ÿþ<html> <head> <title> U.S. Medicine Institute - Federal Health Update </title> <script type="text/javascript" src="../javascript/ddtabmenu.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> //SYNTAX: ddtabmenu.definemenu("tab_menu_id", integer OR "auto") ddtabmenu.definemenu("ddtabs4", 0) //initialize Tab Menu with ID "ddtabs1" and select 1st tab by default </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../css/style.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../javascript/ddcolortabs.css" /> </head> <body style="text-align:center"> <table width="800px" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td style="text-align:center" valign="top"> <a href="../index.html"><img src="../images/banner.gif" style="border:0;"/></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <div id="ddtabs4" class="ddcolortabs"> <ul> <li><a href="../index.html">Home</a></li> <li><a href="../forums.html">Forums</a></li> <li><a href="../roundtables.html">Roundtables</a></li> <li><a href="../partners.html">Partner Organizations</a></li> <li><a href="../sponsor.html">Sponsorship Information</a></li> <li><a href="../aboutus.html">About USMI</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="ddcolortabsline">&nbsp;</div> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="750px" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height:560px;"> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;" valign="top"> <a href="../newsletter_archive.html">< Back to Federal Health Update Archives</a> <div style="border:0;width:750px;height:560px;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:auto;text-align:left;"> <table width="700px" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center;"> <tr> <td colspan="3"> <br /><h4>FEDERAL HEALTH UPDATE</h4> <h5>Feburary 8, 2008</h5> <p /><i>Produced by Kate Connelly Theroux in collaboration with the U.S. Medicine Institute for Health Studies (USMI) <p />To subscribe, please visit <a href="../subscriber.cfm">http://usminstitute.org/subscriber.cfm</a>.</i> <p />Sponsored by <br /><a href="http://www.triwest.com/" target="_blank"><img src="../images/newsletter/TriWestLogoNEW.jpg" border="0"/></a> <p />Additional sponsorship by </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.tricaredentalprogram.com/tdptws/home.jsp" target="_blank"><img src="../images/newsletter/UCCIlogobluetagline.jpg" border="0"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.USFamilyHealthPlan.org" target="_blank"><img src="../images/newsletter/NewUSFHP_logo.jpg" border="0"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.expressscripts.com/" target="_blank"><img src="../images/newsletter/redu2colorPMS.jpg" border="0"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="text-align:left;"> <b><a name="top">Menu</a></b> <ul type="square"> <li><a href="#cong">Congressional Schedule</a></li> <li><a href="#mhc">Military Health Care News</a></li> <li><a href="#vhc">Veterans Health Care News</a></li> <li><a href="#hcare">Health Care News</a></li> <li><a href="#reserve">Reserve/Guard</a></li> <li><a href="#reports">Reports/Policies</a></li> <li><a href="#leg">Legislation</a></li> <li><a href="#hill">Hill Hearings</a></li> <li><a href="#meetings">Meetings / Conferences</a></li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="text-align:left;"> <h1> <font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="cong">Congressional Schedule</a></font> </h1> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 7, 2008, the House passed H.R.4848, which extends the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 for one year parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits, and for other purposes.&nbsp;</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The House Armed Services Military Personnel subcommittee held a hearing on Feb. 7, 2008, to hear testimony from military and veterans service associations.&nbsp; Representatives from Fleet Reserve Association, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, National Military Family Association and Military Officers Association of America were among those who testified. </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font> </p> </ul> <p> <font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="mhc">Military Health Care News</a></font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <p align="justify"><font face="Arial" size="2">The Department of Defense released details of President Bush s defense budget for Fiscal Year 2009. The budget provides $515.4 billion in discretionary authority for the Department of Defense (DoD), a $35.9 billion or 7.5 percent increase over the enacted level for Fiscal Year 2008. </font> </ul> <ul> <p align="justify"> <font face="Arial" size="2">For the third consecutive year, the defense budget proposal also includes a call to raise some fees and deductibles under the military s TRICARE health insurance program. Defense officials advise that the increases are needed to help hold down soaring health care costs that they say threaten the viability of the health care benefit.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p align="justify"> <font face="Arial" size="2">The plan would raise co-payments for all beneficiaries on prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies; charge an enrollment fee for Medicare-eligible older retirees covered by the TRICARE for Life benefit; and charge higher enrollment fees, deductibles and co-payments for TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Prime to  working age retirees under 65 and their families.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p align="justify"> <font face="Arial" size="2">The increases were recommended by the Pentagon s Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care, which in a December report proposed a TRICARE fee system linked to income levels.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p align="justify"> <font face="Arial" size="2">For more details on the President s FY 09 Defense budget, please visit</font><font color="#555555" face="Arial" size="2"> </font><font face="Arial" size="2">at </font><a href="http://www.budget.mil/" target="_blank"><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2"><u>www.budget.mil</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">.</font></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 5, 2008, Secretary Robert Gates announced that John D. Winkler, deputy assistant secretary of defense (manpower and personnel), would be reassigned to principal deputy assistant secretary of defense (reserve affairs), Washington, D.C.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Axiom Resource Management, Inc., has won a major contract to provide far-reaching support to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)/TRICARE Management Activity. The TEAMS contract  TRICARE Evaluation, Analysis, and Management Support  is for one base year with nine option-year periods. </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The award of the TEAMS contract will allow Axiom and its teaming partners to compete to support OASD/HA and TMA clients in such areas as policy development, decisionmaking, management and administration, program and/or project management, and administration.