Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Mental Health Advocates, Insurers Spar Over Regulations
Mental health advocates applauded the federal government's recent release of new regulations for mental health parity but continue to push for tougher edicts on insurance companies.
Small Business Group Continues Press For Help With Health Costs
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) this week will call on lawmakers to press ahead with reforms that can help small firms continue to offer coverage for their employees, even as the comprehensive effort remains stalled.
FDA To Bolster Food Import Safety With New Initiative, More Inspections
FDA plans to bolster its oversight of food imports in the coming years through a new import safety initiative under which the agency would rely more on “trusted” foreign entities it periodically audits to ensure compliance and establish standards for third-party certification for imported food, according to the agency’s 2011 budget justification.
GOP Lawmakers, States Step Up Assault On Individual Mandate
Republican lawmakers are continuing their assault on the individual mandate and at least 30 states have filed or prefiled bills declaring the individual mandate unconstitutional, even as comprehensive health reform remains stalled in Congress.
HHS Shares 2011 Donut Hole Projections, Estimates of Part B Co-Pay Hike
The annual Part B deductible for some Medicare patients is projected to shoot up to $176 -- a $41 increase -- and the standard premium by nearly $34 to $144.40 under estimates included in CMS' fiscal 2011 budget request.
CMS Weighs Using CDC HAI Data In ‘Pay-For-Reporting’ Plan
CMS is considering using data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it moves forward with a “pay for reporting” program in an effort to reduce hospital-acquired infections (HAI), according to administration budget documents.
McCain, Dorgan Seek Hearings On Bill To Reopen DSHEA
A bipartisan group of senators is seeking committee hearings on legislation that would revise a 16-year old dietary supplements law by giving FDA mandatory recall authority and forcing manufacturers to report adverse events to the agency.
Stakeholders Say FDA’s Proposed Nanotechnology Initiative Falls Short
FDA’s 2011 budget request designates more than $7 million to fund a first-time nanotechnology initiative, but stakeholders say this amount isn’t nearly enough to make up for the agency’s lack of research and regulatory activity in the area.
FDA Budget Request Ups Food User Fees, Makes Few Other Policy Proposals
More than a third of the FDA spending increase described in the White House budget proposal is tied to industry fees that don’t exist.
