Legal News

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.

State pharmacy boards are generally exempt from the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), according to the attorney representing the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

The Pharmacy Freedom Fund and the National Community Pharmacists Association filed lawsuits against Medco Health Solutions and AdvancePCS, charging the PBMs with antitrust violations.

In an effort to facilitate the ease of patients getting their medicaitons, the Kentucky pharmacy board adopted a therapeutic equivalency regulation allowing pharmacists to substitute drugs within a class with the prescriber's prior approval.

Pharmacists can expect more breach of confidentiality lawsuits due to the publicity about the HIPAA patient privacy mandate, warns a malpractice insurance expert.

Three state pharmacy boards are adopting an on-line pharmacist licensure renewal program developed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

New Harris Interactive survey finds that concern over patient lawsuits have a profound impact on how pharmacists practice.

Provisions under House and Senate versions of prescription drug benefits legislation and their impact on FDA final rules regarding generic drug approvals under the Waxman-Hatch Act.

Some Canadian mail order pharmacies are now sponsoring prescription parties to help American senior citizens import medications even though the FDA has warned that anyone aiding and abetting such illegal importation is subject to civil and criminal charges.

Doezens of national and state pharmacy associations endorsed a joint communique on drug importation from Canada issued by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and Canada's National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities.

Pharmacies must document and disclose to patients who ask when state pharmacy board inspectors skim through Rx records, according to the director of the HHS Office of Civil Rights, which oversees enforcement of the Health Insurance and Portability Act (HIPAA).

At the 99th annual meeting of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, Food & Drug Administration officials urged state pharmacy boards to help the agency cope with the growing number of storefront operations facilitating illegal Rx drugs pouring into the U.S. from Canada.

U.S. regulators target the new gold rush--prescription drug imports from across the border.

In a wrongful death lawsuit alleging a pharmacy dispensed excessive narcotic refills, a Florida judge ruled that a pharmacist must exercise the care and prudence which a reasonably careful and prudent pharmacist exercises.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy urged HHS Secretary Thompson and FDA Commissioner McClellan to enforce laws against the importation of non-FDA approved Rx drugs through foreign Internet and mail order pharmacies.

A Tacoma brain cancer patient sued a pharmacistwho questioned her Percocet prescription and phoned the police, which lead to her arrest on a felony Rx fraud charege.

In an apparent first, Massachusetts has added a physician and a nurse as members of the state pharmacy board.

Debate between brand and generic drug companies contues to rage over whether the Waxman-Hatch Act should be overhauled.

ASCP reviews its upcoming legislative plate.

In order for things to evolve, they must change, and hopefully for the better. This is certainly true of pharmacy. Although there have been many changes in the way pharmacists are reimbursed for their services, marking their increased acceptance as healthcare providers, many more changes need to happen.

IG focuses on fraud in partial refills and billing for experimental drugs

Pharmacies have just six months to get ready to implement HIPAA, the massive federal patient privacy protection regulations.

OIG advisory bulletin on gifts to Medicaid/Medicare beneficiaries

A U.S. Senator wants random testing of compounded drugs but state pharmacy boards think such oversight is not workable.

The Canadian border poses several issues state pharmacy boards will have to address, including R.Ph. licensure, Internet pharmacies, and cross border medication purchases.

The Pharmacy Freedom Fund is raising money to fund a national class action lawsuit against pharmacy benefit managers on behalf of community pharmacy.