Valerie Steinmetz's List: Geriatrics

MGH plans to make gene testing for cancer treatment standard in the next year. Tests will look for 100 abnormalities on 13 major cancer genes. Lab machines will be capable of testing 5,000 - 6,000 patients a year, replacing labor-intensive techniques. Cancer treatment is moving focus towards the genetic profile of the tumor and away from the location of the tumor. Cancer specialists caution that tumor can have many genetic abnormalities and a single test and drug are often not sufficient for treatment. MGH will charge $2,000 for the test and are asking insurers to pay this as part of basic care. Health plan representatives say they with pay for gene testing only when it has proven medical benefits.

Article published in Lancet on June 2008 operation where a patients own stem cells from bone marrow were used to line the donor trachea in a partial transplant surgery. A new technique strips donor cells from the trachea and replaces them with cells from the patient to prevent immune rejection. This is the first time stem cells have been used in transplanting airways. Researchers stress the procedure is still in its infancy.

In 30 states children are legally responsible, on paper, to pay for food, shelter, medical attention for indigent parents. A push to enforce these laws or create additional financial responsibility to offset costs of the growing baby boomer cohort on Medicaid may come to fruition over the next 5 years.