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 'fee'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:03:59 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181798&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-features-of-a-bundled-payment-for-care-improvement-project%2F2011.09.01 Many health care provider organizations have not been overly eager to jump onto the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) bandwagon, citing high startup costs and uncertain returns on investment given the complexity of the program.  Well, recently, the CMS Center for Innovation has announced the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement initiative.  This initiative incorporates elements of earlier CMS demonstration projects — the gainsharing demos and ACE (acute care episode) bundled payments demonstrations which the HealthBlawger has helped a number of clients around the country qualify for in the past — and builds on the broad authority granted to the CMS Center for Innovation under health reform. The advantages to proceeding with a Bundled Payment for Care Improvement project inc... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181798 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:00:08 +0100 5181798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008200&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-massachusetts-experiment-analyzed-provider-payments-based-on-their-negotiating-strength-not-quality-of-care%2F2011.07.06 Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley released her office’s second annual report, An Examination of Health Care Cost Trends and Drivers (PDF; see also press release), which contains a wealth of critical data analysis — and also highlights how little we know about certain things — providing some important context for the discussion of the proposed Part III of Massachusetts health reform, a bill filed by Governor Patrick which would create all-payor ACOs and a system of global payments. At this late date, few would argue against a move a way from fee-for-service reimbursement for health care, or adding quality metrics to the mix, and tying financial rewards to providers to their performance measured against these metrics.  (Consider the Massachusetts Blue Cross Blu... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008200 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 23:00:08 +0100 5008200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902406&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6ndcmZQKaWo%2F By Ilya ShapiroIt hasn’t happened that much under my watch, but it’s gratifying when the Supreme Court overwhelmingly endorses Cato’s position in a given case.  Not a 5-4 split dependent on what Justice Kennedy had for breakfast or some narrow “win” that doesn’t reach the issues we care most about, but a solid across-the-board victory for our first principles. But such was the case in Justice Kagan’s (!) opinion for a unanimous Court in Fox v. Vice, in which Cato filed a brief last December that I discussed here: Private lawsuits challenging government violation of civil rights are notoriously difficult and expensive to bring and win. To address such impediments to the vindication of civil rights, Congress passed a law that, among other thi... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902406 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:21:59 +0100 4902406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615190&cid=t_152394_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F19%2Fwhat-hurts-your-facebook-friends%2F With Facebook and other social networking websites such an integral part of many people’s lives, you have to wonder — what kinds of things do people do that hurt their social networking “friends?” It’s a brave new world online, where a misstep on a social networking website like Facebook can result in hurt feelings between real friends. A researcher was interested in figuring out (Tokunaga, 2011) which of our online behaviors on social networking websites were more likely to lead to the greatest hurt feelings amongst our online “friends.” He found three specific things a person can do that can lead to hurt feelings on sites such as Facebook and Myspace. Here’s what he found out. The researcher’s sample consisted of 197 undergraduate st... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615190 Sat, 19 Mar 2011 11:51:43 +0100 4615190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592397&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftalk-is-cheap-unless-its-talk-therapy%2F2011.03.14 Gardiner Harris had a [recent] article in the New York Times called “Talk Doesn’t Pay So Psychiatrists Turn to Drug Therapy.” The article is a twist on an old Shrink Rap topic, “Why your Shrink Doesn’t Take Your Insurance.” Only in this article the shrink does take your insurance, he just doesn’t talk to you. With his life and second marriage falling apart, a man said he needed help. But the psychiatrist, Dr. Donald Levin, stopped him and said: “Hold it. I’m not your therapist. I could adjust your medications, but I don’t think that’s appropriate.” Dr. Levin sees 40 patients a day. And he’ss 68 years old. This guy is amazing. There’s no way I could see 40 patients a day for even one day. He’s worried about his retireme... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592397 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4592397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4167961&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Froadmap-for-new-physicians-how-to-avoid-fraud-and-abuse%2F2010.11.15 In October, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report on Fraud and Abuse Training in Medical Education, finding that 44 percent of medical schools reported giving some instruction in the anti-kickback statute and related laws, even though they weren’t legally required to do so. (As an aside, do we really live in such a nanny state? Over half of all medical schools don’t teach their students anything about this issue — because nobody’s making them — even though it is an issue that looms large in the practice of medicine.) On a more positive note, about two-thirds of institutions with residency programs instruct participants on the law, and 90 percent of all medical schools and training programs expressed an interest in having dsome instructional... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4167961 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:00:16 +0100 4167961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082093&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Facos-the-gathering-storm%2F2010.10.18 Those of you who’ve read this blog for any length of time know that I have been a pretty strong advocate for healthcare reform. This has been primarily motivated by my passion for universal coverage, but also with my frustration with the cost of the current healthcare system, the generally crummy outcomes, and the overall level of fragmentation in the whole affair. Even today, I had to repeat blood tests on a cancer patient who came to the ER. He had had blood tests at the cancer center ACROSS THE STREET before presenting, but, so sorry, our computers don’t talk to theirs and it’s after 5pm now, so forget about getting those results.  