Alicia Ault

New SAMHSA Administrator

The Senate has confirmed Pamela Hyde as the new administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Ms. Hyde was appointed to the position by President Obama. She was formerly secretary of the New Mexico Human Services Department since 2003, and was also a chief executive of a nonprofit behavioral health care organization and was a director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health. She holds a law degree from the University of Michigan.

Alcohol Tax Saves Lives, Money

Raising alcohol taxes can save money and lives, according to a report from two Johns Hopkins University professors, David Jernigan, Ph.D., and Hugh Waters, Ph.D. They focused their efforts on the effects of raising the excise tax in Maryland, where there are 1,278 deaths due to alcohol use per year and 7,470 violent crimes. About 313,000 residents are alcohol-dependent, the researchers wrote. The state has not raised excise taxes since 1972. If the state raised the tax by 10 cents, alcohol consumption would be cut by 4.8%, and the state would raise $214.4 million in new revenues, they estimated. The state would save an additional $249 million in costs; that is, the tax increase could prevent 14,987 cases of alcohol dependence, 37 deaths, 13 forcible rapes, 316 assaults, 21 robberies, 67 incidents of severe violence against children, and 19 cases of fetal alcohol syndrome each year, said the researchers. They based their estimates on more than 110 reports looking at alcohol use and taxes. The report was prepared for the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative and was funded by the Abell Foundation.

Tobacco Prevention Funds Cut

Many states are severely cutting back on funding for tobacco use prevention programs, despite having collected huge revenues from taxes and the 1998 tobacco settlement, according to a new report. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation sponsored the report. States will collect $25 billion in fiscal year 2010 but will spend only $567 million (2%) on prevention and cessation programs, according to the report. Only North Dakota funds programs at the amount recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 31 states provide less than a quarter of the recommended level. “Despite their current budget challenges, the states lack excuses for failing to do more,” Matthew Myers, president of the campaign, said in a statement.

CMS Weighs Tobacco Counseling

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has begun to analyze the effectiveness of counseling more Medicare beneficiaries to prevent tobacco use and tobacco-caused disease. Currently, Medicare pays for such services for beneficiaries who already have been diagnosed with “a recognized tobacco-related disease or who exhibit symptoms consistent with tobacco disease.” The agency is now reviewing whether the evidence supports coverage of counseling for people who are asymptomatic. It is also looking at the benefits for pregnant women who use tobacco products, with an eye toward expanding preventive services for that group as well. The agency expects to post its proposed decision in May.

Zyprexa Still a Top Seller

The atypical antipsychotic Zyprexa (olanzapine) was Eli Lilly's top-selling drug for the first 9 months of 2009, and with several additional approvals at the end of the year, it is likely to keep that top spot for the next year. Sales grew 6% worldwide over the first three quarters of the year, to about $3.4 billion. Zyprexa recently was approved in the U.S. for schizophrenia in adolescents aged 13–17 years, and for manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in the same age group. A long-acting injectable form (Zyprexa Relprevv) also was just approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Drug Promotion Levels Off

After double-digit growth earlier in the decade, promotional spending for pharmaceuticals leveled off in 2008, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That year, drug makers spent $20 billion (or about 11% of total U.S. sales) on promotional activities. The companies spent $12 billion on detailing physicians and other health care providers, $3.4 billion on sponsoring professional meetings, and $400 million on journal ads. The rest was spent on direct-to-consumer ads, with $1.6 billion for Television ads. Just 10 drugs accounted for 30% of all direct-to-consumer spending. Looking at drug classes, thending was greatest for (in order) erectile dysfunction drugs, bone resorption inhibitors, nonbarbiturate sleep aids, autoimmune treatments, statins, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, antiplatelet agents, drugs for seizure disorders, atypical antipsychotics, and central nervous system stimulants.

New SAMHSA Administrator

The Senate has confirmed Pamela Hyde as the new administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Ms. Hyde was appointed to the position by President Obama. She was formerly secretary of the New Mexico Human Services Department since 2003, and was also a chief executive of a nonprofit behavioral health care organization and was a director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health. She holds a law degree from the University of Michigan.

Alcohol Tax Saves Lives, Money

Raising alcohol taxes can save money and lives, according to a report from two Johns Hopkins University professors, David Jernigan, Ph.D., and Hugh Waters, Ph.D. They focused their efforts on the effects of raising the excise tax in Maryland, where there are 1,278 deaths due to alcohol use per year and 7,470 violent crimes. About 313,000 residents are alcohol-dependent, the researchers wrote. The state has not raised excise taxes since 1972. If the state raised the tax by 10 cents, alcohol consumption would be cut by 4.8%, and the state would raise $214.4 million in new revenues, they estimated. The state would save an additional $249 million in costs; that is, the tax increase could prevent 14,987 cases of alcohol dependence, 37 deaths, 13 forcible rapes, 316 assaults, 21 robberies, 67 incidents of severe violence against children, and 19 cases of fetal alcohol syndrome each year, said the researchers. They based their estimates on more than 110 reports looking at alcohol use and taxes. The report was prepared for the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative and was funded by the Abell Foundation.

Tobacco Prevention Funds Cut

Many states are severely cutting back on funding for tobacco use prevention programs, despite having collected huge revenues from taxes and the 1998 tobacco settlement, according to a new report. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation sponsored the report. States will collect $25 billion in fiscal year 2010 but will spend only $567 million (2%) on prevention and cessation programs, according to the report. Only North Dakota funds programs at the amount recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 31 states provide less than a quarter of the recommended level. “Despite their current budget challenges, the states lack excuses for failing to do more,” Matthew Myers, president of the campaign, said in a statement.

CMS Weighs Tobacco Counseling

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has begun to analyze the effectiveness of counseling more Medicare beneficiaries to prevent tobacco use and tobacco-caused disease. Currently, Medicare pays for such services for beneficiaries who already have been diagnosed with “a recognized tobacco-related disease or who exhibit symptoms consistent with tobacco disease.” The agency is now reviewing whether the evidence supports coverage of counseling for people who are asymptomatic. It is also looking at the benefits for pregnant women who use tobacco products, with an eye toward expanding preventive services for that group as well. The agency expects to post its proposed decision in May.

Zyprexa Still a Top Seller

The atypical antipsychotic Zyprexa (olanzapine) was Eli Lilly's top-selling drug for the first 9 months of 2009, and with several additional approvals at the end of the year, it is likely to keep that top spot for the next year. Sales grew 6% worldwide over the first three quarters of the year, to about $3.4 billion. Zyprexa recently was approved in the U.S. for schizophrenia in adolescents aged 13–17 years, and for manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in the same age group. A long-acting injectable form (Zyprexa Relprevv) also was just approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Drug Promotion Levels Off

After double-digit growth earlier in the decade, promotional spending for pharmaceuticals leveled off in 2008, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That year, drug makers spent $20 billion (or about 11% of total U.S. sales) on promotional activities. The companies spent $12 billion on detailing physicians and other health care providers, $3.4 billion on sponsoring professional meetings, and $400 million on journal ads. The rest was spent on direct-to-consumer ads, with $1.6 billion for Television ads. Just 10 drugs accounted for 30% of all direct-to-consumer spending. Looking at drug classes, thending was greatest for (in order) erectile dysfunction drugs, bone resorption inhibitors, nonbarbiturate sleep aids, autoimmune treatments, statins, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, antiplatelet agents, drugs for seizure disorders, atypical antipsychotics, and central nervous system stimulants.

New SAMHSA Administrator

The Senate has confirmed Pamela Hyde as the new administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Ms. Hyde was appointed to the position by President Obama. She was formerly secretary of the New Mexico Human Services Department since 2003, and was also a chief executive of a nonprofit behavioral health care organization and was a director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health. She holds a law degree from the University of Michigan.

Alcohol Tax Saves Lives, Money

Raising alcohol taxes can save money and lives, according to a report from two Johns Hopkins University professors, David Jernigan, Ph.D., and Hugh Waters, Ph.D. They focused their efforts on the effects of raising the excise tax in Maryland, where there are 1,278 deaths due to alcohol use per year and 7,470 violent crimes. About 313,000 residents are alcohol-dependent, the researchers wrote. The state has not raised excise taxes since 1972. If the state raised the tax by 10 cents, alcohol consumption would be cut by 4.8%, and the state would raise $214.4 million in new revenues, they estimated. The state would save an additional $249 million in costs; that is, the tax increase could prevent 14,987 cases of alcohol dependence, 37 deaths, 13 forcible rapes, 316 assaults, 21 robberies, 67 incidents of severe violence against children, and 19 cases of fetal alcohol syndrome each year, said the researchers. They based their estimates on more than 110 reports looking at alcohol use and taxes. The report was prepared for the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative and was funded by the Abell Foundation.

Tobacco Prevention Funds Cut

Many states are severely cutting back on funding for tobacco use prevention programs, despite having collected huge revenues from taxes and the 1998 tobacco settlement, according to a new report. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation sponsored the report. States will collect $25 billion in fiscal year 2010 but will spend only $567 million (2%) on prevention and cessation programs, according to the report. Only North Dakota funds programs at the amount recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 31 states provide less than a quarter of the recommended level. “Despite their current budget challenges, the states lack excuses for failing to do more,” Matthew Myers, president of the campaign, said in a statement.

