ACR Urges Approval of Arthritis Act
Representatives from the American College of Rheumatology and the Arthritis Foundation urged lawmakers to support the “Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2007” (S.626/H.R. 1283) at a congressional briefing this fall. Among other things, the Act contains provisions to create incentives to specialize in pediatric rheumatology, especially through loan repayment programs. At the briefing, Dr. Christy Sandborg, professor of pediatrics at Stanford (Calif.) University, pointed out “there are 12 states that don't even have a pediatric rheumatologist” and “over one-third of medical schools and pediatric residency training programs do not have a pediatric rheumatologist.”
Raloxifene Indication Added
The Food and Drug Administration approved raloxifene for reducing the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women at high risk for the disease and for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The revised package insert now will include a boxed warning that women with a history of venous thromboembolism should not take raloxifene, and women at risk for stroke should take it only after reviewing the risks with their physician. Raloxifene, marketed by Eli Lilly as Evista, also is approved for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal patients.
One-Third of Americans Uninsured
Almost 35% of Americans had no health care coverage for at least part of 2006–2007, up from 30% in 1999–2000, Families USA reported. Of these, 19% were uninsured for longer than 1 year; more than half were uninsured for longer than 6 months. Of the 89.6 million people who lacked coverage, 71% had full-time jobs and another 9% were working part time; only 17% were unemployed. The numbers are substantially larger than those published by the U.S. Census Bureau (which cites 47 million uninsured in 2006, or 16%), because those statistics include only those who were uninsured for a full year. The report is at
Task Force Examines Physician Gifts
The New Jersey Attorney General's Advisory Task Force on Physician Compensation is examining the impact of payments and gifts to physicians from the drug and device industry. The task force will also consider possible public disclosure of gifts, direct disclosure to patients, and limits on payments to physicians. Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia have passed laws requiring some form of reporting of payments made to physicians by pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Increase for Part B Premiums
The standard monthly Medicare Part B premium will increase to $96.40 next year, up 3.1% from the current $93.50, Kerry Weems, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced in a teleconference. That amount will be paid by individuals with an annual income of $82,000 or less or couples with $160,000 or less a year, about 95% of all Medicare beneficiaries, according to the agency. For other beneficiaries, Part B premiums will be tied to beneficiary income as required by the Medicare Modernization Act.