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Medicare Revamps Competitive Bidding Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is preparing to revive competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment that industry members helped sink last summer when it was originally scheduled to take effect, CQ HealthBeat reports. The agency had anticipated a 26 percent savings for wheelchairs, oxygen tanks and other pieces of equipment through the program. But a lobbying group for the suppliers, the American Association for Homecare, successfully urged Congress to shut down the program before it went into effect.
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Pharming Receives Agreement On Paediatric Investigation Plan For Rhucin(R) From The EMEA Paediatric Committee
Biotech company Pharming Group NV ("Pharming" or "the Company") (NYSE Euronext: PHARM) today announced that the Paediatric Committee (PDCO) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has adopted an opinion agreeing the paediatric investigation plan (PIP) for Rhucin® (recombinant human C1 inhibitor) in the therapeutic area of immunology-rheumatology transplantation.
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Washington Post Opinion Piece Examines O'Reilly's Role In Tiller Murder
Fox News host Bill O"Reilly is "being incredibly disingenuous when he claims that he bears no responsibility for others" actions in the killing of Dr. George Tiller on Sunday," Mary Alice Carr, vice president of communications for NARAL Pro-Choice New York, writes in a Washington Post opinion piece. "When you tell an audience of millions over and over again that someone is an executioner, you cannot feign surprise when someone executes that person," she continues, adding that "O"Reilly knew that people wanted Tiller dead, and he knew full well that many of those people were avid viewers of his show. Still, he fanned the flames."Carr writes that she has pledged to no longer appear on O"Reilly"s show because she realized that her appearance "would only legitimize his speech and that no good would come of my efforts." She adds that when a producer called her to come on the show following Tiller"s murder, she responded that, among other things, the community of abortion-rights supporters "hold[s] O"Reilly responsible for helping to create a climate in which hate was allowed to fester."Carr notes that following Tiller"s death, "O"Reilly had the opportunity to apologize for his words" and "say that this tragic outcome was something about which he felt sorry," but "[h]e didn"t." She adds, "When restraint and perspective were called for, he fanned the flames higher." Carr concludes that she will not appear on O"Reilly"s show because "if the murder of a man in a house of worship wasn"t enough to make Bill O"Reilly repent, what hope d[o] I have?" (Carr, Washington Post, 6/4).
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California Budget Could Force Seniors To Nursing Homes, Drive Up Costs

NPR reports that California"s $26.3 billion budget deficit is marginalizing seniors who rely on California state-provided health care and service to help them manage their lives. "One endangered program is in-home support services for more than 400,000 elderly and disabled. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed cutting those services for all but the most severe cases, which could force many who are now independent to move into nursing homes. ò€¦ Flora Mae King of San Bernadino turned 102 last Sunday. She lives alone in a senior apartment complex, relying on state-funded, in-home support for shopping and help around the house. Now, as California nears a decision on budget cuts to clear up a multi-billion dollar deficit, her in-home support will be cut and she will have to move into a nursing home" (Diamante, 7/19). The cuts could also bring higher costs to the system as the elimination of home and adult day care could push recipients into more expensive programs, The Los Angeles Times reports. "The governor"s plan to take away such care is meant to save money. But it could end up costing California more by forcing the 85-year-old (Irene Steinlage), who has Parkinson"s, osteoporosis and other ailments -- and thousands like her -- into nursing homes. ò€¦ Administration officials say tax hikes would further damage the economy, push revenue down and drive businesses and entrepreneurs out of the state, in addition to forcing California to reduce services even further." Schwarzenegger says California can no longer afford to provide services that are far more generous than other states offer, The Los Angeles Times reports (Rothfeld and Halper, 7/19). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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