Legal News

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has come out with new, less stringent rules on the coverage of two popular anemia drugs. The new rules apply mostly to cancer patients who receive chemotherapy that causes anemia and people with the bone marrow disorder myelodysplasia.

CMS has proposed a rule that would require durable medical equipment suppliers to obtain a surety bond.

Medicare Survival Kit Links

Millions of dosage units of hydrocodone and alprazolam were distributed nationwide based on illegitimate Rxs.

Prosecutors charged Valdes with conspiring with the owners of Med-Pro Billing and Unimed Pharmacy to refer patients to them in exchange for half of what Medicare paid for compounded aerosol medications.

The author, a community pharmacist, shares his experience on how to spot fake prescriptions

The latest technology solutions for pharmacies.

The United States Pharmacopeia is finalizing revisions to Chapter 797 on sterile compounding for release this summer. The updated chapter will be released in two parts.

Getting work visas may prove to be more difficult for foreign-born pharmacists.

FDA and AHRQ heard from pharmacists and others that RiskMAPs have often caused complications in medication dispensing. Current drugs with RiskMAPs include Clozapine, Thalidomide, Lindane and Isotretinoin.

There is still inadequate communication among pharmacists from different practice settings about patients' medications. Pharmacists should take ownership of medication reconciliation.

Pseudoephedrine tracking systems improve on the log book to reduce burden on pharmacies and help law enforcement.

Pharmacists react to final rule for average manufacturers price rule for Medicaid generic drug reimbursement.

As part of this investigation, two Miami pharmacy owners testified that they billed Medicare for more than $20 million based on the referral of false prescriptions for compounded medications

CMS is encouraging providers to view their records to ensure that the information they furnished is current and accurate and does not include private information.

The Food and Drug Administration's "Medication Guide" program, set up nine years ago as a major avenue of informing patients about risks or special issues with certain drugs, has a host of problems, according to pharmacists and other witnesses at a recent hearing.

In proposed legislation that could save millions of taxpayer dollars in drug costs, the U.S. Senate is considering extending current 340B program discounts to include inpatients.

Delegates at the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy debate ePedigrees, medical errors, and Internet pharmacies

RFID progress still slow; ezScriptWriter for legible Rxs; reducing drug diversion through ImageWare Forensic Medicine Technology; Know Your Number health-risk addessment tool; e-prescriptions grow

The FDA is weighing whether to allow a system for electronic insert information for most prescription drugs, replacing paper Rx inserts.

Some state legislatures move to increase Medicaid dispensing fees in preparation for the implementation of the new Medicaid AMP rule

Chronically underfunded, these agencies struggle to meet their responsibilities while fighting state and federal groups for control.

At press time, the Senate has passed the Food & Drug Administration Revitalization Act (S. 1082), which gives the FDA more powers to require manufacturers to conduct postmarketing studies to improve patient safety.

Hospitals should hold manufacturers accountable for their drug claims in their contracts

The use of intravenous (IV) syringes for non-IV applications such as enteral feedings poses many risks, especially for the pediatric and neonatal population which has a majority of their oral and enteral doses provided through a gastric tube. The Baxa Corporation recently announced the launch of a new educational campaign to make healthcare providers aware of these problems and offer solutions.

CMS issues final rule for competitive acquisition program for DMEPOS suppliers

The use of intravenous (IV) syringes for non-IV applications such as enteral feedings poses many risks, especially for the pediatric and neonatal population which has a majority of their oral and enteral doses provided through a gastric tube. The Baxa Corporation recently announced the launch of a new educational campaign to make healthcare providers aware of these problems and offer solutions.

CMS officials urge pharmacists to get NPI numbers and health plans to develop contingency plans.