Answering when the government comes calling
January 10, 2012
As most health care professionals are now aware, government investigation and prosecution of fraud among participants in federal health care programs has risen substantially in recent years and shows no signs of abating. Read more
FDA revokes the approval of Avastin
January 5, 2012
The Food and Drug Administration has revoked its approval of the drug Avastin for breast cancer treatment, saying the drug has not been shown to be safe and effective for that use. Read more
Feds clear way for doctor ‘report cards’
January 5, 2012
The U.S. government has announced that Medicare will finally allow its extensive claims database to be used by employers, insurance companies and consumer groups to produce report cards on local physicians and improve current ratings of hospitals. Read more
Cities save $18M with health reforms
January 5, 2012
Four municipalities that have taken advantage of health insurance reforms under a new law will see premium reductions of $9.9 million, while employees of those communities will see $8.4 million in premium and benefit savings. Read more
BPH cracks down on e-cigs, cigarellos
January 5, 2012
Boston health officials have voted to treat electronic cigarettes, known as e-cigarettes, as tobacco products, banning the use of the increasingly popular products in the workplace and restricting their sale to adults only. Read more
Malpractice data made inaccessible to public
October 31, 2011
The government agency that oversees the national database for tracking malpractice payments and physician sanctions has made its data file inaccessible to the public out of concern that information being disclosed was being “triangulated” with other publicly accessible data sources to determine the identities of doctors listed, Modern Physician reports. Read more
Bill cuts red tape for medical devices
October 31, 2011
Legislation that would streamline the regulatory process for some medical devices has been filed in the Senate. Read more
Smoke-free housing law enacted in Boston
October 31, 2011
Mayor Thomas Menino has launched Boston’s first smoke-free housing registry, an initiative created by the Boston Public Health Commission that serves as a precursor to a public-housing smoking ban scheduled to begin in September 2012. Read more
Panel backs hospitals that mandate flu shots
October 31, 2011
State public health regulators have approved a resolution supporting hospitals that on their own require influenza immunizations “as a condition of employment,” while stopping short of mandating flu shots for all health care workers. Read more
Health care groups, docs oppose HIV bill
October 31, 2011
A coalition of health care organizations and physicians who care for HIV and AIDS patients has publicly announced its strong opposition to proposed state legislation that would expand the confidentiality of HIV testing and prohibit the release of any related information without written consent. Read more
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