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 'herb'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:17:31 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051240&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Ff0rmi8u5dV8%2F The US Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bipartisan bill that would limit pay-to-delay settlements that are designed to keep lower-cost generic drugs off the market for extended periods. The move comes after the US Supreme Court declined to review one hotly contested deal (see this) amid repeated cries from the US Federal Trade Commission that settlements are anticompetitive and costly to consumers. Under the bill, which is called the Preserve Access to Affordable Generic Drugs Act, brand-name drugmakers would be deterred from settling patent disputes by paying generic rivals in exchange for promises that a copycat version of its drug will be kept off the market. The deals would be considered illegal and the FTC would be given the authority to stop the agreements (read the legislat... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051240 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:04:25 +0100 5051240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862921&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbtRrdLyDk40%2F Earlier this year, a scandal erupted after KV Pharmaceuticals won approval for its Makena drug to prevent premature births and charged $1,500 for treatment, an eye-popping increase for a med that was previously available from compounding pharmacies for $10 to $20 for decades. The move was possible because the FDA approval came with marketing exclusivity under the Orphan Drug Act (see here). The episode prompted accusations of price gouging and forced the FDA to decline to pursue compounders (read this and this). Moreover, the red-hot controversy focused renewed attention on older drugs that are repurposed, win FDA approval and gain a lock on the market that allows prices to be increased dramatically. And so Herb Kohl, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and three members of t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862921 Wed, 25 May 2011 12:03:41 +0100 4862921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841981&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fm8q5cglpFYs%2F For all the intriguing evidence that emerges from product-liability litigation about potential hazards of different medicines, still more documents are often kept under wraps. Why? Drugmakers often succeed in convincing judges to issue protective orders so that certain info - sometimes labeled as trade secrets - remains sealed. And attorneys for plaintiffs generally agree in order to advance the cases. However, the tactic has long riled critics who say select and crucial safety info may never reach the public. And so the US Senate Judiciary Committee today voted 12 to 6 to approve the “Sunshine in Litigation Act,” which would require judges to consider public health before granting a protective order or sealing court records and settlement agreements. You can read the text here... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841981 Thu, 19 May 2011 16:35:48 +0100 4841981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4540640&cid=t_104378_125_f&fid=34819&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FFullosseousflapsDentalBlog%2F%7E3%2FLDuDt5k5ilU%2F According to the latest PPP Poll. Favorable Vs Unfavorable: Rep. Paul Ryan 36% Vs. 35% Former Rep. Mark Neumann 24% Vs. 27% Atty. Gen. JB Van Hollen 25% Vs. 28% Former Sen. Russ Feingold 51% Vs. 39% Job Approval Vs. Disapproval: Sen Herb Kohl 50% Vs. 30% Sen Ron Johnson 32% Vs. 28% Heads Up: 52% Kohl Vs. 37% Van Hollen 49% Kohl Vs. 42% Ryan 51% Kohl Vs. 37% Neumann 51% Feingold Vs. 39% Van Hollen 49% Feingold Vs. 42% Ryan 50% Feingold Vs. 40% Neumann PPP surveyed 768 Wisconsin voters from February 24th to 27th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.5%. It has been rumored for some time that Senator Herb Kohl will retire and that defeated Senator Russ Feingold (who is still popular in the state despite being beaten by Ron Johnson last November) would try to regain a Senate seat... FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4540640 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:24:09 +0100 4540640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399818&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVytK4mo5a_A%2F A pair of US Senators have reintroduced legislation that would limit the so-called pay-to-delay deals that remain one of the hottest controversies enveloping the pharmaceutical industry. The move comes after the House and Senate last month failed to agree on an appropriations bill, which included pay-to-delay restrictions. You may recall that pay-to-delay settlements involve agreements in which brand-name and generic drugmakers settle patent disputes by exchanging a payment for a commitment to refrain from marketing a generic off the market for a set period of time. However, the Federal Trade Commission calls these deals anti-competitive and force consumers and government healthcare programs to pay high prices. A Congressional Budget Office report estimated the federal government could sav... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399818 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:11:24 +0100 4399818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245414&cid=t_104378_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1586 Claudia Schiffer The bodacious German supermodel eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea.  