senate

> The Senate has authorized a bill which would boost the FDA's ability to regulate drug companies, including the ability to make the pharmas conduct safety studies on already-released drugs. Article

> A growing number of states, including Georgia, Missouri and …

The new immigration law before the Senate contains language that would dramatically change U.S. visa requirements for nurses, opening the door to a wave of new arrivals from countries like the Philippines. Critics say the new rules could seriously hurt healthcare in the Philippines and similar countries by causing a shortage of trained staff. The American Nurses Association opposes the measure, noting that an influx of new talent could repress wages. Hospitals are quietly supportive, …

"Prospects appear bleak" for the Enzi bill, the Associated Press reports. This week the Senate considers legislation that would allow small businesses to pool their resources to buy health insurance from any insurer in the country. The bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) has the support of the president and of many Republicans. Democrats, on the other hand, are unified in their distaste for it. Critics argue that the attempt to reform the insurance industry would …

> The Senate rejected an attempt to limit medical malpractice awards. Article

> Shares of Kindred Healthcare fell 6.31 percent to $23.89 after the company confirmed that its outlook for the year is likely to be hurt by a cut in Medicare reimbursement rates. …

Today, the House is expected to vote on a controversial budget bill that would reduce government funding for Medicaid and Medicare. The cuts would scale back spending on Medicaid by 0.4 percent and Medicare by 0.3 percent over the next five years. Conservatives argue the cuts are necessary to put a halt to out-of-control spending. Democrats respond that the changes will hurt those least able to make the sacrifice. This will be the second time the legislation has come up before the House. …

Despite a slight drop in Medicare reimbursement rates five years ago, physicians are seeing an increasing number of Medicare patients, defying predictions that changes would cause them to stop accepting patients from the government program. That's according to a new study that looks at physician participation in the program over the last five years. The Center for the Study of Health System changes argues that the numbers are evidence that physicians would ultimately accept proposed …

Vice President Dick Cheney cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate this morning, giving a 51-50 victory to supporters of a package of cuts targeting Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation trims $39.7 billion from the federal budget over the next five years. Under the new rules, home healthcare payments will be frozen at their current levels. Medicare rules will also be changed to make it harder for senior citizens to shield their assets from the government when they enter long-term care …

In a unanimous vote, the Senate passed the Wired for Health Care Quality Act (S.1418), legislation that would increase federal funding for healthcare IT. The legislation, which has enjoyed broad bipartisan support, grants official recognition to Dr. David Brailer's Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology and authorizes spending on health IT projects. Some critics have charged the bill doesn't go far enough, reasoning that government spending must be increased …

The Senate approved a bill that would authorize the first cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in nearly a decade. The proposed changes, which passed by a 52-47 vote, would be far less sweeping than those included in a similar bill scheduled to go before the House next week. The House bill would cut Medicaid spending by $9.5 billion, endorsing a strategy which raises co-pays for program recipients and allows states to enact tighter curbs on programs similar to recent proposals in South Carolina …

On Thursday, the House passed malpractice legislation which would cap jury awards in medical malpractice cases. The bill would cap pain and suffering awards at $250,000 and limit punitive damages in certain situations. Analysts said the law is unlikely to make it much further this year since there may be no time on the Senate's schedule. However, there may be a better chance for the legislation in the Senate compared to previous years given its new make-up. House Democrats were quick to …