MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'committee'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:57:28 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159280&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FTRWtDdOJM_4%2F Lynn Scheps is Vice President, Government Affairs at EHR vendor SRSsoft. In this role, Lynn has been a Voice of Physicians and SRSsoft users in Washington during the formulation of the meaningful use criteria. Lynn is currently working to assist SRSsoft users interested in showing meaningful use and receiving the EHR incentive money. Check out Lynn’s previous Meaningful Use Monday posts. In addition to the Meaningful Use Stage 2 recommendations discussed in last week’s Meaningful Use Monday, the HIT Policy Committee proposed a new framework for the reporting of clinical quality measures that was designed by its specifically-tasked Quality Measure Workgroup. The recommended concept is depicted in the graphic below—the intention is to broaden the scope of reporting to address a wid... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159280 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:19:08 +0100 5159280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130856&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F7izZd7JZcgo%2F Lynn Scheps is Vice President, Government Affairs at EHR vendor SRSsoft. In this role, Lynn has been a Voice of Physicians and SRSsoft users in Washington during the formulation of the meaningful use criteria. Lynn is currently working to assist SRSsoft users interested in showing meaningful use and receiving the EHR incentive money. Check out Lynn’s previous Meaningful Use Monday posts. A few weeks ago, the HIT Policy Committee forwarded its Stage 2 meaningful use recommendations to CMS. CMS is expected to issue a Proposed Rule in early 2012 and the Final Rule in mid-2012.  The first recommendation—intensely debated, but overwhelmingly supported in the end—is to delay the start of Stage 2 until 2014, recognizing the unrealistic time pressure that vendors and providers would fac... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130856 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:43:35 +0100 5130856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118996&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FequA6vD2My8%2F For nearly 11 years, Linda Logdberg, a biologist at the Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta, toiled as a writer for a variety of medical communications firms. Often, she never saw the finished product. There were slide kits, monographs, executive summaries, video and audio scripts, and continuing medical education programs. Although ghostwriting was a small, but real, part of her duties, she generally saw herself as a highly paid technician and did not question its ethics, she writes in PLoS Medicine. But as time went on, the would-be academic adopted a different view. At first, though, Logdberg enjoyed the work. “First, I believed that I was helping people: sick people need drugs, and physicians need to know about those drugs to prescribe them appropriately. Second, I had young chil... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118996 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:35:44 +0100 5118996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107891&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FGVab88opJB4%2F The ongoing controversy over ghostwriting appears to be accelerating amid ongoing disclosures that various papers - and in one case, a book - were allegedly written or largely crafted by paid editors who were not credited. The issue has even generated debate about the definition of ghostwriting, but meanwhile, has embroiled various drugmakers, universities and high-profile academics in scandal. To find a solution, a growing number of proposals are popping up (read this). One pair of academics - Jonathan Leo, a professor at the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at Lincoln Memorial University, and Jeff Lacasse a professor at the Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy at Arizona State University - have just published a paper in Society in which they suggest that all authors should b... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107891 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:42:15 +0100 5107891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107647&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2011%2F08%2F05%2Fpreliminary-meaningful-use-details-out%2F Brian Ahier has a great post up that had the presentation and report (embedded below) that CMS provided to the HIT Policy Committee. It has a lot of great information worth talking about. I’m going to embed the presentation and report below and pull out some of the key points in a post later. Let me know what catches your eye. The CMS Meaningful Use Presentation The CMS Meaningful Use Report Related posts:Meaningful Use Mondays – More 90 Day Reporting Period Details As a follow-up to last week’s Meaningful Use Monday, the... Meaningful Use Measures: Electronic Copy of Health Information – Meaningful Use Monday Meaningful Use Core Measure: More than 50% of all patients... Helpful Meaningful Use Resources – Meaningful Use Monday I spend a lot of my day answering questio... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107647 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 21:38:20 +0100 5107647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103328&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F9Vuhjuw4Qh8%2F By Jim HarperThat was my inner conversation when I heard that the “Super Congress”* (or “Super Committee”) created by the debt ceiling deal might operate behind closed doors. Congress is free to create any committee it wants, of course. Congress determines the rules of its proceedings. But ordinary committees and subcommittees are too opaque. A “Super Committee” should lead—not lag—in transparent operations. In a forthcoming report on government transparency, we’ll be looking at the kinds of things committees should be publishing in computer-useable formats, and in real time or near-real-time: meeting notices, transcripts, written testimonies, live video, original bills, amendments to bills, motions, and votes. There are ways that many ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103328 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:39:23 +0100 5103328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077664&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5l-dpRVXrKU%2F By Daniel J. MitchellI testified yesterday before the Joint Economic Committee about budget process reform. As part of the Q&A session after the testimony, one of the Democratic members made a big deal about the fact that federal tax revenues today are “only” consuming about 15 percent of GDP. And since the long-run average is about 18 percent of GDP, we are all supposed to conclude that a substantial tax hike is needed as part of what President Obama calls a “balanced approach” to red ink. But it’s not just statist politicians making this argument. After making fun of his assertion that Obama is a conservative, I was hoping to ignore Bruce Bartlett for a while, but I noticed that he has a piece on the New York Times website also implying that America&#821... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077664 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:40:44 +0100 5077664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077693&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffootball-helmets-which-ones-are-most-likely-to-prevent-head-injuries%2F2011.07.28 Courtesy of Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences: National Impact Database Adult Football Helmet Ratings – May 2011 A total of 10 adult football helmet models were evaluated using the STAR evaluation system for May 2011 release.  All 10 are publicly available at the time of publication.  Helmets with lower STAR values provide a reduction in concussion risk compared to helmets with higher STAR values.  Based on this, the best overall rating of ‘5 Stars’ has the lowest STAR value.  Group rankings are differentiated by statistical significance. If you’re in the market to buy a loved one a football helmet, or just curious, go and have a look. It doesn’t take long, there are only 10 helmets on the list. Go to the list. I got to this from ESPN’... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077693 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:00:20 +0100 5077693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069447&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtqQe3o3ngFU%2F By Chris EdwardsI testified to the Senate Finance Committee today regarding federal spending and debt. Here are some of the points I made: Last night, President Obama called for a “balanced solution” to our fiscal problems, including tax increases and spending cuts. However, CBO projections do not indicate that we face a “balanced” problem. Instead, projections show that the deficit problem is caused all on the spending side of the budget. The United States has sadly become a big-government country. Until recently, government spending in this country was about 10 percentage points less than the average of OECD countries. That smaller-government advantage has now shrunken to just 4 percentage points. In recent years, policymakers have given us the largest deficit... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069447 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:05:25 +0100 5069447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050577&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fresearch-investigates-a-percutaneous-option-for-aortic-valve-replacement%2F2011.07.21 To ensure rational and responsible dissemination of this new technology (transcatheter aortic valve replacement [TAVR]), government, industry and medicine will need to work in harmony.” - David R. Holmes, Jr., MD, FACC President, American College of Cardiology Today, Edwards Lifesciences’ will request pre-market approval of its SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve from the FDA’s Circulatory Systems Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee. And for the first time, the groundwork for our complicated new era of health care rationing will be exposed. To win an expensive technology on behalf of patients these days, there will have to be “harmony” between doctors and their professional organizations and government regulators. If not, patients lose. At issue is a... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050577 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5050577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992662&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FaF-AQlQNX1Y%2F By Daniel J. MitchellFor both political and policy reasons, the left is desperately trying to maneuver Republicans into going along with a tax increase. And they are smart to make this their top goal. After all, it will be very difficult – if not impossible – to increase the burden of government spending without more revenue coming to Washington. But how to make this happen? President Obama is mostly arguing in favor of class-warfare tax increases, but that’s a non-serious gambit driven by 2012 political considerations. Moreover, there’s presumably zero chance that Republicans would surrender to higher tax rates on work, saving, and investment. The real threat is back-door hikes resulting from the elimination and/or reduction of so-called tax breaks. The big spenders on the left a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992662 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:12:15 +0100 4992662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984688&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F00EJHTbmsSw%2F Three years after the FDA linked the Heparin scandal to contaminated supplies from China, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is expanding a probe into the episode and wrote 10 drugmakers, manufacturer reps and ingredients suppliers for documents, because the agency has indicated they have info about the Chinese heparin industry and supply chains. The move comes after the committee has twice lashed out at the FDA for failing to find those responsible for the scandal, which was linked to 81 deaths in 2007 and 2008 and traced to heparin sold by Baxter International (back story). The fatalities provoked harsh criticism of the FDA for not conducting greater oversight of foreign facilities - particularly those in China that make medicines or supply active pharmaceutical ingredients. Baxter... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984688 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:55:31 +0100 4984688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975825&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fs2-Usb210eI%2F By Sallie JamesSen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,  Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and the White House have just announced that they have made a deal to extend Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA, the program that extends extra unemployment and health care benefits to workers who lose their jobs because of globalization) until 2013, as part of a broader deal that would see passage of the three outstanding preferential trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama. The extension of TAA would be included in the legislation to implement the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, “improved” (i.e., made less liberalizing) by the administration in December. Interestingly and alarmingly, because implementing the FTAs... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975825 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:17:38 +0100 4975825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934114&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsskDnGcrBaw%2F By Jim HarperIf you like innovation, and if you’re interested in intellectual property, you probably already know about the Committee on the Impact of Copyright Policy on Innovation in the Digital Era. That’s a group assembled by the National Academies to, well, analyze the impact of copyright policy on innovation in the digital era. Long-standing consensus holds that copyright, by creating artificial scarcity in information goods, allows creators to enjoy rewards from their creations sufficient to justify creating them. In other words, copyright’s incentive structure encourages creation and innovation, the end result being more and better information goods for the society to enjoy. Information technologies such as digitization and the Internet are rejiggering the balance... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934114 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:44:22 +0100 4934114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911460&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F7aevM6o7g8Q%2F By Mark A. CalabriaYou might have heard of Peter Diamond, he recently won the Nobel Prize in Economics and earlier this week withdrew his nomination to the Federal Reserve Board. But maybe you have not heard of Paul Pate. Mr. Pate, former Republican mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa was nominated by President Bush in 2003 to fill a seat on the board of the National Institute of Building Sciences. I remember it well, as I handled that nomination as staff for the Senate Banking Committee. So what exactly do Mr. Diamond and Mr. Pate have in common? They were both nominated for positions they could not legally hold. I’ve written elsewhere about Mr. Diamond’s situation. Mr. Pate was barred from serving on the NIBS board due to an ownership interest he had in an asphalt company. Bush&#8217... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911460 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:07:13 +0100 4911460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911412&cid=t_181745_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F07%2Fto-retract-or-not-to-retract-thats-the-question%2F In the previous post I discussed [1] that editors of Science asked for the retraction of a paper linking XMRV retrovirus to ME/CFS. The decision of the editors was based on the failure of at least 10 other studies to confirm these findings and on growing support that the results were caused by contamination. When the authors refused [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911412 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:34:25 +0100 4911412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862504&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_TuAm-tfiww%2F By Tad DeHavenHarold Camping is “flabbergasted” that the world did not end on May 21st as he had predicted. I think it’s because he didn’t account for the devastation that will be wrought by Republican budget cuts for fiscal 2012, which doesn’t begin until October 1st. Therefore, Camping’s new predication that the world will end on October 21st is much more plausible. Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee that deals with agriculture and nutrition programs passed its bill, which will now be considered by the full committee. According to the committee’s numbers, discretionary funding for these programs in 2012 would be $17.2 billion – a $2.7 billion reduction versus 2011. According to a statement released by the subcommittee’s ranking member, Sam Far... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862504 Wed, 25 May 2011 20:28:46 +0100 4862504 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820809&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwNPlaBvH9Rs%2F By Jim HarperThe fiscal 2012 Department of Homeland Security spending bill is starting to make its way through the process, and the House Appropriations Committee said in a release today that “the bill does not provide $76 million requested by the President for 275 additional advanced inspection technology (AIT) scanners nor the 535 staff requested to operate them.” If the House committee’s approach carries the day, there won’t be 275 more strip-search machines in our nation’s airports. No word on whether the committee will defund the operations of existing strip-search machines. Saving money and reducing privacy invasion? Sounds like a win-win. House Approps Strips TSA of Strip-Search Funds is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820809 Fri, 13 May 2011 19:04:39 +0100 4820809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813262&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5w7FGpVVr_Y%2F By Jim HarperThis morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law had a hearing entitled: “Protecting Mobile Privacy: Your Smartphones, Tablets, Cell Phones and Your Privacy.” Among the witnesses was Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jason Weinstein from the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Weinstein made a gallingly Orwellian pitch: If you want privacy protection, increase government surveillance. From his written statement: ISPs may choose not to store IP records, may adopt a network architecture that frustrates their ability to track IP assignments and network transactions back to a specific account or device, or may store records for only a very short period of time. In many cases, these records are the only e... