Insurers Seek Bigger Reach in Coverage - New York Times

Insurers Seek Bigger Reach in Coverage - New York Times: "Acknowledging that too many people simply cannot obtain health insurance on their own, the insurance industry plans on Wednesday to propose a series of steps the companies say would let more individuals, even those who have health problems, obtain coverage."

Consumers Union Says Medical Device Ads Should Do More to Warn Patients - WSJ.com Health Blog

Consumers Union Says Medical Device Ads Should Do More to Warn Patients - WSJ.com Health Blog: "The Consumers Union filed a petition with the FDA recommending that consumer ads for implantable medical devices should include information about the estimated lifespan of the device, potential side effects and associated infection risks. The petition also criticized the consulting fees that device firms pay surgeons. An AdvaMed spokesman said the association is reviewing the petition."

Nation's Hospital Bill Jumped by 7% in 2005 - WSJ.com

Nation's Hospital Bill Jumped by 7% in 2005 - WSJ.com: "A handful of high-cost and high-volume conditions helped drive the national hospital bill up 7% in 2005, to $873 billion, a record high and nearly double 1997 spending adjusted for inflation, a federal agency reported. The report, from the federal Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, analyzed figures from the most recent year available and found in part that triple-digit percentage growth in the amount charged for blood infections, nonspecific chest pain, respiratory failure, back pain and arthritis over the past decade contributed to the increase. . . .The five costliest categories were coronary-artery disease, pregnancy and delivery, newborn-infant care, heart attack and congestive heart failure, followed by pneumonia and arthritis."

With Democrats in control, trial lobby makes headway - TheHill.com

With Democrats in control, trial lobby makes headway - TheHill.com: "The trial bar, on the defensive when Republicans ran Congress, is moving to make up lost ground on a variety of fronts now that Democrats are in charge, including through a bill-by-bill campaign to keep federal agencies from overriding tougher state consumer protection laws. The bar’s main lobbying group, the American Association of Justice, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, has already had some successes this year in its effort to block what’s referred to as federal regulatory preemption."

Lawmakers Seek Inquiry on F.D.A. Rejection of Cancer Drug - New York Times

Lawmakers Seek Inquiry on F.D.A. Rejection of Cancer Drug - New York Times: "Representatives Dan Burton, Michael H. Michaud and Tim Ryan said they wanted an inquiry into potential conflicts of interest for two members of the advisory panel who had argued against approval of Provenge."

Budget gap may scuttle healthcare plan - Los Angeles Times

Budget gap may scuttle healthcare plan - Los Angeles Times: "Legislative leaders said Thursday that more taxes would be needed to fill a projected $14-billion budget gap next year, and the state Senate president said a healthcare overhaul -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's priority this year -- will have to wait. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles) said lawmakers would have to consider raising a host of taxes, including those on Internet purchases and on foreign companies that do business in California. 'We've got to close those tax loopholes,' Nuñez told reporters at a news conference. 'We can generate billions by doing that.'"

US, China sign deals to safeguard food - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com

US, China sign deals to safeguard food - NewsFlash - OregonLive.com: "The United States and China signed two deals Tuesday to safeguard the quality of food and drugs ranging from pet food to certain types of antibiotics imported into the U.S. from China."

Limits Weighed on Physician-Owned Hospitals - washingtonpost.com

Limits Weighed on Physician-Owned Hospitals - washingtonpost.com: "An end-of-the year push in Congress to stave off a 10 percent cut in the fees Medicare pays doctors has revived political interest in another thorny issue: whether physicians should be able to own the hospitals they send their patients to."

DC Council Rep.'s Bill Would Regulate Pharmaceutical Salespeople - washingtonpost.com

DC Council Rep.'s Bill Would Regulate Pharmaceutical Salespeople - washingtonpost.com: "The District could become the first jurisdiction in the country to license pharmaceutical sales representatives, a move a council member says would help protect doctors and patients from disreputable agents who help drive up the costs of prescription drugs. "

Senate Waives Pledge, Approves Tax Bill - washingtonpost.com

Senate Waives Pledge, Approves Tax Bill - washingtonpost.com: "Eleven months after adopting stringent new rules aimed at reining in the federal deficit, the Senate last night shrugged off its pledge of fiscal rectitude and overwhelmingly approved a measure to spare millions of families from the growing reach of the alternative minimum tax without providing an offsetting tax increase."

Senate Waives Pledge, Approves Tax Bill - washingtonpost.com

Senate Waives Pledge, Approves Tax Bill - washingtonpost.com: "Eleven months after adopting stringent new rules aimed at reining in the federal deficit, the Senate last night shrugged off its pledge of fiscal rectitude and overwhelmingly approved a measure to spare millions of families from the growing reach of the alternative minimum tax without providing an offsetting tax increase."

