Senate Clears $162 Billion War-Funding Measure - WSJ.com

Senate Clears $162 Billion War-Funding Measure - WSJ.com: "An increase in Medicare payments for physicians failed to pass the Senate Thursday night, leaving a 10.6% funding reduction to take effect July 1. The Senate also put off action on a rescue plan for homeowners with troubled mortgages and an overhaul of the government's domestic-spying powers."

Senate Falls A Vote Short Of Moving On Medicare Pay Patch-Congress Daily

Senate Falls A Vote Short Of Moving On Medicare Pay PatchCongress Daily: "Senate Democrats Thursday came one vote shy of limiting debate on Medicare legislation that would have averted a Medicare physician pay cut set to take effect Tuesday."

Some In GOP Lament Lack Of Focus On Health Care As A Campaign Issue- Congress Daily

Some In GOP Lament Lack Of Focus On Health Care As A Campaign Issue-Congress Daily -As a coterie of first-term Republican senators wraps up an eight-week push to spotlight GOP proposals on healthcare in this election year, their effort has been largely drowned out by Republicans hoping to make energy a wedge issue against Democrats."

Drug Industry Boosts Lobbying - WSJ.com

Drug Industry Boosts Lobbying - WSJ.com: "WASHINGTON -- The pharmaceutical industry's spending on lobbying skyrocketed in 2007 as Democrats took control of Congress, according to a report by a Washington watchdog group."

CongressDaily - Fireworks Expected Before The Recess

CongressDaily - Fireworks Expected Before The Recess: "Over in the House, the chamber will take up an 18-month Medicare physician payment patch under suspension of the rules Tuesday, a bill based largely on legislation by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus."

Lawmakers try to remove tort shield - Politico.com

Lawmakers try to remove tort shield - Politico.com: "The well-heeled medical device industry lobby is attempting to quash legislation intended to protect consumers even before the bill has been introduced."

Writing New Prescriptions For Change - washingtonpost.com

Writing New Prescriptions For Change - washingtonpost.com: "From Capitol Hill to K Street, Washington is gearing up for another run at health-care reform."

Massachusetts Trumpets Life-Sciences Funding Bill - WSJ.com

Massachusetts Trumpets Life-Sciences Funding Bill - WSJ.com: "BOSTON -- Gov. Deval Patrick heads to California for an international biotechnology conference toting a new $1 billion life-sciences bill that he signed into law Monday."

Drugmakers to Wait on Advertising New Drugs-WSJ Health Blog

Drugmakers to Wait on Advertising New Drugs-WSJ Health Blog: "Drugmakers called before Congress to explain their direct-to-consumer ads have agreed to wait six months before advertising newly approved drugs to the general public."

FDA goes digital for faster "Dear Doctor" letters - AMNews

FDA goes digital for faster "Dear Doctor" letters - AMNews: "Assuming that physicians would rather not be the last to know that a drug or a device they prescribe or use carries previously undetected dangers, the Food and Drug Administration, the AMA, physician specialty groups, drug and device manufacturers and liability insurers are promoting a new early-warning system that moves doctors ahead in the queue."

FDA: UDI Likely Delayed Until After Election

FDA: UDI Likely Delayed Until After Election: "Devicemakers will see more delays to a proposed rule on a unique device identification (UDI) system — probably until after the presidential election, an FDA official says."

Obama and McCain: two sides of the coin - Los Angeles Times

Obama and McCain: two sides of the coin - Los Angeles Times: "As the faltering economy has catapulted to the top of the presidential campaign agenda, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have both said they want to make healthcare more affordable, cut taxes and adopt a new energy strategy. But they have laid out far different paths to achieving these goals."

Letters - Doctors, Research and Drug Payments - Letter - NYTimes.com

Letters - Doctors, Research and Drug Payments - Letter - NYTimes.com: OPINION: "While it is good news that there is a bill introduced in the Senate that would require “drug and device makers” to disclose payments to doctors that exceed $500 annually, such disclosure should also be easily accessible to parents and other consumers.While it is good news that there is a bill introduced in the Senate that would require “drug and device makers” to disclose payments to doctors that exceed $500 annually, such disclosure should also be easily accessible to parents and other consumers."

Gingrich suggests insurance mandate for those who can afford - JournalStar.com

Gingrich suggests insurance mandate for those who can afford - JournalStar.com: "Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Wednesday outlined his strategy to combat rising health care costs — a plan of attack that includes insurance mandates for people who earn more than $75,000 a year.Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Wednesday outlined his strategy to combat rising health care costs — a plan of attack that includes insurance mandates for people who earn more than $75,000 a year."

Specter Says Bush Administration Is Hindering Quick FDA Funding - WSJ.com

Specter Says Bush Administration Is Hindering Quick FDA Funding - WSJ.com: "WASHINGTON -- Sen. Arlen Specter said the Bush administration is 'drastically hindering' the Food and Drug Administration's ability to quickly get an important boost in funding."

