The Pill turns 50, CT took a little longer

Today, Mother’s Day, marks the 50th anniversary of the birth control pill’s approval by the FDA. Today one in five American women between the ages of 15 and 44 use the pill, spending $3.5 billion in 2008. The pill’s development hinged on the discovery of the Barbasco root, a type of wild yam that Mexican women had been chewing to prevent pregnancy for generations. It was the first US drug developed for use by healthy people. Controversial throughout its history, the pill neither destroyed nor perfected American society and family life as was predicted fifty years ago. Because of health concerns associated with the pill, the FDA changed their approval process including more extensive clinical trials, referrals to outside experts, and ongoing assessment of medication safety. The pill also led the FDA to communicate directly with patients rather than relying only on physicians to relay safety information.
Connecticut has a long history in women’s access to contraceptives. Attempts to shut down a New Haven family planning clinic led the US Supreme Court in 1965 to toss out a state anti-contraceptive law from 1879. The Court ruled that contraceptive use is a private issue. The decision made use of the pill in CT legal, as in the rest of the US.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Ellen Andrews

Fewer physicians accepting visits from drug reps in the office

The Wall Street Journal blog reports on a new survey of US physicians that found the number who are “rep-accessible”, or willing to meet with drug company sales rep.s in the office, is down 18% from last year. However, still 58% of doctors take meetings with at least 70% of the reps who call and only 9% see fewer than 30% of calling salespeople. Drug companies have significantly reduced their sales forces in recent years. By 2012 it is expected that the number of drug reps will be down to 70,000; that is still one for every ten practicing US physicians.
Ellen Andrews

Sen and Mrs. Dodd to host food allergy forum

Sen. Christopher and Mrs. Jackie Clegg Dodd will host a forum on managing food allergies at home, in school, away at college and in restaurants. The forum will feature Dr. Hugh Sampson of Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Eva Bunnell, parent of a child with a food allergy, Cheryl Resha, RN from the CT Dept of Education’s Bureau of Health and Nutrition, Dr. Jeffery Factor, Timothy Larew, a college student with food allergies, and Gary Crowder, from Resort Operations at the Mohegan Sun. The forum will be Sat. May 15th from 10am to noon at Founders Hall, CCSU, 1615 Stanley St., New Britain CT. Parking is available in Welte Garage. To RSVP email foodallergy@dodd.senate.gov or call (860) 258-6940.

Budget agreement reached

The Governor and General Assembly have reportedly reached an agreement on changes to next year’s budget, beginning July 1st, to cover a $2 billion deficit. The agreement includes converting HUSKY to a self-insured ASO model saving $77 million and increases in copays and premiums for HUSKY Part B families, saving $576,000. The legislature is expected to vote on the package today – the last day of the regular session.
Ellen Andrews

CT woman files one of first actions under federal genetic anti-discrimination law

Pamela Fink, a Fairfield resident, filed complaints last week with the US Equal Opportunity Commission and the CT Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities under the new Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Ms. Fink argues that her employer, MXenergy of Stamford, eliminated her job after learning that she carries a genetic risk for breast cancer. Ms. Fink stated that she received excellent job evaluations, merit increases and bonuses for years until she told them of the genetic test results when she was targeted, demoted and eventually fired. President Bush signed the bill into law in 2008, but the employment provisions only became effective last November. The bill had been debated in Congress for 13 years. The law prohibits discrimination in health coverage and employment based on genetic information. Coverage nondiscrimination provisions of the law began taking effect last May and will be fully effective this month.
Ellen Andrews

Rell administration will not challenge national health reform law

At yesterday’s Health Reform Cabinet meeting, the Rell administration announced that they will not join twelve other states in a lawsuit challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. All twelve Republican state senators signed onto a letter urging the state to join the suit. The senators argue that the federal law usurps states’ rights in regulating health care delivery and individual freedoms including the individual mandate. So far the administration has signaled that they will be pursing two opportunities under the new law – the Medicaid early expansion option to bring 43,000 SAGA recipients into Medicaid saving the state over $50 million and another $50 million or more available for CT’s high risk pool to cover people with pre-existing conditions.
Ellen Andrews

Governor interested in creating a CT high risk pool

Among other things, national health reform gives states an opportunity to create an insurance pool for people with pre-existing conditions. The law gives CT up to $50 million, possibly more, to implement a high-risk pool through 2014. At that point the law prohibits insurers from denying coverage to adults based on pre-existing conditions and it is expected that people with prior health problems will be able to secure affordable coverage in the private market and public exchange. Insurers are prohibited from excluding coverage for children with pre-existing conditions this year. CT has had a high risk pool since 1975 operated by the Health Reinsurance Association, however it has provided relief to few CT consumers due to very high costs. In a letter to HHS yesterday, Gov. Rell indicated that CT is interested in providing the new pool coverage through the existing HRA administration but offered by DSS. DSS does not have a promising record of promoting or administering health coverage programs. The Governor made clear that CT is not willing to devote any state funding to the pool due to the budget crisis and is not making a commitment to developing a program.
Ellen Andrews