November 20, 2009

The American Dental Association (ADA) today asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish appropriate classifications for tooth-whitening chemicals. Citing concern about the safety of whitening products that are often administered without the benefit of professional consultation or examination by a dentist, the Association said that the application of chemically based tooth whitening or bleaching agents can harm teeth, gums and other tissues in the mouth. The ADA pointed out that such concerns have prompted many states to prevent application of tooth whitening products in non-dental settings. "The tremendous expansion of products available directly to consumers and application of products in venues such as shopping malls, cruise ships, and salons is troubling since consumers have little or no assurance regarding the safety of product ingredients, doses or the professional qualifications of individuals employed in these non-dental settings," said ADA President Dr. Ron Tankersley and Executive Director Dr. Kathleen O'Loughlin, in a letter to the agency. Full release.

On behalf of approximately 38,000 Transportation Security Officers, the American Federation of Government Employees questioned how TSA came up with its 2009 performance levels and why the agency isn't focused instead on fixing standing problems with its pay system. In response to TSA's Performance Accountability & Standards System (PASS) 2009 Final Rating Thresholds & Payout Information, AFGE National President John Gage today issued the following statement: "TSA's 2009 PASS ratings raise more questions than provides answers. The first of which is: why did TSA, with no warning or explanation, increase the point range needed to obtain a rating level from that of last year? This arbitrary increase means that some TSOs will have to achieve a higher score than before just to maintain the same rating. It is illogical to increase the point range when TSA has struggled with several evaluation components that constitute it, including training and testing. Former TSA Administrator Kip Hawley even admitted to flaws in PASS, stating that it 'distracted the workforce from its primary mission with its confusing procedures and burdensome administrative and testing requirements.' Unfortunately, that remains true. Full release.

Entrepreneurial activity shows positive signs during these hard times, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2008 National Entrepreneurial Assessment for the United States of America, produced by Babson College and Baruch College. To view the report, visit www.gemconsortium.org. * Entrepreneurship Increases: Total entrepreneurial activity (TEA) increased to 10.8% in 2008 from 9.6% in 2007. * Opportunity Obsessed: Opportunity continues to be the main driver for entrepreneurs in the United States - 87% started their businesses because of a business opportunity while only 13% started their businesses out of necessity. * Early-Stage Entrepreneurs: The United States continues to be at or near the top of the world's innovation-driven economies in terms of early-stage entrepreneurial activities. * Substantial Perceived Opportunity: Perceived opportunity is substantial despite a greater fear of failure. This fear of failure has increased appreciably in the U.S. and in the other GEM countries. Perceived opportunity has declined in the U.S. and in the other innovation-driven countries. It is important to note, however, that the decrease in perceived opportunity is only off its high levels of 2007. Thus, perceived opportunity is still substantial despite a greater fear of failure. This contrasts with the marked decrease across the board in GEM countries for individuals who expect to start a business in the next three years. Full release.

Medco Health Solutions, Inc (NYSE: MHS) is today contributing to a transformation in American healthcare through an advanced, wired pharmacy paradigm that is already delivering higher quality clinical care and fundamentally bending the cost curve downward -- making medicine smarter for the benefit of patients and payors alike. The company today explained how the elements in its strategy enable "Smarter Medicine" to help address the estimated $350 billion in waste related to the treatment of patients with chronic and complex diseases -- patients who currently account for 96 percent of all drug costs and 75 percent of all medical spending in the United States. "Our clients are not waiting for healthcare reform. They're aggressively seeking solutions that can be immediately implemented," Medco Chairman and CEO David B. Snow Jr. told those attending the company's annual investor conference. "Medco innovations have created a superior clinical model that is proven to deliver value today in managing the debilitating human and financial costs associated with chronic and complex diseases. The market has responded by awarding our company more than $21 billion in new business over the past two years as we leverage the practice of pharmacy as a tool to improve quality and eliminate inefficiency across the healthcare system." Full release.

The United Nations General Assembly welcomed a resolution on the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children today, on the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The Guidelines call attention to the vulnerability and needs of orphaned and abandoned children. Over the last five years, SOS Children's Villages International has been a leading organization in supporting the development of the Guidelines and lobbying for their adoption. SOS Children's Villages joins the international community in celebrating the passing of a resolution that further strengthens the rights of children without parental care. "The implementation of the Guidelines will ensure that children are listened to and receive specific attention for their particular situation and needs. Furthermore, the Guidelines will help us to speak out for those children and to constantly monitor and improve our own services," said Richard Pichler, Secretary-General of SOS Children's Villages International. Full release.

