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In Joint Statement, Industry Groups Reiterate Commitment To Reduce Health Spending Growth
The six industry groups that pledged to reduce health care spending growth by $2 trillion over 10 years on Friday issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to work toward the goal, Roll Call reports (Murray, Roll Call, 5/15). The industry groups in a letter sent to President Obama on May 10 wrote, "We will do our part to achieve your administration"s goal of decreasing by 1.5 percentage points the annual health care spending growth rate. ... This represents more than a 20% reduction in the projected rate of growth." The letter -- which was signed by the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, America"s Health Insurance Plans and the Service Employees International Union -- did not elaborate on what specific measures the groups would take to achieve such reductions (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/12). Obama in a May 11 public announcement of the groups" pledge said the coalition"s goal was to cut the growth rate by 1.5 percentage points "each year," which would total $2 trillion over 10 years (Norman, CQ HealthBeat, 5/15).However, industry leaders who attended the meeting with Obama said that they did not promise specific year-by-year savings, but instead agreed to a more incremental approach (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/15). Richard Umbdenstock, president of AHA, said, "There"s been a lot of misunderstanding that has caused a lot of consternation among our members." AHA sent its members a bulletin stating that "the groups did not support reducing the rate of health spending by 1.5 percentage points annually," and that the pledge was to eventually reduce the growth rate by 1.5 percentage points (CQ HealthBeat, 5/15).In response to media reports that said they were backing away from their pledge, the groups on Friday in a joint statement reiterated their vow. They wrote, "Our organizations are currently engaged in an intensive process to develop proposals to reduce the rate of increase in future health care costs" (Young, The Hill, 5/15). The statement also said, "We are committed to working together to bend the health care cost curve" and "to doing our part to make reform sustainable and to make the system more affordable and effective for patients and purchasers" (Budoff Brown, Politico, 5/18). It continued that "to be successful, we must take action in public-private partnership. We look forward to offering cost-savings recommendations in the weeks ahead." The Obama administration has requested specifics on the coalition"s cost-cutting plans by June 1. White House Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag on Friday in a blog post wrote that it is "understandable" that the groups need to "ramp up" to the 1.5 percentage point reduction in spending. According to Orszag, "The groups have committed to significant reductions in the growth rate, thereby recognizing that substantial efficiencies can be captured in the health system. Some ramp-up time also does not materially affect the long-term impact from reducing the growth rate, on either national health expenditures or the federal budget" (CQ HealthBeat, 5/15). Orszag"s blog posting is available online. Don't forget to buy zoloft online no prescription.

World Food Programme Calls For Urgent Action On Global Hunger And Humanitarian Needs
The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme

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Health Canada Informs Pregnant And Breastfeeding Women Not To Take Vitamin Maxum Matragen And/or Maxum Multi Vite Supplements
Health Canada is advising expectant mothers and breastfeeding women not to take the vitamin-mineral supplements Maxum Matragen or Maxum Multi-Vite by Seroyal International Inc. Maxum Multi-Vite has been approved as a vitamin-mineral supplement for only the general public but lacks the required cautionary statement on the label regarding pregnant and/or breast feeding women. The product Maxum Matragen is being promoted by the company as a prenatal supplement; however, neither product has been authorized for sale by Health Canada for use by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
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AIBN And US Researchers Join Forces, Australia

A UQ institute has joined forces with a leading American university to work on research to change the way we live. The University of Queensland"s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC) at Cornell University in the United States are working together to develop new products and techniques that will promote new medicines, develop the next generation of biofuels and improve human health and quality of life. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding, both organisations stand to enhance their mutual interests in biomolecular devices and analysis, cell and tissue engineering, cell surface interaction and nanomaterials. AIBN Director, Professor Peter Gray said that together AIBN and NBTC would increase the pace of discovery and development of new products and processes. "AIBN and NBTC are both highly interdisciplinary research environments and the combination of biology, nanotechnology and engineering in these organisations has the potential to change our lives," Professor Gray said. "For example, the scientific breakthroughs which are occurring in the fields of stem cells and tissue regeneration are opening up many new opportunities for treating disease but for the potential to be realised, we need to learn how to target the new treatments to just the right part of the body, and how to grow very complex cells in a controlled fashion. "This MOU will establish new partnerships, enable joint funding opportunities and promote the sharing of ideas, techniques and skills, as well as develop new research directions. "I look forward to working with NBCT Director Professor Harold Craighead to grow this relationship in the future," he said. "The NBTC and AIBN have allied missions and I believe that by combining our expertise and efforts we can work even more effectively to address important issues in our society," Professor Craighead said. "Our research into single molecule biochemistry using nanostructured devices, is suggesting new approaches for early diagnosis of disease and delivery of individually tailored treatments," he said. Professor Craighead is currently visiting the Institute as part of the AIBN Symposium, an important fixture on the AIBN Calendar where staff and students gather to discuss some of the many research projects being undertaken. The University of Queensland


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