government
House panel votes to reauthorize pediatric GME
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 8, 2011
The House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 28 approved three bills that would reauthorize funding for pediatric residency programs in children's hospitals, reauthorize public health programs that help hospitals and others prepare for terrorist attacks, and classify drugs as illegal if they mimic the effects of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines and other illegal drugs.
All of the measures were adopted unanimously by voice vote. "These important bills are critical to our efforts to protect the American people and ensure patients have access to quality health care," said committee Chair Fred Upton (R, Mich.).
The Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Support Reauthorization Act of 2011 would extend by five years a program that trains about 40% of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. Congress created the program in 1999 to provide funding to independent children's hospitals to support pediatric GME programs, enhance research capabilities and care for the underserved.
The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act supports the development of medical countermeasures to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks. The Synthetic Drug Control Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to include as schedule I controlled substances more than 29 drugs that imitate the effects of other controlled substances.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/08/08/gvbf0808.htm.
