California rules limit HMO wait times.
The AP (1/20) reports that California is "poised to become the first state to set time limits for doctors to see patients" under regulations released by the state's Department of Managed Health Care. The rules will "require family practitioners in HMOs to see patients seeking an appointment within 10 business days." The deadline "for specialists is 15 days," and patients seeking "urgent care that does not require prior authorization" must be seen "within 48 hours." The NPR (1/20, Costello) "Planet Money" blog reports that "telephone calls to doctors' offices will have to be returned within 30 minutes, and physicians or other health professionals will have to be available 24 hours a day." The USA Today (1/20, Winter) "On Deadline" blog reports similar details.
The Los Angeles Times (1/20) reports that the new rules also stipulate that mental healthcare patients "must be treated within 10 business days." Additionally, "X-rays, lab tests, acupuncture and other ancillary services must be provided within 15" business days, and "urgent dental care must be provided within 72 hours," while "non-urgent dental services within 36" business days.
The new rules, reports the New York Times (1/20, A14, Archibold), are "meant as a big step toward speeding care for the state's 21-million HMO members, who often endure long waits for basic service."
On its website, KTLA-TV Los Angeles (1/20) reports that the regulations "have been in the works for much of the last decade. ... A 2002 state law mandated timely access to medical care, and the specifics were worked out in years of negotiations with doctors, hospitals, HMOs and consumer groups." Supporters say the new rules "will give patients better access to medical care, and will cut down unnecessary use of the emergency" department.
According to the Santa Rosa (CA) Press-Democrat (1/20, Espinoza), HMOs have "until Sept. 1 to come up with a plan for complying with the new rules. After that, they have until Jan. 17, 2011 to fully implement the new deadlines."
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Steroids in Dietary Supplements
Company pleads guilty to adding steroids in products marketed as dietary supplements.
The New York Times (1/21, B2, Schmidt, Singer) reports sports nutrition company VMG Global "pleaded guilty on Wednesday to selling products under the guise of dietary supplements that had been illegally spiked with steroids, according to court documents." The company "pleaded guilty to one charge of introducing unapproved drugs into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead, according to a plea agreement filed Wednesday." VMG Global "agreed to pay penalties of up to $500,000," and will "destroy its remaining inventory of the two products."
The New York Times (1/21, B2, Schmidt, Singer) reports sports nutrition company VMG Global "pleaded guilty on Wednesday to selling products under the guise of dietary supplements that had been illegally spiked with steroids, according to court documents." The company "pleaded guilty to one charge of introducing unapproved drugs into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead, according to a plea agreement filed Wednesday." VMG Global "agreed to pay penalties of up to $500,000," and will "destroy its remaining inventory of the two products."
Savella Update
FDA urged to ban sales of fibromyalgia treatment.
The AP (1/21, Perrone) reports the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has asked the Food and Drug Administration "to pull Savella off the market, almost exactly a year after it was cleared to treat fibromyalgia." Savella, which is co-marketed by Forest Laboratories Inc. and Cypress Bioscience Inc., came under scrutiny after "company studies of the drug showed 20 percent of patients taking Savella had hypertension, or high blood pressure." The FDA is said to have already cleared two other fibromyalgia treatments.
Dow Jones Newswire (1/21, Shwiff) reports Public Citizen said the drug had already been rejected by European regulators who found the benefits to be "marginal." Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, said the drug posed "serious safety risks that outweigh the benefits," according to Bloomberg News (1/21, Thomas).
The AP (1/21, Perrone) reports the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has asked the Food and Drug Administration "to pull Savella off the market, almost exactly a year after it was cleared to treat fibromyalgia." Savella, which is co-marketed by Forest Laboratories Inc. and Cypress Bioscience Inc., came under scrutiny after "company studies of the drug showed 20 percent of patients taking Savella had hypertension, or high blood pressure." The FDA is said to have already cleared two other fibromyalgia treatments.
Dow Jones Newswire (1/21, Shwiff) reports Public Citizen said the drug had already been rejected by European regulators who found the benefits to be "marginal." Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, said the drug posed "serious safety risks that outweigh the benefits," according to Bloomberg News (1/21, Thomas).
Anti Inflammatory Medications and Menstrual Cramps
NSAIDS may be more effective than acetaminophen for dysmenorrhea.
The Los Angeles Times (1/20, Dennis) "Booster Shots" blog reported that investigators at the Cochrane Library analyzed studies "on pain relief for dysmenorrhea," concluding that "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) seem to be more effective at controlling such pain than paracetamol, known by most North Americans as acetaminophen."
Medscape (1/20, Barclay) reported that the study, based "on 73 randomized controlled trials meeting selection criteria," also found that "NSAIDs were significantly more effective for pain relief than placebo among women with primary dysmenorrhea," but were also "associated with significantly more overall adverse effects than placebo." In addition, the comparison "of various NSAIDs vs. other NSAIDs showed limited evidence that any individual NSAID was superior for either pain relief or safety."
