almost three-quarters of group practices offer preretirement physicians reduced hours, 56% allow for no call responsibility, and 20% allow for concentration on certain patient groups.

Device Makers Set Ad Principles

The Advanced Medical Technology Association has released guidelines that it said will make direct-to-consumer advertising for medical devices more accurate and useful for patients. The document sets out best practices for disseminating clear, balanced information to patients about innovations and for encouraging dialogue between patients and their physicians, the association claimed. The guidelines promote use of consumer-friendly language, appropriate education of health care professionals prior to ad launch, and revision or withdrawal of ads if new information indicates a serious, previously unknown safety risk for a medical device. “We believe that DTC advertising can be a powerful tool to educate patients about new technologies and treatment options when conducted appropriately,” said the association's chairman, Michael Mussallem, in a statement.

87 Million Uninsured in 2007–08

Nearly 87 million Americans—1 out of 3 people under age 65—were uninsured at some point during 2007–2008, according to a report from the advocacy group Families USA. More than half of individuals and families with incomes between the federal poverty level and twice the poverty level—between $21,200 and $42,400 in annual income for a family of four in 2008—went without health insurance at some point in 2007–2008, the report said. In addition, most of those who went uninsured did so for long periods: Almost two-thirds were uninsured for 9 months or more. Four of five of the uninsured were in working families, and most of these families included someone employed full-time, the report said.

Aetna Offers Money-Saving Tips

The health insurer Aetna said it can help physicians pinch pennies in these tough economic times. The company estimated that physicians who use its free online tools for billing and administrative tasks could save up to $20 per patient visit. The figure assumes electronic transactions for eligibility and benefits inquiries, claim submissions, claim-status inquiries, remittances and funds transfers, and precertifications. For example, the cost to make an eligibility and benefits inquiry by phone or paper would be $3.70, compared with 74 cents electronically, according to Aetna. The savings are even greater for precertification, which costs more than $10 by paper or a phone conversation and about $2 when done electronically. Aetna's electronic tools are available at the company's secure provider Web site. More information is available through Aetna's automated phone service or online at

www.aetna.com/provider

Group Wants Ban on Industry CME

The consumer watchdog group Public Citizen has asked the American Medical Association to support a total ban on commercial support of continuing medical education. In a letter to the chairs of the AMA's ethics and CME councils, Public Citizen's Health Research Group said that it supported the ban “because the consequences of any corrupting influence of commercial support on CME are so significant.” The group chose the AMA because, “as the voice of organized medicine, the AMA is well positioned to lead a reform effort,” said the letter. “Physician-supported CME” is a viable alternative to commercial funding, said the group. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said in a statement that a ban on commercial support of CME could prevent physicians from accessing critical information about treatments.

Reminders Effective for Screening

Mailed reminders to patients do work in prompting colorectal cancer screening, and electronic reminders to physicians may increase screening among some patients, a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated. The researchers randomly sent reminders to patients and physicians in 11 ambulatory health care centers. Screening rates were higher for patients who received mailings, which contained an educational pamphlet, fecal occult blood test kit, and instructions for scheduling a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Overall screening rates were similar between patients of physicians who received electronic reminders and of those who did not, but screening rates did trend higher among patients who had frequent primary care visits, the study found.

Boston Limits Tobacco Sales

Boston has banned tobacco-product sales at pharmacies—becoming the second city to do so—and on college campuses. The Boston Public Health Commission's board of health also banned new permits for smoking bars, such as hookah and cigar bars, and prohibited the sale of blunt wraps, a tobacco leaf often used to roll marijuana. The board said it was working with pharmacies, health centers, and hospitals in the city to increase people's access to smoking cessation resources. Last year, San Francisco imposed the first municipal ban on cigarette sales by pharmacies. Many college campuses already ban tobacco.

Metabolic Drugs Top List

Medications that affect a person's metabolism by lowering cholesterol, controlling diabetes, and trimming weight accounted for $38 billion of the $208 billion that American adults spent on drugs in 2006, according to a report on prescription drugs by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Cardiovascular drugs accounted for $33 billion; central nervous system drugs cost $28 billion; psychotherapeutic drugs cost more than $17 billion; and hormones cost $14 billion. The AHRQ also found that spending for outpatient prescription analgesics increased from about $4 billion in 1996 to more than $13 billion in 2006.

