Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) from NIH

Holly Ann Burt, Outreach and Exhibits Coordinator from the Greater Midwest Region NLM Library has shared the following announcement: 

The National Library of Medicine Division of Specialized Information Services (SIS) has collaborated with the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) on a new database containing dietary supplement label information. ODS is the lead NIH Institute for dietary supplement information.

The new database, Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD), captures information on dietary supplements' labels and allows the searching, sorting, and filtering capabilities needed by researchers. Its data can be saved and analyzed. It is a significantly larger effort than the current NLM Dietary Supplements Labels Database and already contains 17,000 labels and images of labels. It is expected to grow rapidly over the next three years, eventually covering most of the 55,000 dietary supplement products sold to American consumers.  

More information can be found on the NIH website located here:  http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2013/nlm-17.htm.

Health Insurance Marketplace Education

From the National Network of Libraries of Medicine:
The Obama administration kicked off the Health Insurance Marketplace education effort with a new, consumer-focused HealthCare.gov website and the 24-hours-a-day consumer call center to help Americans prepare for open enrollment and ultimately sign up for private health insurance.  The new tools will help Americans understand their choices and select the coverage that best suits their needs when open enrollment in the new Health Insurance Marketplace begins October 1. 

HealthCare.gov is the destination for the Health Insurance Marketplace.  Americans may now access new educational information and learn what they can do to begin to get ready for open enrollment this fall.  The website will add functionality over the summer so that, by October, consumers will be able to create accounts, complete an online application, and shop for qualified health plans.  For Spanish speaking consumers, CuidadoDeSalud.gov will also be updated to match HealthCare.gov’s new consumer focus.

Between now and the start of open enrollment, the Marketplace call center will provide educational information and, beginning Oct. 1, 2013, will assist consumers with application completion and plan selection.  In addition to English and Spanish, the call center provides assistance in more than 150 languages through an interpretation and translation service.  Customer service representatives are available for assistance via a toll-free number at 1-800-318-2596 and hearing impaired callers using TTY/TDD technology can dial 1-855-889-4325 for assistance.

If you’re not a consumer looking for health insurance--and you want resources for your organization, technical Marketplace information, or press materials-- visit these sites respectively:

·         Marktplace.CMS.gov

·         CMS.gov/CCIIO

·         HHS.gov/HealthCare

To view the new look and new focus of the website, visit www. HealthCare.gov.

HHS is on target for open enrollment in the Marketplace, which begins Oct. 1, 2013, and other key milestones approaching in the months ahead.  Coverage will begin Jan. 1, 2014.

Questions or Concerns? Contact HHSIEA@hhs.gov.