Bill on Medicare Payments To Doctors Stalls in Senate - WSJ.com

Bill on Medicare Payments To Doctors Stalls in Senate - WSJ.com: "A bill aimed at preventing a 10.6% cut in the Medicare fees paid to doctors fell short of the votes needed to move forward in the Senate, sending the issue back for further negotiation between Republicans and Democrats."

Medical Fraud a Growing Problem - washingtonpost.com

Medical Fraud a Growing Problem - washingtonpost.com: "Officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees federally funded health programs, say they have stepped up their efforts to combat fraud over the past year by working closely with investigators, removing the requisite billing numbers of nearly 900 companies and imposing new standards in high-fraud areas that would prevent people convicted of felonies from ever receiving a Medicare number."

Obama Aide Quits Under Fire for His Business Ties - NYTimes.com

Obama Aide Quits Under Fire for His Business Ties - NYTimes.com: "CHICAGO — James A. Johnson, the consummate Washington insider whom Senator Barack Obama tapped to head his vice-presidential search effort, resigned abruptly on Wednesday to try to silence a growing furor over his business activities."

Obama Aide Quits Under Fire for His Business Ties - NYTimes.com

Obama Aide Quits Under Fire for His Business Ties - NYTimes.com: "CHICAGO — James A. Johnson, the consummate Washington insider whom Senator Barack Obama tapped to head his vice-presidential search effort, resigned abruptly on Wednesday to try to silence a growing furor over his business activities."

Chemical Law Has Global Impact - washingtonpost.com

Chemical Law Has Global Impact - washingtonpost.com: "Europe this month rolled out new restrictions on makers of chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems, changes that are forcing U.S. industries to find new ways to produce a wide range of everyday products."

CongressDaily - Hoyer Vows: No Offsets, No Extenders

CongressDaily - Hoyer Vows: No Offsets, No Extenders: "House Majority Leader Hoyer Tuesday vowed that Congress would not pass extensions of expiring tax breaks important to the business community this year unless they are offset with revenue-raising provisions. 'The extender bill is not going to pass unless it's paid for,' Hoyer said in a brief interview. When asked if he would make a similar pledge regarding the $62 billion cost of preventing the alternative minimum tax from hitting 21 million more taxpayers, Hoyer demurred. 'The extender bill is not going to pass if it's not paid-for,' he repeated."

CongressDaily - Hoyer Vows: No Offsets, No Extenders

CongressDaily - Hoyer Vows: No Offsets, No Extenders: "House Majority Leader Hoyer Tuesday vowed that Congress would not pass extensions of expiring tax breaks important to the business community this year unless they are offset with revenue-raising provisions. 'The extender bill is not going to pass unless it's paid for,' Hoyer said in a brief interview. When asked if he would make a similar pledge regarding the $62 billion cost of preventing the alternative minimum tax from hitting 21 million more taxpayers, Hoyer demurred. 'The extender bill is not going to pass if it's not paid-for,' he repeated."

TheHill.com - Healthcare lobbies limber up for Senate Medicare fight

TheHill.com - Healthcare lobbies limber up for Senate Medicare fight: "Physicians look to be the biggest winners and HMOs the biggest losers in the Senate Democratic Medicare package headed to the floor this week, but the legislation contains enough to keep healthcare lobbyists of all stripes plenty busy."

McCain vs Obama on taxes - Fact Checker

McCain vs Obama on taxes - Fact Checker: "There are significant differences between the two candidaes on tax policy. McCain would like to make the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 permanent, and has proposed a few more of his own. Obama, by contrast, favors allowing the tax cuts to expire as scheduled for Americans earning more than $250,000 a year. He would raise taxes on capital gains and dividends, but has also promised tax breaks for low and middle-income Americans."

Congress Presses FDA on Investigations - WSJ.com

Congress Presses FDA on Investigations - WSJ.com: "WASHINGTON -- The criminal-investigations wing of the Food and Drug Administration is in hot water with Democrats and Republicans in both the Senate and the House."

Kaiser Backs Microsoft Patient-Data Plan - NYTimes.com

Kaiser Backs Microsoft Patient-Data Plan - NYTimes.com: "Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest nonprofit health maintenance organization, is endorsing the drive toward consumer-controlled personal health records in a partnership with Microsoft."

FDA Asks for $275 Million To Aid in Drug Inspections - WSJ.com

FDA Asks for $275 Million To Aid in Drug Inspections - WSJ.com: "Under heavy pressure from recent recalls of imported drugs and other products, the Food and Drug Administration formally requested $275 million from Congress to help pay for more inspections."

Researchers Fail to Reveal Full Drug Pay - NYTimes.com

Researchers Fail to Reveal Full Drug Pay - NYTimes.com: "world-renowned Harvard child psychiatrist whose work has helped fuel an explosion in the use of powerful antipsychotic medicines in children earned at least $1.6 million in consulting fees from drug makers from 2000 to 2007 but for years did not report much of this income to university officials, according to information given Congressional investigators."

Concerned About Costs, Congress Pushes Curbs on Doctor-Owned Hospitals - NYTimes.com

Concerned About Costs, Congress Pushes Curbs on Doctor-Owned Hospitals - NYTimes.com: "WASHINGTON — For years, Democrats have been trying to stop the proliferation of doctor-owned hospitals, in the belief that they drive up costs by encouraging doctors to order more procedures."