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">TEAMS is an  Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The government awards these to a select group of companies that have demonstrated superior ability to provide quality support. Holders of IDIQ awards are eligible to respond to specific solicitations or task orders throughout the life of the contract.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The following are Axiom's teaming partners in this landmark win: Aitheras, DST, Inc., Fraunhofer USA, Inc., Logistics Systems, Inc., Millennium Corporation, New Editions Consulting, Inc., Palladian Partners, Resolution Group, Sustainment, Inc., Symphony Consulting Group, TC Associates and Vector VSP. </font> <a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/axiom-awarded-teams-contract_461899_1.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.foxbusiness.com<wbr></wbr>/article/axiom-awarded-teams<wbr></wbr>-contract_461899_1.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2"><i>Stars and Stripes</i> reports that the 18th Medical Command has begun using a six-tier system to determine who will get first chance at access to some medical appointments because it is unable to fully serve its community with current staffing.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The decision comes following more than three months of log-jammed appointment schedules for treatment in adult primary care, neurology, dermatology, allergy, podiatry, obstetrics/gynecology and behavioral health clinics.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Officials predict that they ll be able to ease the restriction by April, since they re hiring about 200 new personnel.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Under the system put in place on Jan. 25, patients are given priority based on their TRICARE beneficiary status. TRICARE Prime military members and their families are in the top two categories. The lowest tiers include retirees and family members who don t have TRICARE Plus and people such as DoD civilians and schoolteachers.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">18th MEDCOM officials recommend beneficiaries in categories five and six should consider using South Korean medical facilities for care. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The lower-priority patients can seek on-base care, but it will be more difficult. Category Five patients can call to seek a space-available appointment up to one week in advance. Category Six patients, however, can only make space-available appointments up to 72 hours in advance. </font><a href="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59619&archive=true" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.stripes.com/article<wbr></wbr>.asp?section=104&amp;article=59619<wbr></wbr>&amp;archive=true</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the Department of Defense s contractor administering the TRICARE program for approximately 2.9 million active duty and retired military personnel and their eligible family members in the 21-state West Region, has earned URAC accreditation for its Health Care Services Utilization Management and Case Management operations at the company's five hub offices in Colorado Springs, Honolulu, Mountain, San Diego and Tacoma, which expands the company's excellence standards beyond its corporate headquarters.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">URAC, a Washington, D.C.-based health care accrediting organization, establishes quality standards reflective of best practices for the health care industry. Accreditation serves as a symbol of excellence. The accreditation standards establish key quality benchmarks for core business practices and managed care programs including network management, provider credentialing, utilization management, quality management and improvement, disease management, consumer protection and confidentiality.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">TriWest received URAC Health Network Accreditation for Case Management, Disease Management and Utilization Management in April 2007 and for URAC Provider Network Accreditation in 2005.</font><font color="#616161" face="Arial" size="2"> </font><a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/health-care/article/triwest-earns-expanded-urac-accreditation_466302_1" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.foxbusiness.com<wbr></wbr>/markets/industries/health<wbr></wbr>-care/article/triwest-earns<wbr></wbr>-expanded-urac-accreditation<wbr></wbr>_466302_10.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font></p> </ul> <p> <font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="vhc">Veterans Health Care News</a></font><font face="Arial" size="3"> </font> </p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released details of President Bush s proposed $93.7 billion budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in fiscal year 2009.&nbsp; </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">If Congress accepts the White House s budget request, VA s budget would be $3.4 billion more than the current spending level and nearly double the budget in effect when President Bush took office seven years ago.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The FY  09 budget proposal calls for $47.2 billion in discretionary funding, mostly for health care. &nbsp;It also would provide $46.4 billion in mandatory funding for compensation, pension, educational assistance, home loan guaranties and other benefit programs. &nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">According to VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake, the budget proposal will provide funding to ensure high-quality care to VA s highest priority patients -- veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, those with service-connected disabilities, lower-income veterans, and veterans with special health care needs.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Under the new budget, VA will strengthen its collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD) for world-class health care and benefits to veterans, service members and their families, including progress toward the development of secure electronic patient health care records that can be used by both departments.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The budget request includes:</font></p> </ul> <ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">$1.3 billion to meet the health care needs of an estimated 330,000 veterans returned from service in Iraq and Afghanistan; </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">$3.9 billion for mental health services; </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">$762 million for non-institutional long-term care; and </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">$1.5 billion for prosthetics and sensory aids.