Most Unemployed Lack Coverage

More than half of low-income workers who have lost their jobs in the recession also have lost their health insurance, according to a report from advocacy group Families USA. The report, which focuses on workers with annual incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, found that only one in four of these unemployed workers received health care coverage through Medicaid or another public program. In addition, many low-wage workers don't qualify to buy continued employer-provided insurance after leaving a job. For those who do have access to that program, called COBRA, the premiums often are unaffordable, the report found. Low-income workers represent half of the unemployed under age 65, according to Families USA.

Court Upholds Calorie Rule

A federal appeals court has upheld New York City's rule requiring chain restaurants to provide calorie information on their printed and posted menus. The New York State Restaurant Association had asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to strike down the 2008 rule as a violation of federal nutrition labeling law and the First Amendment. But the court rejected those arguments and said the requirement to reveal calories on menu boards “clearly reasonably related” to the city's goal of reducing obesity. The appeals court cited evidence that eating out is a major contributor to obesity and said that consumers generally are unable to assess the caloric content of foods. “A smoked turkey sandwich at Chili's contains 930 calories, more than a sirloin steak, which contains 540, [and] two jelly-filled doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts have fewer calories than a sesame bagel with cream cheese,” the court noted.

AMA Sues Aetna, Cigna

The American Medical Association and several state medical associations have filed separate class-action lawsuits against insurers Aetna Health Inc. and CIGNA, each suit claiming that the company used faulty data to undercompensate physicians. Filed in February in New Jersey federal court, the two lawsuits are similar to an earlier AMA suit against UnitedHealth Group, owner of the Ingenix billing database used by Aetna and CIGNA to determine fees for patients' visits to out-of-network physicians. As a result of the UnitedHealth lawsuit and an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, UnitedHealth agreed to shut down the database and pay $50 million to establish a new one run by a nonprofit organization. Among other things, the suits against Aetna and CIGNA seek a declaration that the insurers violated federal antitrust law and that they are liable to the plaintiffs for three times their damages, costs, and attorney fees. The medical associations also want the insurers to calculate and issue unpaid benefits to physicians. “Through our lawsuits, the AMA and our partner medical societies seek to reform the payment systems used by Aetna and CIGNA by ending their dependence on the Ingenix database,” said Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, AMA president.

Reminders Effective for Screening

Mailed reminders to patients do work in prompting colorectal cancer screening, and electronic reminders to physicians may increase screening among some patients, a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated. The researchers randomly sent reminders to patients and physicians in 11 ambulatory health care centers. Screening rates were higher for patients who received mailings, which contained an educational pamphlet, fecal occult blood test kit, and instructions for scheduling a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Overall screening rates were similar between patients of physicians who received electronic reminders and of those who did not, but screening rates did trend higher among patients who had frequent primary care visits, the study found.

Boston Limits Tobacco Sales

Boston has banned tobacco-product sales at pharmacies—becoming the second city to do so—and on college campuses. The Boston Public Health Commission's board of health also banned new permits for smoking bars, such as hookah and cigar bars, and prohibited the sale of blunt wraps, a tobacco leaf often used to roll marijuana. The board said it was working with pharmacies, health centers, and hospitals in the city to increase people's access to smoking cessation resources. Last year, San Francisco imposed the first municipal ban on cigarette sales by pharmacies. Many college campuses already ban tobacco.

Metabolic Drugs Top List

Medications that affect a person's metabolism by lowering cholesterol, controlling diabetes, and trimming weight accounted for $38 billion of the $208 billion that American adults spent on drugs in 2006, according to a report on prescription drugs by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Cardiovascular drugs accounted for $33 billion; central nervous system drugs cost $28 billion; psychotherapeutic drugs cost more than $17 billion; and hormones cost $14 billion. The AHRQ also found that spending for outpatient prescription analgesics increased from about $4 billion in 1996 to more than $13 billion in 2006.

Most Unemployed Lack Coverage

More than half of low-income workers who have lost their jobs in the recession also have lost their health insurance, according to a report from advocacy group Families USA. The report, which focuses on workers with annual incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, found that only one in four of these unemployed workers received health care coverage through Medicaid or another public program. In addition, many low-wage workers don't qualify to buy continued employer-provided insurance after leaving a job. For those who do have access to that program, called COBRA, the premiums often are unaffordable, the report found. Low-income workers represent half of the unemployed under age 65, according to Families USA.

