Alison Young Investigates

FDA warns about risks of treatment for pre-term labor

Despite never being approved by the FDA as a treatment for pre-term labor, doctors have prescribed it for that purpose for years. On Thursday the agency warned that this "off-label" use may cause "serious maternal heart problems and death." The FDA is requiring a boxed warning -- the agency's strongest warning -- be put on the drug's label. Still, many doctors and mothers strongly believe in the drug -- even though reviews have found evidence of its effectiveness lacking. Read the full story in USA Today: FDA flags risks on popular drug used during pregnancy

To read the FDA's warning: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm243840.htm

I previously reported on the risks of off-label use of terbutaline in 2003: Prescribing drugs 'off label' is routine, but can injure, kill patients

TSA still won't release X-ray reports for body scanners

More than 15 million passengers have been put through new full-body scanners at U.S. airports and the Transportation Security Administration has told members of Congress that there hasn't been a single malfunction that might have exposed anybody to an excessive dose of radiation. But the TSA still hasn't released any of its X-ray inspection reports, two months after members of Congress called for transparency after USA TODAY was unable to gain access to the records. The TSA says it's still reviewing the reports for "sensitive information." The chairman of a House homeland security subcommittee calls the delay "inexcusable."  Read the full story: 'Inexcusable' delay on TSA body-scanner safety reports

USA TODAY previously reported that a 2008 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the TSA and its contractors had failed in the past to detect when X-ray machines used on baggage emitted excessive levels of radiation or had key safety features disabled. Read those reports at: TSA workers, experts worry about radiation exposure and Lawmakers call on TSA to release X-ray inspection reports

TSA-CDC "Do Not Board" list failed to stop health threats

A federal "Do Not Board" list failed one-third of the time to stop people from flying who had been deemed serious health threats to other airline passengers, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the "Do Not Board" list is separate from the terrorism "No Fly" list, its purpose is similar: to keep those who might pose a threat to travelers from flying. So far this year, the health list failed three times to stop high-risk individuals with tuberculosis from taking commercial flights. The incidents occurred in the months before a man who tried to bomb Times Square was able to board a Dubai-bound flight  in May despite being on the "No Fly" list. TSA took action to close a key loophole in the lists after the May incident. Why didn't TSA act earlier? Read the full story in USA TODAY: Loopholes in 'Do Not Board' list let infected travelers fly

TSA failed to identify past problems with X-ray machines

Thousands of passengers undergoing new full-body backscatter X-ray scans at U.S. airports are relying on the Transportation Security Admnistration to ensure the machines only deliver the small radiation dose needed to see through their clothes. But a 2008 report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's workplace safety arm found TSA and its contractors have failed in the past to identify baggage X-ray machines that were emitting more radiation than regulations allow. The TSA says all its X-ray machines -- for people and luggage -- have passed recent inspections. But so far the TSA hasn't released any of the reports, despite USA TODAY's repeated requests since last month. Read the full stories: Lawmakers call on TSA to release X-ray inspection records  and  TSA workers, experts worry about X-ray malfunctions

Did Blue Cross try to crush cost-saving health program?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan  -- a nonprofit created to help keep healthcare costs affordable -- has tried to derail a physical therapy company that designed programs to save auto giants Ford and Chrysler millions of dollars annually, according to a USA TODAY review of hundreds of pages of emails, internal documents and other court records. "They tried to destroy us," says Robert Whitton, CEO of the physical therapy company TheraMatrix. "We shouldn't have been in this position for creating a program that helped save health costs." Blue Cross denies any wrongdoing. Read the full story at: Case against Blue Cross shows difficulty of cutting health costs

Why didn't USDA's egg graders see rodents, filth?

Outbreak investigators for the Food and Drug Administration this week released details of what they found at two Iowa egg processing firms implicated in a nationwide salmonella outbreak. It was the FDA's first time inspecting Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms and they found mounds of manure, rodents, rodent holes, flies and other vermin. Yet the U.S. Department of Agriculture has had egg graders on site at both firms at least 40 hours a week -- including before the outbreak began. According to USDA's Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs, the agency's workers were supposed to enforce rules against rodents and vermin. Why didn't they see the problems found by FDA?

Check out USA TODAY's report: USDA egg graders on site before recall come under fire

Member of Congress wants answers on egg recall delay

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who is a top food safety watchdog as chair of the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, has sent a letter to federal health officials asking why it took so long for the public to be warned about the massive egg recall and outbreak. DeLauro cited a USA TODAY report Thursday that detailed how state and federal health agencies had identified Wright County Egg as a likely source of the outbreak at least  two weeks before the Aug. 13 recall.  Congress seeks answers on egg recall delay

States get millions to watchdog health insurance rates

To help curb health insurance rate hikes, states plan to use $46 million in federal grant money to seek new regulatory powers, hire actuaries and post rate filings on the internet, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY. Forty five states and the District of Columbia will get $1 million each under the nation's new health law. But some consumer groups question whether states have the political will to be aggressive watchdogs. "The track record shows they dont," said the Consumer Federation of America's Robert Hunter, a former Texas insurance commissioner. Grants to aid states vs. health rate hikes

Patients get more rights to appeal health claims denials

New federal regulations will give consumers expanded rights to appeal decisions made by health insurers to deny claims. The rules, released Thursday, will require insuers to more clearly tell consumers why they are denying claims and explain how to dispute the decision. They'll also give consumers nationwide a right to an independent, third-party appeal. While 44 states currently allow for some form of external appeal, current consumer protections vary widely, federal officials said.  Rules to ease consumer appeals in health coverage

Blue Cross health plans raise rates, stockpile money

Nonprofit Blue Cross and Blue Shield health plans have put billions of dollars into surplus funds while raising rates. While insurers must maintain surpluses to protect against unexpected surges in claims costs, a new report by Consumers Union questions whether amounts being stockpiled by some of the Blues are excessive. An analysis of 10 BCBS plans found seven held more than three times the regulatory minimum needed to ensure plans are financially sound. Blue Cross has billions in surplus