CMS Weighs Tobacco Counseling

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has begun to analyze the effectiveness of counseling more Medicare beneficiaries to prevent tobacco use and tobacco-caused disease. Currently, Medicare pays for such services for beneficiaries who already have been diagnosed with “a recognized tobacco-related disease or who exhibit symptoms consistent with tobacco disease.” The agency is now reviewing whether the evidence supports coverage of counseling for people who are asymptomatic. It is also looking at the benefits for pregnant women who use tobacco products, with an eye toward expanding preventive services for that group as well. The agency expects to post its proposed decision in May.

Zyprexa Still a Top Seller

The atypical antipsychotic Zyprexa (olanzapine) was Eli Lilly's top-selling drug for the first 9 months of 2009, and with several additional approvals at the end of the year, it is likely to keep that top spot for the next year. Sales grew 6% worldwide over the first three quarters of the year, to about $3.4 billion. Zyprexa recently was approved in the U.S. for schizophrenia in adolescents aged 13–17 years, and for manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in the same age group. A long-acting injectable form (Zyprexa Relprevv) also was just approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Drug Promotion Levels Off

After double-digit growth earlier in the decade, promotional spending for pharmaceuticals leveled off in 2008, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That year, drug makers spent $20 billion (or about 11% of total U.S. sales) on promotional activities. The companies spent $12 billion on detailing physicians and other health care providers, $3.4 billion on sponsoring professional meetings, and $400 million on journal ads. The rest was spent on direct-to-consumer ads, with $1.6 billion for Television ads. Just 10 drugs accounted for 30% of all direct-to-consumer spending. Looking at drug classes, thending was greatest for (in order) erectile dysfunction drugs, bone resorption inhibitors, nonbarbiturate sleep aids, autoimmune treatments, statins, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, antiplatelet agents, drugs for seizure disorders, atypical antipsychotics, and central nervous system stimulants.

WASHINGTON — The number of teenagers reporting marijuana use is up slightly over the last 2 years, along with the proportion of those reporting any illicit drug use, according to the biannual Monitoring the Future survey, conducted for the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The survey queries 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, and about attitudes and behaviors. This year, 46,097 students from 389 public and private schools participated in the survey, conducted by the University of Michigan.

The increase in illicit drug use was largely accounted for by the rise in use of marijuana, the most widely used drug, at 33% of 12th graders, said Lloyd Johnston, Ph.D., lead author of the survey and a research professor at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor. Alcohol is the most widely used substance; 66% of 12th graders said they'd used alcohol in the previous year.

Dr. Johnston, joined by NIDA director Nora Volkow and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy director R. Gil Kerlikowske, said the report contained both good and bad news.

“We are containing the drug use problem among America's young people,” Mr. Kerlikowske said. But “is containment really what we're after? I would argue that certainly, it is not.”

As for the good news, the number of high school seniors who reported methamphetamine use in the past year was 1.2%, the lowest since teens were first asked about the drug in 1999. Cigarette smoking also was at an all-time low among the 8th, 10th, and 12th graders surveyed. A total of 11% percent of high school seniors said they smoked daily, which is half the peak rate of 25% in 1997.

Seniors also reported declining use of hallucinogens—particularly LSD—and cocaine. Younger students said it was harder to access cocaine, sedatives, heroin, and crystal methamphetamine. They also had an increased perception that LSD, amphetamines, sedatives, heroin, and cocaine were dangerous. Attitudes about harmfulness generally portend future use trends, Mr. Kerlikowske said.

That connection might be at work when it comes to marijuana use, Dr. Johnston said. Marijuana rates stayed steady for most of the last 5 years but had a slight uptick each of the last 2 years. Meanwhile, over the same period, the number of 8th graders who reported that marijuana use was harmful fell from 76% to 70%. Fewer teenagers report personal disapproval of marijuana.

However, teens who use marijuana do not necessarily go on to use other drugs. That's shown by the decline in use figures for many other drug classes, Dr. Johnston said.

The drug researchers said they were concerned about prescription drug abuse, which is still at peak levels. A total of 10% of seniors reported Vicodin use in the last 12 months, and 6% reported using amphetamines and tranquilizers. About 5% of 10th and 12th graders said they'd used OxyContin; that is a slight increase at the 10th-grade level.

Dr. Johnston and the others also noted the continued level use of cough syrups by about 6% of teens, and the abuse of Adderall, a stimulant prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It is the first year that survey participants have been asked about Adderall; it is possibly being used as a substitute for Ritalin, a stimulant whose use declined from 5% of 12th graders in 2001 to 2% in 2009.

Alcohol use leveled off among 10th and 12th graders, after a long decline, but still decreased among 8th graders. Even so, binge drinking, especially “excessive” binge drinking, continues to be an issue, Dr. Johnston said.

WASHINGTON — The number of teenagers reporting marijuana use is up slightly over the last 2 years, along with the proportion of those reporting any illicit drug use, according to the biannual Monitoring the Future survey, conducted for the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The survey queries 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, and about attitudes and behaviors. This year, 46,097 students from 389 public and private schools participated in the survey, conducted by the University of Michigan.

The increase in illicit drug use was largely accounted for by the rise in use of marijuana, the most widely used drug, at 33% of 12th graders, said Lloyd Johnston, Ph.D., lead author of the survey and a research professor at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor. Alcohol is the most widely used substance; 66% of 12th graders said they'd used alcohol in the previous year.

Dr. Johnston, joined by NIDA director Nora Volkow and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy director R. Gil Kerlikowske, said the report contained both good and bad news.

“We are containing the drug use problem among America's young people,” Mr. Kerlikowske said. But “is containment really what we're after? I would argue that certainly, it is not.”

As for the good news, the number of high school seniors who reported methamphetamine use in the past year was 1.2%, the lowest since teens were first asked about the drug in 1999. Cigarette smoking also was at an all-time low among the 8th, 10th, and 12th graders surveyed. A total of 11% percent of high school seniors said they smoked daily, which is half the peak rate of 25% in 1997.

Seniors also reported declining use of hallucinogens—particularly LSD—and cocaine. Younger students said it was harder to access cocaine, sedatives, heroin, and crystal methamphetamine. They also had an increased perception that LSD, amphetamines, sedatives, heroin, and cocaine were dangerous. Attitudes about harmfulness generally portend future use trends, Mr. Kerlikowske said.

That connection might be at work when it comes to marijuana use, Dr. Johnston said. Marijuana rates stayed steady for most of the last 5 years but had a slight uptick each of the last 2 years. Meanwhile, over the same period, the number of 8th graders who reported that marijuana use was harmful fell from 76% to 70%. Fewer teenagers report personal disapproval of marijuana.

However, teens who use marijuana do not necessarily go on to use other drugs. That's shown by the decline in use figures for many other drug classes, Dr. Johnston said.

The drug researchers said they were concerned about prescription drug abuse, which is still at peak levels. A total of 10% of seniors reported Vicodin use in the last 12 months, and 6% reported using amphetamines and tranquilizers. About 5% of 10th and 12th graders said they'd used OxyContin; that is a slight increase at the 10th-grade level.

Dr. Johnston and the others also noted the continued level use of cough syrups by about 6% of teens, and the abuse of Adderall, a stimulant prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It is the first year that survey participants have been asked about Adderall; it is possibly being used as a substitute for Ritalin, a stimulant whose use declined from 5% of 12th graders in 2001 to 2% in 2009.

Alcohol use leveled off among 10th and 12th graders, after a long decline, but still decreased among 8th graders. Even so, binge drinking, especially “excessive” binge drinking, continues to be an issue, Dr. Johnston said.

WASHINGTON — The number of teenagers reporting marijuana use is up slightly over the last 2 years, along with the proportion of those reporting any illicit drug use, according to the biannual Monitoring the Future survey, conducted for the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The survey queries 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, and about attitudes and behaviors. This year, 46,097 students from 389 public and private schools participated in the survey, conducted by the University of Michigan.

The increase in illicit drug use was largely accounted for by the rise in use of marijuana, the most widely used drug, at 33% of 12th graders, said Lloyd Johnston, Ph.D., lead author of the survey and a research professor at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor. Alcohol is the most widely used substance; 66% of 12th graders said they'd used alcohol in the previous year.

Dr. Johnston, joined by NIDA director Nora Volkow and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy director R. Gil Kerlikowske, said the report contained both good and bad news.

“We are containing the drug use problem among America's young people,” Mr. Kerlikowske said. But “is containment really what we're after? I would argue that certainly, it is not.”

As for the good news, the number of high school seniors who reported methamphetamine use in the past year was 1.2%, the lowest since teens were first asked about the drug in 1999. Cigarette smoking also was at an all-time low among the 8th, 10th, and 12th graders surveyed. A total of 11% percent of high school seniors said they smoked daily, which is half the peak rate of 25% in 1997.

Seniors also reported declining use of hallucinogens—particularly LSD—and cocaine. Younger students said it was harder to access cocaine, sedatives, heroin, and crystal methamphetamine. They also had an increased perception that LSD, amphetamines, sedatives, heroin, and cocaine were dangerous. Attitudes about harmfulness generally portend future use trends, Mr. Kerlikowske said.

That connection might be at work when it comes to marijuana use, Dr. Johnston said. Marijuana rates stayed steady for most of the last 5 years but had a slight uptick each of the last 2 years. Meanwhile, over the same period, the number of 8th graders who reported that marijuana use was harmful fell from 76% to 70%. Fewer teenagers report personal disapproval of marijuana.

