FDA Warns on Tanning Product

The FDA has urged those using a product called Melanotan II to stop immediately and contact their physicians if they have had an adverse event they suspect is tied to the injectable agent. Melanotan's maker, Hendersonville, Tenn.-based Melanocorp Inc., claims that it protects against skin cancer and rosacea. The product is not FDA approved, and thus is being illegally promoted, the agency said in its warning to the company. At the same time, the FDA warned consumers against "injecting any substance, particularly products that are not FDA approved, into their bodies without the oversight of a licensed health care provider."

U.S. Women Less Wrinkle Tolerant

American women are the least likely to tolerate wrinkles, closely followed by Italian, British, Spanish, French, and German women, but women in France and Italy are more likely to use dermal fillers, according to a recent survey. A total of 10,647 women and men in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany responded to the survey, which was sponsored by Allergan Inc. About 50% of Italian women felt they looked younger than their age, compared with about 35% of American women. American and British women were the most likely to report that they believe they look stressed and tired. Overall, among women considering injectables, the top reasons were to look good for their age, to look more refreshed, and to improve self-esteem. When asked about their grooming habits, men also cited those reasons as key motivators, although American men said looking professional was one of the most important reasons. Italian men spent the most on grooming products, while American men spent the least.

Wal-Mart Expands $4 Generics

Wal-Mart has added 24 medications to its growing list of generic prescription drug products that patients can receive for $4 for a 30-day supply. The prescriptions can be filled at 4,005 Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and Neighborhood Market pharmacies in the United States. Among the 24 new medications are timolol, carvedilol, terbinafine, and benzoyl peroxide 4% creamy wash. The company also expanded its reproductive drugs offerings. For $9, patients in most states can now purchase a 30-day supply of clomiphene (50 mg), and two additional oral contraceptives. Wal-Mart claims that since its $4 generic program began in the fall of 2006, customers have saved $613 million. The generics represent 40% of all prescriptions filled in the last year. Because of state laws, some of the drugs cost more than $4 in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

NJ Task Force Examines M.D. Gifts

The New Jersey Attorney General's Advisory Task Force on Physician Compensation, which met for the first time in September, is examining the potential impact of payments and gifts to physicians from the drug and device industry. The task force also will consider public disclosure of gifts, direct disclosure to patients, and limits on payments to physicians. Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia have passed laws requiring some form of reporting of payments made to physicians by drug and medical device companies. In response to the formation of the task force, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America issued a statement citing its 2002 Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals as an important safeguard. The code declares all forms of entertainment to be inappropriate gifts and says that any gifts given to physicians should support medical practice and be valued at less than $100.

One-Third of Americans Uninsured

According to a September report by Families USA, almost 35% of Americans had no health care coverage for at least part of 20062007, up from about 30% in 19992000. Of these, 19% were uninsured for the entire period and 19% were uninsured for longer than 1 year; more than half were uninsured for longer than 6 months. Of the 89.6 million individuals who lacked health care coverage, 71% were employed full time and another nearly 9% were working part time; only 17% were unemployed. The numbers in the report are substantially larger than those published by the U.S. Census Bureau (which cites 47 million uninsured in 2006, or 16%), because Census Bureau statistics include only those who were uninsured for a full year. The report is available at www.familiesusa.org.

Insurance Premium Increase Slows

Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums rose on average 6.1% in 2007, reflecting a continuing slowdown in premium increases. The 2007 premium increase is the smallest hike since 1999, according to an employer survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust. But experts said that the slowdown probably is temporary and is not providing relief to individuals or employers. In fact, the 6.1% increase is higher than the average increase in wages (3.7%) and in the overall inflation rate (2.6%). In 2007, the average premium for family coverage in the United States is $12,106, with workers paying about $3,281 for their share of their policies. The market continues to be dominated by preferred provider organizations, which insure about 57% of covered workers; consumer-driven plans account for only about 5%. For more details, visit

www.kff.org/insurance/7672

Policy & Practice