Just the Facts, and Keep it Brief!
Many of my readers are looking for an answer to a specific question, and don’t necessarily want all of the information on a subject. I understand that you’re busy, and…
October 11, 2007
Health Insurers Say They Are Addressing Problems With Medicare Advantage Plans In Response To Deficiencies Cited By CMS Audits
Health insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage plans that were found by CMS audits to have violated Medicare marketing standards on Tuesday said that they were working to fix the problems and that they would provide better services to beneficiaries, the New York Times reports. [click link for full article]
Children Living With HIV/AIDS In Uganda Not Adequately Covered Under Antiretroviral Treatment Program, Health Minister Says
Children living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda have not been adequately covered by the country’s antiretroviral treatment program, and increased efforts should be made to provide them with improved care and treatment, State Minister of Health Emmanuel Otaala said recently, Uganda’s Daily Monitor reports. [click link for full article]
Gates Foundation Launches $100M, 5-Year Program To Provide Global Health Research Grants
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday in Cape Town, South Africa, launched a $100 million, five-year program aimed at providing small grants to “nurture unorthodox approaches to global health,” the Wall Street Journal reports. The program, called the [click link for full article]
Johnson & Johnson Withdraws Cough And Cold Drugs For Babies
McNeil Consumer Healthcare, part of Johnson & Johnson, is voluntarily withdrawing some cough and cold OTC (over-the-counter, non-prescription) drugs for infants. The company states that while these drugs are safe and effective when used correctly, there are rare cases when misuse can lead to overdosing, especially in infants under two. [click link for full article]
Editorials, Opinion Pieces, Letters Address Veto Of SCHIP Reauthorization Bill
Summaries of several recent editorials, opinion pieces and letters to the editor that address the recent presidential veto of legislation to reauthorize and expand SCHIP, as well as related issues, appear below. Editorials [click link for full article]
Prostate Cancer Raises Hip Fracture Risk Substantially For 50 To 65 Year-olds
Men who have prostate cancer are on average four times more likely to suffera hip fracture, with rates rising to eight times in men aged 50 to 65, accordingto a study of more than 60,000 men published in the October issue of theurology journal BJU International. Danish researchers looked at 62,865 men aged 50 and over, with an averageage of just under 67. 15,716 had suffered a fracture of some description and 47,149 formed thenon-fracture control group. [click link for full article]
Tennessee State, Federal Governments Approve TennCare Waiver
CMS has approved a waiver for federal funding of TennCare, Tennessee officials announced Monday, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports (Memphis Commercial Appeal, 10/9). [click link for full article]
SCHIP Debate Continues To Focus On Eligibility Limits
Republicans opposed to an expansion of SCHIP “quickly accused” Democrats of “exploiting” 12-year-old SCHIP beneficiary Graeme Frost — who responded for Democrats to President Bush’s weekly radio address on Sept. 29 — “to score political points” and then “wasted little time in going after [Frost] to score their own,” the [click link for full article]
New Law Requiring Eye Exams For Illinois Children
With the support of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Optometric Association, the General Assembly passed SB 641 into law today, requiring comprehensive eye examinations for children entering kindergarten or enrolling for the first time in public, private, or parochial elementary schools in Illinois. Acting on behalf of students, parents and teachers, the General Assembly overrode Gov. [click link for full article]