However, teens who use marijuana do not necessarily go on to use other drugs. That's shown by the decline in use figures for many other drug classes, Dr. Johnston said.

The drug researchers said they were concerned about prescription drug abuse, which is still at peak levels. A total of 10% of seniors reported Vicodin use in the last 12 months, and 6% reported using amphetamines and tranquilizers. About 5% of 10th and 12th graders said they'd used OxyContin; that is a slight increase at the 10th-grade level.

Dr. Johnston and the others also noted the continued level use of cough syrups by about 6% of teens, and the abuse of Adderall, a stimulant prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It is the first year that survey participants have been asked about Adderall; it is possibly being used as a substitute for Ritalin, a stimulant whose use declined from 5% of 12th graders in 2001 to 2% in 2009.

Alcohol use leveled off among 10th and 12th graders, after a long decline, but still decreased among 8th graders. Even so, binge drinking, especially “excessive” binge drinking, continues to be an issue, Dr. Johnston said.

WASHINGTON — Updated screening mammography recommendations issued in November by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force became politicized in part because they were released during Congressional action on health care reform, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said at a Dec. 2 hearing he called on the issue.

“The controversy that was ignited by the report may be eclipsing what the report actually says,” said Rep. Pallone, chair of the health subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The recommendations became fodder for Republicans seeking to bolster their argument that the House-passed health reform plan would give too much power to government-appointed boards and could result in the rationing of health care. The argument was played out again at the hearing.

After more than 4 hours of wrangling, Rep. Pallone said to Dr. Ned Calonge, USPSTF chair, and Dr. Diana Petitti, the group's vice chair, “I really want to apologize to you, maybe on behalf of Congress.” He added: “This has been totally politicized.”

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) expressed sympathy for Dr. Calonge and Dr. Petitti, and said “you probably stepped into a quagmire that you did not expect.” Dr. Petitti said that when she found out the report would be released within a few days of the House vote, “I was sort of stunned and then also terrified. And I think my being terrified was exactly the right reaction.”

Eleven health organizations, including the American College of Physicians, sent a letter to Rep. Pallone and the health subcommittee's ranking minority member Joe Barton (R-Tex.) supporting the recommendations.

Testifying for the ACP, Dr. Donna E. Sweet said the college is concerned that politicization of clinical effectiveness findings “could lead to efforts to eliminate the Task Force, cut its funding, or result in politically driven changes so that future evaluations are influenced by political or stakeholder interests—instead of science.”

Dr. Sweet, professor of internal medicine at the University of Kansas, Wichita, added that the ACP “urges Congress, the administration, and patient and physician advocacy groups to respect and support the importance of protecting evidence-based research by respected scientists and clinicians from being used to score political points that do not serve the public's interest.”

WASHINGTON — Updated screening mammography recommendations issued in November by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force became politicized in part because they were released during Congressional action on health care reform, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said at a Dec. 2 hearing he called on the issue.

“The controversy that was ignited by the report may be eclipsing what the report actually says,” said Rep. Pallone, chair of the health subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The recommendations became fodder for Republicans seeking to bolster their argument that the House-passed health reform plan would give too much power to government-appointed boards and could result in the rationing of health care. The argument was played out again at the hearing.

After more than 4 hours of wrangling, Rep. Pallone said to Dr. Ned Calonge, USPSTF chair, and Dr. Diana Petitti, the group's vice chair, “I really want to apologize to you, maybe on behalf of Congress.” He added: “This has been totally politicized.”

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) expressed sympathy for Dr. Calonge and Dr. Petitti, and said “you probably stepped into a quagmire that you did not expect.” Dr. Petitti said that when she found out the report would be released within a few days of the House vote, “I was sort of stunned and then also terrified. And I think my being terrified was exactly the right reaction.”

Eleven health organizations, including the American College of Physicians, sent a letter to Rep. Pallone and the health subcommittee's ranking minority member Joe Barton (R-Tex.) supporting the recommendations.

Testifying for the ACP, Dr. Donna E. Sweet said the college is concerned that politicization of clinical effectiveness findings “could lead to efforts to eliminate the Task Force, cut its funding, or result in politically driven changes so that future evaluations are influenced by political or stakeholder interests—instead of science.”

Dr. Sweet, professor of internal medicine at the University of Kansas, Wichita, added that the ACP “urges Congress, the administration, and patient and physician advocacy groups to respect and support the importance of protecting evidence-based research by respected scientists and clinicians from being used to score political points that do not serve the public's interest.”

WASHINGTON — Updated screening mammography recommendations issued in November by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force became politicized in part because they were released during Congressional action on health care reform, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said at a Dec. 2 hearing he called on the issue.

“The controversy that was ignited by the report may be eclipsing what the report actually says,” said Rep. Pallone, chair of the health subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The recommendations became fodder for Republicans seeking to bolster their argument that the House-passed health reform plan would give too much power to government-appointed boards and could result in the rationing of health care. The argument was played out again at the hearing.

After more than 4 hours of wrangling, Rep. Pallone said to Dr. Ned Calonge, USPSTF chair, and Dr. Diana Petitti, the group's vice chair, “I really want to apologize to you, maybe on behalf of Congress.” He added: “This has been totally politicized.”

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) expressed sympathy for Dr. Calonge and Dr. Petitti, and said “you probably stepped into a quagmire that you did not expect.” Dr. Petitti said that when she found out the report would be released within a few days of the House vote, “I was sort of stunned and then also terrified. And I think my being terrified was exactly the right reaction.”

Eleven health organizations, including the American College of Physicians, sent a letter to Rep. Pallone and the health subcommittee's ranking minority member Joe Barton (R-Tex.) supporting the recommendations.

Testifying for the ACP, Dr. Donna E. Sweet said the college is concerned that politicization of clinical effectiveness findings “could lead to efforts to eliminate the Task Force, cut its funding, or result in politically driven changes so that future evaluations are influenced by political or stakeholder interests—instead of science.”

Dr. Sweet, professor of internal medicine at the University of Kansas, Wichita, added that the ACP “urges Congress, the administration, and patient and physician advocacy groups to respect and support the importance of protecting evidence-based research by respected scientists and clinicians from being used to score political points that do not serve the public's interest.”

A Defense Department spending bill that included a 2-month delay in the scheduled 21% cut in the rate that Medicare pays physicians was signed into law by President Obama on Dec. 19.

The presidential signature came shortly after the Senate's 88–10 vote on the same day in favor of the legislation.

Physician groups have not given up on securing a permanent overhaul to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, which governs the Medicare payment rate.

In a statement, Dr. J. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association, said that the group agreed with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who removed a 1-year SGR fix from his health reform package with an aim of separately winning a permanent overhaul.

“As we call for a permanent solution, the AMA acknowledges the House and Senate votes to stop the cuts for 2 months so that access to care for Medicare and TRICARE patients is not disrupted while the Senate works on solving the problem once and for all,” Dr. Rohack said in the statement commenting on the SGR vote.

The House of Representatives had voted for a permanent fix in a standalone bill, but the Senate later rejected it.

Neither the House nor the Senate had included a permanent fix for the SGR payment formula in their respective health reform bills.

The fee reduction was due to go into effect Jan. 1.

Lawmakers, who had few legislative vehicles left to avert the imminent Medicare fee cut, opted to attach the delay to the Defense spending bill, knowing that, with American military deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bill's passage was a must-do proposition.

The $636 billion Defense appropriations bill had previously been passed in the House.

The package includes almost $14 billion in non-Defense spending, including an extension of unemployment benefits and subsidies to help pay for COBRA benefits.

A Defense Department spending bill that included a 2-month delay in the scheduled 21% cut in the rate that Medicare pays physicians was signed into law by President Obama on Dec. 19.

The presidential signature came shortly after the Senate's 88–10 vote on the same day in favor of the legislation.

Physician groups have not given up on securing a permanent overhaul to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, which governs the Medicare payment rate.

In a statement, Dr. J. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association, said that the group agreed with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who removed a 1-year SGR fix from his health reform package with an aim of separately winning a permanent overhaul.

“As we call for a permanent solution, the AMA acknowledges the House and Senate votes to stop the cuts for 2 months so that access to care for Medicare and TRICARE patients is not disrupted while the Senate works on solving the problem once and for all,” Dr. Rohack said in the statement commenting on the SGR vote.

The House of Representatives had voted for a permanent fix in a standalone bill, but the Senate later rejected it.

Neither the House nor the Senate had included a permanent fix for the SGR payment formula in their respective health reform bills.

The fee reduction was due to go into effect Jan. 1.

Lawmakers, who had few legislative vehicles left to avert the imminent Medicare fee cut, opted to attach the delay to the Defense spending bill, knowing that, with American military deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bill's passage was a must-do proposition.

The $636 billion Defense appropriations bill had previously been passed in the House.

The package includes almost $14 billion in non-Defense spending, including an extension of unemployment benefits and subsidies to help pay for COBRA benefits.

A Defense Department spending bill that included a 2-month delay in the scheduled 21% cut in the rate that Medicare pays physicians was signed into law by President Obama on Dec. 19.

The presidential signature came shortly after the Senate's 88–10 vote on the same day in favor of the legislation.

Physician groups have not given up on securing a permanent overhaul to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, which governs the Medicare payment rate.

In a statement, Dr. J. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association, said that the group agreed with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who removed a 1-year SGR fix from his health reform package with an aim of separately winning a permanent overhaul.

