An advisory panel recommended to the Food and Drug Administration last month that a ban on the use of tanning beds by anyone under the age of 18 be implemented. They stated that tanning beds are classified as class I medical devices which puts them in the same category as tongue depressors and elastic bandages which allows for very little over-site and regulation.

The American Academy of Dermatology has taken a strong stance against the use of tanning beds stating that skin cancer used to be a disease of older men but now it is becoming more common in young women in their teens and twenties. The exact sex and age group using tanning beds the most.

The tanning bed industry was well represented at the meeting saying that they were already well regulated and that there is much misinformation about tanning beds and their dangers.  Other recommendations concerning the use and regulation of tanning beds were also suggested. The FDA doesn’t have to take the advisory groups recommendations but they usually do. I guess that there are still plenty of smokers and cigarette industry reps who claim that there is no evidence that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer.  bjmdjd

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American Academy of Dermatology · Food and Drug Administration · tanning beds and skin cancer

I noticed that Katie Couric had a story on the salt/sodium intake of Americans on the “Evening News” last night.

The Institute of Medicine has asked the Food and Drug Administration to set new federal guidelines as to how much salt can be added to foods by restaurants, food and beverage service companies, and food manufacturers. The FDA is expected to make their decision soon after reviewing various information.

All parties concerned feel that as a country the U.S. has not had much luck in lowering the amount of salt/sodium intake in our foods. It is hoped that by requiring less salt in prepared meals and processed foods that total salt consumption will be greatly reduced.  bjmdjd

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Food and Drug Administration · Institute of Medicine · salt/sodium intake

Once again it appears that I am in the wrong business. Prescription drug sales in the U.S. climbed to $300.3 billion in 2009. Here are some interesting facts surrounding that number:

• 75% of all dispensed prescriptions were generic, up from 57% five years ago
• When a product goes generic almost all (around 90%) of the prescriptions are dispensed in their generic form
• Anti psychotics were the top selling class of drugs in the U.S. in 2009
• Acid reflux drugs were the second biggest selling class
• Lipid regulators (like Lipitor and Crestor) were the third biggest selling class
• Antidepressants were fourth

The move toward generics is expected to grow even more by 2012 when two huge selling drugs, Lipitor and Plavix, will become available in generic form.  bjmdjd

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acid reflux drugs · antidepressants · antipsychotics · generic drugs · lipid regulators · prescription drug sales in 2009

Frankly I’m so disgusted that I just don’t have anything to say  right now! I had plenty to say (not about reform) but I’ll have to wait until tomorrow.  bjmdjd

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Healthcare Reform

On March 9th ABC news ran a story about the long term use of Fosamax or its generic forms causing sudden femur fractures just below the hip joint. The next day the Food and Drug Administration reported that it had no evidence to support this belief.

While the ABC report only mentioned the drug Fosamax and the generic forms called alendronate there are several other drugs marketed in this class of medications called biphosphonates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The FDA recommended that patients not quit taking these drugs unless told to by their medical provider.  bjmdjd

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ABC News · alendronate · biphosphonates · Food and Drug Administration · Fosamax · health · wellness

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved the use of Botox for the treatment of increased stiffness and tightness in certain muscles of the upper extremities in patients with conditions like traumatic brain injury, stroke, and progressive multiple sclerosis.

They also reiterated that the treatment is not meant to be a substitute for physical therapy and rehabilitation and that there are many possible serious side effects with its use.  bjmdjd

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It looks like Medicare patients and the physicians that see them may be safe again for a while. The Senate today voted to delay the 21.2% Medicare physician pay cut until October 1, 2010. It will take effect if the House approves it and President Obama signs it. Both which will probably occur.

This is the same bill with extending unemployment benefits attached to it and extension of premium subsidies for those who are out of work under the COBRA program. Most Democrats voted for it in the Senate and most Republicans voted against it under the guise of not wanting to increase the deficit.

As I wrote earlier, I understand and agree with the deficit problem but the unemployed need some money to exist and Medicare patients need to be able to get an appointment to see their doctors. Hopefully Congress will finally create a permanent fix for the Medicare physician reimbursement problem that they have had to frequently cover with a band aid.  bjmdjd

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The results of two different studies that were scheduled to be presented today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons detail the high rate of severe injuries to children who ride all terrain vehicles (ATVs). These injuries include spinal injuries, amputations, and even death.

A pediatric emergency medicine specialist at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital who was not involved in the studies said that ATV associated deaths increased almost 60% from 2000 to 2005 and non fatal accidents increased 48%. People, kids and adults, love them but these studies only reiterate what those of us in medicine already knew.  bjmdjd

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all terrain vehicles · American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · ATVs · Botox · Food and Drug Administration · health · Medicare physician pay cut · muscle tightness and stiffness · Senate · wellness

As I predicted the Medicare disaster that I wrote about on 2/27/10 was averted when President Obama signed a bill postponing the physician pay cut of 21.2% until April 1st. Kentucky Senator Bunning had the bill held up along with several important attachments (like the unemployment benefits extension) until the Democrats could prove to him that they had a way to pay for it.

Organized medicine is still not pleased. There is something called the sustainable growth rate formula that is used to determine Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians. This formula is the reason that these pay cuts come up frequently and the congress has to waste time repealing or postponing them which is always what they end up doing. While this is responsible on their part and needs to be done, they could avoid the entire issue by permanently repealing the formula. Organized medicine has begged for this for some time.

Anyway all is well for the time being and hopefully congress will come up with a more permanent fix to the problem before April 1st. And hopefully Medicare patients will be able to get doctors appointments between now and then.  bjmdjd

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health · Medicare physician pay cut · President Obama · Senator Bunning · sustainable growth rate formula · wellness

All the talk now is how expensive healthcare has become and the costs seem to be rising every day. The National Heart, Lung, and  Blood Institute has released some numbers that are staggering.

Below are the estimated direct and indirect 2010 costs (in billions…that’s with a “B”) in  the United States for the five most expensive diagnostic groups:

• $324.1 billion     Cardiovascular Diseases
• $225.2 billion     Digestive System
• $177.7 billion     Mental Health
• $175.4 billion     Nervous System
• $172.9 billion     Injury and Poisoning

As Healthcare Reform possibly looms in our future it’s important to remember what the real numbers are!  bjmdjd

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health · healthcare is expensive · Healthcare Reform · National Heart Lung and Blood Instutute · wellness

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has voted to recommend that all adults receive the annual influenza vaccine beginning next flu season (2010 – 2011). Prior to this recommendation the focus was on people between the ages of 6 months and 18 years old and over 50 years old, anyone at risk of complications from the flu, and those in close contact with high risk individuals.

Now the new recommendation encourages everyone over the age of 6 months to be vaccinated unless they have a contraindication. Since vaccine makers have plenty of lead time for planning an increased manufacturing schedule it is hoped that the increase need for vaccine will not cause a shortage.  bjmdjd

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · flu shot · flu vaccine · health · universal flu vaccine recommendation · wellness

The big televised While House health summit with the president and congressional republicans and democrats will be held this coming Thursday. Due to the fact that I fully expect this event to be a disaster and not accomplish anything, I just don’t have the stomach to write about it. Sorry. Maybe I’ll be wrong and later this week I can write about what a success it was.  bjmdjd

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Healthcare Reform · White House health summit