FDA May Need Major Overhaul - washingtonpost.com

FDA May Need Major Overhaul - washingtonpost.com: "The Obama administration will inherit a Food and Drug Administration widely seen as struggling to protect Americans from unsafe medication, contaminated food and a flood of questionable imports from China and other countries."

Slow response to Dem's health plans- Politico.com

Slow response to Dem's health plans- Politico.com: "Congressional Republicans are in disarray over how to handle the Democrats’ aggressive push for universal health care next year — a far cry from the machine that brought down President Bill Clinton’s health care reform plan in the early 1990s."

Research Center Tied to Drug Company - NYTimes.com

Research Center Tied to Drug Company - NYTimes.com: "E-mail messages and internal documents from Johnson & Johnson made public in a court filing reveal that Dr. Biederman pushed the company to finance a research center at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, with a goal to “move forward the commercial goals of J.& J.”"

Health-Care Revamp Has Wings - WSJ.com

Health-Care Revamp Has Wings - WSJ.com: "The effort to overhaul the nation's health system will begin next year with one clear advantage over previous attempts: A wide variety of interest groups are rooting for it to succeed rather than plotting to kill it."

Conflicts of Interest May Ensnare Journalists, Too - NYTimes.com

Conflicts of Interest May Ensnare Journalists, Too - NYTimes.com: "Health reporters may become entangled in the same kinds of ethical conflicts they often expose when accepting industry-sponsored awards and relying on corporate public relations offices, three researchers warn."

Radio Host Has Drug Company Ties - NYTimes.com

Radio Host Has Drug Company Ties - NYTimes.com: "An influential psychiatrist who was the host of the popular public radio program “The Infinite Mind” earned at least $1.3 million from 2000 to 2007 giving marketing lectures for drugmakers, income not mentioned on the program."

Obama’s Pick of Daschle May Test Conflict-of-Interest Pledge - NYTimes.com

Obama’s Pick of Daschle May Test Conflict-of-Interest Pledge - NYTimes.com: "WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama’s selection of former Senator Tom Daschle for secretary of health and human services posed new questions on Wednesday about how broadly the new administration would apply Mr. Obama’s campaign promises to limit potential conflicts of interest among his appointees."

Thomas Daschle to Be Nominated as Secretary of Health and Human Services - washingtonpost.com

Thomas Daschle to Be Nominated as Secretary of Health and Human Services - washingtonpost.com: "Thomas A. Daschle, a former Senate majority leader and a confidant of President-elect Barack Obama, will be nominated as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and will take on a broader role as the administration's health policy chief, said several sources close to the transition process."

F.D.A. Scientists Accuse Agency Officials of Misconduct - NYTimes.com

F.D.A. Scientists Accuse Agency Officials of Misconduct - NYTimes.com: "Top federal health officials engaged in “serious misconduct” by ignoring concerns of scientists at the Food and Drug Administration and approving for sale unsafe or ineffective medical devices, the scientists have written in a letter to Congress."

Kennedy Says That He Will Introduce Senate Bill for Universal Health Care - washingtonpost.com

Kennedy Says That He Will Introduce Senate Bill for Universal Health Care - washingtonpost.com: "Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), making his second appearance on Capitol Hill since he began treatment for a malignant brain tumor in June, told reporters yesterday that he would advance a bill early next year calling for universal health care."

OPINION: Lobbyists are good people, too - Washington Times

OPINION: Lobbyists are good people, too - Washington Times: "Shocking news in this season of lobbyist bashing - many lobbyists not only are good people but also represent real people. And even more shocking news: Without lobbyists, government could not function efficiently, and perhaps not at all, going all the way back to George Washington."

Nation's Economic Crisis Forces Democrats to Focus More Intensely on Creating Jobs - washingtonpost.com

Nation's Economic Crisis Forces Democrats to Focus More Intensely on Creating Jobs - washingtonpost.com: "Even Democratic plans to expand health coverage are being billed as job-creation measures. The thinking is that universal coverage will lower health-care costs and make companies more willing to hire, as well as create new health-care jobs."

Call to overhaul health care renewed -- chicagotribune.com

Call to overhaul health care renewed -- chicagotribune.com: "The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee intends to push Congress to overhaul the nation's health-care system during the first six months of next year."

Senator Takes Initiative on Health Care - NYTimes.com

Senator Takes Initiative on Health Care - NYTimes.com: "Without waiting for President-elect Barack Obama, Senator Max Baucus, the chairman of the Finance Committee, will unveil a detailed blueprint on Wednesday to guarantee health insurance for all Americans by facilitating sales of private insurance, expanding Medicaid and Medicare, and requiring most employers to provide or pay for health benefits."

Medicare, Medicaid Deficits Loom Over Health Priorities - WSJ.com

Medicare, Medicaid Deficits Loom Over Health Priorities - WSJ.com: "Health care played a big role in the presidential campaign. But the administration will face a tough choice: try for a wide-ranging systematic overhaul -- an approach that failed when President Bill Clinton tried it in 1993 -- or make do with piecemeal fixes."

New FDA Leaders Could Be Tougher on Drug Makers - WSJ.com

New FDA Leaders Could Be Tougher on Drug Makers - WSJ.com: "The Food and Drug Administration has come under fire in the past year over a host of recalls of tainted produce, unsafe imported foods and drugs, and brand-name medicines that produced dangerous side effects. Now the agency will get new leadership that is likely to be tougher on drug makers on a range of issues from approving new drugs to policing advertising directed at consumers."

Obama Team Shifts to Transition Mode - washingtonpost.com

Obama Team Shifts to Transition Mode - washingtonpost.com: "A day after winning a historic victory that will make him the first black president in the nation's history, Barack Obama remained largely out of public view yesterday while his aides announced the first details of an ambitious plan for the transfer of power when he assumes office in January."

Court weighs amputee's case, limits on drug suits - Boston.com

Court weighs amputee's case, limits on drug suits - Boston.com: "A Vermont musician who lost her arm because of a botched drug injection is squaring off against a drug maker and the Bush administration in one of the most closely watched business cases of the Supreme Court's term. At issue is whether the federal government can limit lawsuits by consumers like Diana Levine who have been harmed by prescription medications."