Bush Administration

Investigators for the Government Accountability Office have found that companies that offer drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries often provide inaccurate or incomplete data. This is important because the premise of Part D is that out of dozens of plans, patients will choose the one that best fits their needs. But this isn't possible if they're receiving inaccurate data. The GAO also found that customer service reps often misquoted how much the plan would cost annually and that …

So David Brailer has had enough of traveling to every healthcare meeting and wants to go home to San Francisco. Who can blame him? In the past I've jokingly compared him to Stalin--they share a penchant for 10-year plans! But he's clearly had a major impact in the recognition that healthcare IT has received from both the Bush administration and the market. In some ways this has been …

After months of arguing that it would not extend the enrollment deadline for Medicare Part D, the Bush administration appears to be on the verge of doing exactly that. On Friday, officials said they want to allow some low-income participants to continue signing up after the May 15 deadline passes. Predictably, that news has led to calls from critics for the deadline to be extended for everybody. But the administration is arguing that doing so would be illegal. In today's Wall Street …

An employers group wants Medicare to release data on the quality and cost of healthcare provided by doctors and other providers around the country. The Business Roundtable, which represents a group of 160 major employers including Citigroup, Exxon Mobil and General Electric, says access to the information will help consumers choose doctors and hospitals more efficiently. But the Bush administration is arguing that releasing information on individual doctors is a violation of privacy laws. …

Cancer researchers and advocacy groups are fighting the Bush administration's plans to cut funding for the National Cancer Institute this year. Researchers have launched an Op-Ed campaign and cancer groups are planning an email and internet campaign to convince lawmakers to abandon the idea. The cuts themselves aren't particularly high--overall funding will drop from $4.75 billion to $4.5 billion, but critics say the move would be a symbolic defeat. Much of the money that could have gone …

The Bush administration said 2 million people signed up for the Medicare Part D benefit this month. That brings the total number who have enrolled individually to 7 million. Federal officials acknowledged that many of those who are eligible for the program and have not signed up fall into low-income groups. A drive is planned to sign up as many low-income seniors as possible before the May 15.

Meanwhile, House Democrats released a report that criticizes many of the new plans for …

The Bush administration warned Monday that bird flu will probably arrive in the United States this year. Officials announced plans to test 75,000 to 100,000 birds for early signs of the disease. The most likely route into the country for the disease is believed to be along the Pacific flyway, the path followed by migratory birds as they cross into the country. The flyway stretches the length of the West coast from Alaska to California.

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said that the …

A new Harris/Wall Street Journal poll finds that the majority of Americans have little faith in the Bush administration's ability to reform the healthcare system. About three quarters of those polled say they aren't confident that the administration will be able to make major changes or slow rising healthcare costs. But Americans aren't that much more confident in the ability of either other Republicans (31 percent) or Democrats (45 percent) to make effective changes either, …

 Bush administration orders antiviral drugs
The Department of Health and Human Services has ordered 14 million doses of antiviral drugs to treat victims in the event of a pandemic flu. The agency said yesterday that it has placed orders for 12.4 million doses of Tamiflu and 1.75 million doses of Relenza. The purchase will add to the existing stockpile of 5.5 million doses. The announcement drew criticism from Democrats in Washington, who say the government isn't acting quickly enough. Article

The Bush administration released a much-anticipated report outlining steps it wants to take to improve the nation's disaster preparedness in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Near the top of the list is an expanded role for the department of Health and Human Services, which the White House wants to take the lead in providing medical assistance in future disasters. The report also recommends that FEMA maintain a larger stockpile of emergency supplies and medicines.

In response to the …