Physician Payment Fix Passes Senate; Kennedy Returns to Cast Vote After months-long debate, on Wednesday July 9, Senators voted 69-30 to invoke cloture and limit discussion, allowing H.R. 6331, the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008,” to be passed by unanimous consent.... [Full Story]   NIH Announces Priorities in Implementing Peer-Review Enhancements After a year-long examination of peer review at the National Institutes of Health, a special working group of the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director has established priorities for implementation of programs to improve the process.... [Full Story]   Society President-Elect Testifies Before FDA Advisory Panel about Need for Data on Cardiovascular Impact of Diabetes Drugs The Endocrine Society President-Elect, Robert Vigersky, MD, testified before the Food and Drug Administration...about the need to include long-term cardiovascular impact research in the study of all new diabetes drugs.... [Full Story]   New AMA Policy Supports Society’s Advocacy Efforts The Endocrine Society advanced its policy agenda during the annual American Medical Association House of Delegates meeting in Chicago through the adoption of new AMA policy addressing the need to increase minority participation in clinical trials.... [Full Story]   Alert: PTU Medication Error Arises from Use of Abbreviation The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to practitioners such as endocrinologists who prescribe the drug propylthiouracil to patients with hyperthyroidism. In an e-mail sent to the Society, the FDA stated that a prescription for PTU was mistakenly filled... [Full Story]   Linda Geddes Wins The Endocrine Society Award for Excellence in Science and Medical Journalism At ENDO 08, The Endocrine Society awarded Linda Geddes with the inaugural Award for Excellence in Science and Medical Journalism. The award, which was created to raise media awareness... [Full Story]