ASMS Opposes Subcertification
The American Society for Mohs Surgery is coming out in opposition to the American Board of Dermatology's proposal for a subcertification in procedural dermatology. Such a certification would be redundant, said ASMS President Stephen Spencer, in a statement. The proposal, if passed, "will divide the house of dermatology between medical and surgical, lead to economic credentialing, and may lead to increased litigation if a new standard of care is perceived," said Dr. Spencer. The American Board of Medical Specialties Committee on Certification, Subcertification and Recertification was due to meet in early August.
Texas Gets Tough on Tanning
Gov. Rick Perry (R) has signed Texas House Bill 1310, which, beginning in January 2010, prohibits anyone under the age of 161/2 from using a tanning bed. It also requires in-person parental consent for anyone between that age and 18. Tanning salons are also required to keep records of visits for 3 years after a patron's last session. The American Academy of Dermatology said that Texas is the first state to prohibit use of tanning beds for children under 161/2. "Texas's leadership on this issue will serve as a model for other states to improve their laws and regulations," Dr. Evan Farmer, AAD vice president, said in a statement.
Florida Boosts ABD Certification
When Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) signed Senate Bill 720 in mid-June, the Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery celebrated a "victory" for dermatology and patients. In an online letter, FSDDS President Albert J. Nemeth advised members to read "between the lines" of the law's wording: "A physician may not hold himself or herself out as a board-certified specialist in dermatology unless the recognizing agency, whether authorized in statute or by rule, is triennially reviewed and reauthorized by the Board of Medicine." That means, wrote Dr. Nemeth, that it will be much harder for dermatologists certified through the American Association of Plastic Surgeons or the American Board of Plastic Surgery to stay credentialed in Florida unless they also pursue certification through the American Board of Dermatology.
Clinics Expand Into Dermatology
A wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens is expanding into a few dermatology services. Take Care Clinics will now offer wart removal by cryotherapy, skin tag removal, closure of minor cuts with Dermabond, treatment of skin irritations, and expanded skin evaluation and treatment for skin infections, injuries, and rashes. The clinics are open 7 days a week and have evening hours. According to Walgreens, there are 345 Take Care Clinics in stores in 19 states, and they're staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Generic Biologics Get a Boost
Creating a process at the Food and Drug Administration for approving generic versions of biologic drugs, called follow-on biologics (FOBs), could bring down the cost of biologics, the Federal Trade Commission said in a report, but the 12- to 14-year exclusivity period sought by biologics manufacturers is too long. FOBs wouldn't tread deep into innovative products' turf—those drugs would retain 70%-90% of their market shares and continue making substantial profits—according to the FTC. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), who has introduced legislation to create a regulatory pathway for FOBs, praised the report, but the Biotechnology Industry Organization said it was based on a "lack of true understanding of the necessary conditions to drive future biomedical breakthroughs."
Vermont Bans Most Pharma Gifts
Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) has signed into law a bill that prohibits manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics from providing free gifts, including meals and travel, to physicians and other health care providers. The toughest of its kind in the nation, the legislation also requires disclosure of any allowed gifts or payments, regardless of their value. Under the stronger law, manufacturers can give physicians only gifts such as samples intended for patients, "reasonable quantities" of medical device evaluation or demonstration units, and copies of peer-reviewed articles.
FTC Wants 'Pay-for-Delay' Outlawed
A new law to eliminate deals in which pharmaceutical companies agree with their competitors to keep low-cost generic drugs off the market could save consumers and the federal government $3.5 billion a year over the next decade, according to Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz. In a speech, Mr. Leibowitz said that stopping these "pay-for-delay" deals is one of the FTC's top priorities, although a series of recent court rulings has allowed some of the arrangements to continue. For instance, the U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear a case brought by consumers and health plans challenging a $398 million payment by drug maker Bayer AG to Barr Laboratories Inc. to settle the companies' patent dispute over a generic version of the antibiotic Cipro (ciprofloxacin).