For big surgery, Delhi is dealing -- chicagotribune.com

For big surgery, Delhi is dealing -- chicagotribune.com: "The number of Americans heading abroad for medical procedures is surging as the country's 46 million people without health insurance look for treatment they can afford and cash-strapped U.S. companies struggle to find cheaper ways to provide high-quality medical care to their employees, according to the American Medical Association."

States Are Hit Hard by Economic Downturn - washingtonpost.com

States Are Hit Hard by Economic Downturn - washingtonpost.com: "State budgets have been hit hard by a worsening national economy, including rising costs for energy and health care. In addition, fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis -- declining home sales, deflated property values and mounting foreclosures -- has caused a slide in states' anticipated tax receipts. Revenue from property taxes, sales taxes and real estate transfer taxes is affected."

Politics - State ignores law requiring annual Medi-Cal payment studies - sacbee.com

Politics - State ignores law requiring annual Medi-Cal payment studies - sacbee.com: "When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers agreed last month to cut 10 percent from what the state pays Medi-Cal doctors, they did so without knowing how it might further limit services to the poor."

FDA `May Fail' Without More Funds, Agency Chief Says - Bloomberg

FDA `May Fail' Without More Funds, Agency Chief Says - Bloomberg: "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ability to protect Americans' health is at risk, the agency's commissioner said, citing increasing responsibilities and funding that hasn't kept pace."

McCain stresses cooperation in L.A. speech on foreign policy - Los Angeles Times

McCain stresses cooperation in L.A. speech on foreign policy - Los Angeles Times: "Sen. John McCain, carefully distancing himself from President Bush and seeking to sound a moderate tone, called Wednesday for stronger ties with allies and cautioned that American power 'does not mean we can do whatever we want, whenever we want.'"

Do Deadlines Lead to Faulty Decisions on Drugs at FDA?-WSJ Health Blog

Do Deadlines Lead to Faulty Decisions on Drugs at FDA?-WSJ Health Blog: "FDA has deadlines for how fast it’s supposed to respond to applications for new drugs. But those deadlines may be pushing the agency to make hasty decisions, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests."

Amid Worries, Angioplasty Declines- WSJ Health Blog

Amid Worries, Angioplasty Decline-WSJ Health Blog: "A wave of studies suggesting doctors may have been overzealous in their use of angioplasty and stents looks to be having an impact: The number of angioplasty procedures performed annually declined by 10% to 15% over the past two years, according to an analysis commissioned by USA Today."

Political Pendulum Swings Toward Stricter Regulation - WSJ.com

Political Pendulum Swings Toward Stricter Regulation - WSJ.com: "The idea that less regulation is better for the economy has held sway in Washington since the Reagan administration. Now that consensus is crumbling, posing a potentially costly challenge to business no matter who wins the White House in November."

New Focus of Inquiry Into Bribes: Doctors - New York Times

New Focus of Inquiry Into Bribes: Doctors - New York Times: "A long-running federal investigation into the orthopedic device industry’s suspected kickback payments to hip and knee surgeons now has the doctors in the spotlight."

COMMENTARY: Five myths of health care - The Washington Times

COMMENTARY: Five myths of health care - The Washington Times: In this op-ed, the CEO of the Pacific Research Institute debunks the five most prominent health-care myths: (1) Forty-seven million Americans do not have health insurance. (2) Universal health-care coverage can be achieved via "individual mandate." (3) Expensive prescription drugs are a big reason health-care costs increase. (4) Drug importation will save patients a fortune. (5) The state-run health-care systems in Canada and Europe are better and cheaper than America's.

Device makers pump up lobbying - TwinCities.com

Device makers pump up lobbying - TwinCities.com: "As a group, medical supply companies spent more than $28 million on lobbying during 2007 — and not all records are in yet — surpassing the 2006 total of $26.5 million, according to U.S. Senate records tabulated by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Responsive Politics. . . . Stephen Ubl, president of AdvaMed, a Washington-based trade group for medical device companies, said it has been necessary for manufacturers to spend more on lobbyists to monitor such things as reimbursement issues at the agency that runs Medicare, and a key piece of 2007 legislation that governs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the user fees that device companies pay the agency. . . .Ubl noted that a growing number of medical device companies have opened lobbying offices in Washington, D.C., in recent years, and those with existing offices have dedicated more resources to them. "The world in which we're operating is more complicated, and there are more (federal) issues we're working on. So, you need the expertise," he said. "

Small Donors Take Big Role in Election - WSJ.com

Small Donors Take Big Role in Election - WSJ.com: "The recent flood of Internet donations that has helped pump 2008 presidential campaign coffers to highs also is accomplishing what Watergate-era campaign-finance regulations set out to do: dilute the influence of special interests and wealthy donors."

California hospitals fined for serious errors

California hospitals fined for serious errors: "The state Department of Public Health has fined 11 California hospitals for potentially life-threatening violations, including UC San Francisco and two other Bay Area centers."

Richardson Endorses Obama - New York Times

Richardson Endorses Obama - New York Times: "Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, who sought to become the nation’s first Hispanic president this year, plans to endorse Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination on Friday at a campaign event in Oregon."

