Naseem S. Miller

Physicians once again find themselves staring at significantly lower Medicare fees for next year, based yet again on the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate formula.

Under a stopgap law passed in June, doctors currently are receiving a 2.2% increase in Medicare payments--but only through Nov. 30. In the absence of Congressional action, that increase will be rolled back and the prior pay cut of approximately 21% will go into effect for the month of December.

For 2011, the proposed rule for the Medicare physician fee schedule projects an additional 6.1% cut starting Jan. 1. "This means that under current law--that is, in the absence of additional legislative action--if a service is performed on Nov. 1 and Jan. 1, the payment for Jan. 1 will be about 30% lower than Nov. 1," explained Ellen Griffith Cohen, a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Associations and policy makers say that they expect Congress to once again address the pay cut before it goes into effect Nov. 30. But there is a consensus that the temporary fixes are no longer the answer.

"The American Academy of Dermatology continues to believe the only solution is complete reform of the Medicare physician payment system and the repeal of its flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula," said Dr. William D. James, president of AAD in a statement. "Our organization and others in medicine will continue to discuss this issue with members of Congress in the coming months."

"I think what's going to happen in this Congress happened a couple of weeks ago, when it postponed the cuts until Nov. 30," said Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Tex.) at a recent Congressional Health Care Caucus Policy forum. "I don't see anybody working on it hard enough right now to think that there's actually going to be a solution that's on the floor of the House right before or after the election.

"We'll probably do some other temporary patch to get into the next Congress," said Rep. Burgess, who is also an ob.gyn. He added that he hoped that new majority in Congress will be Republican. "If we're going to show that we're different as a governing body in a new majority after the first of the year, we've got to fix this."

In June, when the House passed the 6-month SGR delay, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) addressed the Republicans when they spoke of a permanent fix.

"When you talk about how we have a problem, well, I don't see you helping us out," he said. "Don't kid those doctors and make them think you're going to vote for a permanent fix. You're never going to do it. You're not helping at all."

CMS officials have repeatedly stressed their commitment to work with Congress to change the payment update formula for physicians' services, Ms. Griffith Cohen of CMS said.

"This short-term relief is critical--but so too is a long-term solution. We will continue to work with Congress to fix this untenable solution, so doctors no longer have to worry about the stability and adequacy of their payment from Medicare," Marilyn Tavenner, the acting administrator of CMS wrote providers on June 30.

And without Congressional action, Ms. Griffith Cohen explained, Medicare is required to follow the SGR formula.

Dr. Ardis Hoven, chair of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, said in a statement that the "current index is woefully outdated and understates the growing gap between Medicare payments and the cost of caring for seniors."

But according to AMA, the 1,250-page proposed rule has some bright spots.

Dr. Hoven said in her statement that she was pleased to see in the rule "that there is a consensus on the need to update the government index of medical practice costs to reflect the current cost." According to the proposed rule, CMS intends to convene a technical panel to review all aspects of the Medicare Economic Index.

The rule is open for comment until Aug. 24. To comment, visit www.regulations.gov

Physicians once again find themselves staring at significantly lower Medicare fees for next year, based yet again on the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate formula.

Under a stopgap law passed in June, doctors currently are receiving a 2.2% increase in Medicare payments--but only through Nov. 30. In the absence of Congressional action, that increase will be rolled back and the prior pay cut of approximately 21% will go into effect for the month of December.

For 2011, the proposed rule for the Medicare physician fee schedule projects an additional 6.1% cut starting Jan. 1. "This means that under current law--that is, in the absence of additional legislative action--if a service is performed on Nov. 1 and Jan. 1, the payment for Jan. 1 will be about 30% lower than Nov. 1," explained Ellen Griffith Cohen, a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Associations and policy makers say that they expect Congress to once again address the pay cut before it goes into effect Nov. 30. But there is a consensus that the temporary fixes are no longer the answer.

"The American Academy of Dermatology continues to believe the only solution is complete reform of the Medicare physician payment system and the repeal of its flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula," said Dr. William D. James, president of AAD in a statement. "Our organization and others in medicine will continue to discuss this issue with members of Congress in the coming months."

