Medicare Cuts Spared

AMA: Congress Passes One-Year Delay Of Medicare Physician CutBill Now Moves to President for SignatureFor immediate release:Dec. 9, 2010Statement attributable to:Cecil B. Wilson, MDPresident, American Medical Association“The AMA welcomes bipartisan House passage of legislation to stop the Medicare physician payment cut for one year. Stopping the steep 25 percent Medicare cut for one year was vital to preserve seniors’ access to physician care in 2011. Many physicians made clear that this year’s roller coaster ride, caused by five delays of this year’s cut, forced them to make difficult practice changes like limiting the number of Medicare patients they could treat. “The AMA will be working closely with congressional leadership in the new year to develop a long-term solution to this perennial Medicare problem for seniors and their physicians. This one-year delay comes right as the oldest baby boomers reach age 65, adding urgency to the need for a long-term solution before this demographic tsunami swamps the Medicare program.“Now that the legislation has passed both the U.S. Senate and House, the bill moves to the President to be signed into law. The AMA thanks bipartisan leaders in both the Senate and House and President Obama for their leadership on this issue to preserve seniors’ health care. The joint efforts of AARP, the military community, AMA and other physician groups helped make this one year delay a reality for patients and their physicians.”###Media contact:Katherine HatwellAmerican Medical Association(202) 789-7419katherine.hatwell@ama-assn.orgBrenda Craine Director, AMA Media Relations(202) 789-7447 brenda.craine@ama-assn.org

Tramadol Warning

Audience: Pain management healthcare professionals

Ortho-McNeil-Janssen and FDA notified healthcare professionals of changes to the Warnings section of the prescribing information for tramadol, a centrally acting synthetic opioid analgesic indicated for the management of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain. The strengthened Warnings information emphasizes the risk of suicide for patients who are addiction-prone, taking tranquilizers or antidepressant drugs and also warns of the risk of overdosage. Tramadol-related deaths have occurred in patients with previous histories of emotional disturbances or suicidal ideation or attempts, as well as histories of misuse of tranquilizers, alcohol, and other CNS-active drugs. Tramadol may be expected to have additive effects when used in conjunction with alcohol, other opioids or illicit drugs that cause central nervous system depression. Serious potential consequences of overdosage with tramadol are central nervous system depression, respiratory depression and death. Tramadol has mu-opioid agonist activity, can be abused and may be subject to criminal diversion.

Read the complete MedWatch 2010 safety summary, including links to the "Dear Healthcare Professional" letters, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm213264.htm

Article by Vin Penry

Please note an article published in the CT ASCP Newsletter, Winter 2010 Edition written by Vin Penry. Dementia 101 is the title located on page 2 of the newsletter which may be accessed at the following website www.ct.ascp.org.