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Popular Articles

Questioning The Credibility Of Some Published Clinical Trials
Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) are considered the "gold standard" research method for assessing new medical treatments. But research published in BioMed Central"s open access journal Trials shows that the design of a remarkable 93 percent of 2235 so-called RCTs published in some Chinese medical journals during 1994 to 2005 was flawed, casting doubt on the reliability of research that is likely to influence medical decision-makers.

Concerns As Start Of Medical Student Tsunami Reaches Intern Allocation, Australia
The east coast states, particularly Queensland and New South Wales, are the first to feel the pressure from the burgeoning medical student "tsunami" and students nationwide will be anxiously looking to these states as an indication of things to come.
News of the day
HIV Testing Can Save Thousands Of Lives, CDC Official Says
"Although HIV/AIDS continues to pose a serious threat to the nation"s health, HIV testing is a powerful weapon against the disease," Kevin Fenton, director of CDC"s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, writes in a CNN.com opinion piece. Fenton writes that every 9 1/2 minutes someone in the U.S. becomes infected with HIV. "That"s 56,000 people every year," Fenton writes, adding, "But there"s something we can all do to help protect ourselves and our partners from this disease - get tested for HIV." He continues, "By increasing the number of people who know their HIV status, we can decrease the number of new HIV infections, and help save thousands of lives" (Fenton, CNN.com, 6/26).
Diagnostics

New Study Finds Positive Developments, Persistent Problems In Medicare Drug Plan

A new study finds more seniors are covered by a Medicare drug plan and report greater savings, but gaps in coverage and other problems still persist. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News reports: "The number of older Americans with access to prescription drug coverage has ballooned since Medicare"s Part D program was rolled out almost four years ago, a new analysis finds, yet seniors" ability to pay for needed medications remains a concern due to limitations in coverage and rising drug plan costs." The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation led the study that assessed access and affordability and appears in the July 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (note: KHN is a program of Kaiser Family Foundation). U.S. News & World Report notes: "Unlike Medicare"s hospital and medical insurance programs, Part D benefits are offered through private insurers and drug plans that contract with the government. Often seniors must choose among dozens of plans in a region. Enrollment in Part D began in November 2005. By the end of the first enrollment period, about 90 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries had drug coverage, according to the report. That"s up from 66 percent in 2004." Currently 59 percent of Medicare"s beneficiaries have coverage through a Part D standalone plan or through a Medicare Advantage plan. According to U.S. News, "Thirty-one percent have retiree drug coverage or some other type of drug coverage. That leaves some 4.5 million without any coverage at all, the researchers report." The publication also reports: "A recent University of Pittsburgh study, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that seniors" spending on drugs increased after enrolling in Part D, while spending on medical costs declined. Researchers said that suggests people are getting better control of their medical conditions." The paper highlights problems with the "doughnut hole": "Studies show that seniors who hit the coverage gap start shirking on their medication regimens, posing serious risks for people with chronic conditions, [Tricia] Neuman [director of Kaiser"s Medicare Policy Project] observed. And while low-income seniors may qualify for subsidies to help pay the Part D premiums and cost-sharing, more than 2 million elderly and disabled people are not getting those subsidies, she found. Meanwhile, premiums and cost-sharing are on the rise, suggesting that seniors may not be in the best plan for their particular needs. Between 2006 and 2009, the weighted average monthly premium rose 35 percent, with the steepest increases among some of the more popular plans" (Pallarito, 7/22). The AP also reports: "One of the biggest concerns during the Medicare drug benefit debate was that private insurers wouldn"t want to offer the drug plans. That turned out not to be the case. Seniors now have dozens of Medicare drug plans to choose from, each with its own list of covered drugs, premiums, copays and deductibles. But seniors do not always pick the cheapest plan despite having many choices, the report found. "It"s still a work in progress," said lead author Tricia Neuman, director of Kaiser"s Medicare Policy Project" (Chang, 7/22). 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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