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 15, 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 Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee held a hearing to hear testimony from military and veterans service association representatives regarding the Defense budget for fiscal year 2009.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on Feb. 13, 2008, to examine the efforts the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to improve the treatment and handling of sick and wounded service members since the issues exposed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 14, 2008, President Bush signed into law H.R. 4253, the <i>"Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008."</i>&nbsp; This legislation requires an interagency task force to coordinate efforts to improve opportunities for small businesses owned by veterans; permanently reauthorizes the SBA Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs; and expands small business development and loan programs for veterans and reservists. </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 14, 2008, the House passed H. Res. 963, which supports the goals and ideals of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week.</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> <a name="0.1_0100000E"></a><font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="mhc">Military Health Care News</a></font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Department of Defense announced that Navy Reserve Rear Adm. Karen A. Flaherty has been nominated for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (upper half0. Flaherty is currently serving as deputy commander, force integration, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, D.C.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The US Department of Labor (DOL) </font><a href="http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=09000064803abfe7" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>proposed updates</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2"> to <i>The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993</i> (FMLA) on Feb. 11, 2008.&nbsp; Proposed changes include expanded coverage for certain military family members in response to provisions in the <i>National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 </i>(NDAA) signed by President Bush on January 28, 2008. </font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The proposed changes permit 26 work weeks of unpaid leave to care for a member of the Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or Reserves, who is seriously injury or ill.&nbsp; This provision was effective as of the date of signing, but the Department of Labor is now proposing the changes to the FMLA regulation.&nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The NDAA also permits an employee to take FMLA leave for  any qualifying exigency& arising out of the fact that the spouse, or a son, daughter or parent of the employee is on active duty (or has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty) in the Armed Forces in support of a contingency operation. &nbsp; This provision is not effective until qualifying exigencies are defined in final regulation. &nbsp;DOL is now seeking public comment on which exigencies should be included, such as making arrangements for child care, financial or legal matters, attending farewell or arrival arrangements, and attending to affairs involved with the death or missing status of a service member.&nbsp; </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2"><i>The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 </i>currently permits qualifying employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work per year in conjunction with the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for themselves or a family member with serious medical conditions.&nbsp; For more information on FMLA, visit </font><a href="http://www.health.mil/include/exitwarning.aspx?link=http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/index.htm" target="_blank"><font color="#023f83" face="Arial" size="2"><b>http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd<wbr></wbr>/fmla/index.htm</b></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2"><b>.</b></font></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for Health Affairs, and Ms. Ellen Embrey, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Force Health Protection and Readiness, testified at a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee on Defense on Feb. 7, 2008, to discuss the Department of Defense s (DoD s) programs for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">In his </font><a href="http://www.health.mil/Content/docs/pdfs/Cong+Testimony+HAC+7+Feb+2007_Final.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>testimony</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">, Dr. Casscells requested Congress continued support in transforming areas of prevention, protection, identification, management and transition of care for service members and their families related to psychological health and TBI. Dr. Casscells further described the program development and research efforts for which a $797 million supplemental appropriation was requested, to include funding for the DoD Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE). The DCoE was designed to lead clinical efforts toward developing excellence in practice standards, training, outreach and direct care for the military members with psychological health and TBI concerns. &nbsp; </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Dr. Casscells described the seven initiatives that have been developed in order to transform the system of care for psychological health and TBI. &nbsp;These seven initiatives include: building a strong culture of leadership and advocacy, developing and ensuring consistent standards in providing quality care, ensuring easy and timely access to care, promoting psychological health and resiliency, early identification and screening of conditions, partnering with other federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure seamless care, and expanding research on psychological health and TBI. