Sen. Specter proposes creating a new agency to provide funding for biotech companies
The Cures Acceleration Network would give money to struggling biotech companies in order to help them develop new treatments for debilitating diseases, says Specter.
SB 503
Current Printer’s No: 510
Prime Sponsor: Senator Folmer (Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon, Lancaster)
Summary: An Act providing for the expiration of certain State-mandated health care insurance benefits and the provisions of certain acts that impose mandatory covered providers and covered persons on qualified high deductible health plans; and requiring the Health Care Cost Containment Council to submit a [...]
SB 502
Current Printer’s No: 509
Prime Sponsor: Senator Folmer (Berks, Chester, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon)
Summary: An Act providing for the expiration of certain State-mandated health care insurance benefits and the provisions of certain acts that impose mandatory covered providers and covered persons; and requiring the Health Care Cost Containment Council to submit a periodic report to the General [...]
Bills on the move: 4/20 -> 4/24
A mini-COBRA bill and legislation that would require long-term care facilities to coordinate with licensing agencies when consumers relocate both passed through the House this week, while nothin’ healthcare related was moving in the Senate.
Hospitals round-up for 4/24
Read about Southwest Regional Medical Center, Lower Bucks Hospital, and Reading Hospital.
Rendell says he won’t renew MCARE program
Says that due in part to a decrease in medical malpratice lawsuits, malpractice insurance help for physicians is unneeded.
PA Medical Society testifies against Certificate of Need program in PA
The CON program would require healthcare providers to establish a need before making a major equipment purchase or improvement.
U.S. House votes to affirm Democrats’ option to use budget reconciliation process to fast-track health care legislation
The House had included a provision in its budget to allow themselves to use the reconciliation process to pass health reform legislation, which the Senate was reluctant to authorize.
Generics hurting income
GlaxoSmithKline says generic drug sales are hurting profits. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
Competition from generic drugs ate into profits at GlaxoSmithKline P.L.C., sending its first-quarter net income down 13 percent from a year earlier, the London company said yesterday.
GlaxoSmithKline, which employs 4,500 people in the Philadelphia region, said revenue rose 19 percent to 6.7 billion British [...]
Research shows that the economic downturn is hurting pharmaceutical firms
Reasearch firm says that the slow economy will cost pharmaceutical firms $15 billion in lost sales this year.