"I think what's going to happen in this Congress happened a couple of weeks ago, when it postponed the cuts until Nov. 30," said Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Tex.) at a recent Congressional Health Care Caucus Policy forum. "I don't see anybody working on it hard enough right now to think that there's actually going to be a solution that's on the floor of the House right before or after the election.

"We'll probably do some other temporary patch to get into the next Congress," said Rep. Burgess, who is also an ob.gyn. He added that he hoped that new majority in Congress will be Republican. "If we're going to show that we're different as a governing body in a new majority after the first of the year, we've got to fix this."

In June, when the House passed the 6-month SGR delay, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) addressed the Republicans when they spoke of a permanent fix.

"When you talk about how we have a problem, well, I don't see you helping us out," he said. "Don't kid those doctors and make them think you're going to vote for a permanent fix. You're never going to do it. You're not helping at all."

CMS officials have repeatedly stressed their commitment to work with Congress to change the payment update formula for physicians' services, Ms. Griffith Cohen of CMS said.

"This short-term relief is critical--but so too is a long-term solution. We will continue to work with Congress to fix this untenable solution, so doctors no longer have to worry about the stability and adequacy of their payment from Medicare," Marilyn Tavenner, the acting administrator of CMS wrote providers on June 30.

And without Congressional action, Ms. Griffith Cohen explained, Medicare is required to follow the SGR formula.

Dr. Ardis Hoven, chair of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, said in a statement that the "current index is woefully outdated and understates the growing gap between Medicare payments and the cost of caring for seniors."

But according to AMA, the 1,250-page proposed rule has some bright spots.

Dr. Hoven said in her statement that she was pleased to see in the rule "that there is a consensus on the need to update the government index of medical practice costs to reflect the current cost." According to the proposed rule, CMS intends to convene a technical panel to review all aspects of the Medicare Economic Index.

The rule is open for comment until Aug. 24. To comment, visit www.regulations.gov

Physicians once again find themselves staring at significantly lower Medicare fees for next year, based yet again on the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate formula.

Under a stopgap law passed in June, doctors currently are receiving a 2.2% increase in Medicare payments--but only through Nov. 30. In the absence of Congressional action, that increase will be rolled back and the prior pay cut of approximately 21% will go into effect for the month of December.

For 2011, the proposed rule for the Medicare physician fee schedule projects an additional 6.1% cut starting Jan. 1. "This means that under current law--that is, in the absence of additional legislative action--if a service is performed on Nov. 1 and Jan. 1, the payment for Jan. 1 will be about 30% lower than Nov. 1," explained Ellen Griffith Cohen, a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Associations and policy makers say that they expect Congress to once again address the pay cut before it goes into effect Nov. 30. But there is a consensus that the temporary fixes are no longer the answer.

"The American Academy of Dermatology continues to believe the only solution is complete reform of the Medicare physician payment system and the repeal of its flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula," said Dr. William D. James, president of AAD in a statement. "Our organization and others in medicine will continue to discuss this issue with members of Congress in the coming months."

"I think what's going to happen in this Congress happened a couple of weeks ago, when it postponed the cuts until Nov. 30," said Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Tex.) at a recent Congressional Health Care Caucus Policy forum. "I don't see anybody working on it hard enough right now to think that there's actually going to be a solution that's on the floor of the House right before or after the election.

"We'll probably do some other temporary patch to get into the next Congress," said Rep. Burgess, who is also an ob.gyn. He added that he hoped that new majority in Congress will be Republican. "If we're going to show that we're different as a governing body in a new majority after the first of the year, we've got to fix this."

In June, when the House passed the 6-month SGR delay, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) addressed the Republicans when they spoke of a permanent fix.

"When you talk about how we have a problem, well, I don't see you helping us out," he said. "Don't kid those doctors and make them think you're going to vote for a permanent fix. You're never going to do it. You're not helping at all."

CMS officials have repeatedly stressed their commitment to work with Congress to change the payment update formula for physicians' services, Ms. Griffith Cohen of CMS said.