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">As the Military Health System (MHS) serves 9.2 million beneficiaries around the world, Dr. Casscells addressed the challenges that will arise when changes occur in a system so large, including the time that is required for an effective, quality change. &nbsp;He also acknowledged the need to plan in the future in a more cross-functional manner, by developing innovative solutions to problems that affect more than the healthcare community.</font></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Association named TriWest Healthcare Alliance to its list of companies that provide extraordinary support for employees serving in the National Guard and Reserves.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">National ESGR Executive Director Dr. Gordon Sumner recognized TriWest at a signing ceremony during a gathering of the company's leadership Sunday in Westlake Village. TriWest administers the military's health care plan, TRICARE, in California and 20 other western states for 2.9 million TRICARE beneficiaries; about half of its nearly 2,000 employees are retired military or spouses and family members of service members and military retirees.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">To be recognized by the ESGR as a top employer, companies must meet certain criteria, most of which TriWest exceeded. These criteria are:</font></p> </ul> <ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Signing a statement of support publicly demonstrating support for employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserves</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Reviewing internal Human Resources policies to ensure they are compliant with the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (</font><a><font face="Arial" size="2">USERRA</font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">)</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Promoting training for managers and above in how to effectively manage their employees who serve in the Reserve Component</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Adopting polices and implementing programs that go above and beyond what is required by the USERRA</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Serving as an advocate for employee service in the National Guard and Reserve and helping to promote the mission of the ESGR.</font> </li> </ul> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <a name="0.1_0100000F"></a><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font></p> </ul> <p> <a name="0.1_01000018"></a><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">On Feb. 12, 2008, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake appointed of six new members to the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, an expert panel that advises him on issues involving minority veterans.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The new committee members include retired Army Col. Dr. Doris Browne of Washington D.C.; Army Reserve Lt. Col. Dr. Irene M. Zoppi of Crofton, Md.; retired Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Furnie Lambert, Jr. of Maxton, N.C.; retired Air Force Senior Master Sgt. John W. Jelks of Dale City, Va.; retired Army Spc. and former POW Shoshana N. Johnson of El Paso, Texas and Navy veteran Alexander Y. Chan of Fairfax Station, Va.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Chartered on Jan. 30, 1995, the committee makes recommendations for administrative and legislative changes. &nbsp;The committee members are appointed to one-, two-, or three-year terms.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">In addition to the Advisory Committee, VA has minority veterans program coordinators at each VA medical center, regional office and national cemetery to assist minority veterans with health and benefits issues.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">There are approximately 4.7 million minority veterans in the United States and its territories. They make up nearly 19 percent of the total veteran population.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">To view a list of the full membership of VA s Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans, please visit: </font><a href="http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1451" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel<wbr></wbr>/pressrelease.cfm?id=1451</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">.</font></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">According to the <i>Amarillo Globe News</i>, the Thomas E. Creek Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is teaming with the Texas Tech School of Pharmacy and Amarillo College to study how to improve prescription labels through surveying patients' ability to read and understand prescription drug labels.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The survey seeks to find the best ways to give patients information, such as how often they should take a medication and the drug's side effects and benefits.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Joe Youngblood, pharmacist and patient safety manager for the VA hospital, helped develop the survey in the hopes that the VA will adjust the labels for its prescription drug program, which filled more than 239 million prescriptions last year.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">A recent national VA study found 36 percent of veterans have a limited health literacy.&nbsp; Providers and the government realize that lack of patient understanding  not just regarding prescription drug labels, but also over-the-counter medication and conversations with their doctors  is a growing problem. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The survey, which lasts about 15 minutes, asks questions to determine a person's reading level and ability to understand common medical instructions.&nbsp; </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Youngblood hopes to take results of the survey to providers to see what they can do differently to make what they say understandable.&nbsp; </font><a href="http://www.amarillo.com/stories/021308/bus_9422178.shtml" target="_blank"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.amarillo.com<wbr></wbr>/stories/021308/bus_9422178<wbr></wbr>.shtml</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> <a name="0.1_01000019"></a><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 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded its list of underperforming nursing homes across the country since the agency began publishing the names of Special Focus Facility (SFF) nursing homes that had failed to improve significantly after being given the opportunity to do so in November 2007.