“As we call for a permanent solution, the AMA acknowledges the House and Senate votes to stop the cuts for 2 months so that access to care for Medicare and TRICARE patients is not disrupted while the Senate works on solving the problem once and for all,” Dr. Rohack said in the statement commenting on the SGR vote.

The House of Representatives had voted for a permanent fix in a standalone bill, but the Senate later rejected it.

Neither the House nor the Senate had included a permanent fix for the SGR payment formula in their respective health reform bills.

The fee reduction was due to go into effect Jan. 1.

Lawmakers, who had few legislative vehicles left to avert the imminent Medicare fee cut, opted to attach the delay to the Defense spending bill, knowing that, with American military deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bill's passage was a must-do proposition.

The $636 billion Defense appropriations bill had previously been passed in the House.

The package includes almost $14 billion in non-Defense spending, including an extension of unemployment benefits and subsidies to help pay for COBRA benefits.

The American Academy of Dermatology is phasing out its “Seal of Recognition” program, partly because a low participation rate meant that it was not meeting the AAD's goals, according to AAD President David Pariser.

In fact, “the program costs exceeded revenue,” Dr. Pariser said in an interview, which was not mentioned in the initial AAD statement announcing the phase-out.

The academy said it was ending the program because it expected the Food and Drug Administration to soon issue sunscreen labeling criteria that would “likely be aligned with the stringent criteria of the AAD Seal of Recognition program.” The FDA sunscreen rules have been in the works for almost a decade.

Dr. Pariser said that when the AAD Board first discussed ending the sunscreen program, public statements made by the FDA suggested that the rules would be issued by the end of 2009. The FDA has since announced that it may not release the guidelines until spring.

Even so, once the FDA acts, the rules are “likely to diminish the need” for the AAD program, he said.

More importantly, the program did not generate money to fund skin cancer awareness programs, as had been planned. Manufacturers paid a $5,000 application fee, followed by a $10,000 annual licensing fee upon approval.

As of September 2009, six sunscreens carried the Seal of Recognition: AminoGenesis Anti-Aging Day Cream with SPF 18, AminoGenesis Derma Scyne Wrinkle Arrest with SPF 18, Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing UPF 50+, Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock SPF 55, Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock SPF 55, and Mederma Cream plus SPF 30.

The AAD will not accept any new applications. Products that currently carry the AAD's imprimatur will continue to have that label until the end of each product's 2-year recognition period.

Despite losing a potentially dedicated source of funding for skin cancer awareness, the AAD will not stop its public education efforts. It will continue to fund education and awareness through its general operating fund, Dr. Pariser said.

The AAD began the Seal of Recognition program in 2007 and envisioned that it would eventually be applied to cosmetics, moisturizers, clothing, hats, laundry additives, shade structures, and window films and tints meeting evidence-based criteria for reducing sun exposure to consumers.

The organization noted it started the program because a survey found that 86% of AAD members thought the Seal of Recognition would help consumers make better-informed choices.

The program, though, was met with disapproval from many dermatologists. Those who opposed the seal said that it gave the appearance of a conflict of interest since the AAD often promotes sunscreens to consumers.

Dr. Pariser said that the AAD had not received any complaints about the program in the past year.

Once the FDA issues sunscreen labeling criteria, the rules are 'likely to diminish the need' for the AAD program.

Source DR. PARISER

The American Academy of Dermatology is phasing out its “Seal of Recognition” program, partly because a low participation rate meant that it was not meeting the AAD's goals, according to AAD President David Pariser.

In fact, “the program costs exceeded revenue,” Dr. Pariser said in an interview, which was not mentioned in the initial AAD statement announcing the phase-out.

The academy said it was ending the program because it expected the Food and Drug Administration to soon issue sunscreen labeling criteria that would “likely be aligned with the stringent criteria of the AAD Seal of Recognition program.” The FDA sunscreen rules have been in the works for almost a decade.

Dr. Pariser said that when the AAD Board first discussed ending the sunscreen program, public statements made by the FDA suggested that the rules would be issued by the end of 2009. The FDA has since announced that it may not release the guidelines until spring.

Even so, once the FDA acts, the rules are “likely to diminish the need” for the AAD program, he said.

More importantly, the program did not generate money to fund skin cancer awareness programs, as had been planned. Manufacturers paid a $5,000 application fee, followed by a $10,000 annual licensing fee upon approval.

As of September 2009, six sunscreens carried the Seal of Recognition: AminoGenesis Anti-Aging Day Cream with SPF 18, AminoGenesis Derma Scyne Wrinkle Arrest with SPF 18, Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing UPF 50+, Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock SPF 55, Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock SPF 55, and Mederma Cream plus SPF 30.

The AAD will not accept any new applications. Products that currently carry the AAD's imprimatur will continue to have that label until the end of each product's 2-year recognition period.

Despite losing a potentially dedicated source of funding for skin cancer awareness, the AAD will not stop its public education efforts. It will continue to fund education and awareness through its general operating fund, Dr. Pariser said.

The AAD began the Seal of Recognition program in 2007 and envisioned that it would eventually be applied to cosmetics, moisturizers, clothing, hats, laundry additives, shade structures, and window films and tints meeting evidence-based criteria for reducing sun exposure to consumers.

The organization noted it started the program because a survey found that 86% of AAD members thought the Seal of Recognition would help consumers make better-informed choices.

The program, though, was met with disapproval from many dermatologists. Those who opposed the seal said that it gave the appearance of a conflict of interest since the AAD often promotes sunscreens to consumers.

Dr. Pariser said that the AAD had not received any complaints about the program in the past year.

Once the FDA issues sunscreen labeling criteria, the rules are 'likely to diminish the need' for the AAD program.

Source DR. PARISER

The American Academy of Dermatology is phasing out its “Seal of Recognition” program, partly because a low participation rate meant that it was not meeting the AAD's goals, according to AAD President David Pariser.

In fact, “the program costs exceeded revenue,” Dr. Pariser said in an interview, which was not mentioned in the initial AAD statement announcing the phase-out.

The academy said it was ending the program because it expected the Food and Drug Administration to soon issue sunscreen labeling criteria that would “likely be aligned with the stringent criteria of the AAD Seal of Recognition program.” The FDA sunscreen rules have been in the works for almost a decade.

Dr. Pariser said that when the AAD Board first discussed ending the sunscreen program, public statements made by the FDA suggested that the rules would be issued by the end of 2009. The FDA has since announced that it may not release the guidelines until spring.

Even so, once the FDA acts, the rules are “likely to diminish the need” for the AAD program, he said.

More importantly, the program did not generate money to fund skin cancer awareness programs, as had been planned. Manufacturers paid a $5,000 application fee, followed by a $10,000 annual licensing fee upon approval.

As of September 2009, six sunscreens carried the Seal of Recognition: AminoGenesis Anti-Aging Day Cream with SPF 18, AminoGenesis Derma Scyne Wrinkle Arrest with SPF 18, Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing UPF 50+, Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock SPF 55, Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock SPF 55, and Mederma Cream plus SPF 30.

The AAD will not accept any new applications. Products that currently carry the AAD's imprimatur will continue to have that label until the end of each product's 2-year recognition period.

Despite losing a potentially dedicated source of funding for skin cancer awareness, the AAD will not stop its public education efforts. It will continue to fund education and awareness through its general operating fund, Dr. Pariser said.

The AAD began the Seal of Recognition program in 2007 and envisioned that it would eventually be applied to cosmetics, moisturizers, clothing, hats, laundry additives, shade structures, and window films and tints meeting evidence-based criteria for reducing sun exposure to consumers.

The organization noted it started the program because a survey found that 86% of AAD members thought the Seal of Recognition would help consumers make better-informed choices.

The program, though, was met with disapproval from many dermatologists. Those who opposed the seal said that it gave the appearance of a conflict of interest since the AAD often promotes sunscreens to consumers.

Dr. Pariser said that the AAD had not received any complaints about the program in the past year.

Once the FDA issues sunscreen labeling criteria, the rules are 'likely to diminish the need' for the AAD program.

Source DR. PARISER

Bimatoprost for Chemo Effects?

The National Cancer Institute and the pharmaceutical maker Allergan Inc. are jointly supporting a trial to determine whether bimatoprost (Latisse) can stimulate regrowth of eyelashes and eyebrows after their loss in chemotherapy. The company told a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee in December 2008 that it would explore that potential use of the drug. The study began enrolling patients in October and will be led by Dr. Jenny Kim of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of California, Los Angeles. Men and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer will be enrolled at nine sites and followed for 6 months.

FDA Releases Tanning Warning

The FDA has created a Web site that details for consumers what the agency calls the risks of indoor tanning, skin cancer being among the biggest. “It's well established that UV radiation from the sun causes skin cancer,” FDA scientist Sharon Miller writes on the site. “Since lamps used in tanning beds emit UV radiation, the use of indoor tanning devices also increases your risk of skin cancer.” The agency Web site also lists premature aging, immune suppression, eye damage, and allergic reactions as indoor-tanning downsides. Children and teens are particularly at risk, according to the FDA. The site includes the story of a former Miss Maryland who was diagnosed with melanoma at age 20, after 3 years of heavy indoor tanning.

