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Vaccine Policy Issues

Description: This report’s focus is on vaccination, one of the most cost-effective methods available to prevent infectious diseases. Whether a vaccine’s target is naturally occurring or present because of hostile intent, the issues policymakers must deal with include vaccine development, production, availability, safety, effectiveness, and access. Vaccines are biologics: their basic components begin as a living material. They introduce bacteria or dead or weakened viruses into a person or animal to stimulat… more
Date: May 19, 2005
Creator: Thaul, Susan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Veterans' Medical Care: FY2006 Appropriations

Description: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to veterans who meet certain eligibility rules. Benefits to veterans range from disability compensation and pensions to hospital and medical care. VA provides these benefits to veterans through three major operating units: the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primary care, specialized care,and rela… more
Date: August 2, 2005
Creator: Panangala, Sidath Viranga
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Treatment of Health Care Expenses under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act

Description: If enacted, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act would subject prospective debtors under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to a means test to determine whether they could liquidate under chapter 7 or reorganize under chapter 13. Large outstanding medical expenses alone will not determine eligibility to liquidate or reorganize. They will, however, affect the means test in one of two ways. Prebankruptcy health care expenses are likely to raise the amount of a debtor’s unsecured debt… more
Date: March 29, 2005
Creator: Jeweler, Robin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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AIDS: The Ryan White CARE Act

Description: This report discusses the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, which makes federal funds available to metropolitan areas and states to assist in health care costs and support services for individuals and families affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This report discusses related legislation and appropriations.
Date: October 26, 2005
Creator: Johnson, Judith A. & Morgan, Paulette C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Medical Records Privacy: Questions and Answers on the HIPAA Rule

Description: This report discuses the HIPAA privacy rule, which gives patients the right of access to their medical information and prohibits health plans and health care providers from using or disclosing individually identifiable health information without a patient’s written authorization except as expressly permitted or required by the rule.
Date: February 4, 2005
Creator: Redhead, C. S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Influenza Antiviral Drugs and Patent Law Issues

Description: This report identifies and analyzes the patent law aspects of the current avian influenza drug situation. First, the report explains the role that patent rights have played in affecting the availability of Tamiflu. Second, the report examines options for increasing the drug’s production, including the possibility of governments abrogating Roche’s patent rights by issuing compulsory licenses to other drug companies to manufacture generic versions of Tamiflu without Roche’s consent.
Date: November 18, 2005
Creator: Yeh, Brian T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Hurricane Katrina and Veterans

Description: This report provides a brief overview of steps currently taken by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Congress to address the needs of veterans in the affected areas.
Date: September 23, 2005
Creator: Panangala, Sidath Viranga
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs

Description: The Direct-to-Consumer advertising of perscription drugs by pharmaceutical companies has been described as any promotional effort with respect to these drugs that targets the general public through the lay media. This report contains information on growth in spending on direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising, the impact of such advertising, the FDA's existing authority to regulate such advertising, funding, and legislative issues.
Date: March 25, 2005
Creator: Vogt, Donna U.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Genetically Engineered Fish and Seafood

Description: Genetic engineering techniques allow the manipulation of inherited traits to modify organisms. Genetically modified (GM) fish and seafood products are currently under development and may offer potential benefits such as increasing aquaculture productivity and addressing human health concerns. However, some critics of this rapidly evolving field are concerned that current technological and regulatory safeguards are inadequate to protect the environment and ensure public acceptance of these produ… more
Date: July 1, 2005
Creator: Borgatti, Rachel & Buck, Eugene H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Hurricane Katrina: HIPAA Privacy and Electronic Health Records of Evacuees

Description: On September 4th, 2005 Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Leavitt declared a federal public health emergency for Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Texas, and waived certain requirements under Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to allow health care providers in affected areas to care for patients without violating certain provisions of those laws. The Secretary waived sanctions and penal… more
Date: October 28, 2005
Creator: Stevens, Gina Marie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Hurricane Katrina: The Public Health and Medical Response

Description: Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in late August 2005, causing catastrophic wind damage and flooding in several states, and a massive dislocation of victims across the country. The storm is one of the worst natural disasters in the nation’s history. Early estimates are that hundreds of people were killed and about one million displaced.
Date: September 21, 2005
Creator: Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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AIDS: Ryan White CARE Act

Description: This report discusses the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, which makes federal funds available to metropolitan areas and states to assist in health care costs and support services for individuals and families affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This report discusses related legislation and appropriations.
Date: February 17, 2005
Creator: Johnson, Judith A. & Morgan, Paulette C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Safe Harbor for Preclinical Use of Patented Inventions in Drug Research and Development:

Description: In Merck KGaA v. Integra Lifesciences, the United States Supreme Court unanimously held that the preclinical use of patented inventions in drug research is exempted from patent infringement claims by the "safe harbor" provision of the Patent Act. This report includes information on related background information, the scope of the safe harbor provision, the Merck KGaA v. Integra Lifesciences case, the Supreme Court's decision in that case, and more.
Date: October 7, 2005
Creator: Yeh, Brian T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Veterans' Medical Care Funding: FY1995-FY2004

Description: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides services and benefits such as hospital and medical care, rehabilitation services, and pensions, among other things, to veterans who meet certain eligibility criteria. VA provides these benefits and services through four administrative units: the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), and the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. VHA is primarily a direct service provider… more
Date: January 14, 2005
Creator: Panangala, Sidath Viranga
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Global Fund and PEPFAR in U.S. International AIDS Policy

Description: The international HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to deepen. According to UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, an estimated 39.4 million people were living with HIV in 2004, including 4.9 million who were newly infected during the year. This report discusses the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which includes bilateral programs and contributions to the multilateral Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Date: November 3, 2005
Creator: Copson, Raymond W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Medical Marijuana: Review and Analysis of Federal and State Policies

Description: This report discusses the issue facing Congress on whether to continue to support the executive branch’s prosecution of medical marijuana patients and their providers, in accordance with marijuana’s status as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, or whether to relax federal marijuana prohibition enough to permit the medical use of botanical cannabis products by seriously ill persons, especially in states that have created medical marijuana programs under state law.
Date: December 29, 2005
Creator: Eddy, Mark
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Medicaid and SCHIP: The President's FY2006 Budget Proposals

Description: This report describes the proposal and provides an estimate of the cost or savings based on publicly available information. The report provides a brief background for the proposal and provides a listing of current Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports related to the proposal.
Date: June 9, 2005
Creator: Grady, April; Hearne, Jean P.; Herz, Elicia J.; Scott, Christine; Stone-Axelrad, Julie & Tritz, Karen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Hill-Burton Uncompensated Services Program

Description: This report provides information on the Hospital Survey and Construction Act of 1946, commonly known as the Hill-Burton Act, which was enacted to provide federal financial assistance for the planning, construction, and improvement of health care facilities through grants, loans, and guaranteed loans under Title VI and later Title XVI of the Public Health Service Act. The report also covers the obligations and eligibility requirements for free care, and sources for further information
Date: May 23, 2005
Creator: Coleman, Sharon Kearney
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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