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Once a facility is selected as an SFF, state survey agencies are responsible for conducting twice the number of standard surveys and will apply progressive enforcement until the nursing home either significantly improves and is no longer identified as an SFF; is granted additional time due to promising developments; or is terminated from Medicare and/or Medicaid.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">CMS worked with states to assure that the </font><a href="http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CertificationandComplianc/12_NHs.asp" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>SFF list</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2"> is current and provides consumers with the information needed to make a distinction between nursing homes that are improving and those that are not.&nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">This updated and expanded list, currently at 131 facilities, identifies each by the category they fall within, such as:</font></p> </ul> <ul> <ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">New Additions: &nbsp;nursing homes added within approximately the past six months; </font></li> </ul> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Not Improved: nursing homes that have failed to improve significantly in at least one survey after being named as a SFF nursing home; </font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Improving: nursing homes that have significantly improved on the most recent survey, including no findings of harm to any resident and no systemic potential for harm; </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Recently Graduated: nursing homes that have sustained significant improvement for about 12 months, indicating an upward trend in quality improvement compared to the nursing home s prior history of care; and those </font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">No Longer in Medicare and Medicaid: nursing homes that were either terminated by CMS from participation in Medicare within the past few months, or voluntarily chose not to continue participation. </font></li> </ul> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The SFF initiative was created by CMS in 1998 in response to the number of facilities that were consistently providing poor quality of care. Those facilities were periodically instituting enough improvement so that they would pass one survey, only to fail the next (for many of the same problems as before). &nbsp;Facilities with this compliance history rarely addressed underlying systemic problems that were giving rise to repeated cycles of serious deficiencies. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Nearly three million Americans, most of who are enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, depend on the nation s 16,000 nursing homes at some point during each year.&nbsp; </font> </p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 8, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified the public that Botox and Botox Cosmetic (Botulinum toxin Type A) and Myobloc (Botulinum toxin Type B) have been linked in some cases to adverse reactions, including respiratory failure and death, following treatment of a variety of conditions using a wide range of doses. </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">In an </font><a href="http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/early_comm/botulinium_toxins.htm" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>early communication</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2"> based on the FDA's ongoing safety review, the agency said the reactions may be related to overdosing. There is no evidence that these reactions are related to any defect in the products.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The adverse effects were found in FDA-approved and non-approved usages. The most severe adverse effects were found in children treated for spasticity in their limbs associated with cerebral palsy. Treatment of spasticity is not an FDA-approved use of botulism toxins in children or adults. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The adverse reactions appear to be related to the spread of the toxin to areas distant from the site of injection, and mimic symptoms of botulism, which may include difficulty swallowing, weakness and breathing problems. </font> </p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">A proposed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulation was published in the </font><a href="http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-2375.htm" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><i><u>Federal Register</u></i></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2"> to improve the quality and safety of health care by fostering the establishment of Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs).</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">PSOs are private entities recognized by the HHS Secretary to collect and analyze patient safety events reported by health care providers. They are new and separate from all currently existing entities that are addressing health care quality.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The creation of PSOs has been called for by the Institute of Medicine and would help improve the quality and safety of health care in several key ways. PSOs would allow for the voluntary reporting of patient safety events without fear of new tort liability. In addition, they would encourage clinicians and health care organizations to voluntarily share data on patient safety events more freely and consistently. Under the proposal, PSOs can collect, aggregate and analyze data and provide feedback to help clinicians and health care organizations improve health care quality.