House Passes Stroke Legislation
Legislation to increase awareness of the warning signs of stroke recently passed the House of Representatives. The Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 477) was introduced by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) and would establish grants for residency training materials and continuing education materials. Similar but broader stroke legislation (S. 999) was introduced in March by Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and includes grants to develop stroke care systems. “This bill represents a national commitment to end the suffering from stroke,” Sen. Kennedy said in a statement.
Pain Treatment Centers Recognized
The American Pain Society highlighted the accomplishments of six multidisciplinary pain programs around the country as part of its first Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards. Recipients were chosen from 90 applicants and were judged by pain experts. Awardees focused on improving overall functionality and quality of life, according to the APS. The programs included the Comprehensive Pain Treatment Center at New York University Medical Center, New York; the Rosomoff Comprehensive Pain Center in Miami; the Pain Management Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston; the Pain Management Center and PainCARE at the University of California, San Francisco; the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; and the Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program at the James A. Haley Veterans Affairs Hospital in Tampa.
Traumatic Brain Injury Screening
In an effort to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in returning soldiers, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) have introduced new federal legislation. The “Heroes at Home Act of 2007” (S. 1065) calls on the Secretary of Defense to establish a protocol for neurocognitive assessments of all members of the armed forces before and after deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. Traumatic brain injury affects 1 in 10 soldiers and is considered a “signature wound” of soldiers deployed in those theaters, according to Sen. Clinton. The legislation would establish a program through the Department of Veterans Affairs to train family members of veterans with traumatic brain injury to be caregivers. It also would create a pilot project to test telehealth technology's use in assessing cognitive functioning. The legislation was drafted in consultation with the American Academy of Neurology and has been endorsed by the Brain Injury Association of America.
Medicare Funding Woes
The first-ever “Medicare funding warning” was issued by the program's trustees in their annual report, requiring the President to propose funding reforms within 15 days of submission of the fiscal 2008 budget and Congress to address the proposal on an “expedited basis.” The warning—mandated by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003—was triggered by the fact that for the second year in a row, over 45% of next year's projected Medicare outlays will come from general government revenues. The trustees noted that higher tax revenues and lower projected benefit payouts have extended by 1 year the date that the Part A will be exhausted, but added that the impending retirement of 78 million baby boomers will deplete the Medicare trust fund by 2019 unless lawmakers enact major changes. Medicare Part B and Part D both are projected to remain funded because current law automatically provides financing to meet next year's costs. But expected cost increases will raise financing needs from general revenue and substantial increases in beneficiaries' premiums, the trustees' report said. The report highlights the need for a long-term fiscal plan for Medicare, said American Medical Association Board Chair Cecil Wilson in a statement. “Arbitrary, drastic payment cuts to the physicians who are the foundation of Medicare are not the answer,” Dr. Wilson said, adding lawmakers should act to stop next year's 10% Medicare physician payment cut to protect seniors' access to care.
AARP to Offer Health Insurance
Senior advocacy group AARP said that it will add a Medicare Advantage plan run by UnitedHealth Group to its offerings next year, along with several other products from Aetna Inc. aimed at adults aged 50–64 years. Medicare Advantage, to be launched Jan. 1 is expected to enroll 1 million Medicare beneficiaries initially, AARP officials said. In addition AARP's agreement with UnitedHealth includes Medicare Supplemental insurance, Part D plans, and indemnity insurance products. AARP said that it will dedicate $500 million of its royalty payments from the two insurers over the next 10 years to fund a program to help Americans find health information and assistance.
Jurors Often Side with Doctors