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Agencies Issue Importer Guidance
Eight federal agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, have issued draft guidance on how importers can ensure that products such as toys are in compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. The document recommends that importers know the producers and distributors of the foreign products they purchase, along with hazards that could be associated with the products. The guidance recommends that U.S. companies establish procedures for identifying and minimizing risks associated with imported products. The document, “Good Importer Practices,” would not be binding. It is designed to anticipate potential product hazards and offer ways for firms to mitigate those hazards, the agencies said.
Activity Drops in Young Children
A significant reduction in physical activity appears to occur between the ages of 3 years and 5 years, according to research published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. The researchers used accelerometers to measure activity among 244 children in New Zealand. With the results in mind, pediatricians and parents can intervene during those childhood years to promote physical activity, lead author Rachael Taylor, Ph.D., said in a statement. “Considering that target age range of 4 and 5 [years], it is probably the right time to encourage more outside play where possible, or enroll a child in gymnastics, tennis, or another structured activity,” said Dr. Taylor, a professor at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Bill Seeks Better Vision Care
Two U.S. senators have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at avoiding undiagnosed and untreated vision problems in school-aged children. Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), who is blind in one eye as a result of undiagnosed amblyopia during childhood, joined with Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) to reintroduce the Vision Care for Kids Act. The bill would grant states money to provide professional eye exams and follow-up care for children who are identified by screening as needing care. It also would support existing state efforts to educate parents, teachers, and health care professionals about healthy vision for youngsters. “This measure would be a major milestone in partnership with the states to address the vision needs of our nation's uninsured children,” Dr. Mike Repka, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Maryland and an American Academy of Ophthalmology officer, said in a statement.
SCHIP Children Need Medicaid
Medicaid is critical for continuing coverage of many children who leave the State Children's Health Insurance Program, while private insurance does relatively little for such children, according to a study from Mathematica Policy Research Inc. Among children who left SCHIP during the study period, about 45% enrolled in Medicaid and 5% obtained private coverage. Thus, half were without care coverage upon leaving SCHIP; the children remain uninsured. In all but two of the states studied, California and Florida, children who departed SCHIP typically went without coverage for a year or more. “Coupled with the limited take-up of private coverage upon leaving SCHIP, these often lengthy uninsured spells suggest that many families lack access to affordable private insurance after leaving the program,” the report said.
Doctors Obtain Medicaid Papers
The Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has obtained most of the documents it wanted on the state's proposed Medicaid reform plan, the group's executive director, Sandra Adams, said in an interview. The AAP chapter filed a lawsuit in state court last December asking the judge to compel the state to produce documents that contain details of the plan but had been denied to the chapter, she said. Once the lawsuit was filed, the state provided most of the documents the AAP chapter wanted, and Ms. Adams said she expects to get the rest. “We want to be clear, this is a lawsuit over a records request, not a lawsuit over stopping health reform,” Ms. Adams said. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has proposed allowing private insurance networks to administer the Medicaid program in some test areas. Currently, Louisiana's Medicaid reimbursement of physicians is among the lowest in the country, and physicians have expressed concern about potential rate cuts under the reform plan.
Thirdhand Smoke Hazard Noted
Smokers who believe that thirdhand smoke—tobacco contamination that remains after a cigarette is extinguished—harms their children are more likely than other parents to ban smoking in their homes, according to a study in Pediatrics. The researchers examined beliefs about the health effects of thirdhand smoke. They found that 65% of nonsmokers and 43% of smokers agreed that thirdhand smoke harms children. Strict rules prohibiting smoking in the home were far more prevalent among nonsmokers. But the belief that thirdhand smoke harms children was independently associated in both smokers and nonsmokers with rules prohibiting smoking in the home. In contrast, believing that secondhand smoke harms children appeared unrelated to rules against smoking in the home and car. “Emphasizing that thirdhand smoke harms the health of children may be an important element in encouraging home smoking bans,” they concluded.
