Thursday, November 20, 2003

House-Senate Negotiators Reach Agreement on Medicare Prescription Drug Legislation
Advocacy alert at the NAMI web site - " As is being widely reported in the press, House and Senate leaders have reached an agreement on legislation to add a new prescription drug benefit to the Medicare program. Details on the legislation are beginning to emerge; however, the full text is not yet available. The new benefits for prescription drug coverage and protections for vulnerable, low-income beneficiaries (including those dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid) appear to be a major improvement over the status quo and previous congressional proposals. As a result, NAMI has sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging members to vote in favor of passage later this week...."  
  

U.S. House Clears Bill to Require Children's Drug Testing
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "The U.S. House Wednesday approved legislation to write into law rules requiring drugmakers to test their products on children and provide labeling instructions on pediatric use. The Senate had passed the 'Pediatric Research Equity Act' in July, and the bill now goes to President Bush, who is expected to sign it." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].