Maybe the tomatoes are partially responsible for her amazing looks? Lycopene, which is what makes tomatoes red, is nature’s most powerful antioxidant; studies have shown that increased lycopene consumption can lead to decreased risks of heart disease as well as certain types of cancers, including breast, prostate, and colorectal and may also lower the amount of LDL or “bad” cholesterol.  No word on whether it makes your hair blond, curly, and sexy. Tomato juice can, however,  significantly increase the presence of cell-protecting antioxidants that help ... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245414 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:13:12 +0100 4245414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183535&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FG_Zu5woRr-M%2F For several months, the Drug Enforcement Agency has been locked in a battle with a US Senator, who is incensed the DEA initiated an enforcement action that makes it virtually impossible for nurses who work in long-term care facilities to prescribe needed pain meds. The DEA says the issue is illicit drug diversion, but Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Aging, argues the move is not only illegal, but robs elderly patients of necessary treatment. Some background: for years, nurses placed orders for pain meds - such as morphine - under verbal instructions from docs, who often were not present at the time. Why? These drugs are often needed in the middle of the night or on weekends. So prescriptions were relayed to a pharmacy by phone or fax and then fill... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183535 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:58:58 +0100 4183535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013543&cid=t_104378_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=3806023&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7SvmpDcngfs%2F In yet another legislative bid to tackle pay-to-delay deals, the US Senate Appropriations Committee voted yesterday to pass the Preserve Access to Affordable Generic Drugs Act, which was included in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill reported out of the committee. A companion House bill was recently passed as part of the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the House bill would save the federal government $2.6 billion over 10 years by reducing drug costs. “The cost of brand-name drugs rose nearly ten percent last year. In contrast, the cost of generic drugs fell by nearly ten percent. At this time of spiraling health care costs, we cannot turn a blind eye to these anticompetitive backroom deals that deny consume... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3806023 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:06:17 +0100 3806023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726681&cid=t_104378_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F2_QN_YuShfc%2F Conclusion of the Pungent + Sweet = Yang Qi experiment) Part 4 (Beginning of the Sweet + Sour = Fluids experiment).  You’re on part 5, the conclusion of the Sweet + Sour = Fluids experiment, right now! Flavors Experience This section contains the experiences felt during the ingestion of each herb and pairings. Calibration Herbs The calibration process was to know the intimate experience of the herbs from a personal perspective and have a knowing that converged in a way that the authors of the Tang Ye Jing had.  Therefore, much of this is poetic serving a pivot role for the further experiences. This is a rehashing from the first experiement. Dang Shen The simple act of sipping this herb allowed for relaxation to pour through my entire body. Hints of warm milk were hidden in this a... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726681 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:14:21 +0100 3726681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3672034&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7CpBD1Qpr10%2F Once again, a battle looms over the cost of treating wet age-related macular degeneration. An unpublished study shows Medicare can save more than $500 million annually by using Avastin, instead of Lucentis to treat the illness, The Wall Street Journal reports. The disclosure underscores a heated debate that has embroiled federal officials and Genentech, which sells both drugs, for years. Why? Avastin is not approved to treat the eye disease, which is a leading cause of blindness among the elderly. Lucentis is approved, but Avastin is much cheaper. For instance, the study found Avastin, which is used in 65 percent of Medicare patients but only 40 percent are treated with Lucentis. But Medicare paid $537 million for Lucentis in 2008 and only $20 million for Avastin, the Journal writes. Put a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3672034 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:13:18 +0100 3672034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662801&cid=t_104378_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.blubrry.com%2Fchinesemedicine%2Ffiles.me.com%2Fericbenjamingrey%2Fgyphb3.mp3 Another aspect to the more advanced Chinese herb learning method that I teach is diving into the huge amount of information concerning where herbs grow up.  Using the metaphor of the growth and development of a human being, it is undeniable that where we grow up influences the people we end up becoming.  The same is true of Chinese herbs! I was going to write out this article, but I just couldn’t manage to sit in front of the computer, typing.  So, I made a podcast instead.  