Legal News

Medication management and safety errors were prominent topics at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists summer meeting in June.

Even as hospital pharmacists are struggling to meet previous mandates, the Joint Commission has released 2009 National Patient Safety Goals, including revisions to medication reconciliation.

A new year is coming, and with it a new administration in Washington, a new Congress, and a new, skeptical look at Medicare Part D.

Legitimate interests globally are facing a battle with pharmaceutical counterfeiters.

Securing prior authorization is a time-consuming and costly process. It burdens the dispensing practice, irritates patients, and could be simplified, according to a consensus of pharmacists.

FDA has imposed a change in drug labeling that once advised flushing unused drugs down the toilet. Now the agency is encouraging consumers and pharmacists to take advantage of drug take-back programs.

The merger of e-prescribing networks RxHub and SureScripts may go a long way toward accelerating e-prescribing adoption, which could lower pharmacists' transaction fees, according to one expert.

Physicians would have the choice of doling out electronic prescriptions for controlled substances with a proposed regulation from the DEA.

FDA warns about AIDS drug, abacavir, due to increased risk of potentially fatal side effects for some patients.

Renal care community is pleased with the passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, because the law contains provisions related to kidney dialysis.

Six vaccines, reflecting three new strains of the influenza virus, will do battle with the flu during the 2008-2009 season.

It will be out of commission for system maintenance on Aug. 10.

The Food and Drug Administration announced stricter limits on conflicts of interests for members of its advisory committees.

An exclusive Drug Topics survey asked, "With the presidential election coming up, whom do you plan to vote for?"

Move comes as part of a broader effort to encourage the adoption of health information technology.

A court had granted Medicaid providers a preliminary injunction against the proposed cuts.

Pharmacies that violate this rule could be fined up to $1,000.

ACIP now calls for all children (aged five to 18 years) to be vaccinated annually.

CMS plans to begin processing all claims no later than July 28.

NACDS president issues position statement.

The "Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008" (H.R. 6491) would modify current federal criminal code to confront, prevent and penalize organized retail crime.

The lawsuit is one of three supported by pharmaceutical interests.

It's unclear whether FDA will seek further review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Letter will inform companies that the drug review period is complete and that their application is not yet ready for approval.

The NCCN compendium will be used as a source for making chemo drug benefit decisions under Part B.

New technology news for pharmacists.

A delay in AMP implementation, prompt pay for Medicare Part D claims, and e-pedigree are among the major issues addressed at the NCPA legislative show.

A graduate intern working with me stated that in her pharmacy law class, she was informed that the consultation laws in Wisconsin have been changed so that the pharmacist now does not have to hand every Rx (including new Rxs if the patient has been consulted) to the customer. This change was brought on by a recent citation of me, which caused the board to rethink this rule (see Viewpoint, April 14.)