"This short-term relief is critical--but so too is a long-term solution. We will continue to work with Congress to fix this untenable solution, so doctors no longer have to worry about the stability and adequacy of their payment from Medicare," Marilyn Tavenner, the acting administrator of CMS wrote providers on June 30.

And without Congressional action, Ms. Griffith Cohen explained, Medicare is required to follow the SGR formula.

Dr. Ardis Hoven, chair of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, said in a statement that the "current index is woefully outdated and understates the growing gap between Medicare payments and the cost of caring for seniors."

But according to AMA, the 1,250-page proposed rule has some bright spots.

Dr. Hoven said in her statement that she was pleased to see in the rule "that there is a consensus on the need to update the government index of medical practice costs to reflect the current cost." According to the proposed rule, CMS intends to convene a technical panel to review all aspects of the Medicare Economic Index.

The rule is open for comment until Aug. 24. To comment, visit www.regulations.gov

The U.S. health care system ranked last, compared with six other industrialized nations, on measures of quality, efficiency, patient safety, access to care, and equity, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund.

One of the main reasons for the low ranking is the lack of universal health insurance, according to the report. Although the United States spends the most overall on health care, it fails to provide access for low-income individuals. Furthermore, unlike their counterparts in other industrialized countries, U.S. patients usually don’t have a medical home.

The United States ranked first, however, on areas such as preventive care, wait time for specialist care, and nonemergency surgical care.

One measure on which the United States ranked a “clear last” is equity, according to the study. Compared with their counterparts in the other six countries studied—Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom—low-income patients in the United States are less likely to visit a physician when they’re sick, see a dentist, or receive recommended tests, treatments, or follow-up care.

“When a country fails to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, it also fails to meet the needs of the average citizen,” according to the report. The United States “should devote far greater attention to seeing a health system that works well for all Americans.”

The report is the result of a compilation of mortality data from seven countries and surveys of approximately 21,000 adults and 6,700 physicians regarding their experiences with care and their ratings of various dimensions of care. The study authors said that despite the differences among the countries, measures such as access to care and emergency department visits are universal.

The findings indicate that U.S. physicians and patients believe that given the amount of money spent on health care, the country could have a better health care system, according to the study.

The study authors expressed hope that the health reform laws and their promise of increased Medicare and Medicaid payments would encourage more medical students to choose primary care as one way to improve health system performance for all U.S. patients.

“These findings are clearly disappointing for U.S. patients and their families,” Karen Davis, the president of the Commonwealth Fund, said during a press briefing on the study. “Fortunately, the recently enacted health reform legislation holds substantial promise for transforming the U.S. health care system into a more effective, efficient, and patient-centered system.”

The Commonwealth Fund report, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: How the Performance of the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally,” updates information that was last published in 2007, when the United States also ranked at the bottom overall.

The U.S. health care system ranked last, compared with six other industrialized nations, on measures of quality, efficiency, patient safety, access to care, and equity, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund.

One of the main reasons for the low ranking is the lack of universal health insurance, according to the report. Although the United States spends the most overall on health care, it fails to provide access for low-income individuals. Furthermore, unlike their counterparts in other industrialized countries, U.S. patients usually don’t have a medical home.

The United States ranked first, however, on areas such as preventive care, wait time for specialist care, and nonemergency surgical care.

One measure on which the United States ranked a “clear last” is equity, according to the study. Compared with their counterparts in the other six countries studied—Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom—low-income patients in the United States are less likely to visit a physician when they’re sick, see a dentist, or receive recommended tests, treatments, or follow-up care.

“When a country fails to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, it also fails to meet the needs of the average citizen,” according to the report. The United States “should devote far greater attention to seeing a health system that works well for all Americans.”

The report is the result of a compilation of mortality data from seven countries and surveys of approximately 21,000 adults and 6,700 physicians regarding their experiences with care and their ratings of various dimensions of care. The study authors said that despite the differences among the countries, measures such as access to care and emergency department visits are universal.

The findings indicate that U.S. physicians and patients believe that given the amount of money spent on health care, the country could have a better health care system, according to the study.

The study authors expressed hope that the health reform laws and their promise of increased Medicare and Medicaid payments would encourage more medical students to choose primary care as one way to improve health system performance for all U.S. patients.