Court Upholds Calorie Rule

A federal appeals court has upheld New York City's rule requiring chain restaurants to provide calorie information on their printed and posted menus. The New York State Restaurant Association had asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to strike down the 2008 rule as a violation of federal nutrition labeling law and the First Amendment. But the court rejected those arguments and said the requirement to reveal calories on menu boards “clearly reasonably related” to the city's goal of reducing obesity. The appeals court cited evidence that eating out is a major contributor to obesity and said that consumers generally are unable to assess the caloric content of foods. “A smoked turkey sandwich at Chili's contains 930 calories, more than a sirloin steak, which contains 540, [and] two jelly-filled doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts have fewer calories than a sesame bagel with cream cheese,” the court noted.

AMA Sues Aetna, Cigna

The American Medical Association and several state medical associations have filed separate class-action lawsuits against insurers Aetna Health Inc. and CIGNA, each suit claiming that the company used faulty data to undercompensate physicians. Filed in February in New Jersey federal court, the two lawsuits are similar to an earlier AMA suit against UnitedHealth Group, owner of the Ingenix billing database used by Aetna and CIGNA to determine fees for patients' visits to out-of-network physicians. As a result of the UnitedHealth lawsuit and an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, UnitedHealth agreed to shut down the database and pay $50 million to establish a new one run by a nonprofit organization. Among other things, the suits against Aetna and CIGNA seek a declaration that the insurers violated federal antitrust law and that they are liable to the plaintiffs for three times their damages, costs, and attorney fees. The medical associations also want the insurers to calculate and issue unpaid benefits to physicians. “Through our lawsuits, the AMA and our partner medical societies seek to reform the payment systems used by Aetna and CIGNA by ending their dependence on the Ingenix database,” said Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, AMA president.

Reminders Effective for Screening

Mailed reminders to patients do work in prompting colorectal cancer screening, and electronic reminders to physicians may increase screening among some patients, a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated. The researchers randomly sent reminders to patients and physicians in 11 ambulatory health care centers. Screening rates were higher for patients who received mailings, which contained an educational pamphlet, fecal occult blood test kit, and instructions for scheduling a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Overall screening rates were similar between patients of physicians who received electronic reminders and of those who did not, but screening rates did trend higher among patients who had frequent primary care visits, the study found.

Boston Limits Tobacco Sales

Boston has banned tobacco-product sales at pharmacies—becoming the second city to do so—and on college campuses. The Boston Public Health Commission's board of health also banned new permits for smoking bars, such as hookah and cigar bars, and prohibited the sale of blunt wraps, a tobacco leaf often used to roll marijuana. The board said it was working with pharmacies, health centers, and hospitals in the city to increase people's access to smoking cessation resources. Last year, San Francisco imposed the first municipal ban on cigarette sales by pharmacies. Many college campuses already ban tobacco.

Metabolic Drugs Top List

Medications that affect a person's metabolism by lowering cholesterol, controlling diabetes, and trimming weight accounted for $38 billion of the $208 billion that American adults spent on drugs in 2006, according to a report on prescription drugs by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Cardiovascular drugs accounted for $33 billion; central nervous system drugs cost $28 billion; psychotherapeutic drugs cost more than $17 billion; and hormones cost $14 billion. The AHRQ also found that spending for outpatient prescription analgesics increased from about $4 billion in 1996 to more than $13 billion in 2006.

Most Unemployed Lack Coverage

More than half of low-income workers who have lost their jobs in the recession also have lost their health insurance, according to a report from advocacy group Families USA. The report, which focuses on workers with annual incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, found that only one in four of these unemployed workers received health care coverage through Medicaid or another public program. In addition, many low-wage workers don't qualify to buy continued employer-provided insurance after leaving a job. For those who do have access to that program, called COBRA, the premiums often are unaffordable, the report found. Low-income workers represent half of the unemployed under age 65, according to Families USA.

Court Upholds Calorie Rule

A federal appeals court has upheld New York City's rule requiring chain restaurants to provide calorie information on their printed and posted menus. The New York State Restaurant Association had asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to strike down the 2008 rule as a violation of federal nutrition labeling law and the First Amendment. But the court rejected those arguments and said the requirement to reveal calories on menu boards “clearly reasonably related” to the city's goal of reducing obesity. The appeals court cited evidence that eating out is a major contributor to obesity and said that consumers generally are unable to assess the caloric content of foods. “A smoked turkey sandwich at Chili's contains 930 calories, more than a sirloin steak, which contains 540, [and] two jelly-filled doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts have fewer calories than a sesame bagel with cream cheese,” the court noted.

