ALSO NOTED: Prescription sales up 5.4 percent in 2005; CDHP members see reduced medical costs; and much more...

> In a new report, market intelligence specialist IMS Health says U.S. prescription drug sales grew 5.4 percent to $251.8 billion in 2005. Since January, IMS reports 18 million prescriptions have been filled under Medicare Part D. Release

> Supporters of consumer-driven health plans are pointing at a recent internal study conducted by CIGNA that finds that patients who switch to CDHP offerings tend to have lower medical costs than they had while enrolled in traditional plans. Article

> The FDA says it can't keep up with submissions from drug makers who want to have their ads approved under the agency's new voluntary  program. Report

> The San Francisco Business Times hosts a panel discussion on the issues behind the looming retrofitting deadline for California hospitals. Article

> Officials in Massachusetts are debating banning free samples of infant formula. Report

> Docs have complained for years that clunky interfaces on CPOE and EMR systems make them hard to use and interrupts their work flow. Could the answer be futuristic displays like the ones in Hollywood sci-fi flicks? Dr. Doug Krell blogs up an interesting idea or two. Blog

> Community Healthcare reported Q4 revenues up 20 percent from a year ago. Report

And Finally... An interesting new take on patient empowerment t-shirts. Where else are you going to get a shirt that reads "Death: Been there. Done that." or  "Chicks dig scars." Release

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