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813262 Tue, 10 May 2011 17:22:27 +0100 4813262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789221&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FDFJHbY9hE34%2F By Malou InnocentOsama Bin Laden’s death marks a significant achievement in the fight against al Qaeda. It also highlights the fact that our ostensible objective for continuing the war in Afghanistan has been achieved. Although some lawmakers have been quick to claim that bin Laden’s demise proves that our nation-building mission is showing signs of success, others recognize that this momentous achievement justifies scaling down our presence in Afghanistan. Indeed, rather than expansive counterinsurgency campaigns, targeted counterterrorism measures would suffice. It is encouraging that Republican members of Congress are questioning the mission. Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his concern yesterday: [Senator Lugar] s... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789221 Wed, 04 May 2011 17:48:52 +0100 4789221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684261&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtbAiJU8RsZk%2F By Daniel J. MitchellJust days after the introduction of a very good plan by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, leaders from the Republican Study Committee in the House of Representatives have introduced an even better plan. In a previous post, I compared spending levels from the Obama budget and the Ryan budget and showed that the burden of federal spending would rise much faster if the White House plan was adopted. If the goal is to restrain government, the RSC blueprint is the best of all worlds. As the chart illustrates, government only grows by an average of 1.7 percent annually with that plan, compared to an average of 2.8 percent growth under Ryan's good budget and 4.7 percent average growth with Obama's head-in-the-sand proposal. According to the numbers released by the R... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684261 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:03:14 +0100 4684261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684277&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fjerptwu4EFo%2F By Chris EdwardsHouse Budget Committee Chairman, Paul Ryan, introduced his budget resolution for fiscal 2012 and beyond today entitled “The Path to Prosperity.” The plan would cut some spending programs, reduce top income tax rates, and reform Medicare and Medicaid. The following two charts compare spending levels under Chairman Ryan’s plan and President Obama’s recent budget (as scored by the Congressional Budget Office). Figure 1 shows that spending rises more slowly over the next decade under Ryan’s plan than Obama’s plan. But spending rises substantially under both plans—between 2012 and 2021, spending rises 34 percent under Ryan and 55 percent under Obama. Figure 2 compares Ryan’s and Obama’s proposed spending levels at the end of the 10-year budget window in 2021. ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684277 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:54:21 +0100 4684277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631461&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FxO-WpFvB8qo%2F By Tad DeHavenRep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the chairman of the conservative House Republican Study Committee, recently introduced “The Welfare Reform Act of 2011.” The legislation’s two key components are the imposition of work requirements on food stamps recipients and the capping of total spending for 77 welfare programs at 2007 levels (adjusted for inflation going forward) when unemployment drops below 6.5 percent. From the RSC press release: Congressional Republicans and President Bill Clinton enacted reforms in 1996 that required beneficiaries of a new welfare program (TANF) to either work or prepare for a job. President Clinton triumphantly declared these reforms would “end welfare as we know it,” and in fact millions of families have since moved off the TANF rolls and begun to ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631461 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 03:04:49 +0100 4631461 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696593&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fhow-academic-boneheads-kill-people.html I'm already receiving comments that, regarding Prof. Jon Patrick's detailed exposé of the dangers of ill-suited-for-purpose ED EHR's, Patrick's observations are:... not really valid because they're not peer reviewed; they're just anecdotal. Only an egghead could pen such words.I always get hives immediately after eating strawberries. But without a scientifically controlled experiment with all the right peer review, it's not reliable data. So I continue to eat strawberries every day, since I can't tell if they cause hives.I'd already written about anecdotalist refrains at my Mar. 7, 2011 post "Australian ED EHR Study: Putting the Lie to the Line "Your Evidence Is Anecdotal, Thus Worthless" Used by Eggheads, Fools and Gonifs." In that essay I cite Dr. Patrick himself on "anecdotal evidence"... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696593 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:05:00 +0100 4696593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600522&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FP80T-EmXiK8%2F By Jim HarperAt least one report has it that a Commerce Department official will announce the Obama administration's support for "baseline privacy legislation" at a Wednesday Senate Commerce Committee hearing. You mean, like, the Fourth Amendment? If only it were so. The action is in the House Government Reform Committee, which is holding a hearing on the Transportation Security Administration's strip-search machines. What's the administration's "baseline privacy policy" on that? I've already written two posts in the last year (1, 2) titled "Physician, Heal Thyself"... Obama Administration to Take a Stand on Privacy, But it Ain’t Fixing the Strip-Search Machine Morass is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600522 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:30:27 +0100 4600522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4554644&cid=t_181745_107_f&fid=36698&url=http%3A%2F%2Fminingdrugs.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fshould-scientists-care-about-wiki-for.html I would like to encourage scientists to contribute to the ongoing survey of the Research Committee of the Wikimedia Foundation. The title of the survey is "Expert barriers to Wikipedia?" and you as scientists, experts, would greatly help in understanding what drives people to contribute, collaborate, and communicate with each other. The focus of their survey is on Wikipedia as Knowledge Management (KM) platform.I took the survey and add here additional remarks to some science specific issues:We have featured articles on Wikipedia. Do we also have "expert approved" articles? If not, could the WM:ResearchCommittee create some guidelines, and expert networks in taking this post-review on? This would help having a better argument against those typical "Is WP a reliable source?" discussions, es... Mining Drug Space blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4554644 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:08:00 +0100 4554644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549737&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FVNcSGn3W7Js%2F By Neal McCluskeyBecause the evidence of wrongdoing and evasion is so clear, and the effect has been so damaging, I have devoted a lot of pixels to the GAO's horrendous "secret shopper" report on for-profit colleges, as well as the stonewalling about what caused the initial report to be so biased. A potentially even bigger story, though, is what appears to be the machinations of an unholy alliance of Department of Education officials, Senate HELP Committee chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Wall Street short-sellers hoping to make big bucks off the demise of for-profit schools. This Daily Caller article, and the connected video of Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), are good places to start learning more about this, as is the website of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549737 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:06:27 +0100 4549737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4544971&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcancer-and-science-based-medicine-skepticism-vs-nihilism%2F2011.03.03 Last Friday, Mark Crislip posted an excellent deconstruction of a very disappointing article that appeared in the most recent issue of Skeptical Inquirer (SI), the flagship publication of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI). I say “disappointing,” because I was disappointed to see SI publish such a biased, poorly thought out article, apparently for the sake of controversy. I’m a subscriber myself, and in general enjoy reading the magazine, although of late I must admit that I don’t always read each issue cover to cover the way I used to do. Between work, grant writing, blogging, and other activities, my outside reading, even of publications I like, has declined. Perhaps SI will soon find itself off my reading list. Be that as it may, I couldn’t miss the article that so irr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4544971 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:00:03 +0100 4544971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536049&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_5nSumydwHM%2F By Michael F. CannonYesterday, the Senate Finance and House Energy & Commerce committees released a joint report on the costs that ObamaCare’s Medicaid mandate will impose on states.  That report, which is based on other reports, likely understates the cost of that unfunded mandate. In “Estimating ObamaCare’s Effect on State Medicaid Expenditure Growth,” Cato senior fellow Jagadeesh Gokhale constructed cost projections for the five largest states -- California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas -- which account for 40 percent of the nation’s population.  Gokhale carefully decomposed and organized micro-data and state-specific administrative data on Medicaid eligibility, enrollments, benefit recipiency, and average benefits per recipient.  Gokhale’s more meticulous a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536049 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:50:03 +0100 4536049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536026&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fcommittee-on-patient-safety-and-health.html In my Jan. 2011 post "Institute of Medicine Committee on Patient Safety and Health Information Technology, and Thoughts on Social Aspects of Health IT Evaluation" I wrote that:The U.S. National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences issued a report in early 2009 on the state of health IT. That study's report, led in part by pioneers in Medical Informatics G. Octo Barnett and William Stead, was entitled "Computational Technology for Effective Health Care: Immediate Steps and Strategic Directions" (pre-publication PDF available free at this link). The report was announced under the following header:CURRENT APPROACHES TO U.S. HEALTH CARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ARE INSUFFICIENT The insufficiencies were largely in the areas of difficulties with data sharing and integration, deploy... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536026 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 02:40:00 +0100 4536026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489636&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fe2n1jTBYksY%2F By Christopher PrebleIn testimony yesterday before the House Armed Service Committee, Defense Secretary Robert Gates stated that the United States has an “interest” in keeping troops in Iraq past the agreed date of withdrawal, December 31, 2011.  Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) pressed Gates by asking: How can we maintain all of these gains that we've made through so much effort if we only have 150 people there and we don't have any military there whatsoever," Hunter asked. "We'd have more military in Western European countries at that point than we'd have in Iraq, one of the most central states, as everybody knows, in the Middle East? The logic of Rep. Duncan’s question provides some interesting context. His logic implies that the thousands of U.S. troops stationed in wealthy, develo... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489636 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:48:45 +0100 4489636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489648&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNnhrw_B-YzQ%2F By Chris EdwardsI testified today to a a subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee looking at the effects of the 2009 stimulus bill (the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act"). Some of the discussion regarded the continuing claims by stimulus supporters that the $800 billion bill created millions of jobs. To most people, such a claim now seems laughable--unemployment is still very high two years later and the recovery from the recession is very sluggish compared to prior recessions. Also testifying was Stanford economist John Taylor, who offered a view on why economists using Keynesian models are still claiming success for the ARRA bill: "Why do some argue that ARRA has been more effective than the facts presented here indicate? Many evaluations of the i... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489648 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:04:46 +0100 4489648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489676&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftreating-depression-the-shock-value-of-electroconvulsive-therapy%2F2011.02.16 Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered to be a highly effective treatment for depression. The story goes that roughly 90 percent of patients respond. The downside is that it requires general anesthesia with all its attendant risks, and patients may suffer from headaches and memory loss. The memory loss is often mild, but there are cases where it is profound and very troubling. As with any psychiatric treatment — or so it seems — there are those who say it saved them and those who say it destroyed them. Because the risks aren’t minor, the procedure is expensive and often done on an inpatient unit, and people generally don’t like the idea of having an IV line placed, being put under, then shocked through their brain until they seize, only to wake up groggy and... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489676 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4489676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489652&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FCUijtZ1nf7g%2F By Sallie JamesWhile I fully agree with my colleagues that President Obama "chickened out" in general in his FY2012 budget proposal, in one area he had the courage to propose some cuts that have proven controversial for ages: farm subsidies.  His plan would lower the income eligibility limits for subsidies (from $500,000 to $250,000 for off-farm AGI per farmer, and an on-farm AGI limit of $500,000, down from $750,000.) It would also lower the cap on annual direct payments that individuals can receive -- from a maximum of $40,000 to $30,000. The administration's proposal would affect only about 2 percent of the total recipients of direct payments -- subsidies that flow every year regardless of prices or farm output to owners of land that may or may not still be used for farming -- and... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489652 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:21:36 +0100 4489652 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4478161&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FE4YxlSrSI60%2F The use of language is a subtle art. Ask any regulator. And the regulators at the FDA have determined that Novartis was a bit too subtle, perhaps, in trying to promote its Fluvirin vaccine for the flu. The agency recently issued a warning letter that chastised the drugmaker for distributing a sales aid and print advertisement that were deemed misleading. Specifically, the promotional materials incorrectly characterized a published recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and implied the Novartis vaccine can be used in all age ranges covered by the ACIP recommendations, according to the FDA letter, which was issued on February 4. For the current flu season, the ACIP recommended annual vaccination including infants who ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4478161 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:22:30 +0100 4478161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450276&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Ff4Zu3t_f61U%2F By Walter OlsonReaders of Cato at Liberty knew all about this last July, and now the Obama Department of Transportation is confirming it publicly: The Obama administration's investigation into Toyota safety problems has found no electronic flaws to account for reports of sudden, unintentional acceleration and other safety problems. ... "We enlisted the best and brightest engineers to study Toyota's electronics systems and the verdict is in. There is no electronic-based cause for unintended acceleration in Toyotas," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. If, as retiring NHTSA official George Person charged last July, DoT officials dragged their heels in making public the exculpatory findings, there were very real costs to the economy. Not only did lawsuits proliferate whi... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450276 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:59:27 +0100 4450276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450296&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F02%2F08%2Fmultiple-vaccines-may-have-triggered-disease-and-death-of-soldier%2F March 2, 2003 Army Specialist Rachel Lacy was given five vaccinations at once: anthrax, hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella, smallpox, and typhoid. She also was given a tuberculin skin test on the day that. She died on April 4, 2003. The Smallpox Vaccine Safety Working Group (SVSWG) and also the Clinical Expert Immunization Committee (CEIC) researched the situation. Each one stated it was not able scientifically to distinguish a particular vaccination as being the possible cause due to the fact a number of vaccines had been given at once. One interesting line in the Q and A document noted, “Administration of simultaneous vaccinations is a generally accepted practice and has been for many decades. One of the vaccines widely used in the United States to protect against Streptococcal infecti... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450296 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:20:27 +0100 4450296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436731&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FeMS0QKy7dL0%2F By David BoazThe U.S. ambassador to Iraq expects to have 17,000 people on his staff after the United States "withdraws" from Iraq at the end of the year, he told the Senate this week. This is astounding. A typical American embassy in a small country might have 100 employees, in a big country such as Great Britain or Russia maybe a few hundred. A staff of 17,000 (including contractors) is not an embassy, it's an occupation force. Or at least a viceroy's staff. Here's the Washington Post report: The top U.S. diplomat in Iraq on Tuesday defended the size and cost of the State Department's operations in that country, telling lawmakers that a significant diplomatic footprint will be necessary after the withdrawal of U.S. troops at the end of this year. James F. Jeffrey, the U.S. ambassador in... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436731 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:10:51 +0100 4436731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433325&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fqsu_bBIMy6k%2F A long-negotiated patent overhaul bill was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today and sent to the full Senate, the third time such legislation traveled this route since 2008. The story began when high-tech companies sought to cut the number of patent infringement lawsuits and the amount of damages paid, while pharma often fought some of the provisions that ensued (look here). For the record, the Patent Reform Act of 2011 would change the US patent system from a first-to-invent to a first-to file system in order to achieve international harmonization. The first-to-file system would award patents to the earliest-filed application and provide a one-year grace period to file an application after public disclosure of a claimed invention by the inventors. Other provisions include lang... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433325 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:22:05 +0100 4433325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433081&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FZIWYLZfvNkc%2F By Julian SanchezA few developments from a business meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee held this morning. As I noted last month the new House Intelligence Chair, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) has already introduced another one-year straight renewal without modification. Since then, Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) has introduced a bill that would renew the expiring Patriot Act surveillance provisions through 2013, but with some very basic additional safeguards and oversight requirements—many of which the Justice Department has already agreed to implement voluntarily—including most crucially added constraints and a new sunset for expanded National Security Letter powers, which have already been held at least partly unconstitutional in their current form by federal courts, and which the govern... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433081 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:14:50 +0100 4433081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399510&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FfYVSr1DPCnI%2F By Sallie JamesConfirming my ongoing skepticism about the committment of self-identified fiscal conservatives, especially when it comes to cuts to programs that benefit their constituencies, Politico last night posted an excellent story about the Republican Study Committee’s silence on farm subsidies: Net cash farm income for 2010 is projected to finish near $92.5 billion — a 41 percent increase even after subtracting payments from the government. Yet conservatives are almost tongue-tied, as seen last week with the Republican Study Committee’s proposal to eliminate relatively modest subsidies for an organic food growers program without mentioning the nearly $5 billion in much larger government direct payments to farm country — including to the home districts of many of the R... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399510 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:08:51 +0100 4399510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337906&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FzekcpJh84Ks%2F By Julian SanchezA year ago, the protracted wrangling in Congress over the re-authorization of several expiring provisions of the PATRIOT ACT made plenty of headlines. Most observers expected the sunsetting powers to be extended, but civil libertarians hoped serious and sorely needed reforms might be part of the package. The House and Senate Judiciary Committees held multiple hearings on the topic, and an array of competing reform and reauthorization bills (PDF) were proposed, adding extra safeguards (of varying stringency) to the greatly expanded surveillance powers Congress had approved in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. But Congress had a full plate, and so it punted—approving a straight one-year reauthorization without any modifications at the last minute. (You’d be forgiven... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337906 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:11:21 +0100 4337906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337908&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FGE5MNSlFpJg%2F By Tad DeHavenThe Washington Times says that the upcoming farm bill re-write could “sow division in the GOP.” While House Republican leaders John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Kevin McCarthy voted against the 2008 farm bill, the new chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), is a dedicated supporter of farm subsidies. The Times recalls Boehner’s comments on the 2008 farm bill: “The farm bill has often been abused by politicians as a slush fund for bizarre earmarks and wasteful spending projects, and the latest version … is no different,” Mr. Boehner, then the GOP minority leader, said at the time. It’s too bad then that the Boehner-friendly Republican Steering Committee, which decided the committee chairs, didn’t appear to blink at handing the agric... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337908 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:39:56 +0100 4337908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4313987&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FLOu1IAoxepY%2F By Walter OlsonWhile others wish the new Congress well today on its swearing-in, I plan to light a 100-watt incandescent bulb and hoist a caffeinated alcoholic beverage in honor of a different milestone: starting today, the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee will no longer be under the control of Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). Some lawmakers can talk a decent game about lean ‘n’ smart regulation, but no one ever accused Waxman of having a light touch. (The 900-page Waxman-Markey environmental bill, mercifully killed by the Senate, included provisions letting Washington rewrite local building codes.) He’s known for aggressive micromanagement even of agencies run by putative allies: his staff has repeatedly twisted the ears of Obamanaut appointees to complain that their... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4313987 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:30:34 +0100 4313987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4313969&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Finstitute-of-medicine-committee-on.html The U.S. National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences issued a report in early 2009 on the state of health IT.That study's report, led in part by pioneers in Medical Informatics G. Octo Barnett and William Stead, was entitled "Computational Technology for Effective Health Care: Immediate Steps and Strategic Directions" (pre-publication PDF available free at this link). The report was announced under the following header:CURRENT APPROACHES TO U.S. HEALTH CARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ARE INSUFFICIENT The insufficiencies were largely in the areas of difficulties with data sharing and integration, deployment of new IT capabilities, large-scale data management, and lack of cognitive support by health IT for busy clinicians.One might reasonably conclude such deficits could affect... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4313969 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:25:00 +0100 4313969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265684&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FkPzv5Q_HkbE%2F By Walter OlsonThe Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which has long agitated for wider government intervention in food and nutritional matters, has filed a lawsuit charging that McDonald’s is violating California consumer laws by marketing Happy Meals with toys. It wants to force the burger chain either to drop the toy, or to replace the meals’ food components with something more whole-grain-and-vegetable-y. The New York Daily News invited me to have my say on the controversy, and I did. I pointed out that the lawsuit seemed to be aimed at an end run around the reality of individual choice: No one forced [named plaintiff Monet] Parham to take her daughters to McDonald’s, buy them that particular menu item, and sit by as they ate every last French fry in the b... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265684 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:17:44 +0100 4265684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245290&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FB3kZLGLHMRY%2F By Tad DeHavenHouse Republican leaders went with Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) – a.k.a. “The Prince of Pork” – to chair the House Appropriations Committee. As I wrote last week, the prospect of Rogers chairing Appropriations is about as inspiring as re-heated meatloaf when it comes to his potential for pushing serious spending reforms. Republican leaders in the House chose to ignore the concerns of tea party activists and other proponents of limited government, who were more supportive of Rep. Jack Kingston’s (R-GA) dark-horse push for the chairmanship. Kingston’s plan to “change the culture” on Appropriations offered a lot of positive ideas suggesting that he was more in tune with the voters that gave Republicans the majority. Politico reported that Kingston received “the cold ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245290 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:30:42 +0100 4245290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4237869&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FxX0pzhYgrJs%2F By Tad DeHavenIn-coming House Speaker John Boehner’s endorsement of Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) for a seat on the chamber’s appropriations committee means that it’s probably a done deal. Flake is one of the few policymakers who actually lives up to the fiscal conservative label. Thus, Flake’s appointment to a committee that many members think only exists to increase spending on special interests would be welcome news. Boehner also endorsed a suggestion from Rep. Jeff Kingston (R-GA), who has mounted a dark-horse campaign to chair the appropriations committee, to create a subcommittee focused on investigating federal programs. Flake would chair this subcommittee, and according to a release on his website, he has already lined up worthy targets like Head Start and farm subsidies. How much... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4237869 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:47:18 +0100 4237869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233165&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FddDFw1rSyb0%2F By Malou InnocentIn response to Wikileaks’ complaints that Amazon.com will no longer host the whisteblower site’s activities, Chris Moody, over at the Daily Caller, writes: Unfortunately for WikiLeaks’ argument, Amazon is a private company that can legally sever ties with anyone it wants. If anything, the company is exercising its right to free speech and association by choosing not to work with another independent organization. That’s correct, though I would add that it was Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, who bullied Amazon into cutting Wikileaks from its server. Thus, it was partially government coercion, not private consent, that severed a business relationship. As an aside, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange said in a ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233165 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:56:15 +0100 4233165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225251&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpregnancy-as-a-pre-existing-condition%2F2010.12.03 Women who own individual healthcare policies, please take note. Should you become pregnant in the future, your individual healthcare policy might not cover your pregnancy. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times by Michelle Andrews was revealing. Andrews described the plight of a North Carolina biology teacher who subsequently left teaching after the birth of her twins. She became a small business owner and was covered under individual health insurance policies. However, when she became pregnant again, she had a rude awakening. Despite paying an insurance premium of $400 per month, her pregnancy wasn’t covered unless she had paid for a special rider, prior to becoming pregnant. Since half of all pregnancies are “unplanned” how can you pay for coverage six months in advance of an u... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225251 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:00:20 +0100 4225251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219733&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FuODHB7SGWHg%2F By Walter OlsonWe are told constantly that government can play a beneficial role in the marketplace by taking steps to make sure consumers are more fully informed about the risks of the goods and services they use. But what happens when the government itself helps spread health and safety information that is false or misleading? That question came up recently in the controversy over New York City’s misleading nutrition-scare ad campaign, and it now comes up again in a controversy over a new database of complaints about consumer products sponsored by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). As part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), Congress mandated that the CPSC create a “publicly available consumer product safety information database... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219733 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:54:55 +0100 4219733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219734&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FiA6aPbmuWSk%2F By Tad DeHavenAn indicator of the incoming House Republican majority’s seriousness about cutting spending will be which members the party selects to head the various committees. Many of the members in line to chair committees leave a lot to be desired from a limited government perspective (see here and here). In particular, the top candidates in line to chair the critical House Appropriations Committee, Reps. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) and Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), are about as inspiring as re-heated meatloaf when it comes to their potential for pushing serious spending reforms. According to the Wall Street Journal, appropriator Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), is eyeing the chairman’s gavel even though he’s only fifth in line in terms of seniority. Kingston has put together a spending restraint plan in... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219734 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:35:10 +0100 4219734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197072&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F11%2F24%2Fpossible-400-dead-as-uk-government-betrays-parents-to-push-six-vaccines-in-one-day%2F The Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/heal…) have announced that the UK have decided to give toddlers vaccines for six diseases at once. David Derbyshire a journalist for the Mail says: “Toddlers are to be inoculated against six diseases at once in a bid to boost vaccination rates, the Government revealed yesterday” He continued: “The ‘super-vaccination’ day will involve three injections to protect against measles, mumps, rubella, two forms of meningitis and bacteria that can cause pneumonia.” The vaccines to be used in the UK’s three shot ‘super vaccination’ day are the MMR, PCV and the Hib/Men C. This unusual and controversial move was on the advise of the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an organization that sanctions and a... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197072 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:56:37 +0100 4197072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179302&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMPEt1UT7yL8%2F By Timothy B. LeeOn Thursday the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the Combating Online Infringements and Counterfeits Act. Its backers, including Hollywood and the recording industry, are hoping to rush the legislation through Congress during the current “lame duck” session. The legislation empowers the attorney general to draw up a list of Internet domain names he considers to be “dedicated to infringing activities,” and to obtain a variety of court orders designed to block access to these sites for American Internet users. To understand the proposal, it helps to know a bit about the Domain Name System, or DNS, that is the focus of the bill. The DNS is the Internet’s directory service. Computers on the Internet are assigned (mostly) unique numb... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179302 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:42:43 +0100 4179302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139213&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fs13HczgvsS4%2F By Tad DeHavenOver at Downsizing the Federal Government, we focused on the following issues this week: Unfortunately, the party favored by tea party supporters at the moment has no interest in shuttering the Department of Education. Columnist Robert Samuelson is right: the Obama administration’s high-speed rail dreams “represent shortsighted, thoughtless government at its worst.” Attention GOP: the electorate wants spending cuts, and they will support the policymakers who take the lead on cuts if they are pursued in a forthright and serious-minded manner. New Republican members of Congress will be looking for ways to cut the budget deficit and also to increase economic growth. One way to do both is to privatize government assets. Will the House Republican leadership embrace spending... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139213 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:03:58 +0100 4139213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133667&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQG5MLsIH_Zg%2F By Michael F. CannonNPR found two Republicans who caution House Republicans that their efforts to investigate ObamaCare could “backfire.” But all those hearings could also have the opposite effect — giving the administration a chance to make its case in favor of the law, a case that often got drowned out during the election campaign. “The next round of this, while there will continue to be the broad sloganeering on both sides, will presumably get a little bit more into the detail,” says Martin Corry, a health care lobbyist and former official at the Department of Health and Human Services during the Bush administration. “So if you’re a family with a 22-year-old still in college, you may not want to see that provision [that lets grown children stay on t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133667 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:55:13 +0100 4133667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133714&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Flight-shed-on-the-corruption-of-the-ruc%2F2010.11.03 Interesting [recent] front-page article in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) about the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC). From the WSJ: Three times a year, 29 doctors gather around a table in a hotel meeting room. Their job is an unusual one: divvying up billions of Medicare dollars. The group, convened by the American Medical Association, has no official government standing. Members are mostly selected by medical-specialty trade groups. Anyone who attends its meetings must sign a confidentiality agreement. [...] The RUC, as it is known, has stoked a debate over whether doctors have too much control over the flow of taxpayer dollars in the $500 billion Medicare program. Its critics fault the committee for contributing to a system that spen... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133714 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:00:00 +0100 4133714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133682&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FX7xp36z6zwo%2F The objective of QEII would be to reduce long-term interest rates, with the belief that such a reduction would spur investment and consumption, thus increasing employment.   Estimated impacts on rates range from zero to 80 basis points (80/100s of one percent).   Given the large excess reserves in the banking system, it is likely that much of the monetary stimulus provided by QEII will simply be added to bank reserves, which would correspondingly have little to no impact on either lending or interest rates.  So its likely that we will get very little bang out of QEII. Even if QEII did lower rates as much as some Fed leaders claim, the impact would still be relatively small, under one percent.  Given that mortgage rates have already fallen by that much over the last six months... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133682 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:43:39 +0100 4133682 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105666&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fis-looking-at-long-term-impossible-in-our-healthcare-system%2F2010.10.25 I spent last week in Gothenburg, Sweden covering the European Committee for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) meeting. Lots of good science, lots of excitement over the new oral and targeted therapies coming on the market to treat this awful disease. But what I want to write about isn’t the science, but about how it will play out in the brave new world of healthcare in which we all live in today. For instance, consider the first oral therapy to hit the market: Gilenya (fingolimod), which the FDA approved in September. Last month Novartis announced the price: $48,000 a year. This is not a rant against the high cost of drugs, however. It is a rant against the inability of our healthcare system to take the long view of the impact of such drugs, a view that is particularly im... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105666 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:00:00 +0100 4105666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018161&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwUHSuC1bydo%2F By Daniel J. MitchellWhile I’m glad Republicans are finally talking about smaller government, I’ve expressed some disappointment with the GOP Pledge to America. Why “reform” Fannie and Freddie, I asked, when the right approach is to get the government completely out of the housing sector. Jacob Sullum of Reason is similarly underwhelmed. He writes: In the “Pledge to America” they unveiled last week, House Republicans promise they will “launch a sustained effort to stem the relentless growth in government that has occurred over the past decade.” Who better for the job than the folks who ran the government for most of that time? …Republicans, you may recall, had a spending spree of their own during George W. Bush’s recently conclude... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018161 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:15:16 +0100 4018161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013543&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9Ty_fwAWoHM%2F The 2007 merger between CVS, the big retailer, and Caremark, the big pharmacy benefits manager, has Herb Kohl concerned. The Wisconsin Democrat, who chairs the US Senate Special Committee On Aging, has received reports from seniors that the PBM may be steering seniors to CVS retail or mail-order pharmacies. The seniors are allegedly being promised lower out-of-pocket costs, but instead are encountering higher co-pays and this is prompting higher charges to the Medicare Part D plan. And this is an issue for Kohl, because his committee does not like to see Medicare Part D or seniors charged more than they should be for meds. And so Kohl, who has also fielded complaints that CVS Caremark is also denying claims to long-term care residents enrolled in its Maintenance Choice program, has fired o... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013543 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:59:28 +0100 4013543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3914984&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPEdWlxY7HdM%2F By Gerald P. O'DriscollEvery August, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City sponsors a conference on monetary policy. It is the most valued invitation of the year for central bankers and Fed watchers. The Fed Chairman typically presents his views on monetary policy and the economy, and his talk inevitably makes headlines. (A select few reporters are invited.) This year, Ben Bernanke promised the Fed will do whatever it takes to aid the faltering U.S. recovery, and most of all to prevent deflation. The problem for the Fed Chairman is that the central bank is plainly running out of options, as some had the cheek to observe. He suggested the Fed could do more of the same (purchase long-term securities), or try something new and untested (tweak the interest rate it pays on bank reserves). Ber... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3914984 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:18:38 +0100 3914984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911687&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FFS6JoVLjfkU%2F By Jim HarperJudging by his earmark disclosures, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) seems to have said “To hell with you!” to the Senate Appropriations Committee and its earmarking rules. But the committee is doling out money to him anyway. It seems rules were made to be broken. In March, the committee issued a press release reiterating its rules about earmarks—funding requests for special projects that go into Congress’ annual spending bills. Among other things, the rules say: The Appropriations Committee will consider no request for spending on congressionally directed items … unless a description of the items proposed—including their purpose, location, the recipient of the funds, and an explanation of why the spending is in the interest of the taxpayers&#82... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911687 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:53:29 +0100 3911687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3880827&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdG-eJOp0oV8%2F There’s been a bit of chatter in the blogosphere about a recent post on Ezra Klein’s blog, featuring estimates from various economists about the revenue-maximizing tax rate. It won’t come as a surprise that people on the right tended to give lower estimates and folks on the left had higher guesses. Donald Luskin of National Review estimated 19 percent, for instance, while Emmanuel Saez, Dean Baker, Bruce Bartlett, and Brad DeLong all gave answers around 70 percent. There are two things that are worth noting. First, every single answer is to the right of the Joint Committee on Taxation. The revenue-estimators on Capitol Hill assume that taxes have no impact on overall economic performance. As such, even confiscatory tax rates have very little impact on taxable income. The ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3880827 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:12:04 +0100 3880827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3812941&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fyou-know-youre-unwell-if-prince-albert-of-monaco-changes-the-wedding-date-on-you%2F photo: WENN.com Like he just did to Charlene Wittstock, his bride-to-be. The royal bastard! Wait, stay those tears. The happy couple actually moved the date up from July 9 to July 2, 2011, so that they could attend an International Olympic Committee meeting in South Africa July 5-9 as newlyweds. (Charlene used to do a little swimming for her native South Africa.) Forever the romantic skeptics, we’ll see if the balding prince drums up any other excuses before the big day. via CNN.com Post from: BlissTree You Know You're Unwell If...Prince Albert of Monaco Changes the Wedding Date on You (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3812941 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:17:44 +0100 3812941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808662&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F1FRwNP5gB4w%2F By Daniel J. MitchellLike the swallows returning to Capistrano, the Congressional Budget Office follows a predictable pattern of endorsing policies that result in bigger government. During the debate about the so-called stimulus, for instance, CBO said more spending and higher deficits would be good for the economy. It then followed up that analysis by claiming that the faux stimulus worked even though millions of jobs were lost. Then, during the Obamacare debate, CBO actually claimed that a giant new entitlement program would reduce deficits. Now that tax increases are the main topic (because of the looming expiration of the 2001 and 2003 tax bills), CBO has done a 180-degree turn and has published a document discussing the negative consequences of too much deficits and debt. A snippet: ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808662 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:39:50 +0100 3808662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776362&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYl2o2cca40M%2F By Daniel J. MitchellThe Wall Street Journal has an excellent editorial this morning on the obscure — but critically important — issue of measuring what happens to tax revenue in response to changes in tax policy. This is sometimes known as the dynamic scoring versus static scoring debate and sometimes referred to as the Laffer Curve controversy. The key thing to understand is that the Joint Committee on Taxation (which produces revenue estimates) assumes that even big changes in tax policy have zero macroeconomic impact. Adopt a flat tax? The JCT assumes no effect on the economic performance. Double tax rates? The JCT assumes no impact on growth. The JCT does include a few microeconomic effects into its revenue-estimating models (an increase in gas taxes, for instance, w... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776362 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:17:49 +0100 3776362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772224&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FqwAjmCTvKJM%2F By Ilya ShapiroElana Kagan has just sailed through the Senate Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote (except Lindsey Graham, of course, who maintained his respectable but — to my mind – overly deferential “elections have consequences” line).  This vote comes as no surprise to anyone who’s been keeping half an eye on the Kagan nomination.  The only senator whose position wasn’t obvious after the confirmation hearings was Arlen Specter, who continued his self-serving ways in criticizing the nominee for the majority of an op-ed before announcing that her approval for televised Supreme Court hearings and Thurgood Marshall constituted “just enough” to win his vote.  (This is clearly an attempt to curry favor with the administration and become an envoy to Sy... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772224 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:30:38 +0100 3772224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753804&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FZthdcmVWQls%2F By Michael F. CannonBack in May, I suggested: Senate Judiciary Committee members should be sure to ask Solicitor General and Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, during her upcoming confirmation hearings, whether she or her office played any part in crafting ObamaCare or the administration’s defense to the lawsuits challenging that law. If Kagan helped to craft either, that would present a conflict of interest: when those lawsuits reach the Supreme Court, she would be sitting in judgment over a case in which she had already taken sides… If Kagan played a role in drafting ObamaCare or formulating the administration’s legal defense, and is confirmed by the Senate, propriety would dictate that she recuse herself from any challenges to that law that reach the high court. Committee memb... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753804 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:10:31 +0100 3753804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750046&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAaXRKOE_Z9Q%2F By Jim HarperWhen the Telecommunications Act of 1996 passed, section 254 was dubbed the “Gore Tax” by detractors of the policy and the then-Vice President whose project it was. A system of cross-subsidy that was implicit in the old AT&T was made explicit as a tax on interstate telecom services—euphemistically referred to as a “contribution”—and expanded to reach to a small universe of sympathetic interests—more accurately, the telecommunications providers serving those interests. The amount of the “contribution” would be set by the Federal Communications Commission. That is, the agency would set the level of taxes on telecommunications, then hand out the money it produced by taxing. (I wrote previously about the Taxpayers Defense A... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750046 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:32 +0100 3750046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695811&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F5VfHt3HMgy0%2F The recent rash of recalls, which has sullied the storied Johnson & Johnson image, actually reflects a series of production gaffes that go back several years, according to a report from CNN, which collected various FDA inspection reports by filing with Freedom of Information Act requests (watch the video here). The healthcare giant actually committed several violations that were detailed in inspection reports. Of course, companies with extensive manufacturing operations are likely to commit errors now and then, but the point CNN tries to make is that a pattern appears to exist. A December 2003 inspection report noted a mislabeling problem related to some lots of children’s soft-chew Tylenol; packages listed an incorrect amount of an ingredient per tablet. McNeil did not recall t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695811 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:01:04 +0100 3695811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687357&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0iCZukJSBk4%2F Once again, the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform is asking Johnson & Johnson ceo Bill Weldon to testify about the recent recall of more than 135 million bottles of various pediatric over-the-counter medicines, including Tylenol and Motrin, after a series of ongoing quality-control problems plagued different plants run by J&J’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit. [UPDATE: As of 6 pm EST, the initial June 30 hearing date has been postponed due to a scheduling conflict. A new date has not been set, taking some heat off Weldon for now]. In a letter today, committee chair Ed Towns, a New York Democrat, wrote the usual boilerplate invitation to Weldon, who backed out of a May 27 hearing because he was said to be recuperating from recent back surgery. In his stea... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687357 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:51:17 +0100 3687357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3672037&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaDtTeVMFSSE%2F There may be some interesting variables involved in analyzing the results, but we have a winner - the Peripheral & Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee, which has not bounced a new drug in the last 3-1/2 years. The latest endorsement was given to the Novartis multiple sclerosis pill, Gilenia. This is the only advisory committee, however, that doesn’t know the word ‘no.’ Overall, 70 percent of all applications that made it to an FDA advisory committee for review between 2007 and 2010 won positive recommendations, according to Concept Capital, which only considered new molecular entities and major new indications for existing drugs. Also, only the final voting question on whether a drug should be recommended for approval was tallied. Some other nuggets: the ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3672037 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:35:34 +0100 3672037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671890&cid=t_181745_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fms-pill-approved%2F The first oral, disease-modifying MS drug, Fingolimod, was approved for release and marketing by the FDA’s Advisory Committee on Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs a few days ago! I apologize for the delay my reporting such important news, but my travel schedule has been a bit nutty of late. Data was submitted earlier this year as to the efficacy and safety of the drug and the approval process took a HUGE leap on June 10 this a unanimous, 25-0 vote to allow drug maker, Novartis, to begin the next phase in the long process of bringing new drugs to market. Contacts at Novartis wouldn’t give a firm date as to the release of the drug to the US market, but it will most assuredly be available before for doctors’ prescriptions by the end of the calendar year. A .25mg dose of the dr... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671890 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:26:56 +0100 3671890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655803&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fl3UdLV7oLpI%2F The Johnson & Johnson recall scandal is threatening to envelope the healthcare giant in ways that, just a few months ago, no one could imagine. The latest twist involves a series of emails that appear to lend further credence to what a Congressional committee is calling a ‘phantom recall,’ which was allegedly undertaken to obscure serious problems with widely used over-the-counter pediatric medications. The episode is part of a long-running chain of events may prompt the FDA to consider criminal charges. At issue are quality-control failures that forced J&J to recently recall tens of millions of bottles of such venerable brands as Tylenol and Motrin, among others, which had been found to contain too much active ingredient or metallic specks. But instead of issuing a r... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655803 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:05:05 +0100 3655803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632260&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fxc77Kl2VykU%2F By Mark A. CalabriaAn insightful op-ed in yesterday’s Financial Times by Raghu Rajan (who will be presenting his latest book soon here at Cato), apparently was too much for Paul Krugman to bear.  What was Rajan’s great crime that so upset Krugman?  Rajan, correctly, pointed out that US policies, such as Fannie Mae and the Community Re-investment Act, were direct contributors to the financial crisis and that bankers shouldn’t be blamed for simply reacting to perverse government incentives. Now Krugman cannot bear to see CRA and Fannie questioned.  He claims that Rajan is relying on some blind faith that has been disproven by all thinking people.  Krugman offers two points (his supposed “facts”) that prove Fannie Mae and CRA are innocent. First, he argues t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632260 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:30:13 +0100 3632260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607811&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F90th-s8CyCc%2F That’s what Ed Towns would like to see. The chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which yesterday held a hearing into the Johnson & Johnson recall scandal, vowed to introduce legislation that would permit the FDA to be able to conduct mandatory recalls (see this). This came after hearing how Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit committed numerous violations - various pediatric meds, including Children’s Tylenol, may have contained too much active ingredient, metal specks or inactive ingredients that failed testing requirements, according to testimony by FDA deputy commish Josh Sharfstein. There were also lengthy and inexplicable delays in reporting and rectifying the problems. Moreover, a contractor was hired to surrepti... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607811 Fri, 28 May 2010 16:16:47 +0100 3607811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607814&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FEr0E-HGqV_8%2F The Free Trade Agreements being negotiated between the US and other nations has come in for some criticism by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), which is a group body of independent experts that is charged with monitoring implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by participating nations. And in a new report, the CECSR notes that the intellectual property obligations included in the Free Trade Agreement between the US and Colombia may hurt access to medicines and recommends a revision of the IP provisions. “The Committee is concerned that bilateral and multilateral trade agreements signed by (Colombia) may affect the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, in particular of disadvantaged and marginali... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607814 Fri, 28 May 2010 12:30:24 +0100 3607814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603870&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPhSiCrehX9M%2F Worried about musty smelling Tylenol caplets? What about bacteria in your Benadryl? Wondering why Johnson & Johnson shut down its Fort Washington, Pa., facility? Curious to know what, if anything, the FDA did to forestall the sorry string of product recalls throughout the Johnson & Johnson empire? Puzzled as to how J&J finds itself in this mess? Can J&J maintain its storied image? At 10 am EST - that’s this morning, folks - the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold a hearing in an attempt to come up with some answers. YOU CAN WATCH THE HEARING RIGHT HERE (look for ‘connect to live webcast’). Among those testifying is Colleen Giggins, who heads J&J’s worldwide consumer health biz (that’s because J&J ceo Bill ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603870 Thu, 27 May 2010 12:56:17 +0100 3603870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599362&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-KTiUZ4RHcw%2F By Sallie JamesHouse Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D, MN) is conducting a series of hearings in rural America to tout his support for big Ag listen to the people. In the third paragraph of page 14 of an unofficial transcript of the recent hearings in Troy, Alabama, Mr. Peterson makes an excellent point about the fundamental inability of lawmakers or Washington bureaucrats to decide which farm size is best. “We are not going to get into the business of deciding how big a farm should be because that’s way beyond our expertise.” Mr Peterson has made cutesy, self-deprecating remarks before about how Washington isn’t smart enough to make farm management decisions. I guess even incredibly powerful incumbents feel some pressure from tea partiers to make cynic... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599362 Tue, 25 May 2010 16:18:53 +0100 3599362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573947&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FvrEXd-7mGco%2F Now that Johnson & Johnson ceo Bill Weldon has spent some time doing damage control over the growing number of embarassing product recalls, the House Committee On Oversight and Government Reform wants him to answer questions directly at a May 27 hearing (here is the letter inviting Weldon to appear). His testimony will be the first time that Weldon will have to address the manufacturing gaffes - which involved recalls of various over-the-counter meds for infants and children and an ongoing failure to follow up reports of musty smells emanating from some products (see this) - in a setting that isn’t tightly controlled. So far, Weldon has put his name to this JNJBTW blog post and granted a brief interview to Fortune magazine. His appearance may go a long way toward determining the... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573947 Mon, 17 May 2010 19:14:09 +0100 3573947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552222&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5zsLLQTMgPE%2F By Jim HarperI was pleased last week to testify in Congress about a draft bill that would mandate “event data recorders” in all new cars. Automobile black boxes or “EDRs” are an issue that found me a few years ago when I commented on their privacy consequences to a newspaper and heard from concerned drivers across the country. My testimony to the House Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection had three main themes: 1) The Constitution doesn’t give Congress authority to design automobiles or their safety features; 2) Only a relevant sample of crash data is needed to improve auto safety—overspending on a 100% EDR mandate will keep the poor in older, more dangerous cars and undermine auto safety for that cohort; an... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552222 Mon, 10 May 2010 20:25:46 +0100 3552222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538076&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5P7uroEV4wg%2F By Mark A. CalabriaWhen it comes to banking policy, there are few people I respect more than Jonathan Macey and Arnold Kling; so when these two, independently, argue that we should be breaking up the largest banks, it is idea that merits consideration.  Yet I still have my doubts. First, lets start with what we are fairly certain of.  There is a large empirical literature that suggest most US mega-banks are beyond their efficient size.  There is a good survey of the literature by former Fed Economist Allen Berger .  So, at a minimum, the academic literature suggests the largest banks are beyond a size that is justified by the social benefits. However, there is also a small literature that suggests more concentrated banking systems are more stable, and less prone to crisis.  Some of t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538076 Wed, 05 May 2010 18:30:52 +0100 3538076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499061&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fp482CAov00A%2F By David BoazToday in Washington: actress Sigourney Weaver testifies before the  Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on the topic of ocean acidification. Because, you know, she played an environmental scientist in Avatar. It’s the best fit since Jane Fonda, Jessica Lange, and Sissy Spacek — all of whom had played farm women — testified on America’s agricultural crisis. Congress doesn’t have time to vote on presidential nominations. It doesn’t bother engaging in serious oversight of presidential power and civil liberties abuses. It looks at the ceiling and whistles as the national debt approaches Greek levels. But members of Congress have time to listen ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499061 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:02:14 +0100 3499061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471771&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcUXnA_fCNyk%2F By Julian SanchezIt is more than three years since the Office of the Inspector General first brought public attention to the FBI’s systematic misuse of the National Security Letter statutes to issue fictitious “exigent letters” and obtain telecommunications records without due process. Nobody at the Bureau has been fined, or even disciplined, for  this systematic lawbreaking and the efforts to conceal it. But the bipartisan outrage expressed at a subcommittee hearing of the House Judiciary Committee this morning hints that Congress may be running out of patience—and looking for some highly-placed heads to roll. Just to refresh, Committee Chairman John Conyers summarized the main abuses in an opening statement: The IG found that more than 700 times, such information was... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471771 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:38:11 +0100 3471771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408634&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJgJzNMwnpUs%2F Last December, a federal appeals court issued a controversial ruling that patent holders could face fines of up to $500 for every product sold with a so-called false patent mark, such as an expired patent date. In making its decision, the court acknowledged this would create a “cottage industry of false marking litigation.” Why? A company that sells a gazillion boxes or cans of something-or-other, each with an outdated patent mark, could face a $500 fine for each item. A lower court ruled the same fine applied only for each instance, not each product. And so, “there’s just been an explosion of these cases,” Jason White, a Chicago lawyer told Bloomberg News recently. “The sort of gold rush you see can only be attributed to the pot of gold at the base of the rainbow. People a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408634 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:28:23 +0100 3408634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366177&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FDHBQX-lT1GA%2F By Tad DeHavenThe Pentagon has informed Congress about another of its procurement projects that is plagued by cost overruns. In other news, the sun will rise and set today, and the pope is Catholic. Pentagon officials told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that costs for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have jumped more than 50 percent since the program began in 2001. Testifying before the committee, the Government Accountability Office noted that it has reviewed the JSF effort five times and the findings haven’t been positive: We have consistently reported on the elevated risk of poor program outcomes from the substantial overlap of development, test, and production activities and our concerns about the Government investing in large numbers of production aircraft before varia... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366177 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:50:34 +0100 3366177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3342894&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F3sVDL2lxzTA%2F A confidential report issued last fall by Novartis on behalf of several drugmakers that sell ADHD meds concludes it isn’t feasible to conduct an observational, comparative long-term study to validate a signal of adverse psychiatric or cognitive outcomes from the long-term use of methylphenidate in children and adolescents with ADHD. Methylphenidate is sold as Ritalin and Concerta, for instance. The 18-page report, which recently began circulating on the Internet, was compiled in response to a requirement issued last year by the European Commission to conduct such a study after the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use expressed concerns about safety issues, including sudden death, cerebrovascular disorders and psychiatric disorders as well as the effects on growth (see here)... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3342894 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:43:34 +0100 3342894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3338404&cid=t_181745_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F05%2Fgog-says-continuation-of-pivotal-opaxio-maintenance-therapy-trial-gog-212-remains-high-priority%2F Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Notifies CTI That Continuation of GOG-212 Pivotal Trial of OPAXIO Maintenance Therapy in Front Line Ovarian Cancer Remains High Priority.  