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Health Care Reform Legislation Would Expand Access To Pharmacist Patient Care Services
Legislation released June 9 by Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA) would expand access to pharmacist-delivered medication therapy management (MTM) services for patients suffering from chronic diseases.

Washington Post Examines Focus On Abortions Later In Pregnancy After Tiller Murder
The Washington Post on Friday examined the renewed attention on abortion procedures performed later in pregnancy following Kansas provider George Tiller"s shooting death on Sunday. Tiller was one of the few physicians in the U.S. who performed late abortions. The Post reports that these abortions make up a small portion of the 1.2 million abortions performed each year -- more than 88% of abortions are performed in the first trimester and less than 1% are performed after 21 weeks" gestation. Data published in 2001 from 15 states and New York City show that as many as 2,400 abortions after 24 weeks" gestation were performed in the U.S. that year, according to Stanley Henshaw, a senior fellow at the Guttmacher Institute. He added that most of those abortions likely were performed in the 25th or 26th week.Henshaw said that little is known about the circumstances surrounding third trimester abortion procedures and that "information just isn"t available." The government does not collect detailed data regarding the number of such procedures, who is performing them and under what circumstances. In addition, abortion providers who perform the procedure later in pregnancy supply very little published information, the Post reports. According to the Post, most abortion providers will not perform the procedure after 22 or 24 weeks" gestation because of legal and other concerns, social stigma, or inadequate training and lack of experience. A 2001 survey of 1,819 abortion providers indicated that 18 clinics and 12 hospitals performed abortions at 26 weeks" gestation. However, the Post reports that the number of providers offering abortions later in pregnancy likely has declined in correlation with the decreasing number of overall providers. Henshaw said the number of providers offering the procedure later in pregnancy also likely has declined.Abortion-rights supporters say that third-trimester abortions are performed only when medically necessary, such as when a fatal abnormality is detected in the fetus or a life-threatening complication in the woman is discovered. Other circumstances include cases when the woman suffers serious emotional issues or is undergoing cancer treatment, the Post reports. Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation, said that women who experience such pregnancies have "no good choice" and "nee[d] to terminate their pregnancies to protect their own health." Tiller "provided both the emotional and physical care for women in that situation," she said (Stein, Washington Post, 6/5).Los Angeles Times Profiles Abortion Provider Hern The Los Angeles Times on Friday profiled Warren Hern, a Colorado-based abortion provider who performs the procedure later in pregnancy and was a close friend of Tiller"s. Hern has provided abortions since 1973 when the Supreme Court legalized the procedure with Roe v. Wade. He said he "felt doing abortions was the most important thing I could do with my life." Hern opened the Boulder Abortion Clinic in 1975, and in the 1980s authored and self-published a textbook, Abortion Practice. He said that he eventually began to focus on abortion procedures later in pregnancy, which currently make up the majority of his practice. Such abortions usually are performed because of medical complications in the woman or abnormalities in the fetus. Patients at Hern"s clinic receive counseling to explain the procedure and to ensure the woman wants it, although he said many women have already made their decision with their own physician. Hern said that although Tiller"s death has been an emotional situation, his clinic is "pretty busy taking care of people who said they couldn"t find anyone else" to perform abortions later in pregnancy (Correll, Los Angeles Times, 6/5).Bond Set for Tiller Shooting Suspect Sedgwick County, Kan., District Judge Warren Wilbert on Thursday set a $5 million bond for Scott Roeder, the man charged with shooting and killing Tiller, the AP/Yahoo! News reports. A preliminary hearing for Roeder is scheduled for June 16. If convicted, Roeder face
News of the day
150 Days: Obama's Silence On AIDS Remains Deafening
On the observation of President Obama"s first 150 days in office, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation"s largest AIDS organization, is continuing its "Change AIDS Obama" campaign with the release of a new online advocacy video chastising the president for his ongoing-and baffling-silence on AIDS.
Health Insurance

New Report Finds American Obesity Rates Climb Again - Fruits & Vegetables Important To Combating Obesity