Enjoy it!  Inside, I talk about why I love the herb method I teach, why location matters when it comes to Chinese herbs, and I do a very small bit of application with one of your friends and mine, Chenpi – aurantium – citrus peel. If you are having trouble playing the podcast in your browser wind... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662801 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:14:30 +0100 3662801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3482994&cid=t_104378_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2Fltk8v-rs50A%2F Here’s the second section of Mitesh’s paper, a continuation of last weeks’ post on the topic.  This is more set-up and mostly covers information about the herbs he used, including the Blue Poppy translations of each herb as described in the Shennong Bencao Jing.  He also explains the reasoning behind some of his herb choices, sometimes citing scholar and clinician Heiner Fruehauf. PS:  I will announce the results of the Deepest Health Reader Survey shortly, and have just contacted the winner of the Living Meridian Acupuncture Charts.  If I get permission from that person, I will divulge their name.  Thanks everyone for your time and input! Herb Selection and Essential Information Note on references : The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing version used was the Blue Poppy translat... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3482994 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:02:26 +0100 3482994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378729&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fl_d81VsC3bA%2F The amendment was dropped from part of the health care reform bill because of concerns it wouldn’t pass muster with congressional rules, according to a spokeswoman for Senator Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat who chairs the Special Committee on Aging, which yesterday held a hearing on drug prices. The proposal was vigorously supported by the Federal Trade Commission, which argues that so-called pay-to-delay deals hurt consumers by delaying the launch of lower-cost generics (background here). The proposed amendment would have made it harder for brand-name drugmakers to settle patent challenges brought by generic companies. Kohl plans to pursue the ban after health care reform is settled, according to The Wall Street Journal. Kathleen Jaeger, president the Generic Pharmaceutical Associ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378729 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:39:38 +0100 3378729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3135496&cid=t_104378_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D8165 Happy New Year to all! What will 2010 hold for us? As for the medical profession, I note that it starts with a bang with the MMA President making a New Year 2010 Call to Action. The reason for this is the controversial 1Malaysia Clinic plan the Government wants to implement. While the public may think this is a good idea David had already written that we should rethink this as the so-called 1Malaysia Clinics will be run by medical assistants and nurses rather than doctors. It is ironically double standards being practised as clinics under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act cannot by law hire Medical assistants. It seems to me, at least in this circumstance, 1Malaysia means 1 rule for the Government and another 1 rule for the private sector. Please also read David’s po... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3135496 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3135496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3079582&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FFHcG_n-SOf4%2F An amendment to the Senate health care bill would effectively ban data mining which, as you know, involves the practice of buying prescription records to target sales pitches to doctors, the Associated Press reports. Democrats Herb Kohl of Wisconsin and Dick Durbin of Illinois say their measure will combat “harassing sales practices” and “restrain undue influence” of sales reps. The move comes amid tremendous controversy over data mining. Vermont, for instance, passed a law restricting the sale of prescription drug info that identifies prescribers and patients for commercial marketing purposes. The effort is being challenged by IMS Health, Wolters Kluwer Health and SDI, with support from PhRMA, which contend the law hurts public access to healthcare info (back story... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3079582 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:30:17 +0100 3079582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3019232&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FA9XD-pE-Prg%2F After pressure from Congress, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has accelerated its recently announced changes to reimbursement coding for Avastin, which is used to treat wet macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness among seniors. The drug, however, is controversial because it’s often used off-label in small amounts to treat the eye disease. Why? Avastin is made by Genentech, which also sells Lucentis, a more expensive drug approved by the FDA to combat the same problem. But anywhere from 50 percent to 60 percent of docs use Avastin instead of Lucentis, because it costs $2,000 a dose versus about $50 for Avastin. Last month, the CMS agreed to reinstate its original billing rate for Avastin. However, the agency was going to wait until Jan. 1 to make the change. However,... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3019232 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:21:21 +0100 3019232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999849&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7PWnZOxv8SQ%2F Who is Thomas Sullivan and why is his name popping up lately? Sullivan is known for a few things - president of Rockpointe, a medical education communications company; a founding member of the Association of Clinical Researchers and Educators, and his Policy and Medicine blog, where he rails against government oversight of the pharmaceutical industry. Besides being an avid defender of CME, he is also a vociferous critic of Chuck Grassley, the Senate Republican who is investigating various pharma issues, including CME. Over the past few days, however, Sullivan has been scrutinized himself. That’s because the Drug Industry Document Archive at the University of California at San Francisco released something Sullivan didn’t want made public - his funding from pharma. In a July 6, 2... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999849 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:21:12 +0100 2999849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2939562&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7uuRROWNdjM%2F After pressure from Congress and concern from doctors, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid now plans to reverse recently enacted reimbursement coding for Avastin, which is used to treat wet macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness among seniors and the elderly. The drug, you may recall, is often used off-label in small amounts to treat the eye disease. Here’s the rub: Avastin is made by Genentech, which also sells Lucentis, a much more expensive drug approved by the FDA to combat the same problem. But, as noted by Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat on the Senate Special Committee on Aging, anywhere from 50 percent to 60 percent of docs use Avastin instead of Lucentis. Why? Lucentis cost $2,000 a dose versus about $50 for Avastin. Medicare recently introduced a new payment c... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2939562 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:57:06 +0100 2939562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2899198&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FrjCHmpTErNk%2F The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill making it harder for drug makers to strike those ‘pay-for-delay’ deals in which a brand-name pharma company shovels some money to a generic maker to hold off introducing a lower-priced copycat medication. The bill, which reports say passed 12-7 along party lines, would allow drug makers to strike a deal only if they provide ‘clear and convincing evidence’ that an agreement doesn’t stymie competition. How that will be proven is unclear. Herb Kohl, the Wisconsin Democrat who introduced the bill, opposes any attempt to lower the threshold of evidence, although the bill was originally tougher - it would have banned these deals altogether. The Federal Trade Commission, which opposes ‘pay-to-delay’ deals as a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2899198 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:58:39 +0100 2899198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2803861&cid=t_104378_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7893 Physician’s First Watch reports Chinese Herb Appears Better Than Standard Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) extract offers better symptom relief than sulfasalazine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, reports Annals of Internal Medicine. (TwHF — also known as “thunder god vine” or “lei gong teng” — is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory conditions.) U.S. researchers randomized some 120 adults with active rheumatoid arthritis to receive the extract (180 mg) or sulfasalazine (2 g) daily for 24 weeks. Participants were allowed to use stable prednisone dosing (up to 7.5 mg/day) but not disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. In intent-to-treat analyses, significantly more patients assigned to TwHF v... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2803861 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2803861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2786012&cid=t_104378_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=2786015&cid=t_104378_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=2469658&cid=t_104378_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F06%2F09%2Fone-emr-vendors-comments-on-new-jersey-cchit-bill%2F Hopefully my readers aren’t tired of this NJ CCHIT bill. This will probably be my last post on the subject. Any future comments I’ll just update on my original post about the bill or my post on the Financial ties to NJ Bill Outlawying Non CCHIT EHR. I just had an EMR vendor who is based in New Jersey send me an email with the message they sent to Herb Conaway and their request to meet with Herb. I encourage other people to send in their feelings to Herb Conaway on this bill and I’d be happy to publish other people’s messages on this site if you’re interested. Here’s the email sent from the New Jersey EHR vendor: Dear Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr. I would like to request a small 15 minutes meeting with you on the ASSEMBLY BILL NO.3934 wherein you have sugg... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469658 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:23:42 +0100 2469658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469660&cid=t_104378_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F06%2F08%2Ffinancial-ties-to-nj-bill-to-make-non-cchit-ehr-use-illegal%2F I previously wrote about a NJ bill to make non CCHIT EHR use illegal. I got an email from one of my readers that I should take a look at the financial ties to this NJ bill to see how that might have influenced its creation. Turns out that Al Borg was already a few steps ahead of me and did the following research: Some data on all of this: HIMSS NJ capter- http://www.njhimss.org/abouthimss/abouthimss3.html information on NJ Rep Pallone- http://himss.capwiz.com/bio/id/387 (click on “PAC” then 2007/2008 to see the likes of Cerner ($1000), GEPAC ($5000), MS ($5000), Siemens ($6000), ACP PAC ($6750), AMA PAC ($7000). About the main sponsor of the bill- The Honorable Herb Conaway, MD tried to be elected governor in 2004 but was soundly defeated by his Republican rival. The Hono... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469660 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:25:59 +0100 2469660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458064&cid=t_104378_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7141 A drug derived from an ancient herb used in Chinese medicine may be a novel way to target autoimmune diseases. WebMD reports The ancient herb is chang shan, from the root of the blue evergreen hydrangea. It’s been used in Chinese medicine to reduce fever and fight malaria. The herb’s active compound, febrifugine, is too toxic for use as a modern drug. In the 1960s, U.S. Army scientists created a febrifugine derivative called halofuginone as a possible malaria drug, but further study was soon discontinued. More recently, halofuginone was found to reduce skin collagen and was tested as a possible treatment for scleroderma. But until now, nobody knew how the drug worked. That may be because the drug’s target — a specific kind of immune cell called a Th17 cell — ... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458064 Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2458064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1834803&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F404125989%2F The Senate Special Committee on Aging sent a letter today to the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations suggesting they collaborate on their investigations into direct-to-consumer advertising of both prescription drugs and medical devices. The Senate Aging committee recently held hearings on DTC ads for devices in a bid to get the FDA to apply the same level of scrutiny given DTC ads for prescription drugs (back story). A collaboration would allow the committtees to coordinate their efforts. “I’m aware that your subcommittee staff has done outstanding work in uncovering deceptive and misleading DTC ads sponsored by the drug industry, which has spent billions of dollars on such marketing efforts during the past decade or so,” Herb Kohl, wh... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1834803 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:16:59 +0100 1834803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1671778&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F351607267%2F In an effort to dilute the impact of sales reps, several Senators and Congressmen today are introducing a bill that would create funding for a program to send trained pharmacists, nurses, and other health care professionals into a doctor’s office with independent data about benefits, risks, costs, and comparative effectiveness of prescription drugs, including generics. The Independent Drug Education and Outreach Act of 2008 would make it possible to fund grants or contracts through the HHS Agency for Health Care Research and Quality to develop educational materials and to send trained medical professionals to a doc’s office to discuss “unbiased information on appropriate prescribing,” according to a summary of the bill. (Here is the Senate version.) Applicants may n... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1671778 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:48:52 +0100 1671778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1546979&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F320814914%2F The ongoing concerns over how CME is used to propel prescriptions has attracted the attention of Herb Kohl, a Democrat from Wisconsin who heads the Special Senate Committee on Aging. In a June 20 letter to the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, he asks the group to provide info about its accrediting process; the criteria used to validate course content; safeguards against undue industry influence and any plan the ACCME has to keep pharma in a manageable corner. Here is the letter. (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1546979 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:23:01 +0100 1546979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526781&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F314122105%2F Last year, Genentech caused a ruckus by restricting distribution of its Avastin med to compounding pharmacies, which were repackaging and selling the drug to opthalmologists for treating wet macular degeneration. Unlike Avastin, Genentech’s similar, but newer Lucentis was approved to treat the malady, but at $2,000 a dose will cost about 40 times as much. The drugmaker subsequently struck a deal with opthalmologists to loosen the restrictions. But in explaining its original rationale, Genentech cited an FDA inspection that found 350,000 vials worth about $200 million were “unsuitable for use in the