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Health Information Technology Lobby Group Rallies Support For Certification Group; Critics Question Group's Ties
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society has asked HHS to give the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology authorization to determine which electronic health records systems can receive funding from the economic stimulus package, the Washington Post reports. In a letter dated April 27 to HHS officials, HIMSS officials wrote, "To ensure continuity, recognize CCHIT as the certifying body" of EHRs.Some health care industry officials have raised issue with giving CCHIT the responsibility of certifying EHR products because of the commission"s associations with various IT and health care companies, the Post reports. CCHIT has ties with HIMSS, which played a role in its inception in 2004 and is now managed by Mark Leavitt, the former chief medical officer of HIMSS. In 2005, the commission received a three-year, $7.5 million contract from HHS.According the Post, Internal Revenue Service tax documents show that HIMSS technically paid Leavitt"s salary through 2008, which was reimbursed by CCHIT. However, Leavitt said he is accountable only to CCHIT"s board members and he "was not supervised by HIMSS." He said he expects CCHIT will be "the body or one of several certifying bodies that are recognized" by HHS in part because it already is tasked with certifying health IT products. According to Leavitt, some of the commission"s critics are IT vendors who have failed to meet CCHIT"s standards. The Post reports that the provision in the stimulus package that requires health care providers to demonstrate "meaningful use" of health IT has become an issue because federal officials, IT systems vendors, and physicians and patient advocates have not been able to reach a consensus on the definition of meaningful use. Under the provision, providers must demonstrate meaningful use of health IT in order to receive Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for adopting the technology (O"Harrow, Washington Post, 5/21). Blumenthal
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Shire Receives Fast Track Designation For Velaglucerase Alfa For Gaucher Disease
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces it has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for velaglucerase alfa, its enzyme replacement therapy in development for the treatment of Type I Gaucher disease. Shire is working with the FDA to determine subsequent steps and timing for the filing of its NDA.
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New Study Shows Nplate(R) Significantly Reduces Splenectomy Rate And Treatment Failure In Patients With Chronic ITP
Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN) today released the results of a new study comparing Nplate(R) (romiplostim) to the medical standard of care (SOC) in non-splenectomised adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Chronic ITP is a serious autoimmune disorder characterised by low platelet counts in the blood (thrombocytopenia), which can lead to serious bleeding events. The study results show Nplate significantly reduced the incidences of splenectomy and treatment failures in non-splenectomised adult patients with chronic ITP when compared to medical SOC. The results were presented today as an oral presentation at the 14th congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA abstract #1672).
Cardiovascular

August Health Reform Forecast: High Probability Of Hot Debate, Crowded Airwaves

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to unite her divided caucus around a common enemy - the health insurance industry - previewing an August recess line of attack by Democrats trying to maintain momentum on health care reform," Politico reports. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday, "They are the villains in this. They have been part of the problem in a major way. They are doing everything in their power to stop a public option from happening, and the public has to know" (Thrush, 7/31). A memo circulated among House Democrats with advice on how to carry out the August attacks, the Hill reports. It reads: "Our message is simple. It is now being echoed by the White House. ̣€¦ And it counters the Republican "government takeover" message. ̣€¦ Remove the insurance companies from between you and your doctor - capping what they can force you to pay in out-of-pocket expenses, co-pays and deductibles, and giving you the peace of mind you will be covered for the care you need, if get sick, or if you change or lose your job" (Soraghan, 7/30). "House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer , D-Md., conceded that Democrats have been losing the message war over the legislation, as Republicans hammer away at its costs and claim it would lead to a "government takeover" of health care," CQ Politics reports. Hoyer said, "We"re responsible for putting together a plan, and so we"ve been focused on thaṭ€¦ Republicans have been somewhat free to conjure up whatever they want" (Roth, 7/31). "This congressional recess, health care will be on the front lines," NPR reports. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a top House Democrat, said "we want to make sure that we come out of August stronger on the health care reform message." Of course, so does the GOP. NPR adds: "The Republican National Committee plans to run radio ads in 60 districts in 33 states referring to health care changes as "the dangerous experiment President Obama and the Democrats in Congress want," and saying the Democrat proposals "just can"t be the right answer." House Minority Leader John Boehner says Republicans are bringing the fight to the Democrats. "I think it"s safe to say that over the August recess, as more Americans learn more about their plan, they"re likely to have a very very hot summer"" (Seabrook, 7/31). "Outside groups, meanwhile, vowed to turn up the volume with television advertisements that have already dominated the airwaves in some states," USA Today reports. An outside analyst at the Campaign Media Analysis Group said, "I think you"re probably going to start seeing a lot more pointed rhetoric. ̣€¦ There will be a healthy clip (of spending) through August" (Fritze, 7/31). 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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