THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly
IN THIS ISSUE:
1) HHS Names Members to Task Force on Drug Importation
2) Secretary Thompson's Statement on confirmation of CMS Administrator
3) Prevention: HHS Unveils FDA Strategy to Help Reduce Obesity
4) Science in the News: HHS Moves to Acquire New Anthrax Vaccine for Stockpile
5) Medicare Minute: Prescription drug benefits will be added to Medicare in 2006
6) Secretary Thompson's Public Schedule
HHS Names Members to Task Force on Drug Importation
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson named 13 people to serve on the new Task Force on Drug Importation that is exploring how drug importation might be conducted safely and its potential impact on the health of American patients, medical costs and the development of new medicines.
Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona will serve as the task force’s chairman. The panel includes representatives from across HHS, as well as from other parts of the federal government with knowledge or involvement in drug importation issues. The task force may consult other federal officials as well.
"Under Dr. Carmona’s leadership, this task force will fully examine the issues surrounding drug importation to determine how to assure consumers that such imported drugs are safe and effective," Secretary Thompson said."We haven’t been able to provide those safety assurances as required by law and with available resources. The task force will study if drugs can be imported safely and, if so, what resources would be needed to ensure safety."
The first meeting was held Friday, March 19, and featured speakers from more than at least a dozen invited consumer groups. For a complete listing of task force membership, please go to: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040316.html.
A public docket has been opened to allow members of the public to submit comments for the record. The docket, 2004N-0115, is available at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/dockets/comments/commentdocket.cfm.
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Secretary Thompson's Statement on confirmation of CMS Administrator
FDA Warns Manufacturers To Stop Distributing Such Products
The Secretary issued the following statement on March 12:
I thank the Senate for its swift action in confirming Dr. Mark McClellan to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Dr. McClellan will bring a breadth of experience, intelligence and energy that will serve all of us well. We remain committed to ensuring that our Medicare and Medicaid programs are responsive to beneficiaries and to our partners, especially the health care professions and the states. And we are determined to bring about rapid and effective implementation of the benefits of the Medicare improvement act passed last year, including a new prescription drug benefit and more choices for Medicare beneficiaries.
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HHS Unveils FDA Strategy to Help Reduce Obesity
New "Calories Count" Approach Builds on HHS' Education, Research Efforts
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson released a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report outlining another element in HHS' comprehensive strategy for combating the epidemic of obesity that threatens the health of millions of Americans with a focus on the message, "calories count."
The report by FDA's Obesity Working Group includes recommendations to strengthen food labeling, to educate consumers about maintaining a healthy diet and weight and to encourage restaurants to provide calorie and nutrition information. It also recommends increasing enforcement to ensure food labels accurately portray serving size, revising and reissuing guidance on developing obesity drugs and strengthening coordinated scientific research to reduce obesity and to develop foods that are healthier and low in calories.
"Counting calories is critical for people trying to achieve and maintain a healthy weight," Secretary Thompson said. "This new report highlights FDA's overall strategy for getting consumers accurate, helpful information that allows them to make wise food choices at home, at supermarkets and in restaurants. Taking small steps to eat a more balanced diet and to stay physically active can go a long way to reversing the epidemic of obesity that harms far too many Americans."
The FDA report comes on the heels of a new study from HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows poor diet and inactivity are poised to become the leading preventable cause of death among Americans -- causing an estimated 400,000 deaths in 2000. CDC estimates that 64 percent of all Americans are overweight, including more than 30 percent who are considered obese. About 15 percent of children and adolescents, aged 6 to 19, are overweight -- almost double the rate of two decades ago.
Earlier, Secretary Thompson unveiled a new national education campaign to encourage Americans to take small steps to fight obesity and a new obesity research strategy at the National Institutes of Health. This report builds on those initiatives by highlighting actions that FDA, which regulates many foods and their labels, can take to enable consumers to make smart choices about their diet and maintain a healthy weight.
"Our report concludes that there is no substitute for the simple formula that 'calories in must equal calories out' in order to control weight," said FDA Deputy Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D. "We're going back to basics, designing a comprehensive effort to attack obesity through an aggressive, science-based, consumer-friendly program with the simple message that 'Calories Count.'"
The full report from the FDA's obesity working group is available at http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/obesity/. More information about HHS' new anti-obesity campaign and NIH's obesity research agenda is available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040309.html.
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Science in the News
HHS Moves to Acquire New Anthrax Vaccine for Stockpile
The Department of Health and Human Services has requested proposals from industry for the development, testing and manufacture of a new anthrax vaccine.
"As the lead federal agency for public health and medical response, we are moving forward to insure our nation is protected against anthrax," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "The new vaccine will be added to our emergency stockpile of antibiotics and other critical medical supplies."
HHS intends to acquire up to 75 million doses of the recombinant protective antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine for the Strategic National Stockpile. The vaccine would be used to protect the public against a terrorist attack in which anthrax spores are released.
The new rPA anthrax vaccine has already been shown to be stronger and more effective than the vaccine being used today. It will require fewer doses per individual to provide immunity against the effects of anthrax inhalation.
Companies interested in bidding for the contract must submit their proposals for review by April 16, 2004. Each proposal must clearly demonstrate the bidder's ability to comply with a strict set of guidelines listed in the department's solicitation.
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Medicare Minute
Prescription drug benefits will be added to Medicare in 2006. All people with Medicare will be able to enroll in plans that cover prescription drugs. Plans might vary, but in general, this is how they will work:
You will choose a prescription drug plan and pay a premium of about $35 a month.
You will pay the first $250 (called a "deductible").
Medicare then will pay 75% of costs between $250 and $2,250 in drug spending. You will pay only 25% of these costs.
You will pay 100% of the drug costs above $2,250 until you reach $3,600 in out-of-pocket spending. Medicare will pay about 95% of the costs after you have spent $3,600.
Some prescription drug plans may have additional options to help you pay the out-of-pocket costs.
For the latest information about Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
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Secretary Thompson's Public Schedule:
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Last updated: March 22, 2004
United States Department of Health and Human Services
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