eye,” but the drugmaker insisted the lots “would have been entirely suitable for its approved use as an intravenous cancer medication.” As a result, Herb Kohl, the ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526781 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:12:34 +0100 1526781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1443177&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F290108491%2F After months of refusing to say how much the agency needs to get things done, FDA commish Andy von Eschenbach has writte a letter to Congress asking for an immediate infusion to inspect imported food, drugs and devices, The New York Times reports. The request was made in a letter to Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, and offers a detailed spending plan for such things as opening new foreign offices, increasing inspections and constructing new databases to track drug hazards, the paper writes. Here is the letter. Presidential appointees rarely diverge so forcefully from the president’s own spending plans, or at least avoid doing so in writing. Andy’s action surprised some observers and was taken as perhaps a sign of Bush’s waning influence in the closing months of his p... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1443177 Wed, 14 May 2008 11:12:54 +0100 1443177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1407329&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F280156273%2F A US Senate committee is probing an American Medical Association program that allows docs to opt-out of having their prescribing data sold to drugmakers. Known as the Physician Data Restriction Program, the effort is controversial because the AMA has a financial stake and has also been criticized for not establishing a program that encourages docs to participate, rather than have to opt out. And so Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat who chairs the Special Committee on Aging, and Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, sent a letter to AMA president Ron Davis asking for info on how the program conducts outreach, protects patient privacy and responds to complaints about drugmakers, along with other details. “To say the least, we are troubled by any attempt to persuade physicians to prescribe a dr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1407329 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:28:10 +0100 1407329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1300624&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F250922725%2F Citing a report in Pharmalot, the Senate Special Committee on Aging wants the drugmaker to hand over documents about its recently launched ‘49 Plan,’ a seven-week schmoozefest in which Schering-Plough reps are being encouraged to wine and dine docs over lunch or dinner. The idea is to remind them that the Zetia cholesterol pill is worth prescribing. The move comes after a big drop in Zetia scrips over the last several weeks. Why the decline? The drugmaker’s controversial Enhance trial found that its Vytorin cholesterol pill failed to show any benefit over the much cheaper Zocor in reducing plaque in the carotid artery, and even showed a statistically insignificant buildup, although it did a better job of lowering LDL. The results created a debate about the merits of using... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1300624 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:47:49 +0100 1300624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=970222&cid=t_104378_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F173472547%2F Herb Kohl, the Democrat from Wisconsin who chairs the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging, is suspicious about Genentech’s reasons for ending sales of its Avastin cancer drug to compounding pharmacies. And he’s worried that the biotech’s decision, which was announced two weeks ago, will wind up costing Medicare a great deal of money. You may recall Avastin is widely used to treat wet macular degeneration, but the biotech never sought FDA approval for that purpose. Why? Well, its much newer Lucentis drug, which happens to cost about 40 times more, was approved for that use. In explaining its move, Genentech cited FDA concerns about contamination when an Avastin vial is split into different doses; the agency issued a warning letter to a compounder recently. But optha... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=970222 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:30:36 +0100 970222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=747150&cid=t_104378_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F20%2Fasian-herb-aids-in-blood-sugar-control%2F Filed under: Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, ResearchI've dabbled with herbal remedies over the years -- astragalus for good health, arnica for muscle soreness, echinacea for immune support, I even sent away for a bag of some wild grown herbal tea leaf when I was trying to get pregnant with our second child. That stuff was disgusting to drink, but I immediately noticed it whisked away some hormonal imbalances I experienced after the birth of our first child. A naturopathy novice, I haven't read any herbal medicine books nor met with a naturopathic doctor. But even my guarded respect for allopathy (Western medicine) cannot prevent herbal medicine from speaking to my soul. Whenever I read good news about an herb, I am downright enthused. A new study suggests the herb Salacia oblonga may help... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=747150 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 747150