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 22, 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">The House and Senate are in recess until Feb. 25, 2008.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The House Armed Services Subcommittee for Military Personnel held a hearing on Feb. 15, 2008, to receive an update on the implementation of the Army's Medical Action Plan (AMAP).&nbsp; In addition, the Navy and Air Force testified on what they are doing to care for their wounded warriors.&nbsp; </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command, Lt. Gen Eric Schoomaker testified about the progress of the AMAP since the<i> Washington Post </i>reported on problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.&nbsp; Improvements include a coordinated effort at the 400 Wounded Transition Units between the squad leader, a case manager, and a primary care manager.&nbsp; He pointed out that staffing has increased six-fold.&nbsp; In addition, the Army has a medical command-wide ombudsman available to all soldiers, as well as a hotline to help address problems within 24 hours of being reported.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Navy Surgeon General Vice Adm. Adam Robinson discussed the joint efforts of the Marine Corp and the Navy to provide its service members with clinical and non-clinical support, including multi-faceted care teams to better coordinate all aspects of sailors' care, especially as they move across the continuum of care.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. James G. Roudebush highlighted the forward-deployed Air Force medical system and air evacuation system, which have been effective in saving lives of all service members.&nbsp; </font> </p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 15, 2008, Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake notified Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, that the VA had changed its requirement that veterans diagnosed with PTSD while on active duty provide additional evidence of exposure to specific stressors during their service in order to establish their diagnosis of PTSD.&nbsp; Responding to an inquiry from Chairman Akaka, Secretary Peake has directed the VA regional offices no longer to require such evidence but instead to immediately schedule examinations for such veterans in order to determine the severity of their PTSD for VA compensation purposes. &nbsp; </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p align="right"> <a name="0.1_01000002"></a><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">NetStar-1, Inc., an IT service company, has been awarded a TRICARE Evaluation, Analysis, and Management Support (TEAMS) contract to provide support services to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs TRICARE Management Activity. Through competitively awarded task orders under the TEAMS contract, NetStar-1 will continue to support the TRICARE Management Activity customers, providing information technology policy development, program and project management, and administration services. </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The TEAMS contract replaces several U.S. General Services Administration and DoD blanket purchase agreements and other competitively awarded contracts for TRICARE support services, and is valued at $4.8 billion over 10 years, which includes one base year and nine one-year options. </font><a href="http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/netstar-1-awarded-us-department-of-defense-teams-contract,286100.shtml" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.earthtimes.org<wbr></wbr>/articles/show/netstar-1<wbr></wbr>-awarded-us-department-of<wbr></wbr>-defense-teams-contract,286100<wbr></wbr>.shtml</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. S. Ward Casscells, MD, hosted the first web-based live  Webhall for the Military Health System (MHS) on Feb 14, 2008.&nbsp; During the session, leaders from the MHS joined Dr. Casscells in answering more than 25 questions from service members and their families.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">DoD participants included Steve Jones, PhD, principle deputy assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, Ellen Embrey, deputy assistant secretary of defense for force health protection and readiness, Jack Smith, MD, acting assistant secretary of defense and chief medical officer. They were joined by several subject matter experts from the MHS.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Before and during the live program, service members and their families submitted questions and comments about DoD programs, priorities and efforts covering many broad issues, with the main focus on wounded warriors.&nbsp; Participants could either write or text their questions.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Pain management programs, funding of new programs, standardized physical examination processes, care for service members with traumatic brain injury or post traumatic stress disorder and concerns about the medical evaluation process were among many of the questions or concerns posted. To view the official DoD responses, please visit </font><a href="http://www.health.mil/WoundedWarriorWebhall.aspx" target="_blank"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.health.mil/WoundedWa<wbr></wbr>rriorWebhall.aspx</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 18, 2008, Air Force Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Joseph E. Kelley (retired), joined the Military Health System (MHS) as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for clinical and program policy. In this position, Kelley will be responsible for providing medical information, policy formulation, clinical program oversight and consultation to senior Defense officials, congressional committees and other government agencies. His office provides oversight and guidance for clinical quality, patient safety and medical management programs in the MHS. </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Prior to this appointment, Kelley served as joint staff surgeon at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and as the chief medical adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders. He coordinated all issues related to operational medicine, force health protection and readiness among combatant commanders. Kelley recently served on the congressionally directed Future of Military Health Care Task Force.