CAREGIVERS USA NEWS
Vol. I, No. 32
June 16, 2003
MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT ON PATH TO ROSE GARDEN
The Senate today takes up the $400 million Grassley-Baucus Medicare drug benefit plan. The compromise measure doesn't please everyone but both parties are feeling intense political pressure to pass legislation after five years of inaction. However, the measure may find the going rougher in the more partisan House and opposition from both sides is likely to become more intense in the weeks ahead.
MEDICAID TALKS BREAK DOWN
A bipartisan effort by the National Governors Association to restructure Medicaid has broken down. Democrats bolted under pressure from advocates for the elderly and disabled who opposed the Administration's "block grant" plan to let states make their own decisions about how to spend a fixed allotment of federal funds each year.
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CONSUMER DRUG ADVERTISING TRIPLES
A new study finds that drug companies have tripled their direct-to-consumer advertising budgets in recent years, accounting for 12 percent of the increase in drug spending in the year 2000. The Kaiser Family Foundation study found the ads to be very effective, increasing patients' demands for the advertised drugs.
NEW RULES SPEED GENERIC DRUGS TO MARKET
Amidst all the hoopla Medicare adding prescription drug coverage, it's easy to lose sight of the simplest way to reduce everyone's drug bill -- make it easier for drugs to "go generic." The feds are doing just that. New rules drafted by HHS and FDA will make it harder for drug companies to hold onto their patents, thereby saving consumers billions per year.
HEARTBAR BARRED FROM HEART CURE CLAIMS
The makers of HeartBar have agreed to stop claiming that their snack bar can prevent or cure heart disease. HeartBar contains an amino acid called L-Arginine, which the company's ads claimed could prevent numerous age-related ailments. The Federal Trade Commission sued the company, which had advertised heavily to seniors, alleging that its claims were unsubstantiated.
FEDS CHIP AWAY AT CORAL CALCIUM CLAIMS
Another highly hyped "miracle" is coral calcium, which its promoters claim is somehow better than any other calcium. The Federal Trade Commission last week sued the makers of Coral Calcium Supreme, charging they falsely claimed the substance could prevent or treat heart disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis, among others. The company's founders, Kevin Trudeau and Robert Barefoot, have appeared incessantly on infomercials aired on such supposedly reputable outlets as Women's Entertainment, Comedy Central, the Discovery Channel, and Bravo.
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EPHEDRA MAKERS STARTING TO SWEAT
The February death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler brought a lot of unwelcome attention to ephedra, the "fat-burning" substance included in many diet drugs and nutritional supplements. Bechler's death added fuel to a series of consumer lawsuits and legislative proposals which are making life unpleasant for Metabolife, Hydroxycut and other well-known supplements. At least one diet book author, Dr. Carlon Colker, is named in some of the suits.
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