Justice Department, Congress probe Vytorin maker
June 13, 2008
The Department of Justice has joined federal lawmakers in seeking information about why it took drug makers so long to report the negative results of a study of the cholesterol drug Vytorin.
Congress urged to allow drug suits
June 13, 2008
Actor Dennis Quaid is urging lawmakers to push back against efforts by the Food and Drug Administration to preempt state drug safety tort claims against drugmakers. Read more
Genetic testing bill signed into law
June 13, 2008
President George W. Bush signed legislation in May designed to protect workers from losing their jobs or being denied health insurance based on DNA testing results that reveal their susceptibility to certain health conditions.
Hospitals rail against nurse-patient ratio
June 13, 2008
More than 100 hospital officials and nurse administrators have been pressing lawmakers to oppose a mandatory nurse-patient ratio at hospitals, enshrined in a bill they expect to be debated by the state Legislature.
State Senate approves gift ban
June 13, 2008
Resisting pressure from biopharmaceutical firms, the state Senate voted to ban gifts from the industry to doctors and other health care workers, with a $5,000 civil fine for a violation.
Critics said the measure, deemed the harshest in the nation, sends a mixed message to the pharmaceutical industry at a time when the state is trying to entice investment here.
Senate President Therese Murray’s bill also requires physicians to adopt an electronic medical records system by 2015, authorizes the Attorney General to enact antitrust immunity rules so that insurers and providers can collaborate, and requires public explanations of hefty year-to-year insurance premium increases.
Patients want input on health reform
June 13, 2008
Members of the advisory committee to one of the state boards implementing health care reform urged the panel to convene a group of patients and families to help guide their decisions.
State House foils amendment to ease Rx requirement
June 13, 2008
The state House rejected an attempt to ease the requirement that all adults obtain health insurance that includes prescription drug coverage.
Anti-markup rule delayed by CMS
March 17, 2008
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has decided to delay for one year the application of an “anti-markup” provision that primarily affects groups that purchase interpreting services, such as the reading of X-rays and MRIs. Read more
FDA: Drug makers can provide details on ‘off-label’ uses
March 17, 2008
The Food and Drug Administration has issued draft guidelines that would allow drug and device companies to distribute medical or scientific journal articles about unapproved uses of FDA-approved drugs and devices to physicians.
Coalition seeks to reduce drug marketing
March 17, 2008
Members of the newly-formed Massachusetts Prescription Reform Coalition have unveiled a plan to reduce the pharmaceutical industry’s marketing efforts, which it says are contributing to the rising cost of medical care, according to The Boston Globe. Read more
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