Poll Finds Hispanics Returning to Earlier Preference for Democrats - New York Times

Poll Finds Hispanics Returning to Earlier Preference for Democrats - New York Times: "Gains made by Republicans among Hispanic voters in the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004 have been erased over the past year, with Hispanics returning to earlier levels of strong preference for the Democratic Party, a survey released yesterday by the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington shows."

Sutter trims Medi-Cal - sacbee.com

Sutter trims Medi-Cal - sacbee.com: "In a move that reflects growing frustration over insufficient state reimbursement for health care, Sutter Roseville Medical Center has severed its contract with Medi-Cal, California's insurance program for the poor and disabled."

Drug promotion out of the doctor's office and going online - USATODAY.com

Drug promotion out of the doctor's office and going online - USATODAY.com: "Seventy-five percent of sales calls these days don't involve a face-to-face meeting with a doctor, according to research by Leerink Swann & Co. Industry executives acknowledge increased demands on physician's time, including paperwork required by health insurers."

AdvaMed Calls for Permanent Extension of R & D Tax Credit and Uniformity in Implementation

AdvaMed Calls for Permanent Extension of R & D Tax Credit and Uniformity in Implementation: "AdvaMed joined a coalition of innovators and developers today to call on Congress to make permanent the research and development (R&D) tax credit that was first ratified in 1981, and to provide parity in the formulation used in determining the percentage of credit that companies receive. The tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of December 2007, provides much-needed assistance to companies engaged in R&D activities, which have increased 20 percent cumulatively each year since 1990. "

Patrick announces deal with China on medical device industry - Boston.com

Patrick announces deal with China on medical device industry - Boston.com: "Gov. Deval Patrick has announced a deal to boost collaboration between medical device manufacturers in Massachusetts and China. more stories like this"

Six-year high for venture capital - FT.com

Six-year high for venture capital - FT.com: "Venture capital investments are on track to reach more than $40bn this year, the highest level in six years, driven by booming start-up funding for emerging markets, 'clean' technology and medical devices, a report will say today."

As N.H. Primary Nears, Clinton Clings to Narrow Lead - washingtonpost.com

As N.H. Primary Nears, Clinton Clings to Narrow Lead - washingtonpost.com: "With New Hampshire voters set to go to the polls on Jan. 8, Clinton (N.Y.) got 35 percent in the new poll, with Obama (Ill.) close behind at 29 percent. Former senator John Edwards (N.C.) ran third with 17 percent and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was fourth at 10 percent. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio), Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) and Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) each registered 3 percent or less. "

States' wallets get thinner

States' wallets get thinner: "A slumping housing market and skimpier sales tax collections will force as many as 20 states to go back and patch holes in their budgets in 2008, the nation’s governors reported Wednesday (Dec. 5)."

Medtronic reveals records request - Star Tribune

Medtronic reveals records request - Star Tribune: "Medtronic Inc. said in a quarterly filing Tuesday that it received a letter in late October from the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania requesting documents relating to the Fridley company's relationship with an unnamed customer. The letter also asks for information regarding 'payments or things of value'' provided by the company to physicians, physician groups, hospitals, medical practices and other related entities in connection with the purchase of its cardiac resynchronization devices and heart stents."

Congress to send children's health bill to Bush - Yahoo! News

Congress to send children's health bill to Bush - Yahoo! News: "After waiting a month, Democratic leaders in Congress said on Friday they would formally send a bill expanding a popular children's health-care program to the White House despite a veto threat. "

Edwards Ad Attacks Drug Companies, Lobbyists - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog

Edwards Ad Attacks Drug Companies, Lobbyists - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog: "“You’re going to sit at a table with drug companies and oil companies and they’re going to give away their power? Right. You have to take their power away from them.”"

Losing Ground In Iowa, Clinton Assails Obama - washingtonpost.com

Losing Ground In Iowa, Clinton Assails Obama - washingtonpost.com: "With a new poll showing her losing ground in the Iowa caucus race, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) mounted a new, more aggressive attack against Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Sunday, raising direct questions about his character, challenging his integrity and forecasting a sharp debate over those subjects in the days ahead."

FDA Considers Easing Curbs on Drug Makers - washingtonpost.com

FDA Considers Easing Curbs on Drug Makers - washingtonpost.com: "The Food and Drug Administration is considering allowing pharmaceutical makers to provide doctors with medical journal studies of unapproved uses for drugs, a move critics say would undermine long-standing restrictions on marketing medicines for 'off-label' purposes. "

Case against Medtronic goes before Supreme Court - Dec. 3, 2007

Case against Medtronic goes before Supreme Court - Dec. 3, 2007: "The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a case that could have major implications for Medtronic Inc. and other makers of medical devices. . . . At issue is whether patients can sue makers of catheters and other devices through state tort law, when those devices have been approved by federal regulators. "