The Los Angeles Times (1/20, Dennis) "Booster Shots" blog reported that investigators at the Cochrane Library analyzed studies "on pain relief for dysmenorrhea," concluding that "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) seem to be more effective at controlling such pain than paracetamol, known by most North Americans as acetaminophen."
Medscape (1/20, Barclay) reported that the study, based "on 73 randomized controlled trials meeting selection criteria," also found that "NSAIDs were significantly more effective for pain relief than placebo among women with primary dysmenorrhea," but were also "associated with significantly more overall adverse effects than placebo." In addition, the comparison "of various NSAIDs vs. other NSAIDs showed limited evidence that any individual NSAID was superior for either pain relief or safety."
MS Oral Medication
Two oral MS treatments show promise, adverse side effects in studies.
The AP (1/21, Stobbe) reports, "Tests of the first two oral drugs developed for treating multiple sclerosis show that both cut the frequency of relapses and may slow progression of the disease, but with side effects that could pose a tough decision for patients." The studies testing Merck Serono's Cladribine (leustatin) and Novartis' Fingolimod (FTY720) "found that patients on the pills were about half as likely to suffer relapses of symptoms as those who took dummy pills or a commonly prescribed shot for MS." Still, "both drugs significantly lowered immune defenses that allowed latent herpes viruses to rage in some patients -- in one study, two people died of unchecked herpes infections."
The AP (1/21, Stobbe) reports, "Tests of the first two oral drugs developed for treating multiple sclerosis show that both cut the frequency of relapses and may slow progression of the disease, but with side effects that could pose a tough decision for patients." The studies testing Merck Serono's Cladribine (leustatin) and Novartis' Fingolimod (FTY720) "found that patients on the pills were about half as likely to suffer relapses of symptoms as those who took dummy pills or a commonly prescribed shot for MS." Still, "both drugs significantly lowered immune defenses that allowed latent herpes viruses to rage in some patients -- in one study, two people died of unchecked herpes infections."
H1N1 and Teens
New study suggests teenagers are most at risk from H1N1.
Bloomberg News (1/21, Gale) reports a recent study has supported the World Health Organization's July analysis that "the median age of those infected with the H1N1 virus is 12 to 17 years." The study, which "analyzed antibody levels in blood-serum samples collated by a Health Protection Agency program in August-September and in 2008 across England in six age groups," determined that children younger than 15 were the group "most likely" to have been infected with the swine flu. The finding also means that "ten times as many children in London probably caught swine flu as doctors' records suggest."
Bloomberg News (1/21, Gale) reports a recent study has supported the World Health Organization's July analysis that "the median age of those infected with the H1N1 virus is 12 to 17 years." The study, which "analyzed antibody levels in blood-serum samples collated by a Health Protection Agency program in August-September and in 2008 across England in six age groups," determined that children younger than 15 were the group "most likely" to have been infected with the swine flu. The finding also means that "ten times as many children in London probably caught swine flu as doctors' records suggest."
Anti Obesity from the White House
First lady to launch anti-obesity initiative.
USA Today (1/21, Hellmich) reports that at a meeting of the US Conference of Mayors, "first lady Michelle Obama said Wednesday that she would launch a major initiative next month to combat" obesity in children, calling the condition "an epidemic and one of the greatest threats to America's health and economy." Her "initiative will involve the federal government working with local officials and leaders in the business and non-profit sectors...to provide more nutritious food in schools, allow more opportunities for kids to be physically active, and give more communities access to affordable, healthful food."
The Washington Post (1/21, Givhan) reports that the initiative is intended to emphasize that "better eating habits, improved nutrition and a more physically fit America do not have to come with a high price tag and all are imperative to this country's economy, its future productivity and the well-being of the next generation of children." The AP (1/20, Superville), the Chicago Tribune (1/20, Skiba), and Politico (1/20, Henderson) also covered this story.
USA Today (1/21, Hellmich) reports that at a meeting of the US Conference of Mayors, "first lady Michelle Obama said Wednesday that she would launch a major initiative next month to combat" obesity in children, calling the condition "an epidemic and one of the greatest threats to America's health and economy." Her "initiative will involve the federal government working with local officials and leaders in the business and non-profit sectors...to provide more nutritious food in schools, allow more opportunities for kids to be physically active, and give more communities access to affordable, healthful food."
The Washington Post (1/21, Givhan) reports that the initiative is intended to emphasize that "better eating habits, improved nutrition and a more physically fit America do not have to come with a high price tag and all are imperative to this country's economy, its future productivity and the well-being of the next generation of children." The AP (1/20, Superville), the Chicago Tribune (1/20, Skiba), and Politico (1/20, Henderson) also covered this story.
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