</font> </li> </ul> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The President s budget request contains $252 million devoted to research projects focused specifically on veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. &nbsp;This includes research in traumatic brain injury, polytrauma, spinal cord injury, prosthetics, burn injury, pain, and post-deployment mental health.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Highlights of the VA budget are available on the Internet at: </font><a href="http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1448" target="_blank"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel<wbr></wbr>/pressrelease.cfm?id=1448</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font></p> </ul> <p> <font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="hcare">Health Care News</a></font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the members of the Secretary s Advisory Committee on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020.&nbsp; The advisory committee will make recommendations for developing and implementing national health promotion and disease prevention objectives for </font><a href="http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020/" target="_blank"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>Healthy People 2020</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">.&nbsp;</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Since 1979, Healthy People has set and monitored national health objectives to meet a broad range of health needs, engage people across the nation to work together, guide individuals toward making informed health decisions and measure the impact of prevention activity.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The program leverages scientific insights and lessons learned from the past decades, along with knowledge of current data, trends and innovations, to develop health promotion and disease prevention objectives for the coming decade.&nbsp; </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The members are:</font></p> </ul> <ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Chairman: Jonathan Fielding, M.D., MPH, MA, MBA, director public health and health officer, Los Angeles County; professor, schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles&nbsp;</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Vice-chair:<b> </b>Shiriki Kumanyika, Ph.D., MPH, associate dean for health promotion and disease prevention, professor of epidemiology, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">W. Douglas Evans, Ph.D., vice president for public health and environment, RTI International, Washington, D.C.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Vincent Felitti, M.D., founding chairman, department of preventive medicine, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego; clinical professor of medicine, University of California, San Diego</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Everold Hosein, Ph.D., communication advisor-consultant, World Health Organization Communicable Diseases Section, WHO Mediterranean Center for Vulnerability Reduction, WHO Geneva and Tunis; co-director and adjunct professor, Indiana University, Global Health Communication Research and Resources Center; coordinator, WHO/NYU Integrated Marketing Communication for Behavioral Impact Summer Institute; Carmel, Ind.;</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Lisa Iezzoni, M.D., MSc., professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School; associate director, Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Abby King, Ph.D., professor, departments of health research and policy and medicine, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine; Stanford, Calif.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Ronald Manderscheid, Ph.D., director of mental health and substance use programs, Global Health Sector, SRA International; adjunct professor, Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University; Rockville, Md.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">David O. Meltzer, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, departments of Medicine and Economics, and School of Public Policy Studies, The University of Chicago.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Eva Moya, LMSW, tuberculosis division director, United States-Mexico Border Health Association; Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization, Project Concern International; University of Texas at El Paso College of Health Sciences Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Ph.D.. Program Student; El Paso, Texas.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Patrick Remington, M.D., MPH, professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; public health director, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute; Madison.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">David Siegel, M.D., MPH, assistant director, Health Care Operations and Programs, General Motors Health Services, Detroit.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Adewale Troutman, M.D., MPH, director, Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness; associate professor, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville; Louisville, Ky.</font> </li> </ul> </ul> <ul> <p> <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/02/20080201c.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.hhs.gov/news/press<wbr></wbr>/2008pres/02/20080201c.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory on Feb. 1, 2008, to alert health care providers, patients, and caregivers to new safety warnings<b> </b>concerning Chantix (varenicline), a prescription medication used to help patients stop smoking<i>.&nbsp;</i></font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Chantix was approved by FDA in May 2006. In November 2007, FDA issued an Early Communication to tell the public and health care providers that the agency was evaluating adverse event reports on Chantix related to changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts, and attempted and completed suicide.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">As FDA continues its review of the adverse event reports, it appears increasingly likely that there may be an association between Chantix and serious mood and behavior symptoms.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">FDA has requested that Pfizer, the manufacturer of Chantix, give the safety information a more prominent position on the drug's prescribing information, or labeling. In addition, FDA is working with Pfizer to finalize a Medication Guide for patients. </font><a href="http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01788.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics<wbr></wbr>/NEWS/2008/NEW01788.