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UK Government Supports Moves For Pharma Companies To Communicate Directly With Patients
The UK government would like to allow pharmaceutical companies to provide patients with more information about prescription drugs, according to an article published in Pulse. UK ministers view the European Commission"s proposals positively - these proposals would greatly extend the communication permitted between companies and patients. Currently, European Law limits such communication to patient safety leaflets. Don't forget to buy zoloft online no prescription.

ACCP Position Paper On Genetic Tests Advertised Directly To The Consumer
Genetic testing services have recently begun to be advertised directly to the patient, and the results of the consumers" response can affect public health, as well as the future adoption of pharmacogenetic/genomic testing, according to a position paper from the American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP) to be published in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. The journal is published on behalf of the ACCP by SAGE.

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Pledges To Reduce Health Care Costs, Spending Growth Could Violate Antitrust Laws, Lawyers Say
U.S. antitrust laws could affect health care industry groups" efforts to work together to rein in health care costs, the New York Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 5/27). In a letter sent to President Obama on May 10, a coalition of groups -- 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 -- pledged to reduce the annual health care spending growth rate by 1.5%. The groups did not elaborate on what specific measures they would use to achieve such reductions, but the Obama administration has requested specific plans from the groups by June 1 (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/26). According to the Times, many of the plans being considered by the health care industry would require greater cooperation across health care providers. Robert Leibenluft, a former Federal Trade Commission official, said, "Any agreement among competitors with regard to prices or price increases -- even if they set a maximum -- would raise legal concerns." In addition, while Obama is asking for specific plans from the health care industry, the administration has not offered any relief from antitrust laws, the Times reports. Furthermore, during his campaign Obama pledged to increase enforcement of antitrust laws, according to the Times.Antitrust laws have had a negative effect on previous health reform efforts, the Times reports. In 1993, the drug industry established a voluntary cost control plan that limited each drug company"s annual increase in the average price of prescription drugs to the increase in the Consumer Price Index, but the Department of Justice ruled that the proposal would violate antitrust laws. DOJ officials said that the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that setting price maximums was akin to setting price minimums, which is illegal. In a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, AHA wrote that uncertainty regarding the enforcement of antitrust laws "makes it difficult for a hospital and doctors to collaborate to improve care" and reduce costs. AMA has asked Congress to amend antitrust laws to allow physicians to collectively negotiate with insurers over fees and other concerns, but FTC repeatedly has designated the practice illegal price-fixing, according to the Times. FTC officials said that consumers could benefit from cooperation among health care industry groups but that cooperation also could lead to increased bargaining power for physicians and hospitals, making it easier for them to set prices and eliminate competition (New York Times, 5/27). Reform Developments
Public Health

Introducing The Pioneering XTRAC Velocity™ Excimer Laser: Delivers Psoriasis And Vitiligo Treatments Three Times Faster

PhotoMedex, Inc. (NASDAQ: PHMD), a leader in the development of proprietary excimer laser and fiber optic systems as well as other products for dermatological applications, announced the availability of its groundbreaking XTRAC Velocity™ Excimer Laser, a device expected to redefine laser treatment options for patients suffering from psoriasis and vitiligo. Two separate independent third-party agencies have confirmed that the XTRAC Ultra® laser, precursor to the XTRAC Velocity excimer laser, is the most accurate, powerful, and fastest excimer laser available to date. PhotoMedex has raised the bar even higher with the Velocity laser, which features an average laser power of up to 7.2 watts delivered to the patient. Velocity"s treatment time is nearly three times faster than PhotoMedex" XTRAC Ultra laser. In performance tests the device has been able to treat lesions of 3,500 cm2 (600 mj/cm2) in 4 minutes, 52 seconds*-roughly 1/3 the time required by the Ultra. Because the innovative Velocity excimer laser can cover a much greater surface area in the average treatment session-up to 20% of the body surface in five minutes versus only 2 to 4% for alternative lasers-it is the first practical alternative to potent pharmaceuticals or full-body UV irradiation for patients with severe psoriasis. "The XTRAC Velocity laser is going to be a game-changer for patients and dermatology practices alike," said Jeff O"Donnell, president of PhotoMedex. "For patients, the Velocity will dramatically shorten treatment times, increase the size and number of lesions that can be treated per session, and open laser therapy as a viable alternative for patients who were not necessarily laser candidates in the past. In fact, for busy dermatology practices, the Velocity will make it practical to treat as many as 32 patients per day." New Touchscreen, Handpiece Controls With a maximum repetition rate of 400 Hz and delivered laser energy of 12 to 18 millijoules/pulse, PhotoMedex" XTRAC Velocity is unparalleled in its power and treatment speed. The new laser system has an unparalleled safety profile and is also highly effective with a long duration of remission-yet laser performance is only the beginning of the unit"s advantages. To increase quality of care for patients as well as increase the clinician"s convenience, the Velocity offers a new full-color touchscreen control interface. The screen and built-in database tracking software goes beyond normal equipment operation to incorporate patient information including ID generation, recognition, treatment history, dosing heuristics and more. Also included for the first time on the Velocity is a touch control handpiece that allows the laser treatment to be delivered more easily compared to conventional footswitch-controlled devices. "Profit Per Treatment" Model Like all the excimer lasers in the PhotoMedex line, the Velocity is available to clinics at no direct cost via a unique consignment-based business model. Thanks to the "Profit per Treatment" model, dermatologists provide Velocity laser therapy to their customers, paying a fee only on treatments rendered. In-service training is provided by a dedicated PhotoMedex clinical specialist. Reimbursement support is also provided by a team of direct employee-insurance specialists who continue to receive positive reviews from both office staff and patients for their dedicated and knowledgeable support. Purchase options and financing for PhotoMedex lasers are available as well. * Treatment time calculations do not include the overhead associated with moving the hand piece. PhotoMedex


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