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Florida Newspaper Examines Impact Of HIV/AIDS On Black Community
Polk County, Fla., health officials have made educating the black community a top priority in addressing HIV/AIDS in the state, where blacks are disproportionately affected by the virus, the Lakeland Ledger reports. The Polk County Health Department has expanded its community outreach and testing efforts to different types of settings such as beauty salons, community centers and churches. County outreach workers hope that offering education and screening in such settings will encourage residents to get informed and tested for HIV (Williams Adams [1], Lakeland Ledger, 6/24). In addition, the Ledger examined the complex issues the black community faces with regard to HIV/AIDS and the barriers that need be addressed to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on minorities (Williams Adams, Lakeland Ledger, 6/25). The Ledger also profiled Bonnie Munson, a local resident who performs volunteer outreach efforts in her community, including distributing condoms and informational material to other residents (Williams Adams [2], Lakeland Ledger, 6/24).

Deep Brain Stimulation For Depression Pilot Study Demonstrates Sustained Improvement In Depression Symptoms
According to the latest data in a clinical study supported by St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy for depression may provide sustainable improvement in depression symptoms among patients with major depressive disorder. Study results will be presented at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) meeting in San Francisco.
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MacroGenics And Lilly Achieve Targeted Patient Enrollment In PROTEGE, A Global Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial Of Teplizumab In Type 1 Diabetes
MacroGenics, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the PROTEGE trial achieved its targeted patient enrollment. The trial is a pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical study evaluating teplizumab, an investigational compound under development for the treatment of individuals with recent-onset type 1 diabetes.
Nutrition

Patient Upside Murky In Drug-Price Cases

"The prices of hundreds of brand-name drugs are about to be cut 4%, and millions of Americans may soon receive a check in the mail as compensation for having overpaid for their prescriptions," but "the extent to which the average consumer will benefit isn"t yet clear," the Wall Street Journal reports. "The price cuts and expected payments are the result of federal class-action settlements involving two drug-price publishers and a major drug wholesaler that were accused of inflating drug prices." The price rollbacks may save $100 billion in the first year, with about $100 million of that amount "saved directly by patients, while the balance would accrue to employers and private health insurers." But critics say that "because drug pricing is so opaque and complex, patients won"t likely get meaningful and long-lasting relief." Eighty-four million dollars may go to pay attorney fees, and pharmacies are still trying to stop the price rollbacks, "which could shrink their profit margins." In addition to price cuts, under the settlement, "uninsured patients who filled prescriptions for such widely used drugs as Pfizer Inc."s Lipitor, Sanofi Aventis SA"s Ambien and hundreds of other medicines between August 2001 and Jan. 23, 2009 are eligible for reimbursement checks from an about $60 million pot that has been set aside." According to testimony for the plaintiffs, the extra costs for insurers and patients comes to $2.9 billion. Many insured patients were also likely "affected indirectly because the higher costs added to a rise in health-insurance premiums." In order to qualify for the reimbursement funds, patients must have "kept good records" of their purchases and must submit claim forms by July 9 to a settlement administrator" (Rubenstein, 6/11). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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