AMA Sues Aetna, Cigna

The American Medical Association and several state medical associations have filed separate class-action lawsuits against insurers Aetna Health Inc. and CIGNA, each suit claiming that the company used faulty data to undercompensate physicians. Filed in February in New Jersey federal court, the two lawsuits are similar to an earlier AMA suit against UnitedHealth Group, owner of the Ingenix billing database used by Aetna and CIGNA to determine fees for patients' visits to out-of-network physicians. As a result of the UnitedHealth lawsuit and an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, UnitedHealth agreed to shut down the database and pay $50 million to establish a new one run by a nonprofit organization. Among other things, the suits against Aetna and CIGNA seek a declaration that the insurers violated federal antitrust law and that they are liable to the plaintiffs for three times their damages, costs, and attorney fees. The medical associations also want the insurers to calculate and issue unpaid benefits to physicians. “Through our lawsuits, the AMA and our partner medical societies seek to reform the payment systems used by Aetna and CIGNA by ending their dependence on the Ingenix database,” said Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, AMA president.

Boston Limits Tobacco Sales

Boston has banned tobacco-product sales at pharmacies—becoming the second city to do so—and on college campuses. The Boston Public Health Commission's board of health also banned new permits for smoking bars, such as hookah and cigar bars, and prohibited the sale of blunt wraps, a tobacco leaf often used to roll marijuana. The board said it was working with pharmacies, health centers, and hospitals in the city to increase people's access to smoking cessation resources. Last year, San Francisco imposed the first municipal ban on cigarette sales by pharmacies. Many college campuses already ban tobacco.

Metabolic Drugs Top List

Medications that affect a person's metabolism by lowering cholesterol, controlling diabetes, and trimming weight accounted for $38 billion of the $208 billion that American adults spent on drugs in 2006, according to a report on prescription drugs by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Cardiovascular drugs accounted for $33 billion; central nervous system drugs cost $28 billion; psychotherapeutic drugs cost more than $17 billion; and hormones cost $14 billion. The AHRQ also found that spending for outpatient prescription analgesics increased from about $4 billion in 1996 to more than $13 billion in 2006.

Most Unemployed Lack Coverage

More than half of low-income workers who have lost their jobs in the recession also have lost their health insurance, according to a report from advocacy group Families USA. The report, which focuses on workers with annual incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, found that only one in four of these unemployed workers received health care coverage through Medicaid or another public program. In addition, many low-wage workers don't qualify to buy continued employer-provided insurance after leaving a job. For those who do have access to that program, called COBRA, the premiums often are unaffordable, the report found. Low-income workers represent half of the unemployed under age 65, according to Families USA.

Court Upholds Calorie Rule

A federal appeals court has upheld New York City's rule requiring chain restaurants to provide calorie information on their printed and posted menus. The New York State Restaurant Association had asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to strike down the 2008 rule, arguing that it violated federal nutrition labeling law and the First Amendment. But the court rejected those arguments and said that the requirement to reveal calories on menu boards “clearly reasonably related” to the city's goal of reducing obesity. The appeals court cited evidence that eating out is a major contributor to obesity and said that consumers generally are unable to assess the caloric content of foods. “A smoked turkey sandwich at Chili's contains 930 calories, more than a sirloin steak, which contains 540, [and] two jelly-filled doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts have fewer calories than a sesame bagel with cream cheese,” the court noted.

AMA Sues Aetna, Cigna

The American Medical Association and several state medical associations have filed separate class-action lawsuits against insurers Aetna Health Inc. and CIGNA, each suit claiming that the company used faulty data to undercompensate physicians. Filed in February in New Jersey federal court, the two lawsuits are similar to an earlier AMA suit against UnitedHealth Group, owner of the Ingenix billing database used by Aetna and CIGNA to determine fees for patients' visits to out-of-network physicians. As a result of the UnitedHealth lawsuit and an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, UnitedHealth agreed to shut down the database and pay $50 million to establish a new one run by a nonprofit organization. Among other things, the suits against Aetna and CIGNA seek a declaration that the insurers violated federal antitrust law and that they are liable to the plaintiffs for three times their damages, costs, and attorney fees. The medical associations also want the insurers to calculate and issue unpaid benefits to physicians. “We can no longer ignore the improper business practices of health insurers who decide to play by their own rules without regard to patients or the legitimate costs required to care for them,” said Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, AMA president. “Through our lawsuits, the AMA and our partner medical societies seek to reform the payment systems used by Aetna and CIGNA by ending their dependence on the Ingenix database.”

