With the many medical breakthroughs, drug recalls, layoffs and policy reform, 2010 turned out to be an exciting year. The year was actually a positive one for health care. The passing of the new health insurance reform act may have overshadowed the other health care stories making the news, but there were a number of unforgettable stories that had everyone talking.
Breakthroughs in the Work with AIDS
Studies found that HIV treatments could also be used in the prevention of infection.
Food Safety Modernization Act & Recalls
Frozen desserts, cheese and eggs were among the high number of food recalls in 2010, paving the way for the largest food safety overhaul in the United States in over seventy years. Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act in December, giving the FDA more control over international and domestic food companies.
Health Insurance Reform
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the most talked about event of the year in 2010 was the passing into law of the Affordable Care Act by Barack Obama in March. Now, young adults are allowed to stay on their parents’ insurance policies, people with preexisting conditions are able to get coverage and seniors can receive rebate checks. According to the law, by 2014, all Americans will be required to have health insurance and employer-based health insurance and the Medicaid program will expand. However, several states have filed a lawsuit claiming the law as unconstitutional.
Pharmaceutical Recalls
In April, Johnson & Johnson® recalled over 135 million bottles of more than forty types of over-the-counter medications. Since then, the company has been plagued by recalls and quality control issues. The recalls prompted congressional action and investigations by the Senate, highlighting a major problem with drug safety. Another company, Pfizer, issued recalls in 2010 for Lipitor four times. Abbott, a manufacturer of diabetes test strips had over 350 million recalled units.
photo credit: 松林Ｌ
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