chairman charles

The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an investigation following this weekend's Seattle Times story detailing cases in which doctors involved in clinical trials sold investors access to information about their research. The development follows a call for an investigation on Monday by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). The article revealed 26 cases in which doctors were paid as much as $300 to $500 an hour to disclose details of their …

The news that researchers at a number of major academic research centers sold investors access to clinical trial data is getting major media play this morning. Reporters at the Seattle Times uncovered 26 cases in which researchers sold access to their work for large consulting fees, and the stock prices of the affected companies moved markedly before the official results were announced. The New York Times features the story today. In response to the news, Senate Finance …

There were signs of progress in the fight to trim Medicaid spending as the nation's governors met in Des Moines, Iowa, over the weekend to talk about healthcare and education at the National Governor's Association meeting. A key focus of the talks is reducing Medicaid spending, which this year surpassed education as the single largest item on state budgets. The Medicaid issue has been a contentious one in Washington in recent months, with lawmakers unable to agree on just what steps are …

The summer meeting of the National Governor's Association opens today in Des Moines, Iowa. Incoming Chairman Mike Huckabee of Arkansas is expected to stress healthcare in his term as president of the group. Huckabee, who lost 100 pounds after adopting a healthy lifestyle, and wrote a book called Quit Digging Your Own Grave With Your Knife And Fork, is expected to push for programs which stress preventative healthcare during his tenure. Also on the agenda: a package of proposals …

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) released a letter to 10 leading non-profit hospitals yesterday signaling his intent to investigate charges that some facilities are abusing their non-profit status, and that he wants them to justify their tax-exempt status. Grassley, who is also a sponsor of legislation targeting physician-operated specialty hospitals, wants detailed information from the hospitals on 45 details ranging from their policies on executive travel to …