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 4, 2007, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt released details of the President s FY 2009 budget request to Congress for the department.&nbsp; The budget proposes total outlays of nearly $737 billion for HHS, an increase of more than $29 billion from 2008.&nbsp; This figure also includes a decrease of $2.2 billion in discretionary spending and proposes $186 billion in savings over the next five years achieved by slowing the rate of increase in mandatory spending.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">In the past 25 years, Medicare spending has grown from $52.6 billion in FY 1983 to an estimated $396.3 billion in FY 2008, a 7.5 fold increase.&nbsp; Currently, Medicare spending consumes 16 cents of every federal dollar spent, and is third only to Social Security and defense spending.&nbsp; In FY 2009, funding for total Medicare spending, which will help 45.5 million Americans, is expected to be nearly $425.5 billion, an increase of $29.2 billion over the previous year.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The FY 2009 budget includes a comprehensive package of Medicare legislative and administrative reforms to strengthen the long-term viability and financial security of Medicare.&nbsp; These proposed reforms will save $183 billion over five years and slow the program s annual growth rate over that time period from 7.2 percent to 5 percent.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">These proposals will encourage provider competition and efficiency; promote high quality care; rationalize payment policies; improve program integrity; and increase high-income beneficiary responsibility for health care costs.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">To read more highlights from the FY 2009 request, please visit </font><a href="http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/02/20080204a.html" target="_blank"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.hhs.gov/news/press<wbr></wbr>/2008pres/02/20080204a.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognized 14 communities as Chartered Value Exchanges (CVE) for their strong commitment to improving quality and value in health care.&nbsp;</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt designated these partnerships of providers, employers, insurers, and consumers as the country s first Chartered Value Exchanges (CVE) for their work to implement cutting-edge, collaborative methods to transform health care at the local level.&nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">As Chartered Value Exchanges (CVEs), these communities will have access to information from Medicare that gauges the quality of care physicians provide to patients. These performance measurement results can be combined with similar private-sector data to produce a comprehensive consumer guide on the quality of care available. &nbsp;The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will begin providing physician-group level performance information by the summer of 2008.&nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">In addition, these communities will join a nationwide Learning Network sponsored by HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.&nbsp; This network will provide peer-to-peer learning experiences through facilitated meetings, both face-to-face and on the Web.&nbsp; Access to HHS experts and new tools, including an ongoing private Web-based knowledge management system, are added benefits of CVE status.&nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">CVEs represent one of a number of initiatives undertaken by HHS to implement a bold vision for health care reform built on four cornerstones.&nbsp; These include: advancing interoperable health information technology; measuring and publishing quality information to enable consumers to make better decisions about their care; measuring and publishing price information to give consumers information they need to make decisions on purchasing health care; and promoting incentives for quality and efficiency of care.&nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">To view the entire list of CVEs, please visit </font> <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/02/20080201a.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.hhs.gov/news/press<wbr></wbr>/2008pres/02/20080201a.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Drug Enforcement Administration has sent a proposed rule to the Department of Justice to allow electronic prescribing of controlled substances. The department has been under increasing pressure to promulgate such a rule from the Senate and various health care IT stakeholders.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Studies show that widespread e-prescribing, used today in about 18 percent of doctors practices, could save $20 billion annually, as patients would experience fewer adverse drug events (ADEs) and would be more likely to adhere to a medication regimen. The Center for Information Technology Leadership (CITL) found that a national e-prescribing system could prevent 2.1 million ADEs  130,000 of which are life-threatening  and 190,000 hospitalizations per year.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Current DEA regulations require that doctors write paper prescriptions for controlled substances, including pain medications, antidepressants and some drugs to treat asthma in children. The DEA has been evaluating allowing electronic prescribing since March 2001, when it issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on the topic.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Last December, a Senate hearing was held to determine why there was such a delay in following through with a proposed rule. The DEA indicated at that time that an update to the status of a proposed rule likely would be issued within two months.</font></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Fosamax (alendronate sodium tablets), used to treat osteoporosis, a condition that causes thinning and weakening of a person's bones. </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, North Wales, Pa., was approved to manufacture alendronate sodium tablets in three once-daily dosing strengths (5 milligrams, 10 milligrams, and 40 milligrams) and two once-weekly dosing strengths (35 milligrams and 70 milligrams). Barr Laboratories, Inc., Montvale, N.J., was approved to manufacture a 70 milligrams once-weekly dose of the drug.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Generic drug manufacturers must demonstrate that a generic drug has the same active ingredient, dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality and performance characteristics, among other things, as the approved brand-name drug.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The labeling of the generic alendronate sodium tablets may differ from that of Fosamax because some portions of the labeling are protected by patents and exclusivity. </font><a href="http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01793.