Coronary stent
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Stringent laws for stenting stall in Maryland. A bill that would require hospital catheterization labs to be accredited reached an impass in the Maryland legislature. Advocates for the new cath-lab requirements withdrew their bill from the state’s General Assembly after being told by the bill’s sponsors that it had no chance of passing. However, the cardiology groups are still hopeful that Maryland lawmakers will pass a bill requiring the state’s government to create a committee to further study whether percutaneous coronary interventions need more oversight, reports heartwire.
After two Maryland cardiologists were implicated in healthcare fraud cases last year for allegedly implanting hundreds of unnecessary stents, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and the Maryland chapter of the American College of Cardiology wanted the Old Line State’s General Assembly to take action. The moves are unusual because medical associations frequently lobby for less government oversight. The groups said they’re seeing decreasing public confidence in their profession after the reports of fraud.
Granite State democrats get cheeky and ‘thank’ Romney for health care reform. New Hampshire democrats are signing a giant "Thank You" card for likely Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for being the "founding father of modern health reform," according to the state’s Union Leader.
Doctors say HIV-positive organ donations ban should be lifted. Removing a ban would save lives of HIV-infected candidates as well as all patients waiting for organs, some health professionals are arguing, writes The LA Times. A Johns Hopkins University study found that 500 potential donors are disqualified every year.
Parenthood tough moms’ eating habits: Study. Parenthood appears to worsen the eating habits of mothers, but not fathers. New research from the University of Minnesota found that moms with young children consumed an average of 400 more calories a day than non-mothers, Minnesota Public Radio reports.
FDA opens pediatric device development grant program. The Food & Drug Administration announced the availability of supplemental grant funds for the Pediatric Device Consortia Grant Program. The agency wants to allow existing active grantees to compete for further funds listed under "RFA- FD-11-002," the FDA said. The supplemental application due date is May 2.