Adverse Event Reports Go Unused

The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health fails to use adverse event reports in a systematic manner to detect and address medical device safety problems, a report from the HHS Office of Inspector General found. Manufacturers and medical facilities are required to promptly submit reports to the FDA center following adverse events, which can include deaths, serious injuries, and device malfunctions. But the center has no documentation of following up on these events, and it fails to read most reports in a timely fashion, according to the report. Meanwhile, reports of problems with medical devices are increasing, the Inspector General's office found: The FDA center received about 73,000 adverse event reports in 2003 but more than 150,000 in 2007. The Inspector General recommended that the center develop better protocols for reviewing and tracking the reports. 

Drug Pipeline Is Full

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have nearly 1,000 medications and vaccines in the pipeline to treat diseases that disproportionately affect women, according to a report released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The 969 medicines are in clinical trials or under review by the FDA. They include 155 medications for diabetes and 114 for autoimmune diseases, which affect women at a rate three times that for men. Other treatments in the pipeline include 112 for breast cancer, 86 for ob.gyn. conditions, 76 for asthma, 131 for arthritis, and 80 for Alzheimer's disease, according to PhRMA.

Biosimilars May Change Market

The manufacturers of tumor necrosis factor–alpha inhibitors could lose billions of dollars in revenue with the introduction of biosimilars in the United States and Europe, according to the research firm Decision Resources. By 2018, biosimilars of TNF-alpha drugs could cut $9.6 billion from brand sales in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. But the development could also be a boon for payers in those countries, which could save $4 billion during that period. Decision Resources said it expects the movement to TNF-alpha biosimilars to be driven largely by payers, not physicians. “For the second year in a row, surveyed U.S. payers rank TNF-alpha inhibitors as their top priority” for reducing biologics spending, MaryEllen Klusacek, Ph.D., an analyst at the research firm, said in a statement. “Based on this finding, we anticipate that payer pressure on physicians to prescribe biosimilar TNF-alpha inhibitors will be high.”

Electronic Tools Effective: AHRQ

Consumer health informatics (electronic tools and applications designed to provide tailored health advice to patients) could save money by eliminating the need for some health education activities now performed by clinicians, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Health informatics also could improve clinician-patient interactions that deal with a wide variety of diseases and health issues, the AHRQ noted. The agency reviewed more than 100 studies of consumers getting health information via the Web, computer programs, and other electronic avenues such as texting and chat groups. The analysis found that the most effective health informatics applications tailor messages using a patients' own health information and provide feedback about the person's progress as the intervention unfolds. The AHRQ report also found that feedback provided by a clinician doesn't seem to be any more effective than that provided by computer.

Bimatoprost for Chemo Effects?

The National Cancer Institute and the pharmaceutical maker Allergan Inc. are jointly supporting a trial to determine whether bimatoprost (Latisse) can stimulate regrowth of eyelashes and eyebrows after their loss in chemotherapy. The company told a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee in December 2008 that it would explore that potential use of the drug. The study began enrolling patients in October and will be led by Dr. Jenny Kim of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of California, Los Angeles. Men and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer will be enrolled at nine sites and followed for 6 months.

FDA Releases Tanning Warning

The FDA has created a Web site that details for consumers what the agency calls the risks of indoor tanning, skin cancer being among the biggest. “It's well established that UV radiation from the sun causes skin cancer,” FDA scientist Sharon Miller writes on the site. “Since lamps used in tanning beds emit UV radiation, the use of indoor tanning devices also increases your risk of skin cancer.” The agency Web site also lists premature aging, immune suppression, eye damage, and allergic reactions as indoor-tanning downsides. Children and teens are particularly at risk, according to the FDA. The site includes the story of a former Miss Maryland who was diagnosed with melanoma at age 20, after 3 years of heavy indoor tanning.

Adverse Event Reports Go Unused

The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health fails to use adverse event reports in a systematic manner to detect and address medical device safety problems, a report from the HHS Office of Inspector General found. Manufacturers and medical facilities are required to promptly submit reports to the FDA center following adverse events, which can include deaths, serious injuries, and device malfunctions. But the center has no documentation of following up on these events, and it fails to read most reports in a timely fashion, according to the report. Meanwhile, reports of problems with medical devices are increasing, the Inspector General's office found: The FDA center received about 73,000 adverse event reports in 2003 but more than 150,000 in 2007. The Inspector General recommended that the center develop better protocols for reviewing and tracking the reports. 

Drug Pipeline Is Full

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have nearly 1,000 medications and vaccines in the pipeline to treat diseases that disproportionately affect women, according to a report released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The 969 medicines are in clinical trials or under review by the FDA. They include 155 medications for diabetes and 114 for autoimmune diseases, which affect women at a rate three times that for men. Other treatments in the pipeline include 112 for breast cancer, 86 for ob.gyn. conditions, 76 for asthma, 131 for arthritis, and 80 for Alzheimer's disease, according to PhRMA.

Biosimilars May Change Market

The manufacturers of tumor necrosis factor–alpha inhibitors could lose billions of dollars in revenue with the introduction of biosimilars in the United States and Europe, according to the research firm Decision Resources. By 2018, biosimilars of TNF-alpha drugs could cut $9.6 billion from brand sales in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. But the development could also be a boon for payers in those countries, which could save $4 billion during that period. Decision Resources said it expects the movement to TNF-alpha biosimilars to be driven largely by payers, not physicians. “For the second year in a row, surveyed U.S. payers rank TNF-alpha inhibitors as their top priority” for reducing biologics spending, MaryEllen Klusacek, Ph.D., an analyst at the research firm, said in a statement. “Based on this finding, we anticipate that payer pressure on physicians to prescribe biosimilar TNF-alpha inhibitors will be high.”

Electronic Tools Effective: AHRQ

Consumer health informatics (electronic tools and applications designed to provide tailored health advice to patients) could save money by eliminating the need for some health education activities now performed by clinicians, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Health informatics also could improve clinician-patient interactions that deal with a wide variety of diseases and health issues, the AHRQ noted. The agency reviewed more than 100 studies of consumers getting health information via the Web, computer programs, and other electronic avenues such as texting and chat groups. The analysis found that the most effective health informatics applications tailor messages using a patients' own health information and provide feedback about the person's progress as the intervention unfolds. The AHRQ report also found that feedback provided by a clinician doesn't seem to be any more effective than that provided by computer.

Bimatoprost for Chemo Effects?

The National Cancer Institute and the pharmaceutical maker Allergan Inc. are jointly supporting a trial to determine whether bimatoprost (Latisse) can stimulate regrowth of eyelashes and eyebrows after their loss in chemotherapy. The company told a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee in December 2008 that it would explore that potential use of the drug. The study began enrolling patients in October and will be led by Dr. Jenny Kim of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of California, Los Angeles. Men and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer will be enrolled at nine sites and followed for 6 months.

FDA Releases Tanning Warning

The FDA has created a Web site that details for consumers what the agency calls the risks of indoor tanning, skin cancer being among the biggest. “It's well established that UV radiation from the sun causes skin cancer,” FDA scientist Sharon Miller writes on the site. “Since lamps used in tanning beds emit UV radiation, the use of indoor tanning devices also increases your risk of skin cancer.” The agency Web site also lists premature aging, immune suppression, eye damage, and allergic reactions as indoor-tanning downsides. Children and teens are particularly at risk, according to the FDA. The site includes the story of a former Miss Maryland who was diagnosed with melanoma at age 20, after 3 years of heavy indoor tanning.

Adverse Event Reports Go Unused

The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health fails to use adverse event reports in a systematic manner to detect and address medical device safety problems, a report from the HHS Office of Inspector General found. Manufacturers and medical facilities are required to promptly submit reports to the FDA center following adverse events, which can include deaths, serious injuries, and device malfunctions. But the center has no documentation of following up on these events, and it fails to read most reports in a timely fashion, according to the report. Meanwhile, reports of problems with medical devices are increasing, the Inspector General's office found: The FDA center received about 73,000 adverse event reports in 2003 but more than 150,000 in 2007. The Inspector General recommended that the center develop better protocols for reviewing and tracking the reports. 

Drug Pipeline Is Full

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have nearly 1,000 medications and vaccines in the pipeline to treat diseases that disproportionately affect women, according to a report released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The 969 medicines are in clinical trials or under review by the FDA. They include 155 medications for diabetes and 114 for autoimmune diseases, which affect women at a rate three times that for men. Other treatments in the pipeline include 112 for breast cancer, 86 for ob.gyn. conditions, 76 for asthma, 131 for arthritis, and 80 for Alzheimer's disease, according to PhRMA.

Biosimilars May Change Market

The manufacturers of tumor necrosis factor–alpha inhibitors could lose billions of dollars in revenue with the introduction of biosimilars in the United States and Europe, according to the research firm Decision Resources. By 2018, biosimilars of TNF-alpha drugs could cut $9.6 billion from brand sales in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. But the development could also be a boon for payers in those countries, which could save $4 billion during that period. Decision Resources said it expects the movement to TNF-alpha biosimilars to be driven largely by payers, not physicians. “For the second year in a row, surveyed U.S. payers rank TNF-alpha inhibitors as their top priority” for reducing biologics spending, MaryEllen Klusacek, Ph.D., an analyst at the research firm, said in a statement. “Based on this finding, we anticipate that payer pressure on physicians to prescribe biosimilar TNF-alpha inhibitors will be high.”

Electronic Tools Effective: AHRQ

Consumer health informatics (electronic tools and applications designed to provide tailored health advice to patients) could save money by eliminating the need for some health education activities now performed by clinicians, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Health informatics also could improve clinician-patient interactions that deal with a wide variety of diseases and health issues, the AHRQ noted. The agency reviewed more than 100 studies of consumers getting health information via the Web, computer programs, and other electronic avenues such as texting and chat groups. The analysis found that the most effective health informatics applications tailor messages using a patients' own health information and provide feedback about the person's progress as the intervention unfolds. The AHRQ report also found that feedback provided by a clinician doesn't seem to be any more effective than that provided by computer.