GOG-218 Bevacizumab Results Do Not Influence Importance of GOG-212 Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (“CTI”) announced today that the company received a statement on March 1, 2010 from the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) leadership [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3338404 Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:48:42 +0100 3338404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3335567&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPH9ZazU-oc0%2F A hearing on drug safety is scheduled for next Wed., March 10, and will be held by the House Energy & Commerce committee’s subcommittee on Health. And the featured speaker will be deputy FDA commish Josh Sharfstein, as well as other FDA folks, according to The Pink Sheet. No particular reason was cited, but the impetus for the hearing isn’t being attributed to Avandia. You may recall the GlaxoSmithKline diabetes pill was the subject of a recent Senate Finance Committee report that found internal dissent among FDA staffers over what to do about cardiovascular risks (see here). Importation, however, is expected to be on the agenda. The hearing will be held because the committee hasn’t had any public discussion of drug safety since the FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3335567 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:00:57 +0100 3335567 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3326966&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPIRWFNkp4lk%2F By Julian SanchezThis morning’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on global Internet freedom opened with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announcing that he would “introduce legislation that would require Internet companies to take reasonable steps to protect human rights or face civil or criminal liability.”  Durbin’s staff tell me they’re in the early phases of hammering out a draft, so exactly what that amounts to isn’t clear yet, but my first-pass gut reaction is that this has the potential to do as much harm as good. The argument for establishing some such set of rules is pretty straightforward: You don’t want the perverse scenario where corporations worry they’re shirking their fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders if they fail to com... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3326966 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:55:36 +0100 3326966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3307091&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FWpXJQwBI7H0%2F The drugmaker has issued a 30-page rebuttal to the 342-page report issued last week by the US Senate Finance Committee, which concluded GlaxoSmithKline minimized and hid data about the safety of its Avandia diabetes pill and, in the process, intimidated some docs who were critical of the drug. For those curious to know what Glaxo has to say, the drugmaker argues the Senate report doesn’t present “an accurate, balanced, or complete view of the currently available info…mischaracterizes and distorts the efforts that Glaxo took to continue to monitor the safety and efficacy of (Avandia). The (Senate) report repeatedly cites documents out of context.” “Most glaringly, the report does not include discussion of the final results of studies cited in the Report, such a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3307091 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:04:06 +0100 3307091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302298&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F1il-sCxOpgw%2F By Chris EdwardsI testified to the Senate Finance Committee today regarding taxes and small business. My testimony is posted here. President Obama plans to raise the top two individual income tax rates. That will not be good for business or the economy. A little more than half of all business income in the United States is reported on individual returns, not corporate returns. Of the business income reported on individual returns, 44 percent is in the top two income tax brackets. My testimony pointed out that while Congress cut the top individual rate by 5 percentage points this past decade, the average top rate in the 30 OECD countries also fell by 5 percentage points, as shown in the chart below. If the top federal rate rises to 40 percent next year, the United States will have th... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302298 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:03:37 +0100 3302298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3235826&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2nRZd6KqDWQ%2F By Jim HarperThe New York Times dutifully reports that the Director of National Intelligence says it is. But it’s hard to know what that means. The word “cyberattack” has no usefully fixed definition. And the important questions—plural—include: 1) whether cyberattacks—plural—are growing in number and sophistication more quickly than the capability of infrastructure owners to fend them off and recover from them; 2) which, if any, owners lack incentives to secure their infrastructure and what security externalities they might create; and 3) what levers—such as contract liability, tort liability, or regulation—might correct any such market failures. Some lines in Director Blair’s statement are quite telling. Compare this: Terrorist g... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3235826 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:36:45 +0100 3235826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3235829&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F74HqkUFvs68%2F By Mark A. CalabriaToday Paul Volcker appears before the Senate Banking Committee to argue for the separation of proprietary trading and commercial banking.  In Mr. Volcker’s own works “what we plainly need are authority and methods to minimize the occurrence of those failures that threaten the basic fabric of financial markets.” Using his own test, the Volcker Rule fails miserably.  Had this rule been in place say five or even ten years ago, we’d most likely be in the same place we are today.  It would have not avoided the crisis, and may potentially have made it worse. First of all the proposal ignores the fact that those institutions at the heart of the crisis, Bear, Lehman, Fannie, Freddie, AIG, were not commercial banks.  They were not using federally insured deposits to g... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3235829 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:15:11 +0100 3235829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3067307&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FvI8bsLiCTUw%2F The increasing reliance on active pharmaceutical ingredients from overseas - notably, China - is prompting a row in Europe, where the Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients Committee, a trade group, wants the European Commission to require repeated, mandatory inspection of overseas API facilities, Outsourcing Pharma reports. The debate comes amid ongoing concerns over the safety of APIs emanating from China, where reports of counterfeit or diluted ingredients has caused a repeated ruckus, such as with the Heparin scandal last year (some background). Recently, AstraZeneca disclosed plans to rely on China for APIs (see here). The European Commission excluded overseas mandatory inspections from a draft directive because they would be too expensive. However, this was based on a figure that Chris O... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3067307 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:06:55 +0100 3067307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3067312&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVaK7NxxlzzY%2F As part of an ongoing probe into conflicts of interest, the Senate Finance Committee’s Chuck Grassley has sent letters to the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society and 31 other medical advocacy groups for details about the money they and their board members received from drug and device makers, The New York Times reports. Such funding is often considered proprietary, but critics contend the influence leads them to lobby on behalf of industry, the Times writes. An AMA spokesman tells the paper industry funding comprised less than 2 percent of its budget (see AMA letter) and an American Cancer Society spokesman wrote the Times to say it “holds itself to the highest standards of transparency and public accountability, and we look forward to working with Senator Gra... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3067312 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:19:02 +0100 3067312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3017119&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=36504&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicalRecordShow%2F%7E3%2FqzRIsRNZlo0%2F Imagine participating in an EHR advisory group for your area. Every month or so, you meet to hammer out and vett new directions that your medical record will take. Which mods to bring in, when to do major and minor upgrades, how to educate physicians and staff about the transitions, and so on. And every month, you’re surprised with what folks rate a PASS or a FAIL. Every single time. I’ve been in these fun little shoes. It’s embarrassing if you’re the “physician champion,” and one of your duties is to minimize organizational surprises from doctor pushback. Being surprised keeps life interesting, but entertainment value is limited when it means going back to the drawing board. Sooo…I’ve distilled a list of 7 Key Tests — filters — t... The EMR/EHR Show: Making Your Electronic Medical Records Really Work blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3017119 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:32:59 +0100 3017119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008402&cid=t_181745_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FigpCGfon0IA%2F In the wake of reports that drugmakers raised prices by as much as 9 percent, on average, this year, the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting a report on recent trends in prescription drug pricing. The letter also requests that GAO submit a proposal to ensure ongoing monitoring of pricing practices (back story). The price hikes came as health care reform legislation was crafted, suggesting drugmakers raised prices in anticipation that a bill would hurt their ability to raise prices in the future. The letter was signed by Charles Rangel, who chairs of the House Ways and Means Committee; Henry Waxman, whos chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee; Pete Stark, who chairs the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee;... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008402 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:40:42 +0100 3008402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003735&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FlSdGW8IzYj8%2F I wrote on the Tech Liberation Front blog a couple of months ago about the shady practice among a few Internet retailers of handing off customers who accept a “special offer” to a company that charges people a monthly fee for some kind of credit monitoring service. And I argued hopefully that maybe technologists and the Internet community could generate a response to this problem: Being a smart, informed, and aggressive consumer is each person’s responsibility if a free market is to operate well. The alternative is a negative feedback loop in which government authorities protect us, we rely on that protection and stop policing retailers. Thereby we abandon the field of consumer protection to government authorities, who—try as they might—can never do as good a job for us as we can... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003735 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:33:15 +0100 3003735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2984781&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4wEeiXfvpdk%2F My colleague Dan Griswold pointed out yesterday some unfortunate editing in the Washington Post. Here are a couple of other trade-related items in the news recently: Sen. Max Baucus (D, MT and Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee) has seemingly thrown his weight behind the idea of “border measures” (i.e., carbon tariffs).  After paying the semi-obligatory lip service to the United States’ obligations under international trade law — and I say only “semi-obligatory” because some U.S. lawmakers appear not to care about it at all – Baucus goes on to deliver this rhetorical gem: I think often the United States has to lead,” Baucus said, noting that what lawmakers come up could be used as a model for other countries to copy. So the U.S. wou... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2984781 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:44:21 +0100 2984781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977273&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F8Zy8En-qHt4%2F On its front page today, the Washington Times reports that expanded powers for the Federal Reserve are being opposed by “odd allies.”  The Fed’s imperial over-reach for additional regulatory powers is being opposed by Democrats and Republicans, and liberals and conservatives alike.  As well it should be.  As Senator Shelby observed, “Anointing the Fed as the systemic-risk regulator will make what has proven to be a bad bank regulator even worse.” The regulation of financial services failed conspicuously to prevent the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.  The Fed failed most conspicuously as it was charged with oversight of all the major banks, including notably Citigroup and Bank of America. Bank regulation now functions to insulate banks f... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977273 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:28:21 +0100 2977273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2963078&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fx0Xb3dRA9ys%2F Via Secrecy News, “JASON”—a unit of defense contractor the MITRE Corporation—has reported to the Department of Defense on the weakness of data mining for predicting or discovering inchoate terrorist attacks. “[I]t is simply not possible to validate (evaluate) predictive models of rare events that have not occurred, and unvalidated models cannot be relied upon,” says the report. In December 2006, Jeff Jonas and I published a paper making the case that predictive modeling won’t discover rare events like terrorism. The paper, Effective Counterterrorism and the Limited Role of Predictive Data Mining, was featured prominently in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing early the next year. Privacy gives way to appropriate security measures, as the Fourth Am... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2963078 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:24:23 +0100 2963078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2954609&cid=t_181745_114_f&fid=34646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthit.hhs.gov%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fgateway%2FPTARGS_0_11113_890784_0_0_18%2FHIT%2520Standards%2520Cmte_Transmittal_8-20-09.pdf The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) has launched a new blog called the Federal Advisory Committee Blog (FACA Blog).The initial post by Judy Sparrow discusses that the FACA Blog will be uses in a spirit of transparency and collaboration to help open a broader dialogue on the issues before the Health IT Standards Committee and the Health IT Policy Committee. The post also provides some background on the role that Federal Advisory Groups play under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.The second post by Aneesh Chopra, Federal Chief Technology Officer, spells out the planned process for an open conversation that will take place over the next couple of weeks with various committee members blogging about a variety of topics (Proposed Standards, Interop... Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2954609 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:08:31 +0100 2954609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2950810&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FtE2kF5Y_eLo%2F All I can say is that it’s very cool that ONC now has a blog. This is probably right up there with when I found past HHS secretary Mike Leavitt’s blog. Ok, yes I am a complete blog nerd. At least I’m able to admit it up front. Basically, Judy Sparrow has just done an introduction post where she talks about the Federal Advisory Committees and their role at ONC. She’s the ONC liason for these committees and so hopefully she’ll keep us updated on progress with these two very important committees. She also provides this explanation about the committees in her first ONC blog post: “FACAs” get their name from the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which lays out the guidelines for such committees. FACAs are advisory and intended to provide external guidance to the ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2950810 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:00:13 +0100 2950810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916082&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FCbCVCx6X__w%2F Senate Judiciary Committee abandons hope of bringing any real change to the Patriot Act. Julian Sanchez in The Nation: “The Obama administration makes vague, reassuring noises about constraining executive power and protecting civil liberties, but then merrily adopts whatever appalling policy George W. Bush put in place.” The imminent collapse of Social Security. Cognitive Dissonance: New poll shows rising support for a so-called public option in health care, even as the public continues to oppose greater government control over the health care system. It has been tried before: Why increasing the size of government won’t work. Talking with Tea Partiers. Podcast: The real problem with American health care: You are not the customer. More here. (Source: Cato-at-libe... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916082 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:18:13 +0100 2916082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912161&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAFMF6rgESk4%2F Just like the Senate Finance Committee’s government takeover, the House of Representatives’ government takeover hides more than half of its cost by pushing those costs off the government’s budget and onto the private sector. So when Speaker Pelosi says the House bill would cost under $900 billion, what she actually means is that it would cost around $2.25 trillion. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912161 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:32:34 +0100 2912161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2898920&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F22d1H8azSQk%2F With the House Financial Services Committee moving forward with a bill to increase the regulation of our consumer credit markets, particularly our mortgage market, it is worth asking the question:  what’s the best protection for consumers, regulation or competition? Let’s take the example of mortgage brokers.  