Health care

Families USA Consumer Guide Outlines Strategies to Deal with Debt and Discusses Rights and Protections for Families Facing Medical Debt and Bankruptcy

November 12, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.—Even as Congress debates health reform proposals, millions of Americans—with and without health insurance—struggle to pay medical bills, and their numbers continue to grow. In response to this crisis, Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers, today released a consumer guide that offers strategies, tips, and warnings to consumers as they struggle to manage medical debt and to avoid bankruptcy.    » read more »

On the heels of a last-minute anti-abortion provision inserted into the U.S. House of Representatives health reform bill, several U.S. Senators have expressed concern about the Stupak amendment.

Planned Parenthood strongly opposes the Stupak amendment. It is an unacceptable addition to the health care reform bill that, if enacted, would result in women losing health benefits they have today.    » read more »

There has been much discussion about what the “real-life” impact of the Stupak-Pitts amendment would be on women’s access to abortion care. The following is an explanation of what this provision will mean to women, if it is enacted. Essentially, the amendment violates the underlying principle of health care reform, as articulated by President Obama, that no one will lose the benefits they currently have.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- On the heels of a last-minute anti-abortion provision inserted into the U.S. House of Representatives health reform bill, newspaper editorials from across the country have echoed Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s opposition to the Stupak amendment and have called on the Senate to reject the Stupak amendment.

Planned Parenthood strongly opposes the Stupak amendment. It is an unacceptable addition to the health care reform bill that, if enacted, would result in women losing health benefits they have today.    » read more »

Access to Care for Seniors and Military Families at Stake; Campaign to pass bill includes new radio ads airing today

Nov. 13, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Urging swift passage of a bill to repeal the broken Medicare physician payment formula that threatens seniors’ access to care, the AMA added a new dimension to its Medicare campaign today with radio ads airing in markets across the nation. In addition to the ads, the AMA is activating its nationwide grassroots network of patients and physicians and intensifying communication to physicians through online and social media.    » read more »

Reminds Americans Medicare Open Enrollment Begins This Week; Open enrollment period is the best opportunity to choose Medicare drug and health plans for 2010

November 12, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- With Sunday marking the beginning of Medicare’s open enrollment period, AARP is reminding its members and all older Americans to compare their current Medicare drug and health plans with others that are available and choose the one that best fits their needs. People in Medicare have until December 31 to add, drop or change prescription drug and health care plans for 2010. Each year, AARP encourages its members and everyone in Medicare to carefully consider their options for the coming year.    » read more »

Announces Counties Are Conducting Vaccination Clinics As More H1N1 Vaccine Becomes Available

November 13, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that county health departments across New York are mobilizing to conduct H1N1 flu vaccination clinics as more vaccine becomes available in the State.

“Due to delays in manufacturing the H1N1 vaccine, our statewide vaccination campaign has not been mobilized as rapidly as we had hoped,” Governor Paterson said. “As we move into the middle of November, more H1N1 vaccine is becoming available, and health care providers are receiving more shipments. Some county health departments have already held vaccination clinics, and others are gearing up to hold them in the next two weeks.”    » read more »

ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 13, 2009) – Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley issued the second in a series of online H1N1 (Swine) Flu web updates on H1N1 (Swine) Flu today, including a status update on the spread of the disease and an update on the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines. To date, state officials have ordered 100% of the H1N1 vaccinations available to Maryland distributors, more than 750,000 doses.    » read more »

November 14, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Two more deaths have been reported linked to H1N1 influenza in Maine, bringing the total to five since August, and a Kennebec County long-term care facility is experiencing an outbreak of H1N1, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control.

A Hancock County resident between the ages of 25 years old and 50 years old and a Kennebec County resident older than 65 years old died last week. Both had H1N1 and both had underlying conditions.    » read more »

Panenza®, non-adjuvanted pandemic vaccine, licensed for use in adults and children 6 months of age and older

Lyon, France – November 16, 2009 - Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today that the French drug agency Afssaps (Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des produits de santé) has granted marketing authorization in France for Panenza®, its non-adjuvanted Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine, produced at Sanofi Pasteur’s facility in Val de Reuil, France. The vaccine was made available to French health authorities.    » read more »

Swissmedic approval allows Novartis to begin shipments of Celtura to Switzerland, providing supplies of A(H1N1) vaccine immediately

Basel, November 13, 2009 - Novartis announced today that Celtura®, the company's adjuvanted cell culture-based Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine, has received approval in Switzerland from Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products.

This is the second marketing approval for the cell-culture based A(H1N1) pandemic vaccine in Europe. Celtura was approved in Germany earlier in November 2009. The company also has submitted a registration for Celtura in Japan, and will seek approval in a number of other countries.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced today that it has issued letters to U.S. healthcare providers regarding its enzyme replacement products Cerezyme® (imiglucerase for injection), Fabrazyme® (agalsidase beta), Myozyme® (alglucosidase alfa), Aldurazyme® (laronidase), as well as Thyrogen® (thyrotropin alfa for injection), filled at its Allston Landing manufacturing facility. The letters remind providers of the U.S. product labeling recommendations advising both visual inspection of vials and in-line filtration of enzyme replacement products to address the potential presence of foreign particles.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-28) joined members of the community to explain that they would receive better health care, more choices and lowered costs thanks to the Affordable Health Care Act passed by the House last Saturday.

Slaughter was joined by members of the labor and faith communities, health care professionals, seniors and students as she emphasized the benefits for all Americans in the historic health care legislation.    » read more »

11/12/09 -- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (W.Va.- 03) issued the following statement regarding the healthcare reform bill, The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), which was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 220 to 215 on November 7th, 2009.

“I have been a pro-life Member of Congress since I was first elected in 1976. I believe in the sanctity of life for those of all ages -- young and old, and I believe that every life deserves to be saved, which is why I voted in favor of H.R., 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.”    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Congressman Paul Hodes announced today that the Open Enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries begins Sunday, November 15th and ends on December 31st. Seniors can use this time to make sure they have the best health care coverage to meet their needs. The Open Enrollment period is the one time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can review their coverage and make any necessary changes to ensure that their coverage meets their needs.    » read more »