So it’s with a mixture of enthusiasm and dread that I consider the coming onslaught of accountable care organizations (ACOs). What ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082093 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4082093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031244&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Faccountable-care-organizations-global-payments-to-replace-fee-for-service%2F2010.10.04 Federal health reform and Massachusetts health reform may find a point of convergence in the development of ACOs (accountable care organizations) and the payment mechanisms that will make them tick (or hum, or do whatever it is that we want them to do).  The Federales will be holding a listening session next week on the issues raised by ACOs across the HHS and FTC landscapes.  Meanwhile, back in Boston, the inner circle of health care regulators and the regulated community are busy hashing out an approach to global payments that could be ready for prime time by January 1. The need for payment reform in Massachusetts has been well-documented — see the health care market report from the AG’s office, as well as an earlier report on the imperative to keep insurance risk on insure... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031244 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:00:22 +0100 4031244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3994341&cid=t_152394_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FFSDEMvk3Izg%2F Last week, the FDA held its first open meeting about user fees for generic drug makers, an issue that has been around nearly 20 years. The session came as generics continue to grow in popularity – nearly 75 percent of prescription drug volume was generic last year – and the FDA grapples with an inability to approve drugs fast enough. However, the backlog appears to be less of a priority to the agency than having funds to conduct overseas plant inspections. Meanwhile, the generic industry is split – the usual trade group was there along with a new coalition representing a few big players, but Mylan Laboratories spoke for itself. And so we spoke with Ramsey Baghdadi of Provision Policy, a healthcare analysis firm that provides insights to Concept Capital and The RPM Report, about his i... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3994341 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:24:17 +0100 3994341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3902901&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprimary-care-doctors-rewarded-for-time-with-patients%2F2010.08.25 Abraham Verghese is a professor of medicine at Stanford University and one of the most articulate physician-writers today. He recently wrote an op-ed highlighting primary care’s plight, and focuses on the scarcity of time: The science of medicine has never been more potent – incredible advances and great benefits realized in the treatment of individual diseases – yet the public perception of us physicians is often one of a harried individual more interested in the virtual construct of the patient in the computer than in the living, breathing patient seated on the exam table.Time is the scarcest commodity of all. Patients, particularly when it comes to their routine, day-to-day care, want a physician who has time to understand them as people first, and then as patients. It’s bee... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3902901 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:00:27 +0100 3902901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3761430&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fif-doctors-billed-like-lawyers%2F2010.07.16 From a discussion thread on Medscape (registration required) posted in response to comments on my earlier post entitled “If Lawyers Billed Like Doctors:” Mr. Clark, it appears quite likely you are having a heart attack and will require my services. I will need a retainer of $1,500 via either cash or cashier’s check. This does not cover any treatment, but merely retains me as your physician. Then you will need to deposit $5,000 into an escrow account. I will bill this account for services rendered. My charges are $400 an hour and I bill in 15-minute increments. Which means if it takes me 5 minutes to review your EKG, I still bill for 15 minutes. When the escrow account reaches $1,000 you will need to deposit an additional $4,000 into the account or I will cease to be your ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3761430 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:00 +0100 3761430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625589&cid=t_152394_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F02%2Fdid-you-think-that-apa-mandatory-fee-was-mandatory%2F You would think psychologists would have a unique understanding and appreciation of the power of human language and the meaning of words. Words shape perception, and psychologists not only study human perception, but also work to help change it when people are in need. So in what world does a “mandatory assessment” fee not actually mean “mandatory” (as in, required)? Apparently, in the world of the American Psychological Association. Since its inception, many, if not most, APA members have thought it was a required payment if you were a practicing clinical psychologist. It’s no wonder — the APA has referred to the fee as a “mandatory assessment” for the majority of that time. For most of us, that means it is required and obligatory. (If you h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625589 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:40:05 +0100 3625589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185313&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FEz0MCtN_mIk%2F By Jim HarperLast week, President Obama unveiled a plan for something he called a ”Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee,” to be fleshed out in his forthcoming budget proposal. He will seek to have some set of financial services providers pay money to the government as comeuppance for the recent financial crisis and government involvement in trying to remedy it. The naming of the “Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee” is a fairly conspicuous attempt to avoid calling it a tax. (My colleague David Boaz points out the sheer number of taxes the Obama administration and its allies are considering.) But it’s fairly clear that this thing is, indeed, a tax. The galaxy of government revenues has a number of different planets—taxes, fees, penalties, and a few... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185313 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:06:54 +0100 3185313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916081&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FziYjmUwKyB8%2F According to reports, executives from bailed out companies Citigroup, Bank of America, GM, Chrysler, GMAC, Chrysler Financial and AIG are going to see major pay cuts this year, which will be enforced by the president’s “pay czar,” Kenneth R. Feinberg. WaPo: NEW YORK — The Obama administration plans to order companies that have received exceptionally large amounts of bailout money from the government to slash compensation for their highest-paid executives by about half on average, according to people familiar with the long-awaited decision. The administration will also curtail many corporate perks, including the use of corporate jets for personal travel, chauffeured drivers and country club fee reimbursement, people familiar with the matter have said. Individual per... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916081 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:30:50 +0100 2916081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570385&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRXqlqo8xVqY%2F Technically, it was the companies which raised their fees.  But they did so to anticipate new legislative restrictions on fees taking effect.  Congress wanted to cut costs for consumers, but ended up costing them instead. Reports the Washington Post: Credit card companies are raising interest rates and fees seven months before new rules go into effect that will limit their ability to do so, much to the irritation of Congress and consumer advocates. Chase, for instance, will raise the minimum payment required of some of its customers from 2 percent to 5 percent of the statement balance starting in August. Chase and Discover have increased the maximum fee charged for transferring a balance to the card to 5 percent of the amount, up from 3 and 4 percent, respectively. Bank of America last ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570385 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:22:23 +0100 2570385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075856&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D71 When a couple banks their infant’s cord blood, they usually sign a contract that either includes 20 years of cord blood storage or guarantees the annual storage fee will not change for a set number of years.  Since the technology for cord blood expansion is moving rapidly, most people expect to store their infant’s cord blood after that time.  They want to know what happens to their cord blood storage fee after that agreement terminates. Most cord blood companies will charge the annual fee that they are charging new families at that time.  Because of this, while you will not be able to tell what the fee will be, you will be able to tell whether it will be in the high range of storage fees or the low range. Look at the bank’s current storage fee.  If it is on the high ... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075856 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:45:35 +0100 2075856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1939024&cid=t_152394_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F11%2F05%2Fcan-doctors-be-happy-part-1%2F Pages: 1 2 Next »     Single Page I don’t think I know any doctors who are happy in their work. Time magazine tells us that 44 percent of physicians say they are “very happy,” a significant difference from the 67 percent of clergy who say they are happy. Doctors are right down there with lawyers, accountants, and dentists. But I have a hard time believing that 44 percent anyway. I’m a psychologist, and I know a lot of doctors, many of whom are making plans to leave the profession ASAP. Some of this is a reflection of world-wide trends. Though physicians generally make a decent income, in the last few years there’s been an increasing recognition — and good research evidence — that advances in personal prosperity may actually lead to unhappiness... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939024 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:13:48 +0100 1939024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1915067&cid=t_152394_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F433995034%2F It is hardly a secret that the FDA is failing to keep up with deadlines for reviewing drugs, and the agency continues to say that inadequate staffing is to blame. In fact, here is a recent list of a dozen missed deadlines. And more people are starting to keep track. For instance, Corey Davis, an analyst at Natixis Bleichroeder, counts at least 15 drugs so far this year where decisions were not made on time, which leaves companies and investors “hanging,” because “ambiguity breeds weakness” in drugmakers’ stock prices, he tells Bloomberg News. “To keep the companies and investors in limbo is completely unprecedented on this scale,” Davis says. “I’m sure there but have been some, but I can’t think of even one high-profile PDUFA date... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1915067 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:29:56 +0100 1915067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883684&cid=t_152394_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fvitamin-d-recommendations-doubled-for-infants-children-and-adolescents%2F This post is important for all pregnant women, mothers who are breast feeding their babies and for parents of infants, children and adolescents (please forward it to your family, friends and others as appropriate). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has revised their recommendations for vitamin D supplementation of the diets of all newborns, infants, children and adolescents. The new recommendations (detailed below) basically double the amount of vitamin D recommended from 200 IU/day to 400 IU/day. The AAP’s recommendations were described in an October 13, 2008 press release as well as in a more detailed free online Clinical Report. The new recommendations come at a time when the importance of vitamin D in maintaining health and preventing disease, and the near ubiquity of vita... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883684 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:34:16 +0100 1883684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1726338&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F08%2F22%2Ftipping-the-scales-you-may-be-paying-up%2F Bad news if you’re overweight and are employed by the state of Alabama. If you don’t ease up on your Southern-fried favorites and hit the gym a bit more, you’ll end up paying $25 a month for insurance that is otherwise free to the un-fat folk. That’s right, in an unprecedented move to encourage state workers to slim down, Alabama will be the first state in the nation to charge overweight workers who don’t make the effort to lighten up. This $25 insurance fee will join the already-in-place $24/month fee that ‘Bama employees are charged for smoking. The state says it’s seen some success in getting their workers to quit lighting up, so they reason this new fee will encourage thicker employees to skinny up. Alabama is, after all, ranked second in the ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1726338 