Bill would allow more than 2,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Illinois to access substance abuse treatment each year CHICAGO –(ENEWSPF)–February 29, 2016.  U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined doctors and substance abuse treatment clients at Haymarket Center to discuss legislation he is introducing this week that will expand access to[Read More…]

Silver Spring, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–February 29, 2016.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today actions to provide important information about the risks of using Essure and to help women and their doctors be better informed of the potential complications associated with implantable forms of sterilization. The FDA issued a new, mandatory[Read More…]

NIH-funded clinical trial shows Eylea, Avastin, and Lucentis perform similarly when vision loss is mild. Patient undergoes an eye exam. National Eye Institute Bethesda, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–February 29, 2016.  A two-year clinical trial that compared three drugs for diabetic macular edema (DME) found that gains in vision were greater for participants receiving[Read More…]

Silver Springs, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–February 29, 2016.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the availability of $2 million in research grants to fund natural history studies in rare diseases. The aim is to collect data on how specific rare diseases progress in individuals over time so that knowledge can inform[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 26, 2016.  Feminine care products sold in France may contain “potentially toxic residues,” according to a study conducted by 60 Millions de Consommateurs, a French consumer rights group. The study finds traces of chemicals, such as dioxins and insecticides, in 5 of 11 products tested. A separate analysis conducted[Read More…]

Gives Kidney and Other Organ Donors Time and Flexibility to Recover After Donation by Amending Family and Medical Leave Act WASHINGTON –(ENEWSPF)–February 25, 2016.  U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), along with Congressmen Michael Burgess M.D. (R-Texas-26) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.-10) today introduced the Living Donor Protection Act[Read More…]

Bill would help consumers and the economy by ensuring that consumers’ credit scores aren’t haunted by paid-off debt taken on through no fault of their own WASHINGTON, D.C. –-(ENEWSPF)–February 25, 2016.  Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Chuck Schumer[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–February 25, 2016 – Sen. Bernie Sanders admonished Pfizer today after a new report exposed how the company squeezes American families by dodging taxes and inflating prescription drug prices. The study, conducted by Americans for Tax Fairness, found that Pfizer has increased the prices of dozens of prescription drugs at[Read More…]

Washington, DC –(ENEWSPF)–February 25, 2016.  Yesterday, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined Representatives Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) to introduce the Reducing Unused Medications Act. The bill would allow prescriptions for opioid medications to be partially filled by pharmacists at the request[Read More…]

Mosquitoes in a laboratory. Removing stagnant water used by these insects to breed is crucial in combating the spread of Zika. Photo: FAO/Simon Miana GENEVA–(ENEWSPF)–25 February 2016 – The above-average rainfall caused by El Niño that is expected in parts of South America until May could cause floods and increases[Read More…]