&nbsp; He retired from the Air Force in August 2007.&nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Kelly is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. He has had academic appointments as clinical professor and assistant dean, and has taught Advanced Trauma Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Emergency Medical Technician Course, and given numerous presentations.&nbsp; He was rated as a chief flight surgeon with more than 750 flight hours. </font><a href="http://www.health.mil/Press/Release.aspx?ID=68" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.health.mil/Press<wbr></wbr>/Release.aspx?ID=68</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Warrior Transition Unit officially opened during a ceremony Feb. 5 at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. The facility, open since last fall, is a healing hospice for wounded service members.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The facility can lodge up to 40 troops. Handicapped-accessible wheelchair ramps and wheelchair lifts are installed in the front and at both ends of the building. Four rooms are modified for handicap accessibility, including emergency call buttons and modified showers. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The offices of platoon cadre personnel and the SFAC are co-located in the facility to provide life support, social, administrative and counseling services to the healing soldiers.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">A number of garrison organizations and government contractors pulled together in completing the $400,000 project that began in April 2007. Legal stipulations restricted garrison officials from soliciting sponsors.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Nine sponsor organizations  Andrews Federal Credit Union; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; USAG Wiesbaden Army Community Service; The Holy Family Parrish; Wiesbaden Wahoo s Youth Swim Team; United Services Organization; Victory Christian Fellowship; Wiesbaden Community Spouses Club; and Kedric and Dalita Savage  added to the overall comfort and quality of life at the WTU by decorating rooms with accessories ranging from comforters to carpets. Another organization  Lucia s Gifts, Souvenirs, Plaques and Trophies  supported the facility with decorative plaques and engraved photographs throughout the facility.&nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2"><i>Fighting for Life</i>, a documentary film about the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, which chronicles the journey of medical servicemen and women from their freshman year to the battlefield, is being released for general distribution in five cities across the United States. The film, made by two-time Academy Award winning filmmaker Terry Sanders, shows how hard military medical personnel work to save lives. It shows not only the medical advances saving lives, but also how things such as body armor have become the difference between being a survivor and a war casualty. </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The film doesn't debate the politics of the war; it merely shows the damage and the people trying to literally piece soldiers back together.&nbsp; It is being shown at the following theaters: </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">March 7 in New York City, N.Y. at the Quad Theater;</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">March 14 in Washington, D.C. at the E Street Theater;</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">March 14 in Bethesda, Md. at the Bethesda Row Theater;</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">March 21 in Los Angeles, Calif. at the Laemmie Theater; and</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">March 28 in San Diego, Calif. at the Hillcrest Theater &nbsp;</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"> &nbsp;</font></p> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the creation of a special  Rural Health National Advisory Committee to advise VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake and Dr. Michael J. Kussman, VA s under secretary for health, about health care issues affecting veterans in rural areas.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">While the details of the panel are still being formulated, the committee will consist of members familiar with rural health issues. &nbsp;The members will come from the federal, state and local sectors, academia and veterans service organizations.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The Committee s goals include expanding current programs that provide services to Native American veterans, as well as programs that provide mental health and long-term care services; expanding existing tele-health programs and investigating new applications; and improving the patient care coordination and continuity of care for all veterans.&nbsp; </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The panel s first meeting is tentatively scheduled for this summer.&nbsp; VA has 25 similar advisory committees, each with between 10 and 15 members. &nbsp;Members are typically appointed to one-, two- or three-year terms to ensure continuity of operations. </font><a href="http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1453" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel<wbr></wbr>/pressrelease.cfm?id=1453</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will build a state-of-the-art residential rehabilitation facility focused on mental health at the Walla Walla, Wash., VA Medical Center.&nbsp;</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Details about the construction and opening date for the new facility, expected to cost an estimated $6.7 million, are still being developed.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">VA s plans for the facility, called a regional residential recovery unit, include 36 beds and 22,000 square feet of space. &nbsp;Its proposed location is in the southwest corner of the medical center complex, near the current exercise park.