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The authority to list, or formally recognize, PSOs was established by the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005. While the statute makes patient safety event reporting privileged and confidential, it does not relieve clinicians or health care organizations from meeting reporting requirements under federal, state or local laws. However, the statute and the proposed regulation address an important barrier that currently exists  the fear of legal liability or sanctions that can result from discussing and analyzing patient safety events.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The proposed regulation describes how an organization may become a PSO and explains how clinicians will be able to report patient safety events confidentially, the limited ways in which these data will be shared with others engaging in patient safety work while remaining privileged and confidential and how clinicians will receive feedback on ways to improve patient safety. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will administer the rules for listing qualified PSOs. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will be responsible for enforcing the confidentiality provisions of the act. In addition, the department plans to issue guidance soon that would allow entities to be listed as PSOs, consistent with the statute, prior to publication of the final rule.&nbsp; </font><a href="http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/02/20080212a.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.hhs.gov/news/press<wbr></wbr>/2008pres/02/20080212a.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> <h1> <font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="reserve">Reserve/Guard</a></font> </h1> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The total number of Guard and Reserve currently on active duty has <b>decreased</b> by 352 from the last report to 94,972. The totals for each service are Army National Guard and Army Reserve, 73,769; Navy Reserve, 5,029; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 7,128; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,703; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 343. </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"> <a name="0.1_0100001C"></a><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font></p> </ul> <p> <a name="0.1_01000024"></a><font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="reports">Reports/Policies</a></font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The GAO published <i> Primary Care Professionals</i><b><i>:</i></b><i> Recent Supply Trends, Projections, and Valuation of Services, </i> (GAO-08-472T) on Feb. 12, 2008.&nbsp; The report examines the recent supply trends for primary care professionals, including information on training and demographic characteristics; projections of future supply for primary care professionals, including the factors underlying these projections; and the influence of the health care system's financing mechanisms on the valuation of primary care services.&nbsp; In the report, the GAO found that the number of primary care physicians has dropped more than seven percent since 1995. </font><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08472t.pdf" target="_blank"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.gao.gov/new.items<wbr></wbr>/d08472t.pdf</u></font></a> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The GAO published <i> Military Personnel: Guidance Needed for Any Future Conversions of Military Medical Positions to Civilian Positions, </i>(GAO-08-370R) on Feb. 8, 2008.&nbsp; </font><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08370r.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.gao.gov/new.items<wbr></wbr>/d08370r.pdf</u></font></a> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The GAO published <i> VA Health Care: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Screening and Evaluation Implemented for OEF/OIF Veterans, but Challenges Remain, </i>(GAO-08-276) on Feb. 8, 2008.&nbsp; In this report GAO describes VA's efforts to screen OEF/OIF veterans for mild TBI; steps taken so that those OEF/OIF veterans at risk for mild TBI are evaluated and treated; and challenges in screening and evaluating OEF/OIF veterans for mild TBI.&nbsp; </font><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08276.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.gao.gov/new.items<wbr></wbr>/d08276.pdf</u></font></a> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The GAO published <i> Health Information Technology: HHS Is Pursuing Efforts to Advance Nationwide Implementation, but Has Not Yet Completed a National Strategy, </i> (GAO-08-499T) on Feb. 14, 2008. In this report, the </font> <font face="Verdana" size="2">GAO describes HHS's efforts to advance the use of health IT. </font><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08499t.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.gao.gov/new.items<wbr></wbr>/d08499t.pdf</u></font></a> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The GAO published <i> Security: Although Progress Reported, Federal Agencies Need to Resolve Significant Deficiencies, </i> (GAO-08-496T) on Feb. 14, 2008. This report summarizes agency progress in performing key control activities; the effectiveness of information security at federal agencies; and opportunities to strengthen security. </font><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08496t.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.gao.gov/new.items<wbr></wbr>/d08496t.pdf</u></font></a> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The GAO published <i> Information Technology: VA Has Taken Important Steps to Centralize Control of Its Resources, but Effectiveness Depends on Additional Planned Actions, </i> (</font><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08449t.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2">GAO-08-449T</font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">) Feb. 13, 2008. In this report, the GAO summarizes the department's actions to realign its management structure to provide greater authority and accountability over its IT budget and resources and the impact of these actions to date.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08449t.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.gao.gov/new.items<wbr></wbr>/d08449t.pdf</a></font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The GAO published <i> Veterans' Benefits: Improved Management Would Enhance VA's Pension Program, </i> (</font><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08112.