As the Senate continued to debate the Democrats' health reform proposal, it was not clear whether a proposed 5% tax on elective cosmetic surgery, including injectables, would survive the floor fight and the eventual conference committee to reconcile the House and Senate bills.

Physician groups—not just dermatologists—have united in opposition to the tax, saying that it is discriminatory, and, they point out, it has proven to be an inefficient means of collecting revenue in the only state with such a tax.

Even so, the American Academy of Dermatology expects more states to look at a cosmetic tax as a potential revenue source this year, Dr. David Pariser, president of the AAD, said in an interview.

New Jersey has taxed elective cosmetic procedures since 2004, levying a 6% fee at the point of sale—the physician's office—but the state has had a 59% shortfall based on projected revenue estimates, according to the Stop Medical Taxes Coalition. The newly formed group, which is sponsored by Botox maker Allergan Inc., represents 22 medical organizations, the AAD, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, the American Association of Neurologic Surgeons, and the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

The American Medical Association also came out in opposition to the tax. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, the AMA said that it “strongly opposes taxes on physician services to fund health care programs or to accomplish health system reform.” The organization said that it was concerned that the exceptions outlined in the bill weren't clear enough or broad enough.

And, said the AMA, the tax could be expanded in the future to cover other health care items or services that might not be considered medically necessary.

The Stop Medical Taxes Coalition wrote to all 50 Senators in late November, outlining its objections. A chief argument: The tax would fall disproportionately on working women.

According to survey data collected by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2005, about one-fourth of the women planning to have surgery in the next 2 years reported income of $30,000–$60,000 a year, suggesting that the tax would hit middle earners, not high-income women.

“This tax is effectively a 'Soccer Mom' tax that will adversely impact mainstream American wives and mothers, who are the majority of plastic surgery patients,” Dr. Renato Saltz, president of the ASAPS, said in a statement.

In a separate letter, the AAD said that the proposed tax would insert the government into the physician-patient relationship “in a new way,” partly because it would be in charge of determining what was medically necessary. Under the proposal's language, an HIV-infected patient with lipoatrophy might be taxed for seeking treatment for what is arguably a disfiguring condition, the AAD wrote.

Rather than tax these patients, the AAD suggests that the federal government levy tanning bed users.

“A federal tax on indoor tanning could deter individuals, especially young people, from the practice,” Dr. Pariser said.

In New Jersey, the tax has led to patients choosing not to have procedures, and it has driven them to seek treatments in neighboring states, said Dr. David Goldberg, a dermatologist with practices in both New Jersey and New York. He said that he had New Jersey patients who went to his New York office to avoid the tax.

Also, “it is not a cost-effective tax,” said Dr. Goldberg, because the administrative costs for the program outweigh the revenue. In an interview, he predicted that state legislators would probably succeed in repealing the tax, especially since there is a new Republican governor friendly to the anti-tax effort and the state is seeking to enhance revenues and bolster savings.

For that same reason, Dr. Pariser said that he expects many states in the coming year to look at a cosmetic tax as a source of revenue. It is especially likely in Connecticut and New York, he said.

The AAD is calling on state societies to help mobilize dermatologists against such tax efforts, Dr. Pariser said.

As the Senate continued to debate the Democrats' health reform proposal, it was not clear whether a proposed 5% tax on elective cosmetic surgery, including injectables, would survive the floor fight and the eventual conference committee to reconcile the House and Senate bills.

Physician groups—not just dermatologists—have united in opposition to the tax, saying that it is discriminatory, and, they point out, it has proven to be an inefficient means of collecting revenue in the only state with such a tax.

Even so, the American Academy of Dermatology expects more states to look at a cosmetic tax as a potential revenue source this year, Dr. David Pariser, president of the AAD, said in an interview.

New Jersey has taxed elective cosmetic procedures since 2004, levying a 6% fee at the point of sale—the physician's office—but the state has had a 59% shortfall based on projected revenue estimates, according to the Stop Medical Taxes Coalition. The newly formed group, which is sponsored by Botox maker Allergan Inc., represents 22 medical organizations, the AAD, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, the American Association of Neurologic Surgeons, and the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

The American Medical Association also came out in opposition to the tax. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, the AMA said that it “strongly opposes taxes on physician services to fund health care programs or to accomplish health system reform.” The organization said that it was concerned that the exceptions outlined in the bill weren't clear enough or broad enough.

And, said the AMA, the tax could be expanded in the future to cover other health care items or services that might not be considered medically necessary.

The Stop Medical Taxes Coalition wrote to all 50 Senators in late November, outlining its objections. A chief argument: The tax would fall disproportionately on working women.

According to survey data collected by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2005, about one-fourth of the women planning to have surgery in the next 2 years reported income of $30,000–$60,000 a year, suggesting that the tax would hit middle earners, not high-income women.

“This tax is effectively a 'Soccer Mom' tax that will adversely impact mainstream American wives and mothers, who are the majority of plastic surgery patients,” Dr. Renato Saltz, president of the ASAPS, said in a statement.

In a separate letter, the AAD said that the proposed tax would insert the government into the physician-patient relationship “in a new way,” partly because it would be in charge of determining what was medically necessary. Under the proposal's language, an HIV-infected patient with lipoatrophy might be taxed for seeking treatment for what is arguably a disfiguring condition, the AAD wrote.

Rather than tax these patients, the AAD suggests that the federal government levy tanning bed users.

“A federal tax on indoor tanning could deter individuals, especially young people, from the practice,” Dr. Pariser said.

In New Jersey, the tax has led to patients choosing not to have procedures, and it has driven them to seek treatments in neighboring states, said Dr. David Goldberg, a dermatologist with practices in both New Jersey and New York. He said that he had New Jersey patients who went to his New York office to avoid the tax.

Also, “it is not a cost-effective tax,” said Dr. Goldberg, because the administrative costs for the program outweigh the revenue. In an interview, he predicted that state legislators would probably succeed in repealing the tax, especially since there is a new Republican governor friendly to the anti-tax effort and the state is seeking to enhance revenues and bolster savings.

For that same reason, Dr. Pariser said that he expects many states in the coming year to look at a cosmetic tax as a source of revenue. It is especially likely in Connecticut and New York, he said.

The AAD is calling on state societies to help mobilize dermatologists against such tax efforts, Dr. Pariser said.

As the Senate continued to debate the Democrats' health reform proposal, it was not clear whether a proposed 5% tax on elective cosmetic surgery, including injectables, would survive the floor fight and the eventual conference committee to reconcile the House and Senate bills.

Physician groups—not just dermatologists—have united in opposition to the tax, saying that it is discriminatory, and, they point out, it has proven to be an inefficient means of collecting revenue in the only state with such a tax.

Even so, the American Academy of Dermatology expects more states to look at a cosmetic tax as a potential revenue source this year, Dr. David Pariser, president of the AAD, said in an interview.

New Jersey has taxed elective cosmetic procedures since 2004, levying a 6% fee at the point of sale—the physician's office—but the state has had a 59% shortfall based on projected revenue estimates, according to the Stop Medical Taxes Coalition. The newly formed group, which is sponsored by Botox maker Allergan Inc., represents 22 medical organizations, the AAD, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, the American Association of Neurologic Surgeons, and the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

The American Medical Association also came out in opposition to the tax. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, the AMA said that it “strongly opposes taxes on physician services to fund health care programs or to accomplish health system reform.” The organization said that it was concerned that the exceptions outlined in the bill weren't clear enough or broad enough.

And, said the AMA, the tax could be expanded in the future to cover other health care items or services that might not be considered medically necessary.

The Stop Medical Taxes Coalition wrote to all 50 Senators in late November, outlining its objections. A chief argument: The tax would fall disproportionately on working women.

According to survey data collected by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2005, about one-fourth of the women planning to have surgery in the next 2 years reported income of $30,000–$60,000 a year, suggesting that the tax would hit middle earners, not high-income women.

“This tax is effectively a 'Soccer Mom' tax that will adversely impact mainstream American wives and mothers, who are the majority of plastic surgery patients,” Dr. Renato Saltz, president of the ASAPS, said in a statement.

In a separate letter, the AAD said that the proposed tax would insert the government into the physician-patient relationship “in a new way,” partly because it would be in charge of determining what was medically necessary. Under the proposal's language, an HIV-infected patient with lipoatrophy might be taxed for seeking treatment for what is arguably a disfiguring condition, the AAD wrote.

Rather than tax these patients, the AAD suggests that the federal government levy tanning bed users.

“A federal tax on indoor tanning could deter individuals, especially young people, from the practice,” Dr. Pariser said.

In New Jersey, the tax has led to patients choosing not to have procedures, and it has driven them to seek treatments in neighboring states, said Dr. David Goldberg, a dermatologist with practices in both New Jersey and New York. He said that he had New Jersey patients who went to his New York office to avoid the tax.

Also, “it is not a cost-effective tax,” said Dr. Goldberg, because the administrative costs for the program outweigh the revenue. In an interview, he predicted that state legislators would probably succeed in repealing the tax, especially since there is a new Republican governor friendly to the anti-tax effort and the state is seeking to enhance revenues and bolster savings.

