News tagged with 'AMA'

Filing a slip and fall case in Florida was just made more difficult thanks to a new law promoted by retailers. Private attorneys are lining up to prepare a large reparations request for BP, and thanks to one whistle blower, we now have a better understanding how WellCare Health Plans defrauded the government.

The American Medical Association is releasing its third annual report card on insurers and finds one in five claims is not processed correctly.

President Obama went out on a limb when he promised people would be able to keep their current health plans, now comes the hard work of hammering out the details.

While a new study reassures patients who take bone-building drugs to treat osteoporosis, a recent study indicates that the quality of bone among users may be brittle. The latest study is sponsored by drug makers, Merck and Novartis.

Two studies released this week find an increasing number of spinal injuries and amputations among young people who ride an all-terrain vehicle.

The FDA responds to Fosamax studies warning of brittle bones with prolonged use.

Fosamax and similar drugs are supposed to make bones stronger. But new research shows staying on these drugs for five or more years can increase the risk of hip fractures.

When Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld wrote a book about the source of terrorism funding, the Saudi billionaire subject of her work successfully sued her. Since then, New York and several other states have crafted legislation that protects the free speech rights of writers from defamation lawsuits filed abroad, and federal legislation is pending.

St. John's wort shows some phototoxicity to the eyes, which may not show up for years in the form of cataracts and macular degeneration among users taking it for depression. But under law, the industry largely regulates itself and federal regulations take over only after the consumer is harmed. The uninformed user is left vulnerable.

A warning for those who use St. John's wort as a natural alternative to prescription drugs. "Nature's Prozac" also can be phototoxic to the eye lens creating cataracts, a reaction that's only been seen in the lab until now.

Hypericin, the active compound in the herb, St. John's wort, works to keep depression at bay but also has been shown in the lab to be phototoxic to the human ocular lens. Now for the first time, a correlation has been seen in the human population between the popular herb and cataracts.

Will health care reforms result in cheaper drugs for American consumers? A bipartisan group wants to allow prescription medications from Canada, Europe, and elsewhere that could represent billions in savings. But the FDA is pushing back.

Senators barely squeaked by a vote to begin debate on its version of health care reform, but the public option remains a huge sticking point. The debate should begin after the Thanksgiving holiday.

The creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency came one step closer to reality today with a House committee vote. The agency would regulate credit cards and home loans and tighten up the deregulation atmosphere that precluded the collapse of financial markets.

Insuring millions of Americans without health care is one step closer to a reality with a committee vote Tuesday of Sen. Baucus plan. Expect to see a barrage of special interest ads opposing it.