In recent months, there's been a great deal of attention paid to the issue of texting while driving, and with good reason: keeping your eyes on the tiny keyboard in front of you instead of the highway ahead is a sure way to head down the road to disaster. It's also an increasing threat in this digital age. Unfortunately, texting is just the latest in a long line of distractions that are having deadly consequences on America's roadways--with over 37,000 lives tragically lost each year. "Distracted driving is increasingly having an impact on lives lost and property damaged," said Bill Moore, president of MetLife Auto & Home. "Safe driving is really about focus. Every day, our Claim Department receives reports of claims that could have been avoided, had the basic principles of defensive driving and driver attentiveness been observed." Full release.

For the protection of frontline health care and emergency medical workers at high risk of infection, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today issued a compliance directive to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to identify and minimize or eliminate high to very high risk occupational exposures to the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus. The directive, which closely follows the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) guidance at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu, is available online at https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02_02-075.pdf. "OSHA has a responsibility to ensure that the more than nine million frontline health care workers in the United States are protected to the extent possible against exposure to the virus," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "OSHA will ensure health care employers use proper controls to protect all workers, particularly those who are at high or very high risk of exposure." Full release.

Consumers Union urged the Federal Reserve Board today to stop credit card companies from unfairly hiking interest rates and engaging in other unfair practices designed to get around new consumer protections set to go into effect in early 2010. The Fed is currently considering a set of proposed regulations to implement the Credit CARD Act passed by Congress earlier this year. Most of the new rules are due to go into effect on February 22. In the meantime, however, credit card companies are raising interest rates on many customers and implementing new changes to contracts in order to circumvent the protections of the new law. "There's no question that many credit card companies are using the long implementation time before new regulations go into effect to gouge consumers and test new ways to evade the law," said Lauren Bowne, staff attorney with Consumers Union. "The Fed should use its power to make sure consumers are protected from these unfair practices that undermine the safeguards Congress intended to enact." In a letter submitted to the Federal Reserve Board today, Consumers Union outlined a number of unfair credit card practices that have emerged since Congress passed the Credit CARD Act. Full release.

The Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives (www.AHHE.org) and the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Health (www.NHCCH.com) today announced the launching of their social media campaign, which will partner Hispanic media, the country's leading Hispanic professional health associations and Hispanic consumers. The launching of the partnership coincides with the appointment of Mirian Zavala, RN, MS, Doctoral Candidate, as the chair of AHHE's Policy Committee. The social media campaign launch and Ms. Zavala will be introduced at a reception, "Health Care Reform: Communicating Policy with Hispanic Media," on Monday, November 23, 2009, 6:00-8:00pm, at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, 16th floor Sky lobby. In attendance, and partnering with AHHE and the NHCCH on this initiative, will be the leading national Hispanic health association presidents, including George A. Zeppenfeldt-Cestero, President, Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives; Suzanne Colin, PhD, President, the Association of Hispanic Mental Health Professionals; Miguel Hernandez, MD, President, the Dominican Medical Association; Norma Martinez Rogers, PhD, RN, FAAN, President, National Association of Hispanic Nurses; Samuel Arce, MD, President, Spanish American Medical Dental Society of NY, Inc., and Luis A. Vazquez, Chairman, National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Health. The Honorable Joel Rivera, Chairman of the Health Committee for the NYC Council and other elected officials, will give remarks during the event. Full release.

More employers are taking steps to improve their employees' health by making sure they take their medicines as prescribed, a move that could stave off more serious and costly health consequences, according to a new report sponsored by the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC). Medication compliance, sometimes referred to as medication adherence, is simply following a medicine treatment plan developed by an individual's health care provider, filling prescriptions, and taking medications as prescribed. And the NPC report, "Employer Medication Compliance Initiatives," which for the first time surveyed employers' views and strategies on compliance, says 89% of employers acknowledge its importance to employee health. Only preventive care and lifestyle behaviors were rated more highly. "It's well documented that people with chronic diseases who take their medications as prescribed are healthier and more productive," said NPC President Dan Leonard. "This report shows that employers are actively taking steps to encourage medication compliance to help improve the health and well-being of employees and their families." Full release.

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