For that same reason, Dr. Pariser said that he expects many states in the coming year to look at a cosmetic tax as a source of revenue. It is especially likely in Connecticut and New York, he said.

The AAD is calling on state societies to help mobilize dermatologists against such tax efforts, Dr. Pariser said.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the final physician fee schedule for 2010, and, as expected, Medicare reimbursement will be reduced by 21% overall unless Congress intervenes.

For some specialties, the cuts could be even deeper, thanks to a revamping of the relative value assigned to each specialty and to reductions in medical imaging payments.<

But primary care physicians are pleased, as the fee schedule makes good on the agency's promise to assign a higher value to their services. Internists, general practitioners, family physicians, and geriatric specialists will see pay increases of 5%-8%. And like all physicians, primary care doctors will also be eligible for a 2% bonus payment for participating in e-prescribing and another 2% if they take part in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).

Even so, they, too, will be subject to the overall reduction, mandated by the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula.

The upshot is that primary care physicians will see a slightly smaller cut than other physicians, said Dr. Ted Epperly, in an interview. Congress will most likely step in and, as it has for the past 7 years, reverse the SGR-imposed reductions, said Dr. Epperly, chairman of the board of trustees of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

He said that he does not expect the House or the Senate to take on the SGR fix as part of the health reform package because at this point, it would add too much to that plan's cost. The House has proposed a separate, stand-alone permanent fix, but it's not clear that bill will pass, either.

In a statement, American Medical Association President James Rohack said the fee schedule “confirms that in 60 days physicians face steep cuts of 21.2%—the largest payment cut since Congress adopted the fatally flawed Medicare physician payment formula.” Dr. Rohack added that “permanent repeal of the payment formula is an essential element of comprehensive reform”.

Even if Congress does find a way to avert the SGR cuts or overturn the formula entirely, cardiologists will still take a huge hit, Dr. Jack Lewin, the CEO of the American College of Cardiology, said in an interview.

To calculate this year's fees, the CMS relied on self-reported expense data based on the Physician Practice Information Survey. That survey was designed by the AMA and was supposed to make payments more accurate.

Dr. Lewin said that cardiologists must have incorrectly completed the surveys because it resulted in an 11% reduction in payment. The CMS also said it would reduce how much it would pay for echocardiography and stress testing—two of the most commonly performed in-office diagnostics. In 2010, Medicare payments for echo will be reduced by 11% and stress by 8%. The cuts are slated to be even deeper going forward.

In a surprise announcement, the CMS also said it would reduce single-photon emission computed tomography payments by 37%. The ACC collaborated on creating a new single code for SPECT and expected a phasing-in of a reduced payment. Instead, it's coming in just 1 year. The ACC hopes that this was an error, said a spokesman for the organization.

The cutbacks could cause many community-based cardiologists to close their private practices and become employees of hospitals instead, Dr. Lewin said.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the final physician fee schedule for 2010, and, as expected, Medicare reimbursement will be reduced by 21% overall unless Congress intervenes.

For some specialties, the cuts could be even deeper, thanks to a revamping of the relative value assigned to each specialty and to reductions in medical imaging payments.<

But primary care physicians are pleased, as the fee schedule makes good on the agency's promise to assign a higher value to their services. Internists, general practitioners, family physicians, and geriatric specialists will see pay increases of 5%-8%. And like all physicians, primary care doctors will also be eligible for a 2% bonus payment for participating in e-prescribing and another 2% if they take part in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).

Even so, they, too, will be subject to the overall reduction, mandated by the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula.

The upshot is that primary care physicians will see a slightly smaller cut than other physicians, said Dr. Ted Epperly, in an interview. Congress will most likely step in and, as it has for the past 7 years, reverse the SGR-imposed reductions, said Dr. Epperly, chairman of the board of trustees of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

He said that he does not expect the House or the Senate to take on the SGR fix as part of the health reform package because at this point, it would add too much to that plan's cost. The House has proposed a separate, stand-alone permanent fix, but it's not clear that bill will pass, either.

In a statement, American Medical Association President James Rohack said the fee schedule “confirms that in 60 days physicians face steep cuts of 21.2%—the largest payment cut since Congress adopted the fatally flawed Medicare physician payment formula.” Dr. Rohack added that “permanent repeal of the payment formula is an essential element of comprehensive reform”.

Even if Congress does find a way to avert the SGR cuts or overturn the formula entirely, cardiologists will still take a huge hit, Dr. Jack Lewin, the CEO of the American College of Cardiology, said in an interview.

To calculate this year's fees, the CMS relied on self-reported expense data based on the Physician Practice Information Survey. That survey was designed by the AMA and was supposed to make payments more accurate.

Dr. Lewin said that cardiologists must have incorrectly completed the surveys because it resulted in an 11% reduction in payment. The CMS also said it would reduce how much it would pay for echocardiography and stress testing—two of the most commonly performed in-office diagnostics. In 2010, Medicare payments for echo will be reduced by 11% and stress by 8%. The cuts are slated to be even deeper going forward.

In a surprise announcement, the CMS also said it would reduce single-photon emission computed tomography payments by 37%. The ACC collaborated on creating a new single code for SPECT and expected a phasing-in of a reduced payment. Instead, it's coming in just 1 year. The ACC hopes that this was an error, said a spokesman for the organization.

The cutbacks could cause many community-based cardiologists to close their private practices and become employees of hospitals instead, Dr. Lewin said.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the final physician fee schedule for 2010, and, as expected, Medicare reimbursement will be reduced by 21% overall unless Congress intervenes.

For some specialties, the cuts could be even deeper, thanks to a revamping of the relative value assigned to each specialty and to reductions in medical imaging payments.<

But primary care physicians are pleased, as the fee schedule makes good on the agency's promise to assign a higher value to their services. Internists, general practitioners, family physicians, and geriatric specialists will see pay increases of 5%-8%. And like all physicians, primary care doctors will also be eligible for a 2% bonus payment for participating in e-prescribing and another 2% if they take part in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).

Even so, they, too, will be subject to the overall reduction, mandated by the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula.

The upshot is that primary care physicians will see a slightly smaller cut than other physicians, said Dr. Ted Epperly, in an interview. Congress will most likely step in and, as it has for the past 7 years, reverse the SGR-imposed reductions, said Dr. Epperly, chairman of the board of trustees of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

He said that he does not expect the House or the Senate to take on the SGR fix as part of the health reform package because at this point, it would add too much to that plan's cost. The House has proposed a separate, stand-alone permanent fix, but it's not clear that bill will pass, either.

In a statement, American Medical Association President James Rohack said the fee schedule “confirms that in 60 days physicians face steep cuts of 21.2%—the largest payment cut since Congress adopted the fatally flawed Medicare physician payment formula.” Dr. Rohack added that “permanent repeal of the payment formula is an essential element of comprehensive reform”.

Even if Congress does find a way to avert the SGR cuts or overturn the formula entirely, cardiologists will still take a huge hit, Dr. Jack Lewin, the CEO of the American College of Cardiology, said in an interview.

To calculate this year's fees, the CMS relied on self-reported expense data based on the Physician Practice Information Survey. That survey was designed by the AMA and was supposed to make payments more accurate.

Dr. Lewin said that cardiologists must have incorrectly completed the surveys because it resulted in an 11% reduction in payment. The CMS also said it would reduce how much it would pay for echocardiography and stress testing—two of the most commonly performed in-office diagnostics. In 2010, Medicare payments for echo will be reduced by 11% and stress by 8%. The cuts are slated to be even deeper going forward.

In a surprise announcement, the CMS also said it would reduce single-photon emission computed tomography payments by 37%. The ACC collaborated on creating a new single code for SPECT and expected a phasing-in of a reduced payment. Instead, it's coming in just 1 year. The ACC hopes that this was an error, said a spokesman for the organization.

The cutbacks could cause many community-based cardiologists to close their private practices and become employees of hospitals instead, Dr. Lewin said.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Lysteda a proprietary form of tranexamic acid, for the treatment of menorrhagia.

According to the FDA, Lysteda, made by Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, is the first nonhormonal product approved for heavy menstrual bleeding.

Menorrhagia affects about 3 million women a year. It is often caused by uterine fibroids, but often has no underlying cause.

The FDA approved an injectable form of tranexamic acid in 1986 to reduce or prevent bleeding during and following tooth extraction in people with hemophilia. Lysteda is an oral formulation.

The agency cautioned against using Lysteda in conjunction with oral hormonal contraceptives because of an increased risk of blood clots, stroke, or myocardial infarction.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Lysteda a proprietary form of tranexamic acid, for the treatment of menorrhagia.

According to the FDA, Lysteda, made by Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, is the first nonhormonal product approved for heavy menstrual bleeding.

Menorrhagia affects about 3 million women a year. It is often caused by uterine fibroids, but often has no underlying cause.

The FDA approved an injectable form of tranexamic acid in 1986 to reduce or prevent bleeding during and following tooth extraction in people with hemophilia. Lysteda is an oral formulation.

The agency cautioned against using Lysteda in conjunction with oral hormonal contraceptives because of an increased risk of blood clots, stroke, or myocardial infarction.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Lysteda a proprietary form of tranexamic acid, for the treatment of menorrhagia.

According to the FDA, Lysteda, made by Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, is the first nonhormonal product approved for heavy menstrual bleeding.

Menorrhagia affects about 3 million women a year. It is often caused by uterine fibroids, but often has no underlying cause.

