Capitol Hill news from FierceHealthcare
News
Patent protections for biotech drugs part of reform debate
No, it hasn't been one of the marquee issues of the healthcare debate, but for biotech interests, it's a huge one nonetheless. Will makers of costly biotech drugs keep their patents--and high... Read more...
Coming into the home stretch, pharma spends big on lobbying
With health reform set for one of the biggest remakes in U.S. history, it's little wonder that health players are spending big bucks on lobbying Capitol Hill. But of all the moneyed healthcare... Read more...
Case study: Miami drug reps not registering as lobbyists
Right now, sentiment is high on Capitol Hill to expose the money flowing to doctors from pharmaceutical and medical device companies. A look at what's happening in some markets right now, however,... Read more...
Wyden, Cooper hope to dump employer-based health insurance system
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) don't agree on a lot--Wyden's a liberal Dem and Cooper a conservative Southerner--but they've come together to champion a cause that hasn't gotten... Read more...
Drug marketing spoof reminds us of real issues
In today's newsletter, we included a link to a sly pharmaceutical marketing parody for a fictional drug. The drug, dubbed "Panexa," is said to be good for... Read more...
Farm bill would restrict MD-owned specialty hospitals
In a piece of gamesmanship worthy of Capitol Hill, legislators behind a pending agriculture bill have slipped in a provision that would ban physician ownership of specialty hospitals. Versions of... Read more...
AMA keeps fighting Medicare cuts
As it has for quite some time now, the American Medical Association is continuing to fight for legislation that would halt planned cuts to physician Medicare payments, holding a rally this week on... Read more...
Study: MDs refer profitable patients to their ASCs
This isn't too surprising, but it's not something policymakers will like, either. A new study of referral patterns in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metros suggests that physicians who are... Read more...