“These findings are clearly disappointing for U.S. patients and their families,” Karen Davis, the president of the Commonwealth Fund, said during a press briefing on the study. “Fortunately, the recently enacted health reform legislation holds substantial promise for transforming the U.S. health care system into a more effective, efficient, and patient-centered system.”

The Commonwealth Fund report, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: How the Performance of the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally,” updates information that was last published in 2007, when the United States also ranked at the bottom overall.

The U.S. health care system ranked last, compared with six other industrialized nations, on measures of quality, efficiency, patient safety, access to care, and equity, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund.

One of the main reasons for the low ranking is the lack of universal health insurance, according to the report. Although the United States spends the most overall on health care, it fails to provide access for low-income individuals. Furthermore, unlike their counterparts in other industrialized countries, U.S. patients usually don’t have a medical home.

The United States ranked first, however, on areas such as preventive care, wait time for specialist care, and nonemergency surgical care.

One measure on which the United States ranked a “clear last” is equity, according to the study. Compared with their counterparts in the other six countries studied—Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom—low-income patients in the United States are less likely to visit a physician when they’re sick, see a dentist, or receive recommended tests, treatments, or follow-up care.

“When a country fails to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, it also fails to meet the needs of the average citizen,” according to the report. The United States “should devote far greater attention to seeing a health system that works well for all Americans.”

The report is the result of a compilation of mortality data from seven countries and surveys of approximately 21,000 adults and 6,700 physicians regarding their experiences with care and their ratings of various dimensions of care. The study authors said that despite the differences among the countries, measures such as access to care and emergency department visits are universal.

The findings indicate that U.S. physicians and patients believe that given the amount of money spent on health care, the country could have a better health care system, according to the study.

The study authors expressed hope that the health reform laws and their promise of increased Medicare and Medicaid payments would encourage more medical students to choose primary care as one way to improve health system performance for all U.S. patients.

“These findings are clearly disappointing for U.S. patients and their families,” Karen Davis, the president of the Commonwealth Fund, said during a press briefing on the study. “Fortunately, the recently enacted health reform legislation holds substantial promise for transforming the U.S. health care system into a more effective, efficient, and patient-centered system.”

The Commonwealth Fund report, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: How the Performance of the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally,” updates information that was last published in 2007, when the United States also ranked at the bottom overall.

First Cannabis Drug Approved

Sativex (dronabinol/cannabidiol), the first prescription drug derived from cannabis, was approved in the United Kingdom to treat moderate to severe spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients who have failed to benefit from other drug therapies. GW Pharmaceuticals, which worked on developing the drug for 11 years, grows the cannabis plants at a secret location in England, according to the company's Web site,

gwpharm.com

Fentanyl Linked With Fatal AEs

Fentanyl remains among the top 15 drugs suspected in patient deaths, according to a report released in June by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. The drug was associated with 397 deaths in 2009, ranking 4th behind digoxin (506 deaths), deferasirox (1,320), and rosiglitazone (1,354). In 2009, almost 20,000 medication-associated deaths were reported to the Food and Drug Administration, a 14% increase over 2008, and a 3-fold increase over the past decade, according to the report. In comparison, there were 17,520 deaths by homicide, 33,185 deaths by suicide and 42,031 deaths from motor vehicle accidents in 2007. The report attributed the increase to three factors: increased awareness or “exposing a greater portion of the iceberg;” lack of progress in managing drugs with known risks; and company direct-to-consumer contacts causing a reporting problem, which occurs when treatment is discontinued due to patient death. The full report is available online at

www.ismp.org/quarterwatch/2009Q4.pdf

Head Injuries Increased in 2009

The total number of sports-related head injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2009 increased by 95,000 over the prior year, according to an analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

The spike in head injuries was most notable in water sports, bicycling, and baseball/softball. Looking at scenarios causing the injuries, the AANS found that swimming-related injuries were mostly due to “ill-advised, but common practices,” such as diving into shallow water and running on pool decks. Notably, some of the increase in bike-related injuries was due to texting and cell-phone use while riding. Meanwhile, injuries from trampolines showed a slight decline.