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">This unit is tentatively scheduled to have beds encompassing various levels of mental health care, including homeless and employment services, substance abuse treatment, psychosocial support and re-entry from incarceration services.&nbsp; </font><a href="http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1452" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel<wbr></wbr>/pressrelease.cfm?id=1452</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Illinois Warrior Assistance Program is a first-in-the-nation program that will screen returning Illinois National Guard members for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while offering TBI screening to all Illinois veterans, and a 24-hour toll-free psychological helpline for veterans suffering from symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).&nbsp; </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The program provides confidential assistance for Illinois veterans as they transition back to their everyday lives after service.&nbsp; Its goal is to help service members and their families deal with the emotional and psychological challenges they may be facing.&nbsp; The program includes:</font></p> </ul> <ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">A 24-hour, toll-free helpline at 1-866-554-IWAP (4927), which is staffed by health professionals to assist veterans, day or night, with the symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) screening for all interested Illinois veterans over the phone via the helpline or through the State of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) Veteran Service Officers (VSOs).</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Mandatory TBI screenings for all returning members of the Illinois Army National Guard and Air National Guard.&nbsp; </font></li> </ul> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">If a veteran has a positive screening for PTSD or TBI and is uninsured or underinsured, he or she could be eligible for additional diagnostic review and treatment for PTSD or TBI through the program.&nbsp; The hotline and the network of providers will be operated through Magellan Health Services, Inc. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The Illinois Warrior Assistance Program is jointly coordinated by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Governor s Office and the Illinois Department of Military Affairs. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Services covered by the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program include: referral to appropriate service provider; care coordination; counseling; psychotherapy; prescriptions for behavioral health pharmaceuticals; intensive outpatient services; and referral to an IDVA Veteran Service Officer (VSO) to help the veteran apply for all applicable state and federal benefits. &nbsp;&nbsp; </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">For more information about the program, please visit </font> <a href="https://connect.limra.com/,DanaInfo=www.illinoiswarrior.com+" target="_blank"> <font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.illinoiswarrior.com/</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">.&nbsp; </font><a href="http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=57&RecNum=6564" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.illinois.gov<wbr></wbr>/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease<wbr></wbr>.cfm?SubjectID=57&amp;RecNum=6564</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 National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Child Health and Human Development will be renamed the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, under legislation passed by Congress. The honor recognizes Mrs. Shriver's role in the creation of the institute.</font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) have released a progress report on the efforts of the thirty three states and Puerto Rico that make up the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC) to define their privacy and security approaches for electronic health information exchange.&nbsp; </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The </font><a href="http://healthit.ahrq.gov/privacyandsecurity" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>Impact Analysis Report</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2"> provides an assessment of the progress made by states since the inception of the project by comparing the current landscape for privacy and security to the baseline as reported by the state teams in early 2006. The report discusses the impact of work among and between participants in five key areas: legislation, executive orders, leadership and governance, stakeholder education and knowledge, and development of health information exchange networks. The analysis also describes the collaborative work between states in seven key areas and it provides a state-by-state discussion of recent progress.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The report is the seventh in a series of progress reports produced by the Privacy and Security Solutions Project. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Progress made during the past two years includes:</font></p> </ul> <ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">23 states cite increased awareness of privacy and security issues among stakeholders as a key component of success in the development and sustainability of statewide Health IT and Health Information Exchange (HIE) plans; </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">14 states indicated the Privacy and Security Solutions Project has served to increase support for planned HIEs; </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">11 states reported legislative activities aimed at updating and aligning privacy and security statutes to prepare for electronic health information exchange with four states having already passed some legislation; </font></li> </ul> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Three state governors have issued executive orders formalizing support for the HISPC in their state and have provided members of their state HISPC teams with leadership roles in other initiatives; and </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Seven collaborative work groups involving 43 states and 2 territories are now focused on implementing shared privacy and security solutions.