Aid from Congress Isn't Coming

[Guest guest]

CDC 07/01/08

NEVADA: " Aid from Congress Isn't Coming "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (06.28.08):: Steve Tetreault

Prior to sending an emergency spending bill to the White House, federal

lawmakers on Thursday removed $5 million in money set aside to help defray costs

associated with a hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas. Also cut was $21 million

for CDC for outbreak prevention strategies added by Senate Majority Leader Harry

Reid (D-Nev.).

The outbreak was linked to unsafe injection practices, including the reuse of

syringes and anesthesia vials, at clinics affiliated with the Endoscopy Center

of Southern Nevada (ECSN). More than 50,000 patients were advised to be tested

for hepatitis and HIV, including a number of uninsured or underinsured people

whose tests were performed at community clinics.

Of the $5 million requested by the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), $3

million would have been spent on blood tests on 15,000 uninsured or underinsured

patients, and $1.3 million would have gone to follow-up tests on persons who

tested positive for hepatitis or HIV, said Sizemore, district

spokesperson.

In a statement on Friday, Reid said, " The hepatitis C scare in Southern Nevada

is a serious issue I will continue to work to address in Congress. " He said he

has inserted money for the outbreak investigation in separate Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS) spending bill recently approved by the Senate

Appropriations Committee that may be up for completion later this year. That

bill contains $500,000 for SNHD and $5 million for CDC.

Separately, Sen. Ensign (R-Nev.) said he is working to persuade HHS to

redirect unspent funds in other programs toward Las Vegas. Ensign has not

provided an update on that effort.

_________________________________________________________________

Don't get caught with egg on your face. Play chicktionary!

http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=chick_wlhmtextlink1_feb

[Guest guest]

CDC 07/01/08

NEVADA: " Aid from Congress Isn't Coming "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (06.28.08):: Steve Tetreault

Prior to sending an emergency spending bill to the White House, federal

lawmakers on Thursday removed $5 million in money set aside to help defray costs

associated with a hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas. Also cut was $21 million

for CDC for outbreak prevention strategies added by Senate Majority Leader Harry

Reid (D-Nev.).

The outbreak was linked to unsafe injection practices, including the reuse of

syringes and anesthesia vials, at clinics affiliated with the Endoscopy Center

of Southern Nevada (ECSN). More than 50,000 patients were advised to be tested

for hepatitis and HIV, including a number of uninsured or underinsured people

whose tests were performed at community clinics.

Of the $5 million requested by the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), $3

million would have been spent on blood tests on 15,000 uninsured or underinsured

patients, and $1.3 million would have gone to follow-up tests on persons who

tested positive for hepatitis or HIV, said Sizemore, district

spokesperson.

In a statement on Friday, Reid said, " The hepatitis C scare in Southern Nevada

is a serious issue I will continue to work to address in Congress. " He said he

has inserted money for the outbreak investigation in separate Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS) spending bill recently approved by the Senate

Appropriations Committee that may be up for completion later this year. That

bill contains $500,000 for SNHD and $5 million for CDC.

Separately, Sen. Ensign (R-Nev.) said he is working to persuade HHS to

redirect unspent funds in other programs toward Las Vegas. Ensign has not

provided an update on that effort.

_________________________________________________________________

Don't get caught with egg on your face. Play chicktionary!

http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=chick_wlhmtextlink1_feb