- Author: Health Informer
- Filed under: Health News
- Date: Jul 30,2010
Lack of understanding linked to rhetoric that preceded the final vote in March, and the complicated nature of existing health-care system
Not sure what’s in–and not in–the new healthcare legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama in March? You’re not alone. More than 2,100 adults were given a list of 18 reform items and asked to identify what’s included and what’s not included in the law. Only four items were correctly identified by the majority of those polled.
Most (58 percent) know that the reform package will prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people because they are already sick; 55 percent know the law permits children to stay on their parents’ insurance plan until age 26; and 52 percent realize that people who don’t have insurance will be subject to financial penalties. Additionally, half are aware that employers with more than 50 employees will have to offer their workers affordable insurance.
These are some of the major findings of today’s HealthDay/Harris Poll, conducted between July 15 to 19, 2010 among 2,104 adults (aged 18 and over).
Among other findings: 82 percent think the bill will result in rationing of health care or that it might (it won’t); 79 percent don’t know or aren’t sure if drug companies will pay an annual fee, (they will); 73 percent don’t know the law establishes a new tax on the sale of medical devices; 66 percent don’t know or aren’t sure if the legislation will result in insurance exchanges where people can shop for insurance, (it will); and 63 percent either aren’t sure or don’t know if the new law will increase the number of people eligible for Medicaid, (it will). Read the rest of this entry »
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- Author: Health Informer
- Filed under: Health News
- Date: Jul 28,2010
The American Legion testified to Congress today that while veterans service organizations disseminate information about Gulf War illnesses, VA must improve its outreach efforts to thousands of veterans who suffer from such maladies.
Testifying before a House subcommittee, American Legion panelist Ian de Planque said in his written statement that “VA has moved forward to some extent with increased internal education of their medical and benefits-related staff.
“However, the mission of increasing understanding of the medical factors involved for the actual veterans who have served still lags far behind what is necessary,” he told the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
American Legion posts across the country provide valuable information to veterans (such as its “Gulf War Era Benefits & Programs” pamphlet), and the Legion’s service officers go through annual training that ensures they have the most current information on Gulf War-related illnesses. But these outreach efforts “do not void VA’s responsibility to provide this information directly to veterans,” de Planque said.
Since the Gulf War Veterans Illness Task Force published its findings last March, de Planque said VA “rule-making is underway to add additional diseases to the list of those subject to the presumption of service-connection, based on qualifying Gulf War service.”
During operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, thousands of veterans were exposed to chemicals, pesticides, oil fires and the psychological stress of SCUD missile attacks (real or false). From these apparent causes sprang various symptoms among Gulf War veterans, including fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, memory loss and mood swings. Read the rest of this entry »
- Author: Health Informer
- Filed under: Health News
- Date: Jul 27,2010
Ampio Pharmaceuticals announced it has finalized negotiations with the directors of DMI BioSciences (DMI) to acquire DMI BioSciences, Inc. This acquisition will give Ampio access to all rights, royalties and patents associated with DMI’s major assets, drugs for male sexual dysfunction including premature ejaculation (PE) and combination drugs to treat premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction (ED). These assets are protected by multiple issued U.S. and international patents and additional patent fillings. Ampio will also receive valuable Phase III clinical trial data accumulated for the treatment of premature ejaculation.
DMI’s drug for premature ejaculation is a unique lower dose of an existing approved drug with a well established safety profile. The drug demonstrated robust efficacy, safety and patient tolerability in Phase II clinical trials and was licensed to an international specialty pharmaceutical company which started Phase III clinical trials in Europe with its proprietary oral formulation. DMI regained ownership of the male sexual dysfunction drugs when the licensee withdrew from the latest trials due to its recent industry merger and an internal refocusing of therapeutic areas of interest.
“These late stage drugs will complement our existing pipeline of other repurposed drugs that require less time and expense to start clinical trials,” said Don Wingerter, Ampio’s CEO. “As a result, we can have multiple trials running concurrently without the need for excessive capital or a drain on our personnel resources.”
Ampio recently announced it will begin patient recruitment for its trial of Optina(TM) for diabetic retinopathy and has started the CRO selection process for its clinical trial programs. Ampio will explore licensing opportunities for its sexual dysfunction drugs as soon as the terms of the acquisition agreement are approved by DMI shareholders.
- Author: Health Informer
- Filed under: Health News
- Date: Jul 26,2010
Detroit-based Health Plan of Michigan (HPM) has recognized 19 Michigan health care providers for their outstanding quality and service.
The 19 Michigan health care providers were identified as the top primary care offices through a rigorous selection process that was based on Health Plan of Michigan’s 2009 quality incentive plan. “We wanted to show our gratitude to our highest ranking health care providers for their excellence in quality and service,” said Raymond D. Pitera, Vice President of Provider Service for Health Plan of Michigan. “We truly appreciate the access to quality services they provide to our Medicaid Members.”
The 2009 Health Plan of Michigan Quality incentive program paid over $6 million to its contracted primary care providers and is on pace to spend over $8 million in 2010. Health Plan of Michigan hopes more providers will meet the performance criteria next year and will continue assisting all provider offices in increasing their quality scores.
The 19 honorees for this years award are: Read the rest of this entry »