Michigan Ends Revote Bid - washingtonpost.com

Michigan Ends Revote Bid - washingtonpost.com: "The effort to schedule a June revote for the Michigan Democratic primary collapsed yesterday, dealing a potentially serious blow to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for the White House."

Ethics plan call for medical companies - National - theage.com.au

Ethics plan call for medical companies - theage.com.au: "The Australian Government is considering a plan to crack down on medical technology companies that pay kickbacks to surgeons in return for greater use of their products. . . . The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Jan McLucas, said she would consider the association's request to force all companies applying for a licence to distribute implants to sign up to a code of conduct."

Countering the Drug Salesmen - New York Times

Countering the Drug Salesmen - New York Times: "Senators Herb Kohl, Democrat of Wisconsin, and Richard Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, are planning to introduce legislation that would authorize federal grants to prepare educational materials and train health professionals to conduct visits to prescribing physicians. Their hope is that the program would pay for itself by lowering drug costs to federal programs."

Tainted Drugs Put Focus on the F.D.A. - New York Times

Tainted Drugs Put Focus on the F.D.A. - New York Times: "WASHINGTON — After a contaminated medicine from China was linked to as many as 17 deaths in the United States, members of Congress clamored for changes while regulators defended their actions."

FDA Issues 'Approvable Letter' For Boston Scientific Stent - WSJ.com

FDA Issues 'Approvable Letter' For Boston Scientific Stent - WSJ.com: "March 18, 2008 1:43 p.m.

Boston Scientific Corp. now has a Food and Drug Administration 'approvable letter' for its Taxus Liberte drug-coated stent heart device, which has long been held back from the U.S. market by company regulatory issues, an official said Tuesday."

FDA Notes Medtronic Device Deaths - WSJ.com

FDA Notes Medtronic Device Deaths - WSJ.com: "WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration said it saw a higher death rate after five years among patients treated for abdominal aortic aneurysms with a Medtronic Inc. device than among those treated through conventional surgery."

Health Blog-WSJ : Heparin Likely Cut With Cheap Counterfeit Ingredient

Health Blog-WSJ : Heparin Likely Cut With Cheap Counterfeit Ingredient: "More details may are coming into focus on the contaminated blood thinner that has been linked to hundreds of serious problems and 19 deaths. Citing interviews with researchers in the U.S. and China, the New York Times reports that the contaminant was likely made in China from animal cartilage, chemically altered to act like heparin, and added intentionally to batches of the drug’s active ingredient."

FDA Orders Heparin Shipments To Be Tested at the U.S. Border - WSJ.com

FDA Orders Heparin Shipments To Be Tested at the U.S. Border - WSJ.com: "WASHINGTON -- Food and Drug Administration officials said Friday that all shipments of heparin and active ingredients to make the blood thinner will be stopped at the U.S. border to test for contaminants, if drug makers haven't already done so."

Tainted Drugs Put Focus on the F.D.A. - New York Times

Tainted Drugs Put Focus on the F.D.A. - New York Times: "WASHINGTON — After a contaminated medicine from China was linked to as many as 17 deaths in the United States, members of Congress clamored for changes while regulators defended their actions."

House and Senate Pass Budget Plans - New York Times

House and Senate Pass Budget Plans - New York Times: "WASHINGTON — The House passed a $3 trillion Democratic spending plan Thursday, and the Senate followed suit early Friday as Congress engaged in a day of budget theater that had as much to do with the political bottom line as federal fiscal policy."

More Americans Trust Democrats On U.S. Health Reform, Poll Finds - WSJ.com

More Americans Trust Democrats On U.S. Health Reform, Poll Finds - WSJ.com: "Americans are split on whether they can count on Democrats to improve U.S. health care, a new poll shows, with 45% saying they trust Democrats and 44% saying they do not. By comparison, a solid majority of 63% don't trust Republican to lead health reform, compared with 25% saying they do."

Health Blog WSJ : Medicare Will Keep Covering CT Heart Scans After All

Health Blog WSJ : Medicare Will Keep Covering CT Heart Scans After All: "High-tech scans are one of the fastest growing areas of health-care spending, and the feds have been trying for a while to figure out how to slow the growth. But Medicare just gave up on one cost-control measure."

Capitol Weekly: The Newspaper of California State Government and Politics

Capitol Weekly: The Newspaper of California State Government and Politics: "When a Senate committee killed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ambitious health care proposal, it was the culmination of months of debate, hearings and political arm-twisting in a myriad of backroom meetings — a clash of Sacramento’s most powerful interests. California’s eyes were on the Capitol"

New Guidelines Ahead of Ashcroft Testimony - New York Times

New Guidelines Ahead of Ashcroft Testimony - New York Times: "The Justice Department announced guidelines Monday to prevent the sort of conflict-of-interest accusations that followed its decision to steer a private contract worth tens of millions of dollars to former Attorney General John Ashcroft to monitor a large out-of-court settlement."

Obama Is Victorious in Mississippi - washingtonpost.com

Obama Is Victorious in Mississippi - washingtonpost.com: "Sen. Barack Obama won the Mississippi Democratic presidential primary decisively last night, adding to his overall lead in delegates as he and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton plunged into a six-week battle ahead of a showdown in Pennsylvania."