Reminders Effective for Screening

Mailed reminders to patients do work in prompting colorectal cancer screening, and electronic reminders to physicians may increase screening among some patients, a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated. The researchers randomly sent reminders to patients and physicians in 11 ambulatory health care centers. Screening rates were higher for patients who received mailings, which contained an educational pamphlet, fecal occult blood test kit, and instructions for scheduling a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Overall screening rates were similar between patients of physicians who received electronic reminders and of those who did not, but screening rates did trend higher among patients who had frequent primary care visits, the study found.

Boston Limits Tobacco Sales

Boston has banned tobacco-product sales at pharmacies—becoming the second city to do so—and on college campuses. The Boston Public Health Commission's board of health also banned new permits for smoking bars, such as hookah and cigar bars, and prohibited the sale of blunt wraps, a tobacco leaf often used to roll marijuana. The board said it was working with pharmacies, health centers, and hospitals in the city to increase people's access to smoking cessation resources. Last year, San Francisco imposed the first municipal ban on cigarette sales by pharmacies. Many college campuses already ban tobacco.

Metabolic Drugs Top List

Medications that affect a person's metabolism by lowering cholesterol, controlling diabetes, and trimming weight accounted for $38 billion of the $208 billion that American adults spent on drugs in 2006, according to a report on prescription drugs by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Cardiovascular drugs accounted for $33 billion; central nervous system drugs cost $28 billion; psychotherapeutic drugs cost more than $17 billion; and hormones cost $14 billion. The AHRQ also found that spending for outpatient prescription analgesics increased from about $4 billion in 1996 to more than $13 billion in 2006.

Most Unemployed Lack Coverage

More than half of low-income workers who have lost their jobs in the recession also have lost their health insurance, according to a report from advocacy group Families USA. The report, which focuses on workers with annual incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, found that only one in four of these unemployed workers received health care coverage through Medicaid or another public program. In addition, many low-wage workers don't qualify to buy continued employer-provided insurance after leaving a job. For those who do have access to that program, called COBRA, the premiums often are unaffordable, the report found. Low-income workers represent half of the unemployed under age 65, according to Families USA.

Court Upholds Calorie Rule

A federal appeals court has upheld New York City's rule requiring chain restaurants to provide calorie information on their printed and posted menus. The New York State Restaurant Association had asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to strike down the 2008 rule, arguing that it violated federal nutrition labeling law and the First Amendment. But the court rejected those arguments and said that the requirement to reveal calories on menu boards “clearly reasonably related” to the city's goal of reducing obesity. The appeals court cited evidence that eating out is a major contributor to obesity and said that consumers generally are unable to assess the caloric content of foods. “A smoked turkey sandwich at Chili's contains 930 calories, more than a sirloin steak, which contains 540, [and] two jelly-filled doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts have fewer calories than a sesame bagel with cream cheese,” the court noted.

AMA Sues Aetna, Cigna

The American Medical Association and several state medical associations have filed separate class-action lawsuits against insurers Aetna Health Inc. and CIGNA, each suit claiming that the company used faulty data to undercompensate physicians. Filed in February in New Jersey federal court, the two lawsuits are similar to an earlier AMA suit against UnitedHealth Group, owner of the Ingenix billing database used by Aetna and CIGNA to determine fees for patients' visits to out-of-network physicians. As a result of the UnitedHealth lawsuit and an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, UnitedHealth agreed to shut down the database and pay $50 million to establish a new one run by a nonprofit organization. Among other things, the suits against Aetna and CIGNA seek a declaration that the insurers violated federal antitrust law and that they are liable to the plaintiffs for three times their damages, costs, and attorney fees. The medical associations also want the insurers to calculate and issue unpaid benefits to physicians. “We can no longer ignore the improper business practices of health insurers who decide to play by their own rules without regard to patients or the legitimate costs required to care for them,” said Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, AMA president. “Through our lawsuits, the AMA and our partner medical societies seek to reform the payment systems used by Aetna and CIGNA by ending their dependence on the Ingenix database.”

Reminders Effective for Screening

Mailed reminders to patients do work in prompting colorectal cancer screening, and electronic reminders to physicians may increase screening among some patients, a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated. The researchers randomly sent reminders to patients and physicians in 11 ambulatory health care centers. Screening rates were higher for patients who received mailings, which contained an educational pamphlet, fecal occult blood test kit, and instructions for scheduling a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Overall screening rates were similar between patients of physicians who received electronic reminders and of those who did not, but screening rates did trend higher among patients who had frequent primary care visits, the study found.