Transparency Could Save Money

Greater transparency of health care costs could help reduce spending, according to a recent survey by the Society of Actuaries. The group surveyed more than 600 actuaries and 1,000 consumers. They found that actuaries believe that there is a need for more transparency between doctors and patients, and that prices for treatments need to be more available to patients. Consumer respondents said that more information on medical procedures and options for care could help them make more informed decisions. The majority of health care actuaries also said that reducing the number and severity of medical errors and fighting health care fraud can help curb the costs. Both consumers and actuaries said that a financial incentive through health insurance could be somewhat effective in helping patients live healthier lifestyles.

FDA to Share Drug-Risk Findings

The Food and Drug Administration will post on its Web site summaries of postmarketing safety analyses on recently approved drugs and biologics, including brief discussions of steps being taken to address identified safety issues. The new summaries will cover side effects that might not become apparent until after a medicine becomes available to a large, diverse population, including previously unidentified risks and known adverse events that occur more frequently than expected. The initial reports will contain information on drugs and biologics approved since September 2007, including several drugs for infections, hypertension, and depression, the agency said.

Women Know Little About Stroke

A survey found that few women could name the primary stroke symptoms and many weren't concerned about experiencing a stroke in their lifetimes. Commissioned by HealthyWomen, the National Stroke Association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians, the online survey of about 2,000 adult women found that only 27% could name more than two of the six primary stroke symptoms (sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face; sudden numbness or weakness in an arm or leg; sudden confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination; sudden severe headache with no known cause). About 30% were aware that women are at higher risk for stroke than are men.

First Cannabis Drug Approved

Sativex (dronabinol/cannabidiol), the first prescription drug derived from cannabis, was approved in the United Kingdom to treat moderate to severe spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients who have failed to benefit from other drug therapies. GW Pharmaceuticals, which worked on developing the drug for 11 years, grows the cannabis plants at a secret location in England, according to the company's Web site,

gwpharm.com

Fentanyl Linked With Fatal AEs

Fentanyl remains among the top 15 drugs suspected in patient deaths, according to a report released in June by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. The drug was associated with 397 deaths in 2009, ranking 4th behind digoxin (506 deaths), deferasirox (1,320), and rosiglitazone (1,354). In 2009, almost 20,000 medication-associated deaths were reported to the Food and Drug Administration, a 14% increase over 2008, and a 3-fold increase over the past decade, according to the report. In comparison, there were 17,520 deaths by homicide, 33,185 deaths by suicide and 42,031 deaths from motor vehicle accidents in 2007. The report attributed the increase to three factors: increased awareness or “exposing a greater portion of the iceberg;” lack of progress in managing drugs with known risks; and company direct-to-consumer contacts causing a reporting problem, which occurs when treatment is discontinued due to patient death. The full report is available online at

www.ismp.org/quarterwatch/2009Q4.pdf

Head Injuries Increased in 2009

The total number of sports-related head injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2009 increased by 95,000 over the prior year, according to an analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

The spike in head injuries was most notable in water sports, bicycling, and baseball/softball. Looking at scenarios causing the injuries, the AANS found that swimming-related injuries were mostly due to “ill-advised, but common practices,” such as diving into shallow water and running on pool decks. Notably, some of the increase in bike-related injuries was due to texting and cell-phone use while riding. Meanwhile, injuries from trampolines showed a slight decline.

Transparency Could Save Money

Greater transparency of health care costs could help reduce spending, according to a recent survey by the Society of Actuaries. The group surveyed more than 600 actuaries and 1,000 consumers. They found that actuaries believe that there is a need for more transparency between doctors and patients, and that prices for treatments need to be more available to patients. Consumer respondents said that more information on medical procedures and options for care could help them make more informed decisions. The majority of health care actuaries also said that reducing the number and severity of medical errors and fighting health care fraud can help curb the costs. Both consumers and actuaries said that a financial incentive through health insurance could be somewhat effective in helping patients live healthier lifestyles.

