AARP news from FierceHealthcare

It's somewhat ironic that a Governor as well known for his commitment to physical fitness as he is for being an aging action adventure hero has proposed deep budget cuts that could leave more than Read more...

For years, the biotechnology industry has fought hard against legislative changes that would allow the FDA to approve generic versions of biotech medications. On the opposite side of the ring are a Read more...

Over the last few months, several New York health plans have agreed to follow the Attorney Read more...

Hearings began this week on an effort, sponsored by at least six pharma data-mining firms, designed to overturn a new Maine law which lets prescribers opt out of having their prescribing information Read more...

Momentum seems to be building for a New York state bill which would require drug makers to report when they give doctors gifts valued at over $75. This week, a wide range of physician and consumer groups expressed support for the measure, including the AARP, National Physicians Alliance, Center for Medical Consumers and Consumer Reports publisher Consumers Union. The bill targets the $7 billion per year pharmas spend in physician gifts, which includes everything from meals, trips and …

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Managed care executives are understandably stressed by the cost of biologic drug treatments which, in extreme cases, can run as much as $100,000 per year. To address the problem, many plans are asking patients to pay larger percentages of the medications' cost. With some patients already spending hundreds of dollars a month, some are cutting back, and others can't afford to raise doses when necessary, physicians say. Other doctors have complained that health plans are using less-direct …

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The AARP has stepped into the fight over biologic drugs, throwing its support behind a new bill designed to speed the development and approval of generic versions of these medications. The measure, The Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act of 2007, would provide the FDA with a regulatory approach for approving generic biologics. The bill is intended to offer cheaper alternatives to biologic drugs, which treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and cancer. Brand-name …

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When the mighty lobbying engines of the AARP spin up, something concrete usually happens. So it's definitely of note that healthcare reform is at the top of the powerful group's 2007 political agenda. Among other things, the 35 million member association is pushing for bills that lower prescription drug prices and extend coverage to the uninsured. Specifics of their agenda include backing a bill which would allow legal importation of drugs from Canada and other countries, as well as reforms that would make generics available faster. Article

> Chutes & Ladders: The CEO of Boston's Catholic healthcare system is leaving, after reports this week that he harassed a number of employees. Article

> The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report writes that starting in 2007, Medicare Part D plans will no longer be able to co-brand with outside organizations. The news …

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A media campaign by consumer watchdog groups and societies including the AARP and the American Cancer Society appears to have scuttled the Enzi bill by convincing the public that the law would cause consumer protections written into law on the state level to disappear. Fairly typical was a full page ad taken out by the American Cancer Society last week which showed a women's push up bra and the text "Don't let the Senate leave Women Exposed." The New York Times writes that the Enzi …

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