Boston Limits Tobacco Sales

Boston has banned tobacco-product sales at pharmacies—becoming the second city to do so—and on college campuses. The Boston Public Health Commission's board of health also banned new permits for smoking bars, such as hookah and cigar bars, and prohibited the sale of blunt wraps, a tobacco leaf often used to roll marijuana. The board said it was working with pharmacies, health centers, and hospitals in the city to increase people's access to smoking cessation resources. Last year, San Francisco imposed the first municipal ban on cigarette sales by pharmacies. Many college campuses already ban tobacco.

Metabolic Drugs Top List

Medications that affect a person's metabolism by lowering cholesterol, controlling diabetes, and trimming weight accounted for $38 billion of the $208 billion that American adults spent on drugs in 2006, according to a report on prescription drugs by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Cardiovascular drugs accounted for $33 billion; central nervous system drugs cost $28 billion; psychotherapeutic drugs cost more than $17 billion; and hormones cost $14 billion. The AHRQ also found that spending for outpatient prescription analgesics increased from about $4 billion in 1996 to more than $13 billion in 2006.

Most Unemployed Lack Coverage

More than half of low-income workers who have lost their jobs in the recession also have lost their health insurance, according to a report from advocacy group Families USA. The report, which focuses on workers with annual incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, found that only one in four of these unemployed workers received health care coverage through Medicaid or another public program. In addition, many low-wage workers don't qualify to buy continued employer-provided insurance after leaving a job. For those who do have access to that program, called COBRA, the premiums often are unaffordable, the report found. Low-income workers represent half of the unemployed under age 65, according to Families USA.

Court Upholds Calorie Rule

A federal appeals court has upheld New York City's rule requiring chain restaurants to provide calorie information on their printed and posted menus. The New York State Restaurant Association had asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to strike down the 2008 rule, arguing that it violated federal nutrition labeling law and the First Amendment. But the court rejected those arguments and said that the requirement to reveal calories on menu boards “clearly reasonably related” to the city's goal of reducing obesity. The appeals court cited evidence that eating out is a major contributor to obesity and said that consumers generally are unable to assess the caloric content of foods. “A smoked turkey sandwich at Chili's contains 930 calories, more than a sirloin steak, which contains 540, [and] two jelly-filled doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts have fewer calories than a sesame bagel with cream cheese,” the court noted.

AMA Sues Aetna, Cigna

The American Medical Association and several state medical associations have filed separate class-action lawsuits against insurers Aetna Health Inc. and CIGNA, each suit claiming that the company used faulty data to undercompensate physicians. Filed in February in New Jersey federal court, the two lawsuits are similar to an earlier AMA suit against UnitedHealth Group, owner of the Ingenix billing database used by Aetna and CIGNA to determine fees for patients' visits to out-of-network physicians. As a result of the UnitedHealth lawsuit and an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, UnitedHealth agreed to shut down the database and pay $50 million to establish a new one run by a nonprofit organization. Among other things, the suits against Aetna and CIGNA seek a declaration that the insurers violated federal antitrust law and that they are liable to the plaintiffs for three times their damages, costs, and attorney fees. The medical associations also want the insurers to calculate and issue unpaid benefits to physicians. “We can no longer ignore the improper business practices of health insurers who decide to play by their own rules without regard to patients or the legitimate costs required to care for them,” said Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, AMA president. “Through our lawsuits, the AMA and our partner medical societies seek to reform the payment systems used by Aetna and CIGNA by ending their dependence on the Ingenix database.”

Reminders Effective for Screening

Mailed reminders to patients do work in prompting colorectal cancer screening, and electronic reminders to physicians may increase screening among some patients, a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated. The researchers randomly sent reminders to patients and physicians in 11 ambulatory health care centers. Screening rates were higher for patients who received mailings, which contained an educational pamphlet, fecal occult blood test kit, and instructions for scheduling a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Overall screening rates were similar between patients of physicians who received electronic reminders and of those who did not, but screening rates did trend higher among patients who had frequent primary care visits, the study found.

