CMS issues position on resident training in non-hospital settings
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a document this month intended to clarify its Medicare policies on payments for residents training in non-hospital settings. The document provides CMS responses to nine questions relating to Medicare indirect medical education and direct graduate medical education payments, including volunteer supervisory time, supervisory costs and payments to non-hospital sites. CMS's clarification is not in keeping with the AAMC's long-standing position that teaching hospitals and non-hospital sites -- not the government -- are in the best position to determine the supervisory costs, if any, of community physicians when they are supervising residents at non-hospital sites. The AAMC is preparing a response to the CMS document. For more information, please visit http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/teachhosp/nonhospital.htm.

HHS proposes criteria for human research protections at foreign institutions
The Department of Health and Human Services has requested comment on criteria recommended to the Office for Human Research Protections to determine whether procedures prescribed by institutions outside the United States afford protections for human subjects that are at least equivalent to those provided in the U.S. federal "Common Rule." When research covered by the Common Rule is conducted in foreign countries, the federal agency head must determine whether the foreign institution's research safeguards are at least as thorough as those required of American institutions. New criteria have been proposed to aid in federal decision-making. Comments must be submitted by Tuesday, May 24. The AAMC will be submitting comments on the proposed criteria. For more information, please visit http://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=5922338437+20+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve.

NIH releases new consumer health publication
The National Institutes of Health have launched a new consumer health publication, "NIH News in Health," intended for the general public and for public health professionals. This free monthly newsletter offers practical health news and tips based on the latest research conducted by NIH scientists or by grantees at universities and medical schools around the country. For more information, please visit http://newsinhealth.nih.gov.