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How is it going today?" This is a question that management likes to ask in the pharmacy. She walks in, uninvited, flashing a big smile. You know this is going to take up time you do not have. If you're lucky, she notices you are busy, waits patiently, and asks her question when you're between tasks.

Hoping to create a little buzz in the senior set about Medicare prescription drug discount cards, Uncle Sam is-for the first time-helping beneficiaries do some comparison-shopping.

Uncle Sam's belated recognition that pharmacists play a critical role in managing patients' medications is why Medicare's top administrator intends to encourage seniors to use their local retail pharmacy as a point of care when the prescription drug benefit goes live in 2006.

Costs of the research, development, and approval of new veterinary pharmaceuticals continue to rapidly increase. Thus, many manufacturers of veterinary drugs are looking to agents already licensed for human use to fill their pipeline of new products.

A recent survey found that 14% of heart failure patients with prescription drug coverage chose not to fill an Rx in the prior year due to cost. Now the findings of a new survey suggest that many of the sickest patients do not tell their healthcare providers what they are doing. Cost-related medication underuse: Do patients with chronic illnesses tell their doctors? was published in the Sept. 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

In today's society being tall is considered an asset, but for people with acromegaly, excessive growth is a symptom of a serious condition, oftentimes misdiagnosed. Excessive perspiration, extreme fatigue, headaches, generalized aches and pains, vision and sleep disturbances ... the widespread nature of these symptoms often leads patients to see different physicians of varying specialties. It is not until the symptoms of overgrowth and disfigurement of body parts develop that thought is given to the diagnosis of acromegaly.

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Zometa linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw

It is estimated that symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) persist into adulthood in 50% to 60% of those diagnosed with the condition in childhood and adolescence. According to researchers, more than eight million adults in the United States have ADHD .

CMS revises ASP calculation for Medicare Part B

R.Ph.s react to new overtime regs

Truvada from Gilead is a new drug just approved for HIV.

Breaking News for Sept. 13, 2004

USP holds meeting in Baltimore to discuss the establishment of a formulary for Medicare Part D

R.Ph.s react to new overtime regs

Stockchecker on antacids.

The painful physical symptoms of depression often go unrecognized and/or untreated, although 69% of those with the condition list physical symptoms as the main reason for a visit to their primary care physician. Fortunately, clinicians can now offer patients with depression an agent that addresses both depressed mood and common physical symptoms, such as back pain. The FDA recently approved duloxetine (Cymbalta, Eli Lilly) capsules for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. The drug is currently available in pharmacies.

An association for buying groups issues guidelines for hospitals on how to cope with drug shortages

Kopp drug opens 10th store in PA and carves niche in gifts and cards

New Kaiser study finds elderly confused by Medicare law, but association for pharmacy benefit managers disputes the findings

Case studies are given of patients who suffered errors related to radiology and radiological procedures.

The author believes that state boards of pharmacy should take steps to address pharmacists' heavy workload in the interest of patient safety

One hospital has developed an effective way to handle drug shortages with computerized alerts.

Consumers can get better comparisons of hospitals and other health facilities on the Web through JCAHO program

generic drug pricing

Breaking News for Aug. 23, 2004

The Department of Health & Human Services unveiled proposed regulations governing the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit slated to debut in January 2006.