The Early Word: Mississippi, Youre Up - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog

The Early Word: Mississippi, Youre Up - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog: "It’s primary day in Mississippi — and none of the candidates are there. Talk about the election down in the Magnolia State seems to be taking a backseat to the Eliot Spitzer story, but it’s the last vote before the big contest in Pennsylvania six weeks from now (and where the Democrats are today)."

Obama Rejects Idea of Back Seat on Ticket - New York Times

Obama Rejects Idea of Back Seat on Ticket - New York Times: "At first, the suggestion was a quiet one, raised by their supporters. Soon, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, lent credence to the idea, telling voters in Mississippi and beyond that Senator Barack Obama would make a fine partner — most likely as No. 2 — on the Democratic ticket."

Obama trounces Clinton in Wyoming - Los Angeles Times

Obama trounces Clinton in Wyoming - Los Angeles Times: "CHEYENNE, WYO -- . -- In a sparsely populated state that unexpectedly found itself at the center of the Democratic political universe this week, Sen. Barack Obama handily beat Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in caucuses Saturday. The victory gave a psychological lift to a campaign that had had an uncharacteristically difficult week."

German Firm Recalls Heparin With China Link - WSJ.com

German Firm Recalls Heparin With China Link - WSJ.com: "A German company is recalling some batches of the blood thinner heparin that were made using an active ingredient from China, broadening the scope of safety worries about the widely used drug."

Health Blog WSJ : Bill Curbing Drug Makers' Gifts to Docs Stalls in Conn.

Health Blog WSJ : Bill Curbing Drug Makers' Gifts to Docs Stalls in Conn.: "Connecticut’s Attorney General has been pushing bills that would put tighter rules on financial ties between doctors and the drug industry. But the idea isn’t making much headway in the state legislature, irking the editorial page of the Hartford Courant. The paper called on lawmakers to get cracking and “pass legislation to force disclosure and limitations on drug company gratuities to physicians,” saying that state “residents’ health might depend on it.”"

Michigan and Florida Have Democrats in a State - washingtonpost.com

Michigan and Florida Have Democrats in a State - washingtonpost.com: "As Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama competed through more than 40 contests over the past two months, Michigan and Florida remained on the sidelines, barred from participating in the Democratic presidential nomination process because they violated party rules. Now, with neither candidate likely to win enough delegates to capture the nomination, the question is whether the two states will end up deciding the race by holding do-over contests this spring."

Health Blog : FDA Decisions On Drug Approval Could Start Slipping

Health Blog : FDA Decisions On Drug Approval Could Start Slipping: "Ever since the drug industry started funding the FDA’s review of drugs for approval, the agency’s been pretty diligent about responding to applicants on schedule. But there are signs the agency may soon start slipping, the In Vivo blog reports this morning."

Health Blog-WSJ : Clinton Is Beating Obama on Health Care

Health Blog-WSJ : Clinton Is Beating Obama on Health Care: "Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are locked in a long fight over the wonky details of their health care plans. Clinton’s winning."

Concerns over drugs prompt investigation of FDA review process -- chicagotribune.com

Concerns over drugs prompt investigation of FDA review process -- chicagotribune.com: "The government's watchdog agency is investigating whether the Food and Drug Administration's drug-review process cleared two blockbuster medications without sufficient proof of their safety or effectiveness. Sen. Charles Grassley said Tuesday the Government Accountability Office has agreed to study a much-debated method for approving drugs used to clear GlaxoSmithKline PLC's diabetes pill Avandia and Merck & Co. Inc. and Schering-Plough's cholesterol drug Vytorin."

McCain Clinches GOP Presidential Nomination - washingtonpost.com

McCain Clinches GOP Presidential Nomination - washingtonpost.com: "Sen. John McCain clinched the Republican presidential nomination last night, and immediately castigated his potential Democratic rivals as liberals who lack the experience and wisdom to lead a country facing economic distress at home and engaged in war abroad."

Clinton Beats Obama in Texas and Ohio; McCain Clinches Republican Nomination - washingtonpost.com

Clinton Beats Obama in Texas and Ohio; McCain Clinches Republican Nomination - washingtonpost.com: "Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won critically important victories in Ohio and Texas last night, defying predictions of an imminent end to her presidential candidacy and extending the remarkable contest for the Democratic nomination to Pennsylvania's April primary and perhaps well into the summer."

Ban on gifts to doctors sought - The Boston Globe

Ban on gifts to doctors sought - The Boston Globe: "Senate President Therese Murray proposed a total ban on all gifts and freebies to doctors from pharmaceutical companies, a move that would make Massachusetts the first state in the country to ban such gifts outright."

Obama, Clinton In Key Face-Off - washingtonpost.com

Obama, Clinton In Key Face-Off - washingtonpost.com: "BEAUMONT, Tex., March 3 -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton vowed to press on in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination after critical primary tests in Ohio and Texas on Tuesday, even as advisers to Sen. Barack Obama said the latest round of voting would do little to improve her standing in a race in which she has been dealt setback after setback."