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:37:35 +0100 1726338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1677365&cid=t_152394_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F355247464%2F The FDA has established its fiscal year 2009 user fee rates, which were established under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the FDA Law blog notes. And here are a few details - rates have been set at $1.24 million for an application requiring clinical data, and one-half of a full application fee, or $623,600, for an application not requiring clinical data and a supplement requiring clinical data. As the chart indicates, this amounts to a 6 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677365 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:36:29 +0100 1677365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1334570&cid=t_152394_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F259754995%2F A study released this week found that the Prescription Drug and User Fee Act led to more recalls and an increased likelihood that a drug will receive a Black Box warning. The findings confirmed criticism that PDUFA is to blame for pushing the FDA to rush approvals and causing unanticipated safety problems. The study in The New England Journal of Medicine examined outcomes for drugs approved two months prior to their PDUFA dates and those approved at other times and found that after PDUFA, approvals were grouped close to deadlines set by the law. “You see all this piling ahead of the deadlines, and you have the piling of error,” said co-author Dan Carpenter of Harvard University. But the FDA disputes the findings and is sending a letter to the NEJM, according to The Wall Street Journal... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1334570 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:18:23 +0100 1334570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1329201&cid=t_152394_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F258555793%2F The Prescription Drug and User Fee Act is regularly blamed for pushing the FDA to rush approvals and causing unanticipated safety problems. And so researchers examined outcomes for drugs approved two months prior to their PDUFA dates and those approved at other times and guess what they found? The PDUFA system led to more recalls and an increased likelihood that a drug will receive a Black Box warning, according to the study in The New England Journal of Medicine. You may recall that PDUFA was begun in 1992 and ushered in a new era in which drugmakers pay so-called users fees to the FDA to speed the approval process. Since then, however, the system has been widely criticized for turning the FDA into an arm of industry that focuses more attention on approval and less on safety. The research... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1329201 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:18:45 +0100 1329201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1909235&cid=t_152394_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2F286469538%2Fbest-tubal-reversal-ivf.html Tubal ligation was intended to be permanent. Circumstances can change and women with tied tubes may want more children. When this happens, they often are told that treatment by in vitro fertilization (IVF) is their only option. In reality, tubal reversal is the best choice. Comparing Tubal Reversal and IVF Once the fallopian tubes are repaired by tubal reversal surgery, there is a chance [...] (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1909235 Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:57:34 +0100 1909235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=885415&cid=t_152394_134_f&fid=35152&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsstrumello.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fdangerous-prescription-renewing-fdas.html The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has become too cozy with the industry it regulates, and it looks like that problem is likely to get worse. Right now, Congressional lawmakers are pushing to reach a final agreement this week on legislation that would supposedly help fund the FDA for the next 5 years (by having much of the Agency's budget being funded by the companies it is supposed to be regulating). The current law expires Sept. 30. Last week FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach said the FDA would have to start the process of sending out so-called reduction-in-force notices to up to 2,000 employees if an agreement on new FDA legislation isn't reached by Sept. 21. The user fees help fund the FDA along with some TINY annual appropriations from Congress. Put another way, if the user-f... Scott's Web Log blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=885415 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:25:00 +0100 885415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=735516&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F15%2Fhouse-passes-bill-on-drug-safety-senate-version-kinder-to-drugm%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Adult Onset, Drugs, Daily NewsComplaints of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) abound lately, especially after the Vioxx and Avandia scares. In response to criticism of FDA's handling of serious side effects emerging after problem drugs hit the market, the U.S. House of Representatives voted last Wednesday to give the agency more power over drugmakers. Passing 403-16, the legislation allows the FDA to require post-approval studies of new prescription drugs or order additional warnings. Drugmakers don't always listen, so the new law allows the FDA to levy heavier fines. $50 million for companies failng to follow FDA directives, and a potential $250,000 fine for misleading/false consumer advertising. I am always amazed when the television voiceover speedily r... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=735516 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 735516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=611444&cid=t_152394_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fnhs-tesco-and-ten-year-old-children.html Many years ago, more years ago than I care to remember, Wat Tyler (Burning our Money), James Bartholomew (The Welfare State We’re In) and Dr Crippen were at the same College at the same university. This was before blogging, before the internet, before even word processors. Dr Crippen used a typewriter and Snowpaque. Lots of Snowpaque.It is a strange co-incidence – and it is a co-incidence, for there has been no discussion - that many years later there should be a meeting of minds when each of us considers ten years of mismanagement of the NHS, culminating in the recent MTAS debacle.The NHS BLOG DOCTOR position has always been that:A reasonable standard of health care should be available to all within a reasonable period of time without regard to income or status.Nothing controversial t... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=611444 Wed, 16 May 2007 10:17:00 +0100 611444