Most Newborns Are Now Screened

All 50 states and the District of Columbia now require that every newborn be screened for most life-threatening disorders, although Pennsylvania and West Virginia still are in the process of implementing their expanded programs, according to a report from the March of Dimes. State laws and rules vary, but all states require screening for 21 or more of the 29 serious genetic or functional disorders on the panel recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics, the March of Dimes said in its report. The screening laws and rules are a marked improvement over what they were 3 years ago, when the charity's report card found that only 38% of infants were born in states that required screening for 21 or more of the 29 “core” conditions. Now, 24 states and Washington, D.C., require screening for all 29 disorders, with more states expected to join them this year, the report said. “This is a sweeping advance for public health,” Dr. R. Rodney Howell, chairman of the Health and Human Services Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children, said in a statement.

CPSC Enforces Lead Law

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has begun enforcing a strict new limit on lead reaching children: that consumer products intended for those 12 years and younger cannot have more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part. The rule is a key component of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, approved last year in the wake of multiple toy recalls. In a statement intended to clarify its stance on enforcement of the new law, the CPSC said that it will not impose penalties against anyone for making, importing, distributing, or selling several types of products that generally don't contain lead, if those products, when tested, do turn out to have too much lead in them. These include products made of natural materials which rarely contain lead, ordinary children's books printed after 1985, and most textiles.

Foster Children's Health Care Varies

Access to health care for foster children varies dramatically from state to state, according to a Government Accountability Office report on health practices in foster care. Some states have increased Medicaid payments to encourage physicians to provide needed care to foster children, while other states have given nurses or other health care managers responsibility for ensuring that children receive necessary health care. Still, the report found that many children in foster care have not received appropriate physical and mental health services, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), who requested the report, said in a statement. Rep. McDermott said that the House subcommittee on family support that he chairs will consider additional steps to ensure that foster children receive the care they need.

AAP Backs Drinking Age Campaign

The American Academy of Pediatrics has thrown its support behind federal legislation that would back a minimum legal drinking age of 21 and provide new tools for health care providers to reduce underage drinking. The bill (H.R. 1028), introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mary Bono-Mack (R-Calif.), would create a $22 million annual media campaign to describe the benefits of the 21 minimum drinking age and encourage parental support for such a law. H.R. 1028 would also provide grants to professional pediatric-medical organizations to educate their members on alcohol screening, brief interventions, referral, and treatment. And community antidrug coalitions would get grants to integrate health care providers into underage drinking programs. “The data [are] irrefutable: The 21 minimum legal drinking age saves lives,” AAP President David Tayloe said in a statement.

Pediatrician to Head CDC

Pediatrician Richard E. Besser has been named acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, succeeding Dr. Julie Gerberding, who stepped down with the change in administrations. Dr. Besser previously served as the epidemiology section chief in the CDC's respiratory diseases branch, as acting chief of the meningitis and special pathogens branch in the National Center for Infectious Disease, and as the medical director of “Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work,” the CDC's national campaign to promote appropriate antibiotic use. The Obama administration said Dr. Besser will serve as CDC director until a permanent director is named.

Most Newborns Are Now Screened

All 50 states and the District of Columbia now require that every newborn be screened for most life-threatening disorders, although Pennsylvania and West Virginia still are in the process of implementing their expanded programs, according to a report from the March of Dimes. State laws and rules vary, but all states require screening for 21 or more of the 29 serious genetic or functional disorders on the panel recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics, the March of Dimes said in its report. The screening laws and rules are a marked improvement over what they were 3 years ago, when the charity's report card found that only 38% of infants were born in states that required screening for 21 or more of the 29 “core” conditions. Now, 24 states and Washington, D.C., require screening for all 29 disorders, with more states expected to join them this year, the report said. “This is a sweeping advance for public health,” Dr. R. Rodney Howell, chairman of the Health and Human Services Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children, said in a statement.

CPSC Enforces Lead Law

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has begun enforcing a strict new limit on lead reaching children: that consumer products intended for those 12 years and younger cannot have more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part. The rule is a key component of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, approved last year in the wake of multiple toy recalls. In a statement intended to clarify its stance on enforcement of the new law, the CPSC said that it will not impose penalties against anyone for making, importing, distributing, or selling several types of products that generally don't contain lead, if those products, when tested, do turn out to have too much lead in them. These include products made of natural materials which rarely contain lead, ordinary children's books printed after 1985, and most textiles.

Foster Children's Health Care Varies

Access to health care for foster children varies dramatically from state to state, according to a Government Accountability Office report on health practices in foster care. Some states have increased Medicaid payments to encourage physicians to provide needed care to foster children, while other states have given nurses or other health care managers responsibility for ensuring that children receive necessary health care. Still, the report found that many children in foster care have not received appropriate physical and mental health services, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), who requested the report, said in a statement. Rep. McDermott said that the House subcommittee on family support that he chairs will consider additional steps to ensure that foster children receive the care they need.