Agencies Issue Importer Guidance
Eight federal agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, have issued draft guidance on how importers can ensure that products such as toys are in compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. The document recommends that importers know the producers and distributors of the foreign products they purchase, along with hazards that could be associated with the products. The guidance recommends that U.S. companies establish procedures for identifying and minimizing risks associated with imported products. The document, “Good Importer Practices,” would not be binding. It is designed to anticipate potential product hazards and offer ways for firms to mitigate those hazards, the agencies said.
Activity Drops in Young Children
A significant reduction in physical activity appears to occur between the ages of 3 years and 5 years, according to research published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. The researchers used accelerometers to measure activity among 244 children in New Zealand. With the results in mind, pediatricians and parents can intervene during those childhood years to promote physical activity, lead author Rachael Taylor, Ph.D., said in a statement. “Considering that target age range of 4 and 5 [years], it is probably the right time to encourage more outside play where possible, or enroll a child in gymnastics, tennis, or another structured activity,” said Dr. Taylor, a professor at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Bill Seeks Better Vision Care
Two U.S. senators have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at avoiding undiagnosed and untreated vision problems in school-aged children. Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), who is blind in one eye as a result of undiagnosed amblyopia during childhood, joined with Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) to reintroduce the Vision Care for Kids Act. The bill would grant states money to provide professional eye exams and follow-up care for children who are identified by screening as needing care. It also would support existing state efforts to educate parents, teachers, and health care professionals about healthy vision for youngsters. “This measure would be a major milestone in partnership with the states to address the vision needs of our nation's uninsured children,” Dr. Mike Repka, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Maryland and an American Academy of Ophthalmology officer, said in a statement.
SCHIP Children Need Medicaid
Medicaid is critical for continuing coverage of many children who leave the State Children's Health Insurance Program, while private insurance does relatively little for such children, according to a study from Mathematica Policy Research Inc. Among children who left SCHIP during the study period, about 45% enrolled in Medicaid and 5% obtained private coverage. Thus, half were without care coverage upon leaving SCHIP; the children remain uninsured. In all but two of the states studied, California and Florida, children who departed SCHIP typically went without coverage for a year or more. “Coupled with the limited take-up of private coverage upon leaving SCHIP, these often lengthy uninsured spells suggest that many families lack access to affordable private insurance after leaving the program,” the report said.
Doctors Obtain Medicaid Papers
The Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has obtained most of the documents it wanted on the state's proposed Medicaid reform plan, the group's executive director, Sandra Adams, said in an interview. The AAP chapter filed a lawsuit in state court last December asking the judge to compel the state to produce documents that contain details of the plan but had been denied to the chapter, she said. Once the lawsuit was filed, the state provided most of the documents the AAP chapter wanted, and Ms. Adams said she expects to get the rest. “We want to be clear, this is a lawsuit over a records request, not a lawsuit over stopping health reform,” Ms. Adams said. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has proposed allowing private insurance networks to administer the Medicaid program in some test areas. Currently, Louisiana's Medicaid reimbursement of physicians is among the lowest in the country, and physicians have expressed concern about potential rate cuts under the reform plan.
Thirdhand Smoke Hazard Noted
Smokers who believe that thirdhand smoke—tobacco contamination that remains after a cigarette is extinguished—harms their children are more likely than other parents to ban smoking in their homes, according to a study in Pediatrics. The researchers examined beliefs about the health effects of thirdhand smoke. They found that 65% of nonsmokers and 43% of smokers agreed that thirdhand smoke harms children. Strict rules prohibiting smoking in the home were far more prevalent among nonsmokers. But the belief that thirdhand smoke harms children was independently associated in both smokers and nonsmokers with rules prohibiting smoking in the home. In contrast, believing that secondhand smoke harms children appeared unrelated to rules against smoking in the home and car. “Emphasizing that thirdhand smoke harms the health of children may be an important element in encouraging home smoking bans,” they concluded.
