- FL Planned Parenthood Inspections Find Violations (health.wusf.usf.edu)Agency for Health Care Administration Report (mediad.publicbroadcasting.net)
Florida officials say three of the 16 Planned Parenthood facilities inspected last week were performing procedures beyond their licensing authority, and one facility was not keeping proper logs relating to fetal remains...performing second-trimester abortions when they were only licensed to perform first-trimester abortions.
- American Association of Diabetes Educators calls for provider status (drugstorenews.com)
… American Association of Diabetes Educators called on Congress to pass…two…bills, H.R. 1726, and S. 1345, which are known as The Access To Quality Diabetes Education Act of 2015…would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to recognize credentialed diabetes educators as providers of diabetes education services, including tele-health services, under part B of the Medicare program.
- 37,000 U.S. infection-related deaths preventable over five years: CDC (newsdaily.com)CDC modeling projects growth of drug-resistant infections and C. difficile (cdc.gov)
Closer coordination between healthcare facilities and public health departments could save 37,000 U.S. lives over five years by preventing infections from antibiotic-resistant germs and...C. difficile,.."Facilities that work alone cannot adequately protect their patients,"..."Tens of thousands of deaths can be prevented" with tighter coordination.
- Puerto Ricans Brace for Crisis in Health Care (nytimes.com)
first visible sign that the health care system in Puerto Rico was seriously in trouble was when a steady stream of doctors — more than 3,000 in five years — began to leave the island for more lucrative, less stressful jobs on the mainland…hefty cut to a popular Medicare program and grapples with an alarming shortage of Medicaid funds, its health care system is headed for an all-out crisis, which could further undermine the island’s gutted economy.
- Medicare’s three-day rule may lead to longer-than-needed hospital stays (fiercehealthcare.com)
Medicare's rule that says patients must stay in the hospital for three days before it will cover their care in a skilled nursing facility may not be helping patients,…costing Medicare plans money… the average hospital length of stay decreased for patients whose plans eliminated the rule, while it increased for those that still applied the rule…
- Auburn Teen Finds New Passion & Confidence with DEA Youth Dance Program (dea.gov)DEA Youth Dance Program (deaeducationalfoundation.org)
Drug Enforcement Administration, Seattle Field Division’s partnership with the DEA Youth Dance Program continues to expand throughout the greater Seattle area is making a difference in the lives of our youth…the DEA YPD has supported five local schools with after school programs...
- Bay Area Company Agrees to Pay $450,000 to Settle Claims of Failing to Maintain Adequate Records of Controlled Substance Use (dea.gov)
Sterigenics International LLC …agreed to pay $450,000 to settle allegations by the..Department of Justice…failed to keep and maintain adequate records pertaining to controlled substances,.. failed to comply with the Controlled Substances Act in at least 156 instances..
- FDA issues final guidance on liquid pediatric acetaminophen (drugstorenews.com)
Food and Drug Administration….published a final guidance regarding pediatric oral liquid OTC products containing acetaminophen to address…acetaminophen overdose associated with these products and to promote their safe use.
- single-ingredient acetaminophen oral liquids… use a concentration of 160 mg acetaminophen per 5 mL.
- the statements “160 mg/5 mL” or “160 mg per 5 mL” should be prominently presented… same font size as the active ingredient name
- Dosing directions should be provided only in mL.
- recommended use age range should reflect the same age range as stated in the Drug Facts Panel under the heading "Directions"
- any images of children on the carton should also be representative of the age group identified under "Directions."
- FDA Unveils User Fee Rates for FY2016 (raps.org)
1980s, the US lagged behind Europe in drug approvals, and individual drug reviews often took years to complete. The problem, FDA argued, lacked adequate funding to hire the staff it needed to review drugs in a more timely manner….solution FDA proposed was to collect one-time fees from the companies it regulates…. led to…Prescription Drug User Fee Act…
- Half Of Nation’s Hospitals Fail Again To Escape Medicare’s Readmission Penalties (khn.org)
majority of the nation’s hospitals are being penalized by Medicare for having patients frequently return within a month of discharge — this time losing a combined $420 million, government records show…fourth year of federal readmission penalties, 2,592 hospitals will receive lower payments for every Medicare patient that stays in the hospital — readmitted or not — Since the fines began, national readmission rates have dropped,…




