lawmakers
IA bill exempts some hospitals from CON process
Iowa lawmakers have approved a bill that would strike down the state's certificate of need rules, at least as they apply to the state's 82 small, rural hospitals. The bill, which certainly makes the... Read more...
College group urges ban on drug, devicemaker freebies
The association representing U.S. medical colleges has come out with a proposed ban on pharma and device-maker gifts on medical college campuses. The group, the Association of American Medical... Read more...
RI reviews med equipment CON process
Apparently concerned that something is lacking in how the process works, a group of Rhode Island lawmakers have set up a commission to study whether state health officials are managing the CON... Read more...
NJ officials say more hospital closures are OK
Things look bad for many New Jersey hospitals. Four have closed in the last 18 months, four others are planning to close, five filed for bankruptcy protection and about half of the others are losing... Read more...
OK offers nursing home ratings
The state of Oklahoma has launched a website rating nursing homes on 10 quality factors. Ratings include factors such as nursing turnover and retention, the home's compliance with state surveys,... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: Should FDA's info be in all DTC ads?
First consumers, now Congress. Two lawmakers asked the FDA to mandate that all TV ads for prescription drugs include contact info for patients to report serious side effects to the agency. The... Read more...
Florida expands patient access to medical records
A Florida state Supreme Court decision has given patients access to medical error and incident reports prepared by providers, overturning legislation that had limited such access. As things stood in... Read more...
CMS auditors find $371 million in improper payments
Auditors working on contract to CMS have found more than $371 million in allegedly improper Medicare transactions that took place during 2007, CMS has reported. The auditors, who worked for CMS under... Read more...
WA attempts prescription data mining ban
So far, states have been facing vigorous industry opposition to proposed limits collecting physician prescription data, but that hasn't stopped Washington state from making its own attempt. Lawmakers... Read more...
Senate questions device maker payments to surgeons
Last year, five makers of orthopedic implants paid more than $221 million to surgeon consultants--and some Senate members want to know why. Today, the Senate Special Committee on Aging is holding a... Read more...
