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New Jersey Senate, Assembly Panels Advance Autism Coverage Bill
Committees in the New Jersey Senate and Assembly on Monday unanimously approved a bill that would provide insurance benefits of up to $36,000 annually for autism treatments, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The funding, provided to developmentally disabled individuals younger than age 21, would go toward diagnostic services and early behavioral intervention, as well as occupational, physical and speech therapies. The Assembly could vote on the bill as early as Thursday, while the Senate bill is being considered by the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D), who sponsored the Senate bill, said, "I don"t know of any parent who wouldn"t do everything in their power to give their autistic or developmentally disabled child every chance to excel. However, the enormous cost of behavior intervention ... makes it out of the realm of possibility for many families." Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D), who sponsored the Assembly bill, said, "In this economy, every New Jersey resident is struggling, but families with kids with special needs are struggling even more," adding, "They"re maxing out their credit cards and taking out second mortgages" to cover gaps in health insurance benefits.Citing cost issues, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association and the New Jersey Association of Health Plans were among those opposed to the bill. Christine Stearns, NJBIA vice president for health and legal affairs, said that the bill would make employer-sponsored insurance more costly and cause firms to drop such coverage, adding, "How, who and what is part of a basic health plan is all part of that." Stearns added that the bill is preferable to previous versions because it mandates that covered services be medically necessary and prescribed, places a reasonable cap on prices and ensures that the cost of educational services provided by schools is not shifted to insurers. Roberts said the bill would save money by delivering earlier treatment that could prevent more costly problems in the future (Henry, Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/19).

University Of Pittsburgh Schools Of The Health Sciences Announce New Research Funding
Innovative research conducted by faculty of the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences contributes to a better understanding of the causes and origins of disease and aids in the development of more effective treatment approaches. Government and private-sector funding is critical to this process of scientific inquiry. The following projects recently have been awarded grants that will enable the continuation of existing projects or the pursuit of new areas of investigation:
News of the day
Mesoblast Announce Heart Muscle Function Improved After Single, Lowest-Dose Injection Of "Off-The-Shelf" Stem Cells In Patients With Heart Failure
Australia"s regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited (ASX:MSB)(PINK:MBLTY), announced positive three-month interim efficacy results from the first 20 patients enrolled in the Phase 2 heart failure trial of the proprietary allogeneic, or "off-the-shelf", adult stem cell product Revascor(TM).
Endocrinology

AAMC Applauds Benjamin As Choice For Surgeon General, USA

AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., issued the following statement on President Obama"s nomination of Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., as U.S. surgeon general: "The AAMC congratulates Dr. Benjamin on her nomination as U.S. surgeon general. A gifted physician with a strong commitment to caring for the underserved and community health, Dr. Benjamin has first-hand understanding of the struggles many Americans face when they seek health care. This nomination also appears to mark the first time that a former participant in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) could serve as our chief public health official. The NHSC, which provides financial assistance to new physicians who practice in underserved areas, is critically important to America"s future health care needs. In addition to Dr. Benjamin"s experience with the NHSC and caring for the underserved, she would also bring an understanding of medical education to her new position. As former associate dean for rural health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Dr. Benjamin trained medical students at the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, which she founded, and mentored them through her directorship of the Alabama Area Health Education Center. She is also the immediate past chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards, and has participated in various initiatives undertaken by the National State Board of Medical Examiners. The surgeon general can play a vital role in setting the nation"s health agenda, and Dr. Benjamin"s experience on the frontlines of care delivery will provide an excellent foundation for her contributions to the administration"s reform efforts. We applaud Dr. Benjamin"s nomination, and look forward to working with her to improve the health of the nation, once she receives Senate confirmation." The Association of American Medical Colleges


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