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Despite Some Progress, Key Senators Say August Deadline A Longshot
One day after President Obama told lawmakers to speed up their pace, three key Finance Committee senators expressed doubts about meeting the President"s August deadline for passing a reform proposal, Politico reports. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said he doesn"t "see how" his colleagues can confirm the new Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, and pass a health bill in the time left before the August recess.

Federal Legislation Needed To Improve Oversight Of In Vitro Fertilization, Opinion Piece States
The Family Building Act of 2009 (H.R. 697, S. 1258) "takes an important first step toward improving the way insurers view infertility," but it is "not a silver bullet for improving the way [in vitro fertilization] treatments are conducted and covered," John Zhang, founder and director of the New Hope Fertility Center in New York City, writes in an opinion piece in The Hill. The bill, introduced by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) in the House and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in the Senate, would require health insurance companies that cover obstetrical services to cover non-experimental treatment of infertility, including IVF.Zhang writes that one of the "most significant issues is that multiple-embryo transfers have become common practice," which increase the risk for premature delivery, contribute to infant mortality rates and add to costs. According to Zhang, the lack of federal guidelines, "coupled with failure by the insurance industry to cover IVF treatment in the U.S., has encouraged patients to insist on multiple embryo transfer to get the most out of the enormous out-of-pocket fees they incur per cycle." In addition, "because doctors are rewarded for better success rates, the emphasis moves from quality to quantity so that clinics may boost their success rates despite potentially dangerous and expensive health complications," Zhang writes.Zhang continues that if IVF "were more accessible and reimbursed by health insurers, and if embryo transfers were regulated, there would be consequences for clinics and physicians who practice irresponsibly," and it "would be nearly impossible for IVF to lead to high-order multiples with their attendant risks." Although the Family Building Act "addresses this problem from an insurance perspective, it does not incorporate all the critical pieces that would encourage more responsible IVF practices among patients and physicians," according to Zhang.Zhang suggests that lawmakers "set age limitations on insurance coverage to encourage responsible spending" and that regulators "revise the outdated IVF reporting system and start providing incentives that encourage responsible medical practices." He concludes that it is "crucial that legislators and doctors work together to create a regulated and safe environment for IVF patients that upholds the integrity of our country"s medical profession" (Zhang, The Hill, 6/22).
News of the day
DOR BioPharma Receives EMEA Agreement On The Design Of Its Confirmatory Phase 3 Clinical Trial Of OrBec(R) In GI GVHD
DOR BioPharma, Inc. (DOR or the Company) (OTC Bulletin Board: DORB), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced that it has received Protocol Assistance feedback from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) on the design of its confirmatory, pivotal, Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating its lead product orBec(R) for the treatment of acute gastrointestinal Graft-versus-Host Disease (GI GVHD).
Sexual Health

Parents Say Their Son Can Be Given Chemotherapy After Initially Refusing Treatment

Daniel Hauser, 13, who has Hodgkin"s lymphoma, and ran away with his mother after she refused chemotherapy treatment, is to be allowed treatment, his parents said. Daniel"s mother, Colleen Hauser, said she had wanted him to be treated with natural remedies for religious reasons. Hodgkin"s Lymphoma or Hodgkin"s Disease is a cancerous (malignant) growth of cells in the lymph system. Daniel had been ordered to be placed in foster care. However, that order was repealed as long as he received treatment. Colleen Hauser, in a court hearing in Brown County, Minnesota, USA, said she now accepts that the best option for Daniel is chemotherapy. John Rodenberg, the presiding circuit judge, said that as the parents had "a clean slate" in his courtroom, Daniel could remain with his parents. He stressed that the chemotherapy course must commence "..and commence soonò€¦Danny loves his parents and they love him. He"s a fine boy, a very pleasant young man. I know he should be in the custody of his parents - as long as I"m satisfied they are going to follow the prescribed course of treatment." County prosecutors expressed concern that the boy"s family may change their minds again and attempt to get him out of treatment. James Olson, Brown County Prosecutor, said Daniel"s family had a history of changing their minds. James Olson said "The Hauser"s were at the Children"s Hospital over Memorial Day. Danny had some tests at the hospital. They communicated to one of Brown County"s social workers that they were not going to have him undergo chemo. There was some epiphany that they had changed their minds. They told the judge that they were going to be compliant." Olson added "They are unable to show any type of consistency. Their attitude has been and I am assuming remains that chemo is poison. So I felt that with that underlying attitude that certainly wasn"t going to be beneficial to Danny in trying to convince him to undergo chemotherapy." Daniel had received one round of chemotherapy in February, 2009. However, treatment stopped after that single round. Daniel and his mother should have attended a court hearing last Tuesday. An x-ray, which had been ordered by the court, had revealed a tumor in the boy"s chest which had grown substantially. The boy and his mother were eventually found in California and returned to Minnesota by plane - the flight was paid for by a private media firm. Jennifer Keller, lawyer for Colleen Hauser, said that Mrs. Houser will now abide by whatever orders the court makes. She added that Mrs. Hauser still wishes to put her best case forward for her son to have a chance at alternative treatment. Mrs. Hauser had intended to take her son over to Mexico for alternative treatment. Mrs. Hauser is guided by a Native American spiritual organization called Nemenhah that had instructed her to use only natural healing methods. Dan Zwakman, Hauser family spokesman, said "I think they were sincere about this (accepting chemotherapy for their son). They are going to do what the court wants and I think it"s certainly best for Danny." Whenever possible, alternative medicine will also be included. Daniel has told the doctors he is in acute pain and is having breathing difficulties. Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today


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