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics<wbr></wbr>/NEWS/2008/NEW01793.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 7, 2008,</font><font color="#111111" face="Arial" size="2"> </font><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/gen/Wal-Mart_Stores%20Inc_E30747DC7103438C8260FECB0DB96160.html" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="color: #0000ff">Wal-Mart Stores Inc.</span></font></a><font color="#111111" face="Arial" size="2"> announced its plans to open 400 new health clinics nationwide by 2010.&nbsp; The Arkansas-based discount chain plans to team up with local hospitals and health systems in Atlanta, Little Rock and Dallas over the next year, with its first clinic slated to open in April. </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font color="#111111" face="Arial" size="2">The new clinics will be equipped to treat minor ailments, including sore throats, sinus infections, bladder infections and earaches. The in-store sites will also provide health screenings, medical tests, vaccinations and basic physical exams and prescribe medications. The sites will be staffed by licensed physicians and nurses. The clinics will be open seven days a week. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">With data showing that 55 percent of its in-store clinic patients are uninsured, Wal-Mart said it is committed to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of its health care system by working with operators who provide a specific set of services to adults and children over age 2, including:</font></p> </ul> <ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Treatment of common ailments such as sore throats, sinus infections, earaches, and bladder infections. </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Preventive care, including health screenings, medical tests, vaccinations, and basic physical exams. </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Standard electronic medical records for clinic patients that eliminate the need for paper records via an electronic records platform employed by all new clinics operating in Wal-Mart stores. </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Patient care delivered by licensed, certified providers who diagnose, treat, and when appropriate, prescribe medications. </font></li> </ul> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The Clinics at Wal-Mart operated by both RediClinic and St. Vincent plan to accept health insurance plans including Aetna, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield and others. &nbsp; </font><a href="http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/5651.aspx" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.walmartfacts.com<wbr></wbr>/articles/5651.aspx</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., has been named director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Until 2006 she served as director of a division within the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. She is currently a senior scientific officer at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font></p> </ul> <p> <font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="reserve">Reserve/Guard</a></font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The total number of Guard and Reserve currently on active duty has <b>increased</b> by 843 from the last report to 95,324. The totals for each service are Army National Guard and Army Reserve, 74,041; Navy Reserve, 5,025; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 7,231; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,693; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 334. </font><a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/" target="_blank"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>www.defenselink.mil</u></font></a> </li> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font></p> </ul> <p> <font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="reports">Reports/Policies</a></font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released <i> Growth in Health Care Costs, </i> on Jan. 31, 2008.&nbsp; The report is the written statement of Peter R. Orszag, CBO director before the Senate Committee on Budget.&nbsp; In the report, the CBO projects that, without changes in law, total spending on health care will rise from 16 percent of GDP in 2007 to 25 percent in 2025 and 49 percent in 2082. Federal spending on Medicare (net of beneficiaries premiums) and Medicaid would rise from four percent of GDP in 2007 to seven percent in 2025 and 19 percent in 2082. </font><a href="http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/89xx/doc8948/01-31-HealthTestimony.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs<wbr></wbr>/89xx/doc8948/01-31-HealthTesti<wbr></wbr>mony.pdf</u></font></a> </li> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font></p> </ul> <p> <font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="leg">Legislation</a></font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2"><b>H.R.5223 </b>(introduced Feb. 6, 2008): To provide for the enhancement of the suicide prevention programs of the Department of Defense and for other purposes was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.&nbsp;<br /> Sponsor: Representative Leonard L. Boswell [IA-3]</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2"><b>H.R.5229</b> (introduced Feb. 6, 2008):&nbsp; To amend title 38, United States Code, to remove certain limitations on the transfer of entitlement to basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill, and for other purposes was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.&nbsp;<br /> Sponsor: Representative Roscoe G. Bartlett [MD-6] </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font> </p> </ul> <p> <font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="hill">Hill Hearings</a></font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on <b>Feb. 13, 2008</b>, to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for Veterans programs.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on <b>Feb. 14, 2008</b>, to examine Veterans Affairs fiscal year 2008 health budget.</font> </li> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on <b>Feb. 28, 2008</b>, to examine mental health treatment for families. </font></li> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">A Joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing will be held on <b>March 4, 2008</b>, to receive legislative presentation of the Disabled American Veterans.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">A Joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing will be held on <b>March 4, 2008</b>, to receive legislative presentation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.</font> </li> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">A Joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing will be held on <b>March 6, 2008</b>, to receive legislative presentations of PVA,