Some House lawmakers on Tuesday “seemed unimpressed” by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s report that was expected to make recommendations for overhauling the current Medicare physician payment formula, CQ HealthBeat reports (Armstrong, CQ HealthBeat, 3/6). [click link for full article]

Human genetic disorders have provided the main point of entry in our understanding of the kidney’s development and physiological function, and disease processes resutling from gene disruption now reveal important insights into kidney function, both in human and experimental models. This current intellectual terrain support the intersecting interests of nephrologists and geneticists and offers exciting prospects for both research fields. [click link for full article]

March/April issue, Health Affairs: The new issue of Health Affairs focuses on SCHIP and children’s health coverage, including reports on reauthorization of SCHIP, universal health coverage for children and children’s health at school (Health Affairs, November/December 2006). [click link for full article]

The oustanding and comprehensive scientific program of renal science has been developed to update on all aspects of basic clinical and laboratory research and clinical care of renal patients.The Opening Lecture - to be given by Richard P. [click link for full article]

Democrats this year are making “concerted efforts” to cut Medicare Advantage payment rates “as a way to finance other spending priorities,” such as fixing a scheduled 10% reduction in Medicare physician payments, CQ HealthBeat reports (Carey, CQ HealthBeat, 3/6). House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J. [click link for full article]

Flavonoids, a group of compounds found in fruits and vegetables that had been thought to be nutritionally important for their antioxidant activity, actually have little or no value in that role, according to an analysis by scientists in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. [click link for full article]

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has opened a new Phase I clinical trial testing an engineered measles virus against multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow that currently has no cure. This is the third of a series of molecular medicine studies in patients testing the potential of measles to kill cancer.cc”This is the beginning of a long but exciting process,” says Angela Dispenzieri, M.D. [click link for full article]

Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Tuesday said that he will propose increasing SCHIP funding by $50 billion over five years, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports. In a speech at the National Press Club, Baucus said that the reauthorization of SCHIP — which expires on Sept. [click link for full article]

The following highlights recent news of state actions on abortion-related legislation.Kentucky: The Senate on Thursday voted 31-3 to pass a bill (SB 80) that would require physicians to provide material about fetal pain and anesthesia to women seeking an abortion, the [click link for full article]

Nearly 80% of children treated at academic children’s hospitals receive at least one drug prescribed for an off-label use, according to a study published Tuesday in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The study, led by Samir Shah of the [click link for full article]