http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now.html The family physician's trusted source for news -- ANN is the official news publication of the American Academy of Family Physicians. en-us Copyright 2009 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091105fda-tobacc-cmnts.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091105fda-tobacc-cmnts.html The AAFP has weighed in with numerous suggestions to a July request from the FDA for public input on how the agency should implement its newfound authority to regulate tobacco. ann@aafp.org Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:20:00 CST AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091104reform-letter.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091104reform-letter.html In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the AAFP has expressed its support for two health care reform bills pending in the House, but the Academy also noted that there are improvements that could be made in the bills to support tort reform and improve payment for primary care physicians. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 CST AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20091104preg-wmn-trial.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20091104preg-wmn-trial.html Pregnant women, who have been among the most vulnerable to serious health problems associated with the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, can take some comfort in the protection offered by the H1N1 vaccine. Initial results from an ongoing clinical trial sponsored by the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, showed that healthy pregnant women mount a robust immune response after a single dose of the vaccine. ann@aafp.org Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:25:00 CST AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/resident-student-focus/20091104med-stdnt-empathy.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/resident-student-focus/20091104med-stdnt-empathy.html A study published in a recent issue of Academic Medicine found that medical students' feelings of empathy erode sharply during their third year of medical school -- just as they are shifting from largely didactic learning activities toward hands-on patient-care. And although students who eventually choose family medicine and other primary care specialties start higher on the empathy scale and dip less steeply, they, too, become more cynical, said the study. bbein@aafp.org Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:25:00 CST AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20091104fdarevisions.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20091104fdarevisions.html The FDA is revising the prescribing information for the injectable diabetes medication exenatide and the oral diabetes drug sitagliptin phosphate following reports of renal problems associated with exenatide use, as well as reports linking sitagliptin use with pancreatitis. ann@aafp.org Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:55:00 CST AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/news-in-brief/20091104wkly-nws-brfs.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/news-in-brief/20091104wkly-nws-brfs.html This roundup includes the following news briefs: Senate Approves Family Physician Benjamin as Next Surgeon General; NHSC Loan Repayment Application Process Just Got Easier; ACCME Adds Multimedia Education and Training Section to Its Web Site; and Online Videos Educate Consumers About Food, Medication Safety. ann@aafp.org Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:50:00 CST AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091103medpac.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091103medpac.html The process used to determine the relative value of physician services for the Medicare program is deeply flawed and driven by the interests of subspecialty societies, according to some members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, or MedPAC, which met last month in Washington, D.C. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:25:00 CST AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091103cer-focus-grps.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20091103cer-focus-grps.html Comparative effectiveness research has become a pivotal term in Washington these days, particularly after the federal government passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which authorized $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research. Now an analysis of findings from six focus groups commissioned by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, or MedPAC, finds that although physicians think comparative effectiveness research studies are a good idea, their support for such studies depends on a number of factors. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:00:00 CST AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20091030h1n1availability.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20091030h1n1availability.html Vaccine manufacturers are expected to fall well short of having 40 million doses of novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccine available by the end of October, but HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently told the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that the target likely will be reached in early November. At an Oct. 21 hearing to update the public on federal efforts to manage the spread of H1N1 influenza, Sebelius said problems with vaccine production yield have been resolved and production is increasing. dmitchell@aafp.org Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:35:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/practice-management/20091030rulechanges.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/practice-management/20091030rulechanges.html Effective Oct. 5, physicians who participate in Medicare must include their names and National Provider Identifiers, or NPIs, when ordering prescriptions, medical supplies or medical services or when making patient referrals for service. And enrollment in Medicare will be checked against the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System, or PECOS. ann@aafp.org Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:50:00 CDT AAFP News Now