They’ve often been targeted as one  of the causes of the crisis.  The story goes that they just made the loans and passed it along to the lenders and/or Wall Street and so, didn’t care about the quality of the loan. The response of government, first at the state then the federal level, has been to subject mortgage brokers to increased oversight and licensing, with the intent to keep the “bad actors” out of the marketplace.  How well did this a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2898920 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:01:54 +0100 2898920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890619&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FbEEDdrCMNx8%2F How to measure the effectiveness of Obama’s stimulus plan. Forbes: The CBO estimate of the number of people who would stop being uninsured under the Senate Finance Committee proposal is exaggerated by at least 7 million to 10 million. Smoke and mirrors within the Senate Finance Committee? How to save democracy in Honduras. Video: Economist Daniel J. Mitchell discusses economic reform on CNBC. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890619 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:09:16 +0100 2890619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890622&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPodXECXXeLI%2F Scheduled for consideration before the House Financial Services Committee this week is a draft bill creating a Consumer Financial Protection Agency.  While there is a lot wrong with the bill — after all it is based on the premise that somehow consumers were tricked into not making a downpayment or re-financing thousands out of their homes, and then walking away — perhaps the most important provision, and the least discussed, is funding the agency by a transfer of cash from the Federal Reserve.  Section 119 of the bill requires the Federal Reserve to transfer an amount equal to 10 percent of its expenses to the new agency’s Director.  This I believe is the first time in history that Congress is using the Federal Reserve to simply fund another agency.  Why stop there, ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890622 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:37:13 +0100 2890622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890625&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMnmE0GBdNoI%2F The Senate Finance Committee votes today on Senator Max Baucus’ version of the health care bill. Cato health care experts have analyzed the bill thoroughly, and point out three vital components to the cost and reach of the legislation: 1) The real cost of the bill is in excess of $2 trillion. Chairman Max Baucus hoodwinked the CBO with a number of clever budgetary gimmicks, most notably by keeping about half of the cost off the federal books. The bill also assumes Congress will make cuts to Medicare payments, which has never once happened before. 2) The bill contains an enormous middle-class tax hike. The bill imposes a 40 percent excise tax on health insurance plans that offer benefits in excess of $8,000 for an individual plan and $21,000 for a family plan. Insurers would almost ce... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890625 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:57:40 +0100 2890625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2883011&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRvsn9icqQzU%2F Thanks to the push for a more transparent Congress, we’re getting a better look at what new health care regulations might shape up to be. Alas, not a very good look: with weak justifications, the Senate Finance Committee is working on a strange “plain language” description of the bill, and apparently not planning to read or release the final language. I’ve found something worth noting, though, in each of the bill versions I’ve seen. The Senate Finance Committee’s Rube Goldberg plan for health care in America has a provision establishing paragraph talking about “Eligibility Verification.” If you want to access the “state exchanges” or collect the federal tax credits created by the bill, your eligibility will have to be verified. He... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2883011 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:40:36 +0100 2883011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879390&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FUNQg-UugyUE%2F How cap-and-trade is like ritual self-flagellation. The Senate Finance Committee’s version of health care reform is definitely a step up from all of the other versions of the bill. But that’s still a pretty low bar. Change? The president cuts another deal for special interest lobbyists at the expense of American families. Why free trade is a boon to the environment. Podcast: Measuring Obama’s record on pursuing peace. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879390 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:37:34 +0100 2879390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851748&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F13P957DpIR4%2F At last week’s House Judiciary Committee hearing on the PATRIOT Act, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) raised an interesting question I haven’t seen discussed much: What happens to someone who willfully violates an order of the highly secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court? (FISA) Generally, courts have the right to enforce their own orders by finding those who disobey in contempt, and a line from a rare public version of an opinion issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review suggests that the same holds here, noting that a service provider who challenged the (now superseded) Protect America Act “began compliance under threat of civil contempt.” (There is, interestingly, some redacted text immediately following that.) Contempt proceedings norma... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851748 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:21:40 +0100 2851748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851750&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5mFvHNabPSs%2F In the last few days, we have witnessed an almost unprecedented chorus of warnings about inflation prospects by senior Fed officials. Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher said the Fed must be prepared to tighten monetary policy by raising short-term interest rates with “alacrity.” President Charles Plosser of Philadelphia had spoken of the need to raise interest rates before unemployment returns to normal in order “to prevent the Second Great Inflation.” The comments of the two Reserve Bank presidents reinforce those made by Fed Governor Kevin Warsh. Financial markets are confused because the Fed’s policy-making committee (the Federal Open Market Committee) had just indicated its intention to keep interest rates low for an extended period. The inflation warning... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851750 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:24:51 +0100 2851750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842501&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsID2zzPRduw%2F Twenty inaccurate claims in Obama’s speech to Congress on health care. “If [members of Congress] yelled out every time President Obama said something untrue about health care, they would quickly find themselves growing hoarse.” Political tensions decreasing between Taiwan and China. How Americans misunderstand war: “America’s biggest mistake in Afghanistan and Iraq was to think its modern military would make winning easy.” Always read the fine print: There is a dangerous provision in the Senate Finance Committee’s health care bill that could deny crucial health treatments for Medicare patients. Will the FDIC start borrowing from healthy banks to continue to provide relief to banks teetering on the edge? Podcast: Justin Logan explains why ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842501 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:23:08 +0100 2842501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828180&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FHFkWs3qR1Xo%2F Will Americans get “quality time” with proposed health care legislation before it passes? Some say no: The Senate Finance Committee recently turned back an effort to put Chairman Max Baucus’ bill online for 72 hours before the committee’s vote. The Committee is on the wrong side of history. Transparency shifts power away from the center, so it’s favored by those out of power. It’s no wonder that Republican representative John Culberson, a member of the minority party, is putting H.R. 3400 (a significant health care bill) online for comment, using a tool called SharedBook. Transparency won’t be a gift from government. It is something we have to take. That’s why I think the action lies in private efforts like OpenCongress, GovTrack, and (... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828180 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:43:28 +0100 2828180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823955&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F9d_QjFkWqlY%2F As Michael Cannon discussed in an earlier post, the White House is trying to claim that health care “reform” does not mean higher taxes. This is a two-pronged issue. First, there is a mandate to purchase health insurance. Second, there is a tax (the White House calls it a fee) on people who fail to purchase a policy. The White House claims this mandate is akin to state-level requirements for the purchase of health insurance, and that the newly-insured people will be getting some value (a health insurance policy) in exchange for their money. These assertions are defensible, but that does not change the fact that a tax is being imposed. It might be plausible to argue that the mandate is not a tax if the value of the insurance policy to the individual was equal to the cost. But ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823955 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:45:48 +0100 2823955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823966&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FmOxA_hWb6k4%2F While there are many choice tidbits to relate from Tuesday’s hearings on PATRIOT Act reform at the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution—not least the fellow who had to be wrestled from the room, literally kicking and screaming, after he tried to stand and interrupt with a complaint about alleged FBI violations of his civil rights—I’ll just relate a novel theory of the Fourth Amendment advanced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). The ACLU’s Mike German, a former FBI agent turned surveillance policy expert, was explaining that it’s hard to know whether expansive surveillance powers are being abused, they’re mostly used in secret and deployed via third-parties like financial institutions and telecoms, who have little incentive to raise ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823966 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:46:45 +0100 2823966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2809661&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FyN-3L7yKovg%2F Last night I received a press release from the National Republican Senatorial Committee entitled “Lincoln Votes to Protect Millions in Taxpayer Funds for Little-Used Pennsylvania Airport.”  Lincoln would be Arkansas Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln.  According to the NRSC press release: In a remarkable vote on the Senate floor this afternoon, U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) made clear that despite rising federal deficits and a record national debt, she still stands firmly on the side of more wasteful Washington spending.  Lincoln today helped defeat an amendment, offered by U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), to the annual transportation appropriations bill that would end taxpayer subsidies for the John Murtha Airport, a little used 650-acre facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvan... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2809661 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:39:15 +0100 2809661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807575&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FOR0nsVjEuGI%2F A new T-shirt for Senator Baucus: I worked for six months with half a dozen members of the Senate Finance Committee, and all I got was this lousy 223-page summary of what I hope the new health care bill will look like. Why should evidence even matter in education policy? I mean, we’re doing this for the children. Videos reveal tax-funded organization being used to help those who want to open a brothel and illegally bring underage girls into the United States as “sex workers.” Meet the two 20-something who exposed it. It’s time to narrowly define the mission in Afghanistan. “The United States does not have the patience, cultural knowledge or legitimacy to transform what is a deeply divided, poverty stricken, tribal-based society into a self-sufficient, n... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807575 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:31:32 +0100 2807575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2803854&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2009%2F09%2Fthe-chairmans-mark-good-ideas-and-potentially-fatal-flaws.html By ROGER COLLIER So, at long last, Senator Max Baucus has released his Chairman’s Mark draft health care reform bill for discussion by the full Senate Finance Committee. The 223-page draft bill is generally consistent with the “Framework for a... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2803854 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2803854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793137&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fusr6_D_mguM%2F That’s my favorite placard from the Washington tea party protests on Saturday. No Child Left a Dime underlines perhaps the central concern of the protesters — the ongoing massive fiscal irresponsibility in Washington by both parties. We’ve got deficits of more more than $1 trillion for years to come. Federal debt will approach World War Two levels within a decade. Even so, the Democrats are trying to ram through a $1 trillion health care expansion, and the head of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, is defending against any cuts to Medicare, the program that is the single biggest threat to taxpayers. People are marching not just because Obama and the Democrats are scaring their pants off, but because most Republicans in positions of power are spen... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793137 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:42:55 +0100 2793137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793253&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F09%2F11%2Fhit-policy-committee-meeting-on-certified-ehr%2F I’ve been meaning to post about the HIT Policy Committee meeting for a month or so now. The reason I didn’t is that when I post about things like this, I like to make sure that I’ve had a chance to digest the information and provide some thoughtful analysis and commentary on what’s happening. Of course, thoughtful analysis and commentary takes a lot more work and time and so thus the delay. Enough about me… Yes, on August 14th the HIT Policy Committee met to mostly talk about what certified EHR will mean under ARRA. You can see the full powerpoint from the presentation here. Luckily, CCHIT (I guess they have an interest in the topic) wrote a pretty good summary of what was said about EHR certification at the meeting (with a few of my own modifications): There... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793253 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:15:14 +0100 2793253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734000&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fv%2FsM9KcAS5_K4%26amp%3Brel%3D1%26amp%3Bcolor1%3Dd6d6d6%26amp%3Bcolor2%3Df0f0f0%26amp%3Bborder%3D0%26amp%3Bfs%3D1%26amp%3Bhl%3Den%26amp%3Bautoplay%3D0%26amp%3Bshowinfo%3D0%26amp%3Biv_load_policy%3D3%26amp%3Bshowsearch%3D0 One of my favorite movies is 1776, the musical. In July 1776, Congress was working on the Declaration of Independence. A rather controversial undertaking with far reaching implications. In July 2009, Congress was tackling another controversial undertaking with far reaching implications. I am speaking of course about health reform. The parallels, and lessons learned, are striking. Today, health reform has its Gang of Six (Senators Max Baucus, Jeff Bingaman, Kent Conrad, Charles Grassley, Michael Enzi, and Olympia Snowe). Congress in 1776 appointed a Committee of Five (John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman) to assist with the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. President Obama observed that during July and August “everybody in Washington ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734000 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:56:51 +0100 2734000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2662558&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FgemlcZp0t6s%2F A relatively new reader of EMR and HIPAA, Michael Archuleta, sent me his notes from the Utah Medical Group Managers Association 6/25/09 where the keynote speaker was Marc Probst. For those that don’t know, Marc Probst is the CIO of Intermountain Healthcare (IHC). IHC is huge in Utah and I think it does pretty well in a number of surrounding states as well. Plus, Marc Probst is also a member of the HIT Policy Committee. You may remember that I’ve talked about Marc Probst on EMR and HIPAA a few times before. Anyway, I found some of the points that Michael captured interesting. I guess in the end I was interested to hear what Marc Probst was telling people. Michael Archuleta’s notes are as follows (published with permission and the emphasis added was mine to highlight some i... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2662558 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:45:55 +0100 2662558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2786012&cid=t_181745_109_f&fid=38951&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarlatpsychiatry.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fsenate-cme-hearing-impressions-more.html There's no question that the recent Senate hearing on CME was stacked against industry funding of CME, but that's because from the standpoint of the American public and Congress, the practice is slimy and wrong. Senator Mel Martinez, a republican from Florida, summed up the mood best with his perplexed question (I'm paraphrasing here): "Wouldn't it just be better if doctors paid for their own continuing medical education?" As a lawyer, he said, he always paid for his own CLE (continuing legal education) and he was never paid to give CLE lectures.To those of us who have lived and breathed this issue for years, his question came across as innocent, but in fact it hit the obvious point, and surely summarized the view of most Americans.Tom Stossel, to his credit, came out swinging in a ring wh... The Carlat Psychiatry Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2786012 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:58:00 +0100 2786012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2653705&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2009%2F07%2Fhealth-care-reform-coming-out-of-senate-finance.html By ROBERT LASZEWSKI We’ve been getting lots of news these past few days leading to optimism that a bipartisan health care bill will soon emerge from discussions between the “Coalition of the Willing.” That term refers to the three Republicans... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2653705 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2653705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2786015&cid=t_181745_109_f&fid=38951&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarlatpsychiatry.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fsenator-kohl-targets-commercial-cme-in.html It was only a matter of time before the U.S. Senate decided to shine a national spotlight on one of the more corrupt sectors of the nation's economy: industry-sponsored continuing medical education (CME).Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wis) has just issued this press release announcing a hearing entitled "Medical Research and Education: Higher Learning or Higher Earning?" It will take place Wednesday, July 29, at 2 p.m., at 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington DC. You can view it live on the web by going to the Special Committee on Aging's website. To view the all-star line up of those providing testimony, see the press release link above. I think it is safe to say that there will be some very strong testimony about the plethora of sham "educational" programs that are in reality marketing... The Carlat Psychiatry Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2786015 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:46:00 +0100 2786015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2637881&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FMOdN01pvbl8%2F Yes, I’m still on my kick of asking the question of why we’re making the definition of meaningful use so complicated. Certainly I could make an ambitious goal of every doctor having to document everything granularly and electronically and share everything with everyone so we give the best care possible to patients. The reality is that if you do that, then no one will care about meaningful use and the EHR stimulus money will go unspent. Certainly the above is a bit of an exaggeration, but I can’t help but ask myself if the definition of “meaningful use” isn’t so ambitious that the above will be the net result (at least for small practices) of the current definition of meaningful use. It’s a little bit wrong for me to say it’s too complex, but ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2637881 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:12:26 +0100 2637881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630206&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FWqNz6OcJbAw%2F Now that the HIT Policy committee has marginalized CCHIT EHR certification and proposed that HHS define the EHR certification criteria, it only seems reasonable to ask whether HHS will do a much better job than CCHIT did at defining “certified EHR.” What has me a little concerned is the process the work they’ve done in creating the meaningful use guidelines. They are too complicated and I believe will leave us with a lot of unhappy doctors. It makes me wonder if the same will happen with defining the EHR certification criteria. A few things do give me hope. First, the HIT policy committee’s suggestion is for the EHR certification to remain focused on just those things which are applicable to the EHR stimulus money. This should provide HHS with an advantage over CCHI... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630206 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:48:10 +0100 2630206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630051&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJ3w8Wlgi7cs%2F Having sat through the entire gavel-to-gavel coverage of last week’s confirmation hearings, I still don’t know if I would vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor if I were a senator, I really don’t. Deciding how to vote on this is more than a simple matter of deciding whether she is “qualified” to sit on the Supreme Court—which is hard enough given there is no fixed qualification standard. It also has to include how much deference you want to give the president, in general terms but also taking into account that Sotomayor will likely be confirmed and you want to position yourself politically for the next nominee. And it has to include, of course, how your constituents feel; while it’s cowardly to follow opinion polls blindly, you are accountable to those who sent you to Washingto... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630051 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:04:59 +0100 2630051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621868&cid=t_181745_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FHFwEeX4u7Cc%2F For anyone who grew up listening to the Beastie Boys, get out all your positive energy and focus it at Adam Yauch. A cancerous tumor has been found on his left salivary gland. He is expected to make a full recovery, but I always believe a little positively goes a long way, don’t you? I know Adam and the Beastie Boys have a lot of fans who are pulling for Adam’s return to the band. The Beastie Boys had planned to go out on tour, and to release an album titled Hot Sauce Committee Part 1. They will wait until Adam is healthy and able to play with the band before continuing. Image: Zuma Press Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree Beastie Boy Has Cancer (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621868 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:14:25 +0100 2621868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621884&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FGsC5Ed1Fxbg%2F I posted previously a short summary of the changes to meaningful use in the final meaningful use matrix presented at the HIT policy committee meeting. As I’ve thought about these changes this weekend, I couldn’t help but remember the major problem I (and many others) had with the original meaningful use criteria being too complex. My argument then was that the 22 meaningful use criteria as a collective whole were too much for a doctor’s office to complete in the current time frame. Unfortunately, it seems that the HIT policy committee has chosen to only make slight simplifications of the meaningful use matrix for hospitals (For inpatient CPOE, only 10% of orders must be entered electronically) and has actually added to the EMR requirements for ambulatory clinics. I do thi... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621884 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:10:14 +0100 2621884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2615394&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FnQZKzRDsdnY%2F I read that the HIT Policy Committee meeting that happened on July 16, 2009 was a “big one” according to Chilmark Research. He said that “the committee went from hearing revised recommendations for Meaningful Use, to recommendations from the HIE workgroup and lastly recommendations regarding certification processes for EHRs.” I was unfortunately tied up doing a presentation on ARRA EHR Stimulus money and so I wasn’t able to follow the event live (or on one of my twitter accounts). I know that Chilmark is planning to do some posts and I’m looking forward to those. I also found this short summary from John Halamka about the changes to meaningful use in the final definition: 1. For inpatient CPOE, only 10% of orders must be entered electronically 2. For pro... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2615394 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:37:16 +0100 2615394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2601954&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_ORc5GK6Yg4%2F After yesterday’s bloviating—much reduced by Joe Biden’s departure from the committee—today we’ve gotten into some good stuff. Sotomayor is obviously well-prepared. She speaks in measured, dulcet tones, showing little emotion. Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy gave her the opportunity to explain herself on Ricci and on the “wise Latina” comment—which she has repeated in public speeches at least six times going back 15 years—and then built up the nominee’s background as a prosecutor and trial judge. Ranking Member Sessions and Senator Hatch (himself a former chairman of the committee) pounded Sotomayor on Ricci, asking her how she reconciles a race-based decision with clear Supreme Court precedent—and how her panel decided the case in two paragraphs despite the weight... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2601954 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:28:56 +0100 2601954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591447&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2009%2F07%2Fhas-harry-reid-torpedoed-reform.html By ROGER COLLIER Health care reform ran into new BIG trouble this week with a series of comments from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. On Tuesday, Reid leapt into the middle of reform negotiations, telling Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591447 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2591447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556087&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FrdZiIACZYC4%2F Fed Chairman Bernanke’s term as Chair ends in January 2010. So far President Obama has offered Bernanke praise for his performance, but little else. After last week’s House Oversight Committee hearing focusing on Bernanke’s role in Bank of America’s purchase of Merrill Lynch, it is now readily apparent that the Chairman has few supporters on Capitol Hill. While his nomination will not be subject to the approval of the House of Representatives, or any of its Committees, the Senate Banking Committee’s reaction to Treasury Secretary Geithner’s plan to extend the Fed’s power serves as a useful proxy in gauging that Committee’s view of the Fed’s recent performance. Several recent polls show President Obama to be broadly popular with the American public, while the public holds ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556087 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:38:24 +0100 2556087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2553115&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F06%2F25%2Fproviding-feedback-on-meaningful-use-matrix%2F I’d been meaning to post this when the meaningful use document came out, but didn’t get around to it until now. ONC has asked for public comment on the preliminary definition of “meaningful use” as presented by the HIT policy Committee (see the Meaningful Use Matrix). Submissions are due by 5 pm est June 26, 2009, and should be no more than 2,000 words in length (per the HHS HIT website). I encourage everyone involved in Helathcare IT to submit their thoughts on meaningful use. I’m a big believer in leveraging the knowledge of crowds to make something better. I believe that if you amass enough smart people on something, you usually get a pretty good result. Assuming that they listen. I’d also certainly welcome people to post their submissions in the comm... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2553115 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:52:45 +0100 2553115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2517208&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FXg6FQFEC_JE%2F Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) has announced that he has reached agreement on scoring a series of options that will reduce the cost of his health care reform bill to just $1 trillion over the next 10 years. Whew. Now we can all rest easy. Still, no agreement on the tax increases needed to pay that $1 trillion though. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2517208 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:02:18 +0100 2517208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2553116&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F06%2F24%2Fmeaningful-use-matrix-from-hit-policy-committee%2F As I first looked over the meaningful use matrix (PDF) that was created by the HIT policy committee I thought that the requirements listed were reasonable and doable. Then, I realized that I was only looking at the first page of a seven page document. For now, I’ve focused on looking at the 2011 objectives. I wanted to really focus on it since that’s the bar with the most stringent timeline for those wanting to get the EHR stimulus money from ARRA. I’ll talk in more detail about the various items in a future post. However, as I look through the list of objectives to show meaningful use for 2011, I don’t think any of them sound unreasonable. On their own, each objective listed seems to be something that is completely doable. I might question why some are on the list,... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2553116 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:07:10 +0100 2553116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523212&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FSaiG6cX0Wv8%2F I participated in both of the CCHIT “town calls” that happened this morning and yesterday. I did miss the beginning of today’s call, but looking through the slides it looks like the presentation was more or less the same for both town calls. You can see the slides from both CCHIT presentations here. Between this and the HIT Policy Committee meeting yesterday there’s almost too much to digest. So, in my regular fashion I’m going to break down my analysis into lots of bite sized chunks. The biggest change that was proposed/announced during the CCHIT meeting was three EHR certification pathways: EHR-C: Certified EHR Comprehensive EHR-M: Certified EHR Module EHR-S: Certified EHR Site Basically, the EHR-C is the same certification that CCHIT has been doing since th... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523212 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:26:45 +0100 2523212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2522880&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2F60-seconds-for-breastfeeding-advocacy%2F Calling all United States readers! It only takes 60 seconds to use this easy tool from the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) to ask your representatives and senators to co-sponsor the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009. Simply type in your name and address including zip code+4 and the USBC does the rest! Here are more details in an email you can forward to ask your friends to use the tool as well. “Dear Friend: On June 11, Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (NY) and Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act in both houses of Congress. This is the first time the bill has been introduced in the Senate. Forty-seven states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands already have enacted various laws protecting breastfeeding mother... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2522880 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:09:12 +0100 2522880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473623&cid=t_181745_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2Ffedg2KK4tNM%2F The healthcare IT airwaves are abuzz with the date of June 16th.  That’s the date that they say we should get more indications on how the government is going to define the all important term “meaningful use.”  Here’s a short quote from John Halamka about the meaningful use dates: On June 16th, the Quality workgroup will receive meaningful use guidance from the HIT Policy Committee. We’ll work hard over the following week and will present our strawman standards, implementation guidance, and certification criteria at the June 23rd public meeting of the HIT Standards Workgroup. We’ll continue to refine the matrix in July and complete our work in August. John Halamka also described the format for the HIT Standards Committee’s meaningful use document:... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473623 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:07:15 +0100 2473623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473204&cid=t_181745_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fj28OcieqtwE%2F Today Congressman Spencer Bachus, along with several of the Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee, offered a plan for reforming our financial system and ending future government bailouts of the financial sector At the heart of the financial crisis has been the Federal Reserve’s willingness to invoke its powers under Paragraph 13-3 of the Federal Reserve Act to bail out firms like Bear Stearns and AIG — all without a single vote from Congress or any form of public debate. Almost 10 months after the initial AIG bailout by the Fed, there is still no plan for resolving that firm, and no strategy for recovering the taxpayers investment. While some might pretend that the Fed puts no taxpayer funds at risk under the use its 13-3 powers, it is the American taxpayer who u... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473204 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:41:03 +0100 2473204