Adult obesity rates did not decrease in a single state over the past year, but rather increased in 23 states. Also, the percentage of obese and overweight children is now at or above 30 percent in 30 states. These statistics come from the sixth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2009 report, released July 1, by the Trust for America"s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The report contains rankings of state obesity rates, reviews federal and state government policies aimed at reducing or preventing obesity, and provides recommendations for addressing obesity within health reform. The report finds that adult obesity rates now surpass 25 percent in 31 states and exceed 20 percent in 49 states and Washington, D.C. In 1991, no state had an adult obesity rate above 20 percent. In 1980, the national average for adult obesity was only 15 percent. Today, two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight. Sixteen states experienced an increase in the rate of adult obesity for the second year in a row, and 11 states experienced an increase for the third straight year when compared with past reports. According to the report, Mississippi had the highest rate of adult obesity at 32.5 percent, making it the fifth year in a row that the state has topped the list. Four states now have adult obesity rates above 30 percent, including Mississippi, West Virginia (31.2 percent), Alabama (31.1 percent) and Tennessee (30.2 percent). Colorado continued to have the lowest percentage of obese adults at 18.9 percent. Mississippi also had the highest rate of obese and overweight children (ages 10 to 17) at 44.4 percent. Minnesota and Utah had the lowest rate of obese and overweight children at 23.1 percent. The report also states that childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980. Elizabeth Pivonka is a Registered Dietitian and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), the nonprofit entity behind the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters® national public health initiative. Pivonka says that most U.S. adults don"t get the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables each day. "Eating more fruits and vegetables in place of options that are higher in fat and calories is an important step in losing weight and keeping it off." "Don"t feel like you need to give your diet a complete overhaul right away. Sometimes big changes are difficult to stick to. If you can only make one diet change right now you"re best option is to add just one extra serving of fruit or vegetables each day. You"ll find you won"t need to eat as much of other foods when you do." "Fruits and vegetables play important roles in the process of weight loss and weight maintenance," says Pivonka. "Not only because they are low in calories but also because they provide a wide range of valuable nutrients like vitamins and potassium. They are also high in fiber and water, so eating them will keep you feeling full longer." Pivonka adds that fruits and vegetables are loaded with healthy fiber, and fiber rich diets have been shown to have a number of beneficial effects, including a decreased risk of coronary heart disease. "Fruits and vegetables are the cheapest form of health insurance you can buy since eating them may help reduce the risk of obesity and many diseases," adds Pivonka. "Everyone can benefit from eating more fruits and vegetables, so fill at least half of your plate with them at every meal." Pivonka says, "Fruits and vegetables provide the unrivaled combination of great taste, nutrition, abundant variety and multiple product forms. There is no need to eat the same thing day after day when there are so many delicious fruits and veggies from which to choose. Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet is easy when you remember that all product forms count - fresh, frozen, canned, dried, and 100 percent fruit and vegetable juice." To read the full F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2009 report, including state-by-state rankings of both adult and obesity and obese and overweight children ages 10-17, go to TFAH"s website at http://www.healthyamericans.org or RWJF"s website at http://www.rwjf.org. Here is a Quick List of Weight Loss Tips from Elizabeth Pivonka, R.D. - Use a smaller plate and make sure to fill at least half your plate with fruits and veggies at every meal. - Have fruit instead of processed sweets for dessert. - Keep a variety of canned fruits and vegetables on hand. They are pre-cooked as part of the canning process and need just a few seconds in the microwave to heat up. Healthy and fast! - Spend the few extra cents to buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are already washed and cut up, or buy larger bags and clean and cut them up yourself and put them into portion controlled containers. Keep them on hand for ready to eat snacks, pack them into lunches and take them in the car. - Don"t forget about dried fruits and veggies! Keep a bag of your favorites in your handbag or in the car for those times when a craving strikes while you"re on the go. - For a quick breakfast fix a smoothie with fat-free milk and frozen fruit. - Got home late and don"t want to cook? Top a bag of pre-washed salad mix with canned tuna, chicken, or a can of your favorite beans, add your favorite veggies like grape tomatoes, cucumber, or bell peppers, and top with low-fat dressing for a quick, yet satisfying meal. Produce for Better Health Foundation


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