THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly
IN THIS ISSUE:
1) Thompson Launches "Decade of Health Information Technology"
2) President Bush Signs BioShield Legislation
3) PREVENTION: Protect yourself, your family and your community from West Nile virus
4) Medicare Minute: BENEFITS UNDER MEDICARE DRUG CARD WON'T AFFECT MEDICAID OR OTHER FEDERAL BENEFITS
5) Secretary Thompson's Public Schedule
Thompson Launches "Decade of Health Information Technology"
In an effort to transform the delivery of health care in the United States HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson released the first outline of a 10-year plan that will build a new health information infrastructure, including electronic health records and a new network to link health records nationwide. The announcement was made during a Secretarial Summit on Health Information Technology.
The plan aims at improving the quality of care and reducing medical errors while lowering administrative costs. The changes in medical technology would also provide increased security and privacy of electronic medical records over paper-based records.
"America needs to move much faster to adopt information technology in our health care system," Secretary Thompson said as he released the action report ordered by President Bush. "Electronic health information will provide a quantum leap in patient power, doctor power, and effective health care. We can't wait any longer."
Secretary Thompson announced he would appoint a special Leadership Panel to assess total costs and benefits of health information technology and report to him by fall. He also announced efforts underway to develop private sector certification for health information technology products. And he said HHS will begin reviewing the feasibility of a private sector consortium to plan and develop a new nationwide network for health information.
President Bush in April called for electronic health records for most Americans within 10 years. In an executive order, he created the new Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and in May, David J. Brailer, M.D., Ph.D., was appointed to the new position.
The Decade of Health Information Technology report has been published and is available online the HHS Web site at www.hhs.gov.
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President Bush Signs BioShield Legislation
President Bush last week signed into law Project BioShield, which provides new tools to improve medical countermeasures protecting Americans against a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) attack.
Project BioShield is a comprehensive effort overseen jointly by HHS Secretary Thompson and Homeland Security Secretary Ridge, and involving other Federal agencies as appropriate, to develop and make available modern, effective drugs and vaccines to protect against attack by CBRN weapons.
At HHS Project BioShield will ensure that resources are available to pay for "next-generation" medical countermeasures, expedite the conduct of NIH research and development on medical countermeasures based on the most promising recent scientific discoveries and give FDA the ability to make promising treatments quickly available in emergency situations.
As the result of the Project BioShield legislation, the administration has already begun the process of acquiring several new medical countermeasures. Some of these measures include 75 million doses of a second-generation anthrax vaccine to become available for stockpiling beginning next year. New medical treatments for anthrax directed at neutralizing the effects of anthrax toxin, a safer second-generation smallpox vaccine and Initial evaluation of treatments for radiation and chemical weapons exposure.
"With the signing of the BioShield legislation, President Bush has improved our nation's bio-preparedness in an important way," Secretary Thompson said. "We will now be able to quickly purchase important medical countermeasures in the event of a threat to our country. This law also sends a clear signal that the U.S. government is prepared to be a full partner with the research community in the fight against bio-terrorism."
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PREVENTION
Protect yourself, your family and your community from West Nile virus
When dealing with West Nile virus, prevention is your best bet. Fighting mosquito bites reduces your risk of getting this disease, along with others that mosquitoes can carry. Take the commonsense steps below to reduce your risk:
Avoid bites and illness
While the chance that any one person is going to become ill from a single mosquito bite remains low it is important to avoid mosquito bites. One easy way to protect yourself is by using insect repellents that contain DEET. Another sure way to avoid mosquito bites is by wearing clothing that leaves a smaller amount of exposed skin. Long sleeved shirts and pants are a good way to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Outdoor activities come at all different times of the day and night, however it is good to know that if you want to avoid mosquito bites peak mosquito hours are from dusk to dawn.
Clean out the mosquitoes from the places where you work and play
Mosquito proofing the house is simple. Mosquito lay their eggs in standing water, so simply limit the number of places where water can accumulate. By reducing the number of places where you have standing water you reduce their breeding ground. You can also keep mosquitoes from coming indoors by placing well-fitted screens around the house.
Help your community control the disease
Report Dead Birds to Local Authorities. Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile virus is circulating between birds and the mosquitoes in an area. By reporting dead birds to state and local health departments, you can play an important role in monitoring West Nile virus. You can also help clean up around your neighborhood and reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
For more information on West Nile virus please visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.
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Medicare Minute
BENEFITS UNDER MEDICARE DRUG CARD WON'T AFFECT MEDICAID OR OTHER FEDERAL BENEFITS
Low-income Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for the $600 credit when they enroll in a Medicare-approved drug discount card will not have to worry that this help will be counted against them when they apply for Medicaid or other federal government benefit programs like housing and food stamps. This reaffirmation of policy came in an announcement last week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
"As the Medicare law intended, low-income beneficiaries don't need to worry that government help from one program will take away help from another," said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. "As a result of the new law, low-income Medicare beneficiaries need not have to chose between food and medicine."
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Secretary Thompson's Public Schedule:
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Last updated: July 27, 2004
United States Department of Health and Human Services
Contact the HHS Newsletter Team.