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2">GAO-08-112</font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">) on Feb. 14, 2008. This report assesses the characteristics and trends in size of the current pensioner population; the policies and procedures VA has in place to ensure that initial pension eligibility decisions are well managed; and the procedures VA has in place to ensure that pensioners continue to receive the proper benefit payments on an ongoing basis. </font><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08112.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.gao.gov/new.items<wbr></wbr>/d08112.pdf</u></font></a> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The GAO published <i> Veterans' Disability Benefits: Claims Processing Challenges Persist, while VA Continues to Take Steps to Address Them, </i> (</font><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08473t.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2">GAO-08-473T</font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">) on Feb. 14, 2008. This report discusses claims processing challenges VA faces; steps VA is taking to address these challenges; and opportunities for more fundamental reform. GAO has reported and testified on this subject on numerous occasions. </font> <a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08473t.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.gao.gov/new.items<wbr></wbr>/d08473t.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> <a name="0.1_0100002A"></a><font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="leg">Legislation</a></font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font color="#333333" face="Arial" size="2"><b>H.R.5348</b> (introduced Feb. 12, 2008): To amend the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to assure comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage for all Americans through an American Health Benefits Program was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 James R. Langevin [RI-2] </font></li> <li><font color="#333333" face="Arial" size="2"><b>H.R.5404</b> (introduced Feb. 13, 2008): To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a Federal grant program to provide increased health care coverage to and access for uninsured and underinsured workers and families in the commercial fishing industry, and for other purposes was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.&nbsp;<br /> Sponsor: Representative Barney Frank [MA-4] </font></li> <li><font color="#333333" face="Arial" size="2"><b>S.2617</b> (introduced Feb. 13, 2008): A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2008, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.&nbsp;<br /> Sponsor: Senator Daniel K. Akaka [HI] </font></li> <li><font color="#333333" face="Arial" size="2"><b>S.2618</b> (introduced Feb. 8, 2008): A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for research with respect to various forms of muscular dystrophy, including Becker, congenital, distal, Duchenne, Emery-Dreifuss Facioscapulohumeral, limb-girdle, myotonic, and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophies was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.&nbsp;<br /> Sponsor: Senator Amy Klobuchar [MN] </font></li> <li><font color="#333333" face="Arial" size="2"><b>S.2630</b> (introduced Feb. 13, 2008): A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a Federal grant program to provide increased health care coverage to and access for uninsured and underinsured workers and families in the commercial fishing industry, and for other purposes was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.&nbsp;<br /> Sponsor: Senator Edward M. Kennedy [MA] </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font><font face="Arial" size="2"> </font> </p> </ul> <p> <a name="0.1_0100002B"></a><font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="hill">Hill Hearings</a></font></p> <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, JWV, BVA, VVA, NCOA, AFSA and American Ex-Prisoners of War.</font> </li> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on <b>March 11, 2008</b>, to examine the substance abuse/co-morbid disorders of veterans.</font> </li> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on <b>April 1, 2008</b>, to examine post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment and research.</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>April 3, 2008</b>, to receive legislative presentations from a group of the military and veterans service associations (participation to be determined).</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><a href="#top">Back to Top</a></font></p> </ul> <h1> <a name="0.1_0100002C"></a><font face="Arial Black" size="3"><a name="meetings">Meetings / Conferences</a></font> </h1> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Second Annual Marine Corps Installation West and Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton Autism Conference will be held on <b>Feb. 21, 2008</b>, at MCB Camp Pendleton. </font><a href="http://www.cpen.med.navy.mil/nhcp.cfm?xid=wap&f=x833A678B" target="_blank"><font color="#08317b" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.cpen.med.navy.mil<wbr></wbr>/nhcp.cfm?xid=wap&amp;f=x833A678B</u></font></a> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The 2008 HIMSS Annual Conference will be held on <b> Feb. 24-28, 2007</b>, in Orlando, Fla. </font><a href="http://www.himssconference.org/?src=hhpf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.himssconference.org<wbr></wbr>/?src=hhpf</u></font></a> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Family Readiness Leadership Course will be offered on <b>Feb. 23-24, 2008,</b> in Amarillo, Texas.&nbsp; </font><a href="http://www.guardfamily.org" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>www.guardfamily.org</u></font></a> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The American Medical Directors' Association's (AMDA) 2008 Annual Symposium will be held on <b>March 6-9, 2008,</b> in Salt Lake City, Utah. </font><a href="http://www.amda.com/education/annsym08/" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.amda.com/educ