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Internists Support Broad Goals Of House 'Tri-Committee' Proposed Health-Reform Legislation
Agreeing with the broad goals and most of the underlying policies contained in a comprehensive draft bill on health care reform legislation, the American College of Physicians (ACP) has praised the House "tri-committee." Made up of the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees, the "tri-committee" unveiled its proposed legislation on June 19.
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American Diabetes Association Related To Studies Published In Diabetelogia Suggesting Possible Link Between Insulin Glargine And Cancer
Diabetelogia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), published a series of research papers today examining a possible link between insulin glargine (brand name, Lantus) and cancer. Findings from these research papers are conflicting and inconclusive, and the American Diabetes Association cautions against over-reaction until more information is available.
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Thai HIV/AIDS Advocates Urge Increased Treatment Access For IDUs
The Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group recently called on the country to launch a comprehensive harm reduction program for injection drug users in an effort to help curb the spread of HIV, Thailand"s The Nation reports. According to the group, many IDUs are unable to access drug treatment and substation therapy because of the stigma surrounding drug use in the country. Karyn Kaplan, director of development and policy for the group, said, "Health care workers have denied many injecting drug users access to an antiviral drug and the use of methadone." Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai recently announced that the country"s harm reduction programs have helped to curb the spread of HIV among IDUs, adding that local substitution programs have reduced the number of HIV-positive IDUs and that the country needs increased support from UNAIDS for such efforts. TTAG called for the government to provide prevention and treatment options, such as substitution therapy and needle-exchange programs. The Nation reports that methadone treatment is offered at hospitals across the country as part of the national health care scheme, but many health care workers refuse to administer treatment. In addition, government treatment is offered for 45 days. Kaplan said that the government should revise its policy regarding treatment access for IDUs, as a majority of IDUs are incarcerated and living with HIV or hepatitis-C without treatment access. She called on the government to "implement the international standards of medical treatment for [IDUs], without discrimination and human rights violations" (The Nation, 5/27).
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Obama Plan To Cut Hospital Payments Draws Ire

The Obama administration has called for $200 billion in cuts for hospital reimbursements in an effort to overhaul the health care system. Federal funding under the reimbursement system known as "disproportionate share payments" is provided to hospitals in large part to help meet the cost of caring for the uninsured. Administration officials argue that as the number of uninsured decrease, reimbursements should also fall. However, hospital leaders and staff worry about such cuts as well as calls for a government-run insurance plan to compete with private plans. In an interview with NPR, Peter Orszag, director of the White House"s Office of Management and Budget, defended the plan, saying it will put the U.S. "on a path to eliminating the number of uninsured people in the United States." Orszag says opposition is inevitable that that "evidence suggests that many insurance markets lack adequate competition, and the goal of the public plan is to expand choice, introduce more competition and drive down premium costs." NPR reports that: "Hospital officials say that will result in cuts in services to the people who need it most."" On "All Things Considered,"" NPR spoke with Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association who has expressed disappointment about the plan. Umbdenstock tells NPR "that the hospitals have accepted "in principle" that reimbursements from Washington will decline as the number of insured patients rise at those institutions. But, he says, too many questions remain." Such questions include when coverage will kick in, at what level and across what proportion of the uninsured population. Umbdenstock also emphasized the need to look at reform in context with affordability, coverage and quality (Norris and Siegel, 6/16). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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