The FDA approved an injectable form of tranexamic acid in 1986 to reduce or prevent bleeding during and following tooth extraction in people with hemophilia. Lysteda is an oral formulation.

The agency cautioned against using Lysteda in conjunction with oral hormonal contraceptives because of an increased risk of blood clots, stroke, or myocardial infarction.

Improvement Plan Gets Test

The American College of Cardiology is ready to try out its new practice-assessment and improvement program. Twenty practices will participate in a pilot of the Cardiovascular Practice Recognition Program during January 2010. The pilot will test how the program can set goals and targets for cardiovascular specialists, provide a road map for performance improvements, and standardize assessment methods. The ACC selected representatives of every type of practice: urban and rural, small and large, academic and hospital based. Electronic medical records are not necessary, but practices will be required to collect data during the month and submit it to a Web site. Each will receive a &dollar;1,000 stipend to defray costs. The organization said it aims to collect enough data from the 20 practices to validate various program approaches to “continuous quality improvement.”

Americans Uneducated on Diabetes

Americans earn a “failing grade” on diabetes awareness, according to an online survey sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Participants who answered a series of questions scored just 51% overall. Although more than three-fourths of respondents knew that not all diabetes patients need daily insulin injections, only 12% knew that the recommended diet for people with diabetes does not restrict starchy foods any more than does the diet recommended for all adults. “Many Americans have a very limited understanding of the basic facts about diabetes, as well as the serious consequences for health that accompany the disease,” Sue McLaughlin, the ADA's president for health care and education, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, numerous myths about diabetes exist, making it difficult for people to believe the science-based facts.” The survey of more than 2,000 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive.

Stroke More Common in Kids?

The rate of childhood stroke in a managed care plan was 2.4 per 100,000 person-years, two to four times as high as past estimates, according to an analysis of imaging studies and diagnostic coding. The previous underestimates relied on diagnostic coding alone, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, wrote (Stroke 2009 Sept. 17 [doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.109.564633]). The team analyzed the medical records of just over 2 million children aged 19 years or younger who were enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente managed care plan in Northern California from 1993 to 2003. Stroke cases were confirmed through chart reviews by neurologists. They found that radiology was significantly more sensitive (83%) than was diagnostic coding (39%).

Adverse Event Reports Go Unused

The Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health fails to use adverse event reports in a systematic manner to detect and address medical device safety problems, a report from the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General found. Manufacturers and medical facilities are required to promptly submit reports to the FDA center following adverse events, which can include deaths, serious injuries, and device malfunctions. But the center has no documentation of following up on these events, and it fails to read most reports in a timely fashion, according to the report. Meanwhile, reports of problems with medical devices are increasing, the Inspector General's office found: The FDA center received about 73,000 adverse event reports in 2003 but more than 150,000 in 2007.

New Surgeon General Confirmed

Family physician Regina Benjamin has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Benjamin, founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre (Ala.) Rural Health Clinic, will start her work by responding to the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. The American Academy of Family Physicians praised the confirmation. “All Americans will benefit from Dr. Benjamin's medical expertise, clinical experience, and advocacy for all patients,” the academy's president, Dr. Lori Heim, said in a statement. “She is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to health care, regardless of economic status ….” Dr. Heim also praised Dr. Benjamin's perseverance in providing care to the underserved. Since the late 1990s, her clinic was destroyed by two hurricanes, Georges and Katrina, as well as a fire.

Improvement Plan Gets Test

The American College of Cardiology is ready to try out its new practice-assessment and improvement program. Twenty practices will participate in a pilot of the Cardiovascular Practice Recognition Program during January 2010. The pilot will test how the program can set goals and targets for cardiovascular specialists, provide a road map for performance improvements, and standardize assessment methods. The ACC selected representatives of every type of practice: urban and rural, small and large, academic and hospital based. Electronic medical records are not necessary, but practices will be required to collect data during the month and submit it to a Web site. Each will receive a &dollar;1,000 stipend to defray costs. The organization said it aims to collect enough data from the 20 practices to validate various program approaches to “continuous quality improvement.”

Americans Uneducated on Diabetes

Americans earn a “failing grade” on diabetes awareness, according to an online survey sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Participants who answered a series of questions scored just 51% overall. Although more than three-fourths of respondents knew that not all diabetes patients need daily insulin injections, only 12% knew that the recommended diet for people with diabetes does not restrict starchy foods any more than does the diet recommended for all adults. “Many Americans have a very limited understanding of the basic facts about diabetes, as well as the serious consequences for health that accompany the disease,” Sue McLaughlin, the ADA's president for health care and education, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, numerous myths about diabetes exist, making it difficult for people to believe the science-based facts.” The survey of more than 2,000 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive.

Stroke More Common in Kids?

The rate of childhood stroke in a managed care plan was 2.4 per 100,000 person-years, two to four times as high as past estimates, according to an analysis of imaging studies and diagnostic coding. The previous underestimates relied on diagnostic coding alone, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, wrote (Stroke 2009 Sept. 17 [doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.109.564633]). The team analyzed the medical records of just over 2 million children aged 19 years or younger who were enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente managed care plan in Northern California from 1993 to 2003. Stroke cases were confirmed through chart reviews by neurologists. They found that radiology was significantly more sensitive (83%) than was diagnostic coding (39%).

Adverse Event Reports Go Unused

The Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health fails to use adverse event reports in a systematic manner to detect and address medical device safety problems, a report from the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General found. Manufacturers and medical facilities are required to promptly submit reports to the FDA center following adverse events, which can include deaths, serious injuries, and device malfunctions. But the center has no documentation of following up on these events, and it fails to read most reports in a timely fashion, according to the report. Meanwhile, reports of problems with medical devices are increasing, the Inspector General's office found: The FDA center received about 73,000 adverse event reports in 2003 but more than 150,000 in 2007.

New Surgeon General Confirmed

Family physician Regina Benjamin has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Benjamin, founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre (Ala.) Rural Health Clinic, will start her work by responding to the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. The American Academy of Family Physicians praised the confirmation. “All Americans will benefit from Dr. Benjamin's medical expertise, clinical experience, and advocacy for all patients,” the academy's president, Dr. Lori Heim, said in a statement. “She is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to health care, regardless of economic status ….” Dr. Heim also praised Dr. Benjamin's perseverance in providing care to the underserved. Since the late 1990s, her clinic was destroyed by two hurricanes, Georges and Katrina, as well as a fire.

Improvement Plan Gets Test

The American College of Cardiology is ready to try out its new practice-assessment and improvement program. Twenty practices will participate in a pilot of the Cardiovascular Practice Recognition Program during January 2010. The pilot will test how the program can set goals and targets for cardiovascular specialists, provide a road map for performance improvements, and standardize assessment methods. The ACC selected representatives of every type of practice: urban and rural, small and large, academic and hospital based. Electronic medical records are not necessary, but practices will be required to collect data during the month and submit it to a Web site. Each will receive a &dollar;1,000 stipend to defray costs. The organization said it aims to collect enough data from the 20 practices to validate various program approaches to “continuous quality improvement.”

Americans Uneducated on Diabetes

Americans earn a “failing grade” on diabetes awareness, according to an online survey sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. Participants who answered a series of questions scored just 51% overall. Although more than three-fourths of respondents knew that not all diabetes patients need daily insulin injections, only 12% knew that the recommended diet for people with diabetes does not restrict starchy foods any more than does the diet recommended for all adults. “Many Americans have a very limited understanding of the basic facts about diabetes, as well as the serious consequences for health that accompany the disease,” Sue McLaughlin, the ADA's president for health care and education, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, numerous myths about diabetes exist, making it difficult for people to believe the science-based facts.” The survey of more than 2,000 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive.

Stroke More Common in Kids?

The rate of childhood stroke in a managed care plan was 2.4 per 100,000 person-years, two to four times as high as past estimates, according to an analysis of imaging studies and diagnostic coding. The previous underestimates relied on diagnostic coding alone, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, wrote (Stroke 2009 Sept. 17 [doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.109.564633]). The team analyzed the medical records of just over 2 million children aged 19 years or younger who were enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente managed care plan in Northern California from 1993 to 2003. Stroke cases were confirmed through chart reviews by neurologists. They found that radiology was significantly more sensitive (83%) than was diagnostic coding (39%).

Adverse Event Reports Go Unused

The Food and Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health fails to use adverse event reports in a systematic manner to detect and address medical device safety problems, a report from the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General found. Manufacturers and medical facilities are required to promptly submit reports to the FDA center following adverse events, which can include deaths, serious injuries, and device malfunctions. But the center has no documentation of following up on these events, and it fails to read most reports in a timely fashion, according to the report. Meanwhile, reports of problems with medical devices are increasing, the Inspector General's office found: The FDA center received about 73,000 adverse event reports in 2003 but more than 150,000 in 2007.

New Surgeon General Confirmed

Family physician Regina Benjamin has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Benjamin, founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre (Ala.) Rural Health Clinic, will start her work by responding to the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. The American Academy of Family Physicians praised the confirmation. “All Americans will benefit from Dr. Benjamin's medical expertise, clinical experience, and advocacy for all patients,” the academy's president, Dr. Lori Heim, said in a statement. “She is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to health care, regardless of economic status ….” Dr. Heim also praised Dr. Benjamin's perseverance in providing care to the underserved. Since the late 1990s, her clinic was destroyed by two hurricanes, Georges and Katrina, as well as a fire.