Congress | Page 22 of 26 | SpiritIndia.com

Medicare :: Focus on covering the uninsured, reducing health costs

Expanding coverage for the uninsured should be the top health care priority for the new Congress over the next five years, identified as “absolutely essential” or “very important” by 88 percent of respondents to the latest Commonwealth Fund Health Care Opinion Leaders survey. Other top priorities are moderating rising health care costs (81 percent), reforming Medicare to ensure long-term solvency (80 percent), and increasing use of information technology to improve quality and safety of patient care (80 percent).

Healthcare :: Prison Drug Treatment to Curb Record Crime

With violent crime rates reaching a 15 year record high and most prisoners testing positive for drugs, the new Congress must expand drug treatment in prisons, said Bob Weiner, former spokesman for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Flu :: Federal Pandemic Preparedness Six Month Progress Laudable, TFAH Says

Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) today commended the federal government’s progress in executing 92 percent of the six month benchmarks in the national pandemic preparedness implementation plan.

Healthcare :: Congressional Action Strengthens Internal Medicine ACP Says

Saturday?s Congressional action to avert Medicare payment cuts to physicians will work to strengthen the future of internal medicine, the American College of Physicians (ACP) said today in a statement of appreciation to lawmakers.

HIV :: Role of Nutrition in Health Care for People with HIV/AIDS

The American Dietetic Association commends Congress for passing a three-year reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act, the largest federal program specifically for people with HIV and AIDS, with new attention to the unique dietary needs of patients.

Healthcare :: Home health-care workers have few legal protections

A University of Iowa law professor has found that most home health-care workers are protected by few of the federal labor standards that other Americans take for granted.

Anemia :: Anemia drug Amgen’s Epogen’s payment method in Medicare is flawed

Government payments for an anemia drug used to treat kidney dialysis patients encourage overuse that is wasteful, costly and raises the risk of heart complications, specialists testified before Congress.

Pediatricians urge restrictions on ads for sex-related products

Children should be exposed to fewer television ads for anti-impotence drugs and more for birth control, and need to be shielded from an advertising onslaught in general, the leading United States pediatricians’ group said.

Pediatrics :: Doctors blast ads’ effects on kids

US pediatricians and doctors ask crackdown on ads aimed at children. Inappropriate advertising contributes to many kids’ ills, from obesity to anorexia, to drinking booze and having sex too soon, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.

Drug & pharmaceutical industry defensive for medicare bill – US

Major U.S. drug companies and pharmaceutical industry are coordinating a strategy to block legislation aimed at cutting drug prices in the country. These major players in drug industry met in Washington in the meeting of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.