Harvard Researchers Fail To Report Drug Payments - WSJ.com

Harvard Researchers Fail To Report Drug Payments - WSJ.com: "Three prominent Harvard University psychiatrists underreported payments they received from drug makers, a situation that highlights the need for a national reporting system of pharmaceutical company payments to physicians, according to Sen. Charles Grassley."

Study questions value of ICU physicians with special training

Study questions value of ICU physicians with special training: "Patients managed by critical care physicians were at greater risk of dying than patients managed by doctors who lacked that training, according to researchers who examined data from 123 intensive care units around the nation."

Clinton to Suspend Campaign Saturday - washingtonpost.com

Clinton to Suspend Campaign Saturday - washingtonpost.com: "Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will suspend her presidential campaign on Saturday and endorse Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, after a day in which many of her key supporters and party leaders encouraged the senator from New York to make a quick decision in the interest of party unity."

Strategy Was Based On Winning Delegates, Not Battlegrounds - washingtonpost.com

Strategy Was Based On Winning Delegates, Not Battlegrounds - washingtonpost.com: "Almost from the beginning, Hillary Rodham Clinton's superior name recognition and her sway with state party organizations convinced Barack Obama's brain trust that a junior senator from Illinois was not going to be able to challenge the Clinton political machine head-on."

News Analysis - Next on Agenda Is Clinton’s Role - News Analysis - NYTimes.com

News Analysis - Next on Agenda Is Clinton’s Role - News Analysis - NYTimes.com: "Senator Barack Obama heads into the general election with obvious advantages: He is a Democratic candidate running in a sour atmosphere for Republicans, in a contest where voters are hungry for change and coming out of a campaign in which he filled arena after arena with supporters."

Obama Clinches Nomination, Capping Historic, Bitter Contest - WSJ.com

Obama Clinches Nomination, Capping Historic, Bitter Contest - WSJ.com: "WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama captured enough convention delegates Tuesday to make a historic claim to the Democratic presidential nomination, the first African-American to earn a major party's nod."

Study Finds State Gains in Insurance - NYTimes.com

Study Finds State Gains in Insurance - NYTimes.com: "Massachusetts reduced its proportion of uninsured adults by nearly half in the first year of mandatory health coverage and made gains in the share of people receiving routine preventive care, according to the first major study of the 2006 law."

Baucus' Staff Outlines Medicare Package To Stakeholders-National Journal's Congress Daily

Baucus' Staff Outlines Medicare Package To Stakeholders-National Journal's Congress Daily: "The Senate Finance Committee's Democratic staff met with physician specialty groups Monday to outline a legislative package Finance Chairman Max Baucus wants to bring to the floor next week that is aimed at stopping a Medicare physician pay cut and instituting a 0.5 percent physicians' payment increase for next year."

Survey of Medical Schools Is Critical of Perks - NYTimes.com

Survey of Medical Schools Is Critical of Perks - NYTimes.com: "Most medical schools in the United States fail to police adequately the money, gifts and free drug samples that pharmaceutical companies routinely shower on doctors and trainees, according to a ranking by the American Medical Student Association."

Medicare Payments to Doctors May Hinge on Electronic Prescribing-WSJ Health Blog

Medicare Payments to Doctors May Hinge on Electronic Prescribing-WSJ Health Blog: "Congress is already bracing for an epic health-reform debate after a new president takes office. But lawmakers–and lobbyists–still have a big piece of unfinished health business for this year: paying doctors."

Obama Is Poised To Clinch Victory - washingtonpost.com

Obama Is Poised To Clinch Victory - washingtonpost.com: "TROY, Mich., June 2 -- On the eve of the final two primaries of a five-month marathon, Sen. Barack Obama stood poised to wrap up the Democratic presidential nomination, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton weighed whether to stay in the race in hopes of delaying what appears to be an inevitable outcome."

Clinton Wins Easily in Puerto Rico - washingtonpost.com

Clinton Wins Easily in Puerto Rico - washingtonpost.com: "SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 1 -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) won the Puerto Rico primary comfortably on Sunday, claiming perhaps her last triumph in the race for a Democratic presidential nomination that increasingly appears to be out of her reach."

Bush Administration Threatens To Veto Any Legislation That Includes Medicare Advantage Plan Cuts - Kaisernetwork.org

Bush Administration Threatens To Veto Any Legislation That Includes Medicare Advantage Plan Cuts - Kaisernetwork.org: "Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) last week said he will move forward with a Medicare package developed by Democrats that likely will be opposed by Republicans and the Bush administration."

Clinton Wins Easily in Puerto Rico - washingtonpost.com

Clinton Wins Easily in Puerto Rico - washingtonpost.com: "In a telephone interview with The Washington Post after her victory by a 2 to 1 ratio over Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), Clinton stressed that she will press forward through the final contests of the primary season on Tuesday, brushed aside the idea that she was searching for an exit strategy, and said she will continue to weigh both her immediate- and longer-term options in the race."