Legal News

Medication therapy management services (MTMS), as outlined in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA 2003), is likely to have a significant impact on pharmacy practice, Jannet Carmichael, Pharm.D., told attendees at the American College of Clinical Pharmacy annual meeting, held last month in Dallas. She is PBM manager at VISN 21 Health Care Services at the VA Sierra Pacific Network in Reno.

If prescribers in your state are not using tamper-resistant prescription pads, they will. So predicted Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. California and New York have joined New Jersey, Texas, and at least nine other states in requiring special safety-paper Rx pads for some or all controlled substance Rxs.

Pharmacists in charge of residency programs should be aware that ASHP's Commission on Credentialing has recently approved several new rules related to the way such programs are accredited or reaccredited.

Drug restocking is the resale of previously sold medication that has been returned to a pharmacy or mail-order company unopened. The returns to pharmacies are by a long-term care or assisted living facility after a patient has died or had a prescription that has been discontinued.

A recent Office of Inspector General study of how much states pay R.Ph.s for Medicaid drugs outrages some industry leaders. "I'm disgusted," said John Coster, VP of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. "Instead of a real analysis of the program, they restate the obvious, which is that states pay [for Medicaid drugs] differently. With all due respect, it reflects a trend of OIG reports that lack methodological rigor."

Q : What are the merits and drawbacks of participating in a class action lawsuit? From time to time, pharmacists are invited to take part in such activities. How should they determine whether to do this?

Q : What are the merits and drawbacks of participating in a class action lawsuit? From time to time, pharmacists are invited to take part in such activities. How should they determine whether to do this?

Under new budget legislation signed by Gov. George Pataki, as of April 19, 2006, all written prescriptions in New York State-covering both controlled and noncontrolled substances-must go on new, bar-coded, serialized Rx blanks. In addition, as of June 2005, pharmacists must report information about their controlled substance dispensing record electronically to the state.

Mad as hell about mandatory mail-order contracts, some independent pharmacists have launched petition drives to put pressure on state legislators to ban a practice they feel is bad for their patients and may be even worse for their businesses.

Fourteen California pharmacies have taken 15 drug manufacturers to court over their pricing policies. The group of independent stores and small chains is charging some of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms with conspiracy, price fixing, and price gouging in the U.S. marketplace.

The antipsychotics, SSRIs, should carry stronger warnings for pregnant patients, according to experts.

NCPA holds annual legislative conference and reviews its accomplishments before its members

Pharmacy boards move to a kinder, gentler approach of regulating for outcomes

Former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala and former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani were among the speakers addressing the issue of drug importation at the 100th annual meeting of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

Oxycontin is at the center of several lawsuits to determine whether or not it will be marketed in a generic form.

New Jersey revised its 100-year-old pharmacy practice act to allow pharmacists to administer immunizations and enter collaborative practice agreements to manage drug therapy under protocol.

Minnesota Board of Pharmacy inspectors vetted Canadian pharmacies in advance of a state-sponsored Web site steering citizens north of the border for their Rxs.

The North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld the state pharmacy board's power to discipline pharmacists and pharmacies when an error is made after the R.Ph. has filled more than 150 scripts on one shift.

The politics of Canadian drug importation has muzzled pharmacy boards in states where governors and mayors are gung-ho for bringing in lower priced medications to score points with voters.

List of 85 drugs that were offered as generics for the first time in 2003

Now that a new year has started, here's a look at what bills states are grappling with

In the face of an explosion of mail order drug importation, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy is working with NAPRA, its Canadian counterpart, to build a framework for inter-border pharmacy regulation to protect both U.S. and Canadian patients.

The explosion in Canadian mail order pharmacy shipments to U.S. consumers is causing drug and pharmacist shortages in Manitoba, according to a survey of pharmacists by the Coalition for Manitoba Pharmacy.

A U.S. District Court judge ordered Rx Depot to shut down its storefront operations that send U.S. consumers' prescriptions across the border to be illegally filled by Canadian mail order pharmacies.

"You cannot ignore politics, or if you do, you do so at your peril," declared Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.), at the American College of Clinical Pharmacy annual meeting last month in Atlanta, Ga. To end the session, a short video was shown that offered tips for making a visit to a member of Congress a success. These tips include planning the visit carefully, making an appointment, being prompt and patient, being prepared, being political, and being responsive.

New California law does away with triplicates for controlled substances

Pharmacy boards that licensed Medco mail order facilities are closely watching the federal lawsuit filed against the giant PBM that include allegations of numerous violations state pharmacy practice acts.

The Iowa pharmacy board suspended the license of a Dubuque community pharmacy accused of illegally filling controlled substance prescriptions for an Internet site.

Federal and state regulators cracked down on storefronts that partner with mail order operations illegally importing drugs into the U.S. at the same time the Illinois governor is considering an Rx import plan for state employees.

Texas R.Ph. and Senator Letitia Van De Putte lead the 11 Democrats who fled to New Mexico to thwart a Republican plan to redistrict the state's Congressional seats.