</font></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">According to the <i>Washington Post</i>, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) failed to inspect the Chinese facility that supplies the active ingredient of the widely used blood thinner heparin because the agency confused its name with another just like it, agency officials said yesterday.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The FDA said that a team of inspectors is headed now to China to inspect the plant as part of an effort to determine what may have caused a sudden spike in serious problems with the drug, which has been on the market since the 1930s.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">More than 350 adverse reactions to the drug have been reported to the FDA since the end of 2007, including a dangerous lowering of blood pressure, breathing difficulties and vomiting. Four patients who took the drug died. One of its two manufacturers, Baxter International, stopped selling its multiple-dose vials of heparin earlier this month, and yesterday the FDA advised doctors to prescribe alternatives.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Millions of people each year are given the drug during dialysis or to prevent complications from surgery, but the FDA has never checked the Chinese plant where the active ingredient is made.&nbsp; The agency and Baxter are investigating whether anomalies in the ingredients from China could have caused the dangerous reactions in some patients.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">FDA officials said that although federal law does not require inspections of foreign drug makers, the agency will in most instances inspect before a new foreign drug, or foreign active drug ingredient, is allowed in an FDA-approved prescription medication. That inspection need not include an on-site visit if the foreign company has passed previous inspections for other drugs.&nbsp; The FDA accepts previous positive inspections as sufficient proof that a company is doing a good job, and it can approve new drugs or drug ingredients based on that record. </font> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/18/AR2008021802315_pf.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.washingtonpost.com<wbr></wbr>/wp-dyn/content/article/2008<wbr></wbr>/02/18/AR2008021802315_pf.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">On Feb. 20, 2008, President Bush committed $350 million over five years to provide integrated treatment of more than 300 million people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and target seven major NTDs (neglected tropical diseases): lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis); schistosomiasis (snail fever); trachoma (eye infection); onchocerciasis (river blindness); and three soil-transmitted helminthes (STHs  hookworm, roundworm, whipworm).</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> &nbsp; &nbsp;<font face="Arial" size="2">This investment increases the United States' commitment to NTDs from $15 million in 2008 to a total of $350 million over five years (FY 2009  FY 2013) and will expand the targeted number of countries from 10 in 2008 to approximately 30 by 2013. The new initiative will target communities with integrated treatment annually for three to five years in order to reduce the prevalence of these diseases within these communities.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> &nbsp; &nbsp;<font face="Arial" size="2">Treating the millions of people that suffer from NTDs will bolster child development, promote educational achievement, and contribute to poverty reduction. Interventions in fighting these diseases promise large economic payoffs as they improve educational outcomes and worker productivity. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> &nbsp; &nbsp;<font face="Arial" size="2">In addition, President Bush challenged other donors, including the G-8 partners, foundations, and public, private, and voluntary organizations to complement the United States' commitments by providing collectively an additional $650 million to close the funding gap for treatment of NTDs in the countries that are most affected by these diseases. Combined with U.S. efforts, the entire G-8 would provide sufficient funding for control and elimination of NTDs in Sub-Saharan Africa and high burden countries in Asia and Latin America. </font> <a href="http://gnntdc.sabin.org/files/ntd_fact_sheet__final.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://gnntdc.sabin.org/files<wbr></wbr>/ntd_fact_sheet__final.pdf</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new demonstration project that provides Medicare incentive payments to physicians for the use of certified electronic health records (EHRs) to improve patient care.&nbsp;</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The </font><a href="http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DemoProjectsEvalRpts/downloads/2008_Electronic_Health_Records_Demonstration.pdf" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>EHR Demonstration Project</u></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">, which will be open to small- and medium-sized primary care physician practices, is expected to reduce medical errors and improve the quality of care for an estimated 3.6 million Americans.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">In a series of meetings with health care providers, health plan and medical association officials, patients, mayors, business leaders, and other stakeholders, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, Deputy Secretary Tevi Troy, and Acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems are urging community leaders to convene stakeholders in their communities to aid in this drive to bring health care up to 21<sup>st</sup> century standards.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Meetings were held on Feb. 20, 2008, in Atlanta, Ga.; Kansas City, Kan.; Cleveland, Ohio; Portland, Maine; and Providence, R.I.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Over a five-year period, financial incentives will be provided to as many as 1,200 physician practices that use certified EHRs to improve quality as measured by their performance on specific clinical quality measures.