Oversight

Ex-FDA official calls for harmonized food-safety strategy

Margaret Glavin says a more global market "poses an enormous threat to our food safety system."

Oversight

Lawmaker calls for vote on HHS nomination this week

Senators hope to get Gov. Kathleen Sebelius installed as secretary before they leave for the two-week spring recess.

Oversight

Sebelius becomes latest Obama nominee with tax trouble

HHS secretary-designate and her husband paid $7,040 in back taxes and $878 in interest for 2005, 2006 and 2007 after a certified public accountant found the errors.

Oversight

Drug industry is wary of Obama's pick for FDA deputy

Joshua Sharfstein has a long and sometimes contentious history with the pharmaceutical industry.

Oversight

Watchdog blasts FDA on loose test compliance policy

Group says lax oversight has been applied to critical medical devices including cardiac defibrillators, pacemakers, replacement heart valves and coronary artery stents.

News

After closed meeting, Dems close ranks behind Daschle

HHS secretary nominee continues to have support, despite tax problems.

Oversight

Confirmation hearing for HHS chief is on the horizon

Tax and real estate data collection for secretary-designate Tom Daschle has taken longer than anticipated.

Oversight

House Democrats prepare bill to overhaul FDA

Agency scientists say they were "ordered, intimidated and coerced" by managers to modify unfavorable determinations during Bush administration.

Oversight

Panel Democrats will probe charges from FDA scientists

Employees claim they were intimidated into changing scientific reviews and recommendations to obscure unscientific data and legal violations.

Oversight

Report points to delays on Medicare drug pricing audits

Reviews of 2006 pricing information remain incomplete.

Oversight

Agency beefs up Medicare fraud detection efforts

Officials announce the launch of a recovery audit contractor program that will track businesses with high billing.

Oversight

Ex-FDA lawyer denies industry guided agency priorities

Sheldon Bradshaw, former agency chief counsel, says House Oversight and Government Reform chairman is wrong about FDA preference for pharmaceutical industry.

Defense

Democrats: Medicare physician pay cuts could hurt Tricare

Tricare reimbursement rates are linked to those for Medicare, meaning the proposed 10.6 percent cut could affect service to soldiers and veterans.

Oversight

FDA won't meet deadline for food safety registry

Agency expects to implement electronic portal tracking tainted food incidents around spring 2009 at the earliest.

Oversight

CMS clears hurdles to collaborate with Food and Drug Administration on drugs

The two agencies will share access to a database containing comprehensive information about the safety and side effects of prescription drugs.

Oversight

Kennedy circulates options on strengthening FDA oversight

One of the Senate proposals includes giving agency the power to base its inspections on risk.

Oversight

FDA: Millions more needed for inspections

Agency wants $225 million annually to inspect foreign drugmakers every other year.

News

Watchdog group sues FDA for information on inspection force

Agency officials have complained that the agency needs more resources to expand inspection staff and modernize oversight efforts.

Oversight

FDA chief defends agency's work before House panel

Administrator says foreign-inspection system would not have prevented the recent heparin contamination.

Oversight

FDA commissioner: Unfunded provisions giving agency headache

A provision requiring a faster response to petitions regarding generic drug approval will pose problems.