Federal Agencies

FDA Issues Public Health Advisory on Chantix
   FDA issued a Public Health Advisory to alert healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers to new safety warnings concerning Chantix (varenicline), a prescription medication used to help patients stop smoking.
2/4/08 2:11 PM  read complete story

FDA Approves Drug-Eluting Stent for Clogged Heart Arteries
   The Food & Drug Admin. has approved the Endeavor Zotarolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent for use in treating patients with narrowed coronary arteries, the blood vessels supplying the heart.
2/4/08 2:05 PM  read complete story

IRS Partners Host Free Tax Help for Low-Income, Elderly Taxpayers
   The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help to people who earn less than $40,000. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help to taxpayers who are 60 and older.
1/31/08 12:42 PM  read complete story

IRS Warns of New E-Mail, Phone Scams
   The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers -- especially the elderly -- to beware of several current e-mail and telephone scams that use the IRS name as a lure.
1/30/08 4:27 PM  read complete story

Nominees for MedCAC Membership Sought
   CMS seeks nominations for membership on the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC), and requests nominations for both voting and nonvoting members.
1/28/08 09:51 AM  read complete story

Revisions Planned for Nursing Home Compliance Program Guidance
   The Dept. of Health & Human Services' Office of Inspector General is seeking comment from interested parties as OIG revises the compliance program guidance for nursing facilities, especially those serving Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare program beneficiaries.
1/25/08 4:01 PM  read complete story

New Federal Poverty Level Guidelines to Affect Medicare, Medicaid
   New federal poverty level guidelines published this week will affect eligibility levels for many public benefits, including health benefits for older people and people with disabilities.
1/24/08 3:42 PM  read complete story

GAO Finds Flaws in LSC's Grants Management
   The Government Accountability Office has found weaknesses in the federally-backed Legal Service Corp.'s internal controls over grants management and oversight of grantees.
1/20/08 11 PM  read complete story

USDA Wants to Ensure Proper CACFP Payments
   The Agriculture Dept. is seeking comments on the best way to test potential data collection processes to ensure proper reimbursement payments for family day care homes involved in the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
1/18/08 1:49 PM  read complete story

SSA Changes Rules on Face-to-Face Conferences
   The Social Security Admin. is revising its regulations on personal conferences when waiver of recovery of an overpayment cannot be approved. The final rules allow for the conferences to be conducted face-to-face, by telephone, or by video teleconference in these circumstances.
1/11/08 11:24 AM  read complete story