FDA to Share Drug-Risk Findings

The Food and Drug Administration will post on its Web site summaries of postmarketing safety analyses on recently approved drugs and biologics, including brief discussions of steps being taken to address identified safety issues. The new summaries will cover side effects that might not become apparent until after a medicine becomes available to a large, diverse population, including previously unidentified risks and known adverse events that occur more frequently than expected. The initial reports will contain information on drugs and biologics approved since September 2007, including several drugs for infections, hypertension, and depression, the agency said.

Women Know Little About Stroke

A survey found that few women could name the primary stroke symptoms and many weren't concerned about experiencing a stroke in their lifetimes. Commissioned by HealthyWomen, the National Stroke Association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians, the online survey of about 2,000 adult women found that only 27% could name more than two of the six primary stroke symptoms (sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face; sudden numbness or weakness in an arm or leg; sudden confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination; sudden severe headache with no known cause). About 30% were aware that women are at higher risk for stroke than are men.

First Cannabis Drug Approved

Sativex (dronabinol/cannabidiol), the first prescription drug derived from cannabis, was approved in the United Kingdom to treat moderate to severe spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients who have failed to benefit from other drug therapies. GW Pharmaceuticals, which worked on developing the drug for 11 years, grows the cannabis plants at a secret location in England, according to the company's Web site,

gwpharm.com

Fentanyl Linked With Fatal AEs

Fentanyl remains among the top 15 drugs suspected in patient deaths, according to a report released in June by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. The drug was associated with 397 deaths in 2009, ranking 4th behind digoxin (506 deaths), deferasirox (1,320), and rosiglitazone (1,354). In 2009, almost 20,000 medication-associated deaths were reported to the Food and Drug Administration, a 14% increase over 2008, and a 3-fold increase over the past decade, according to the report. In comparison, there were 17,520 deaths by homicide, 33,185 deaths by suicide and 42,031 deaths from motor vehicle accidents in 2007. The report attributed the increase to three factors: increased awareness or “exposing a greater portion of the iceberg;” lack of progress in managing drugs with known risks; and company direct-to-consumer contacts causing a reporting problem, which occurs when treatment is discontinued due to patient death. The full report is available online at

www.ismp.org/quarterwatch/2009Q4.pdf

Head Injuries Increased in 2009

The total number of sports-related head injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2009 increased by 95,000 over the prior year, according to an analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

The spike in head injuries was most notable in water sports, bicycling, and baseball/softball. Looking at scenarios causing the injuries, the AANS found that swimming-related injuries were mostly due to “ill-advised, but common practices,” such as diving into shallow water and running on pool decks. Notably, some of the increase in bike-related injuries was due to texting and cell-phone use while riding. Meanwhile, injuries from trampolines showed a slight decline.

Transparency Could Save Money

Greater transparency of health care costs could help reduce spending, according to a recent survey by the Society of Actuaries. The group surveyed more than 600 actuaries and 1,000 consumers. They found that actuaries believe that there is a need for more transparency between doctors and patients, and that prices for treatments need to be more available to patients. Consumer respondents said that more information on medical procedures and options for care could help them make more informed decisions. The majority of health care actuaries also said that reducing the number and severity of medical errors and fighting health care fraud can help curb the costs. Both consumers and actuaries said that a financial incentive through health insurance could be somewhat effective in helping patients live healthier lifestyles.

FDA to Share Drug-Risk Findings

The Food and Drug Administration will post on its Web site summaries of postmarketing safety analyses on recently approved drugs and biologics, including brief discussions of steps being taken to address identified safety issues. The new summaries will cover side effects that might not become apparent until after a medicine becomes available to a large, diverse population, including previously unidentified risks and known adverse events that occur more frequently than expected. The initial reports will contain information on drugs and biologics approved since September 2007, including several drugs for infections, hypertension, and depression, the agency said.

Women Know Little About Stroke

A survey found that few women could name the primary stroke symptoms and many weren't concerned about experiencing a stroke in their lifetimes. Commissioned by HealthyWomen, the National Stroke Association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians, the online survey of about 2,000 adult women found that only 27% could name more than two of the six primary stroke symptoms (sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face; sudden numbness or weakness in an arm or leg; sudden confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination; sudden severe headache with no known cause). About 30% were aware that women are at higher risk for stroke than are men.