Healthcare

  May 16, 2013, 2:21 pm

Feds propose stronger child care standards

By Julian Hattem

The Obama administration wants higher standards for federally funded child care.

A proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services issued on Thursday would strengthen standards for the 1.6 million children who are served by providers that get money from the Child Care and Development Fund, a federal program to aid low-income children under the age of 13.

The administration claims that current regulations resemble a patchwork of regulations for child care centers, with state laws varying on whether providers need background checks or first aid and CPR training. One in 10 children who are served by the program are cared for in totally unregulated facilities, the department asserts in the proposal, which "can leave children in unsafe conditions, even as their care is being funded with public dollars."

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Archived under: Other, Healthcare
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  May 15, 2013, 12:15 pm

Feds ease rules for 'smart pills' that track patients from their stomachs

By Julian Hattem

The Obama administration is taking steps to codify looser regulations on "smart pills" that transmit messages from inside a patient's stomach.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is formally classifying the miniature medical device in a way that relaxes the government's control over the technology. The device can be attached to pills and send time-stamped messages about how drugs are being ingested.

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Archived under: Other, Healthcare
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  May 13, 2013, 5:04 pm

Medical device companies more frequently investigated under Obama

By Megan R. Wilson

Federal regulators issued the highest amount warning letters to medical device companies in 2012 than over the last seven years, according to a new study.

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Archived under: Medical Devices and Prescription Drug Policy, Healthcare
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  May 13, 2013, 7:24 am

News bites: Small businesses dread health insurance tax

By Ben Goad

An Affordable Care Act tax on health insurance providers “scares the daylights” out of some small-business owners, The Washington Post reports.

Some states are also lining up in opposition to the health insurance providers fee, according to The Hill's RegWatch. Read more...

Archived under: Healthcare
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  May 9, 2013, 2:33 pm

Angus King: Regulators could jeopardize ObamaCare

By Julian Hattem

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) is worried that unaccountable and overly aggressive regulators will undermine the Affordable Care Act.

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Archived under: Health reform implementation, Healthcare
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  May 9, 2013, 12:24 pm

HHS issues new funds for ObamaCare enrollment efforts

By Elise Viebeck

The Obama administration announced new funding Thursday for efforts to help the uninsured find coverage through ObamaCare.

The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department will spend $150 million on enrollment assistance through community health centers, which serve an estimated 21 million patients annually.

The funding comes as Democrats are expressing concerns about implementation of the landmark law. Polls show that few people understand it, or how they might benefit. 

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Archived under: Health reform implementation, Healthcare
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  May 9, 2013, 11:42 am

Republicans probe state abortion regs, citing Kermit Gosnell

By Elise Viebeck

Republicans have requested state health agencies provide records of regulators' dealings with abortion clinics since 2008. 

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Archived under: Abortion, Healthcare
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  May 8, 2013, 5:28 pm

Caffeinated gum pulled after FDA pressure

By Julian Hattem

A line of caffeinated gum was pulled from production on Wednesday after a consultation with federal regulators.

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Archived under: Healthcare
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  May 8, 2013, 3:40 pm

Dems push regulators on arsenic in fruit juice

By Elise Viebeck

Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) are calling for a speedy release of federal guidelines to reduce the amount of arsenic in fruit juice.

The two lawmakers pushed the White House budget office to release industry guidance on arsenic now under consideration from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"It is inexcusable that these guidelines are stalled while consumers continue to be exposed to potentially dangerous levels of arsenic," Pallone and DeLauro wrote. 


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Archived under: Public/Global Health, Healthcare
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  May 7, 2013, 3:39 pm

GOP: ObamaCare compliance burden nears 190 million hours

By Sam Baker

Complying with President Obama's healthcare law will take nearly 190 million hours per year, according to a new tally released by House Republicans.

The GOP reached that total by adding together the compliance burden in each regulation implementing part of the healthcare law.

They said the annual burden to comply with ObamaCare is enough time to build Mount Rushmore more than 1,500 times over, or to build the Empire State Building 27 times.

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Archived under: Health reform implementation, Healthcare
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