AAP Backs Drinking Age Campaign

The American Academy of Pediatrics has thrown its support behind federal legislation that would back a minimum legal drinking age of 21 and provide new tools for health care providers to reduce underage drinking. The bill (H.R. 1028), introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mary Bono-Mack (R-Calif.), would create a $22 million annual media campaign to describe the benefits of the 21 minimum drinking age and encourage parental support for such a law. H.R. 1028 would also provide grants to professional pediatric-medical organizations to educate their members on alcohol screening, brief interventions, referral, and treatment. And community antidrug coalitions would get grants to integrate health care providers into underage drinking programs. “The data [are] irrefutable: The 21 minimum legal drinking age saves lives,” AAP President David Tayloe said in a statement.

Pediatrician to Head CDC

Pediatrician Richard E. Besser has been named acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, succeeding Dr. Julie Gerberding, who stepped down with the change in administrations. Dr. Besser previously served as the epidemiology section chief in the CDC's respiratory diseases branch, as acting chief of the meningitis and special pathogens branch in the National Center for Infectious Disease, and as the medical director of “Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work,” the CDC's national campaign to promote appropriate antibiotic use. The Obama administration said Dr. Besser will serve as CDC director until a permanent director is named.

Most Newborns Are Now Screened

All 50 states and the District of Columbia now require that every newborn be screened for most life-threatening disorders, although Pennsylvania and West Virginia still are in the process of implementing their expanded programs, according to a report from the March of Dimes. State laws and rules vary, but all states require screening for 21 or more of the 29 serious genetic or functional disorders on the panel recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics, the March of Dimes said in its report. The screening laws and rules are a marked improvement over what they were 3 years ago, when the charity's report card found that only 38% of infants were born in states that required screening for 21 or more of the 29 “core” conditions. Now, 24 states and Washington, D.C., require screening for all 29 disorders, with more states expected to join them this year, the report said. “This is a sweeping advance for public health,” Dr. R. Rodney Howell, chairman of the Health and Human Services Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children, said in a statement.

CPSC Enforces Lead Law

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has begun enforcing a strict new limit on lead reaching children: that consumer products intended for those 12 years and younger cannot have more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part. The rule is a key component of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, approved last year in the wake of multiple toy recalls. In a statement intended to clarify its stance on enforcement of the new law, the CPSC said that it will not impose penalties against anyone for making, importing, distributing, or selling several types of products that generally don't contain lead, if those products, when tested, do turn out to have too much lead in them. These include products made of natural materials which rarely contain lead, ordinary children's books printed after 1985, and most textiles.

Foster Children's Health Care Varies

Access to health care for foster children varies dramatically from state to state, according to a Government Accountability Office report on health practices in foster care. Some states have increased Medicaid payments to encourage physicians to provide needed care to foster children, while other states have given nurses or other health care managers responsibility for ensuring that children receive necessary health care. Still, the report found that many children in foster care have not received appropriate physical and mental health services, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), who requested the report, said in a statement. Rep. McDermott said that the House subcommittee on family support that he chairs will consider additional steps to ensure that foster children receive the care they need.

AAP Backs Drinking Age Campaign

The American Academy of Pediatrics has thrown its support behind federal legislation that would back a minimum legal drinking age of 21 and provide new tools for health care providers to reduce underage drinking. The bill (H.R. 1028), introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mary Bono-Mack (R-Calif.), would create a $22 million annual media campaign to describe the benefits of the 21 minimum drinking age and encourage parental support for such a law. H.R. 1028 would also provide grants to professional pediatric-medical organizations to educate their members on alcohol screening, brief interventions, referral, and treatment. And community antidrug coalitions would get grants to integrate health care providers into underage drinking programs. “The data [are] irrefutable: The 21 minimum legal drinking age saves lives,” AAP President David Tayloe said in a statement.

Pediatrician to Head CDC

Pediatrician Richard E. Besser has been named acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, succeeding Dr. Julie Gerberding, who stepped down with the change in administrations. Dr. Besser previously served as the epidemiology section chief in the CDC's respiratory diseases branch, as acting chief of the meningitis and special pathogens branch in the National Center for Infectious Disease, and as the medical director of “Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work,” the CDC's national campaign to promote appropriate antibiotic use. The Obama administration said Dr. Besser will serve as CDC director until a permanent director is named.