&nbsp; In addition to the incentive payments, bonus payments may be awarded based on a standardized survey measuring the number of EHR functionalities a physician group has incorporated into its practice. Total payments under the demonstration for all five years may be up to $58,000 per physician or $290,000 per practice.&nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The application period is open now through mid-May for communities interested in becoming one of the 12 sites. CMS expects that the demonstration will start with four communities in 2008, with the remainder beginning in 2009.&nbsp; Once communities have been selected, CMS will begin working with the communities to recruit physician practices for participation in the demonstration. &nbsp;</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Recruitment for the project will focus on locations where the demonstration may enhance existing or planned private sector projects related to health information technology and quality reporting initiatives.&nbsp; </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">For more information about eligibility and the demonstration project, please visit </font><a href="http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/02/20080220a.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.hhs.gov/news/press<wbr></wbr>/2008pres/02/20080220a.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidance on "Good Reprint Practices" in the<i> </i></font><a href="http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-746.htm" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><i><u>Federal Register</u></i></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2"><i> </i>for industry use in the distribution of medical or scientific journal articles and reference publications that involve unapproved uses of FDA-approved drugs and medical devices. </font></li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Previously, Section 401 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act set out guidelines that allowed the dissemination of information on unapproved uses of FDA-approved products. As long as the guidelines were met by the manufacturers, the dissemination of such materials was not viewed by the FDA as evidence of intent to promote the product for an "off-label" use. However, Section 401 expired on Sept. 30, 2006.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The FDA's "Good Reprint Practices" draft guidance recommends principles manufacturers should follow when they distribute scientific or medical journal reprints, articles, or reference publications. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">Some of the principles include ensuring that the article or reference be published by an organization that has an editorial board. The organization also should fully disclose any conflicts of interest or biases for all authors, contributors or editors associated with the journal article. Articles should be peer-reviewed and published in accordance with specific procedures.</font></p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The FDA retains legal authority to determine whether distribution of an article or publication constitutes promotion of an unapproved "new use," or whether such activities cause a product to be considered misbranded or adulterated under The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. </font><a href="http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01798.html" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><u>http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics<wbr></wbr>/NEWS/2008/NEW01798.html</u></font></a></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">An inaugural report on public health preparedness released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates states have made significant progress with respect to emergency preparedness, but that significant gaps remain.</font> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The CDC report, </font><a href="http://emergency.cdc.gov/publications/feb08phprep." target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial" size="2"><i><u>Public Health Preparedness: Mobilizing State by State</u></i></font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">, presents data that illustrate the progress state health departments have made in disease detection and investigation; laboratory testing capabilities; and planning, exercising and responding to public health emergencies. Key improvements from the report include:</font></p> </ul> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Disease detection and investigation<b>. &nbsp; </b>All state public health departments can now receive urgent reports about disease 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In 1999, only 12 states could do so. In addition, all states share information using the Epidemic Information Exchange (Epi-X), a secure, CDC-based communications system that helps track disease outbreaks. The number of users of this network nationwide has increased from 1,366 in 2001, to 4,646 in 2006.</font> <ul type="DISC"> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Public health laboratories. The number of laboratories that can test and analyze samples has nearly doubled since 2001.&nbsp; </font></li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Response plans. All states have developed detailed emergency response plans to address all hazards, including an influenza pandemic. All states also now have plans to distribute the Strategic National Stockpile2 s federal caches of pharmaceuticals, antidotes, and medical supplies used for an emergency. </font> </li> <li><font face="Arial" size="2">Training. All public health departments now systematically and routinely train their workers in a wide range of crucial emergency response areas. </font></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">The CDC2 s preparedness report is a part of the agency2 s focus on measuring and documenting results, systematically using data to continuously improve programs and increasing accountability regarding the country2 s investment in preparedness activities. </font> </p> </ul> <ul> <p> <font face="Arial" size="2">CDC's approach has been to support public health preparedness for all hazards, including natural, biological, chemical, radiological, and nuc