Agencies Issue Importer Guidance
Eight federal agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, have issued draft guidance on how importers can ensure that products such as toys are in compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. The document recommends that importers know the producers and distributors of the foreign products they purchase, along with hazards that could be associated with the products. The guidance recommends that U.S. companies establish procedures for identifying and minimizing risks associated with imported products. The document, “Good Importer Practices,” would not be binding. It is designed to anticipate potential product hazards and offer ways for firms to mitigate those hazards, the agencies said.
Activity Drops in Young Children
A significant reduction in physical activity appears to occur between the ages of 3 years and 5 years, according to research published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. The researchers used accelerometers to measure activity among 244 children in New Zealand. With the results in mind, pediatricians and parents can intervene during those childhood years to promote physical activity, lead author Rachael Taylor, Ph.D., said in a statement. “Considering that target age range of 4 and 5 [years], it is probably the right time to encourage more outside play where possible, or enroll a child in gymnastics, tennis, or another structured activity,” said Dr. Taylor, a professor at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Bill Seeks Better Vision Care
Two U.S. senators have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at avoiding undiagnosed and untreated vision problems in school-aged children. Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), who is blind in one eye as a result of undiagnosed amblyopia during childhood, joined with Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) to reintroduce the Vision Care for Kids Act. The bill would grant states money to provide professional eye exams and follow-up care for children who are identified by screening as needing care. It also would support existing state efforts to educate parents, teachers, and health care professionals about healthy vision for youngsters. “This measure would be a major milestone in partnership with the states to address the vision needs of our nation's uninsured children,” Dr. Mike Repka, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Maryland and an American Academy of Ophthalmology officer, said in a statement.
SCHIP Children Need Medicaid
Medicaid is critical for continuing coverage of many children who leave the State Children's Health Insurance Program, while private insurance does relatively little for such children, according to a study from Mathematica Policy Research Inc. Among children who left SCHIP during the study period, about 45% enrolled in Medicaid and 5% obtained private coverage. Thus, half were without care coverage upon leaving SCHIP; the children remain uninsured. In all but two of the states studied, California and Florida, children who departed SCHIP typically went without coverage for a year or more. “Coupled with the limited take-up of private coverage upon leaving SCHIP, these often lengthy uninsured spells suggest that many families lack access to affordable private insurance after leaving the program,” the report said.
Doctors Obtain Medicaid Papers
The Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has obtained most of the documents it wanted on the state's proposed Medicaid reform plan, the group's executive director, Sandra Adams, said in an interview. The AAP chapter filed a lawsuit in state court last December asking the judge to compel the state to produce documents that contain details of the plan but had been denied to the chapter, she said. Once the lawsuit was filed, the state provided most of the documents the AAP chapter wanted, and Ms. Adams said she expects to get the rest. “We want to be clear, this is a lawsuit over a records request, not a lawsuit over stopping health reform,” Ms. Adams said. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has proposed allowing private insurance networks to administer the Medicaid program in some test areas. Currently, Louisiana's Medicaid reimbursement of physicians is among the lowest in the country, and physicians have expressed concern about potential rate cuts under the reform plan.
Thirdhand Smoke Hazard Noted
Smokers who believe that thirdhand smoke—tobacco contamination that remains after a cigarette is extinguished—harms their children are more likely than other parents to ban smoking in their homes, according to a study in Pediatrics. The researchers examined beliefs about the health effects of thirdhand smoke. They found that 65% of nonsmokers and 43% of smokers agreed that thirdhand smoke harms children. Strict rules prohibiting smoking in the home were far more prevalent among nonsmokers. But the belief that thirdhand smoke harms children was independently associated in both smokers and nonsmokers with rules prohibiting smoking in the home. In contrast, believing that secondhand smoke harms children appeared unrelated to rules against smoking in the home and car. “Emphasizing that thirdhand smoke harms the health of children may be an important element in encouraging home smoking bans,” they concluded.