News Briefs: Government Updates

This roundup includes the following brief government updates:

The House has passed a bill that would give the FDA broad regulatory powers over tobacco products for the first time.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, H.R. 1256, (at the THOMAS Web site, type "H.R. 1256" in the search box after selecting "Bill Number") would not give the FDA the power to ban tobacco products, but the agency would have the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products.

According to the legislation, the FDA would be able to force tobacco manufacturers to reveal the contents of their products and require them to post much larger package warning labels. The agency also could prohibit the flavoring of tobacco products and would have the authority to regulate or even prohibit specific marketing campaigns, especially those aimed at children.

The House approved the measure by a vote of 298-112, but a much tougher fight looms in the Senate, where some members from tobacco-producing states are likely to oppose the bill. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., is expected to introduce a Senate version of the legislation within the next few weeks.

Florida could save billions of dollars each year by providing residents with improved access to community-based primary care services, according to a study conducted by researchers at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

The state could save between $720 million and $794 million a year in general health care costs and nearly $5 billion in emergency care costs by improving access to primary care services, says the study, "Primary and Preventive Healthcare: A Critical Path to Healthcare Reform for Florida." (39-page PDF; About PDFs)

Florida has about 3.8 million uninsured residents and another 8 million who lack access to a regular source of primary care, according to the report. The report's authors recommend investing in a system of medical homes for all state residents. A strong system of primary health care that can ensure a medical home for all patients is a fundamental goal, according to the report.

The authors also call for a greater investment in federally qualified health centers, which they describe as an especially important and cost-effective foundation for the primary care safety net.