Grassley bill seeks transparency with imaging self-referrals - HealthImaging.com

Grassley bill seeks transparency with imaging self-referrals - HealthImaging.com: "Sen. Charles Grassley from Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, introduced legislation on July 25, which would amend the Stark Law, requiring physicians to disclose their financial interest in certain imaging services provided through the in-office ancillary exception."

Counting SCHIP votes - The Hill.com

Counting SCHIP votes - The Hill.com: "The long-stalled State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill that was vetoed by President Bush is likely to be back on the House floor in the fall." Why should we care? Because this bill is a potential vehicle for physician gift transparency and comparative effectiveness measures.

Bid to Halt Medi-Cal Cuts Rejected - WSJ.com

Bid to Halt Medi-Cal Cuts Rejected - WSJ.com: "LOS ANGELES -- A state court rejected a request by a coalition of California hospitals, doctors and other health-care providers to block a 10% cutback in payments to them for treating the poor who are covered by Medi-Cal, a joint federal and state program. The reductions took effect July 1."

Trade Groups Question Premier’s New Device Requirements

Trade Groups Question Premier’s New Device Requirements: "Devicemakers contracting with Premier healthcare alliance will have to incorporate GS1 Healthcare US supply chain standards in their contracts.
The group purchasing organization announced last week that it will require the standards in its contracts to help improve patient safety. But industry representatives counter that the standards are more focused on supply chain management."

The Evidence Gap - Experts Seek a Data Safety Net for Joint Replacements - NYTimes.com

The Evidence Gap - Experts Seek a Data Safety Net for Joint Replacements - NYTimes.com: "If . .. . patients lived in other countries where artificial joints were tracked by national databases — including Australia, Britain, Norway and Sweden — many might have been spared that risk. And Zimmer might have suspended sales of the cup months ago."

Abbott Says It Received Subpoena in U.S. Probe of Stent Sales - Bloomberg.com

Abbott Says It Received Subpoena in U.S. Probe of Stent Sales - Bloomberg.com: "Abbott Laboratories said it was subpoenaed last month by the U.S. Justice Department in connection with the sales and marketing of bile-duct stents. . . . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned about illegal sales of stents when it met in March 2007 with the companies that make the devices, among them Boston Scientific Corp., Alveolus Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. Boston Scientific, based in Natick, Massachusetts said in February the Justice Department was investigating whether the company and other suppliers were illegally promoting the devices for unapproved uses. "

Report: Drug companies that promote unapproved uses face little risk of getting caught

Report: Drug companies that promote unapproved uses face little risk of getting caught: "When federal regulators catch a drug company peddling prescription medications for an unapproved use, it takes them an average of seven months to issue a warning, according to a draft report by congressional investigators. It typically takes four more months for the company to fix the problem. During that time, a lot prescriptions can be written."