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State lawmakers in California are considering a bill that would allow patients to opt out of health plan requirements that certain prescriptions be filled by mail order.

A federal report credits Florida’s crackdown on pill mills and doctor shoppers with reducing deaths from prescription-drug overdoses by nearly one quarter.

A bill that would authorize California pharmacists to dispense naloxone hydrochloride, a drug used to reverse opiate overdoses, has cleared several legislative hurdles.

A panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended healthy children between the ages of 2 and 8 receive nasal spray flu vaccines instead of flu shots.

We all know that electronic prescriptions solved all those script communication problems between prescribers and pharmacists, right? Well, the Cynical Pharmacist dispelled any such myths in his blog “Electronic prescriptions: Return to sender.” It was our most-read story of June.

FDA has approved Afrezza, insulin delivered through a small inhaler that is believed to act more rapidly than injectable insulins such Humalog and NovoLog.

Although intensive glycemic control has been the standard of care for delaying the onset and slowing the progression of microvascular disease, treatment burden and unwanted effects like weight gain, hypoglycemia, and gastrointestinal side effects do affect patients’ quality of life. Patient preferences and their views of treatment burden need to be considered when making decisions about glycemic treatment, according to a report published online for JAMA Internal Medicine.

Now that the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has secured the Internet domain .pharmacy, the group hopes the designation will help consumers identify legitimate online pharmacies and related resources.

Retail pharmacies that use Cardinal Health’s Heart Health Specialized Care Center will now have more tools to help patients manage cardiovascular health and prevent heart disease.

Kim Ankenbruck has a knack for expressing what many of her fellow pharmacists are thinking. Here, she tackles the question of how to practice integrity in an environment designed to punish the attempt.

On July 1, 2014, FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Small Business and Industry Assistance (CDER SBIA) will host a webinar designed to help manufacturers, repackagers, wholesale distributors, and dispensers identify suspect products.

FDA’s review of the hypertension drug olmesartan found no clear evidence of increased heart risks for diabetes patients, but the agency will require additional information be provided on the drug’s labels.

Last November, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) recommended statin therapy for approximately 33 million more Americans who don’t have cardiovascular disease (CVD), but have an estimated 10-year CV risk of 7.5% or higher.

If it’s a positive return on investment you seek, look no further than your local free medical clinic.

FDA has approved the new antibacterial drug tedizolid phosphate (Sivextro, Cubist Pharmaceuticals) to treat adults with skin infections.

The California State Supreme Court recently upheld a ruling that allows healthcare plans serving the poor to ignore what it costs pharmacies to obtain drugs when establishing Medi-Cal reimbursement rates.

A new law that will allow pharmacists in Kansas to create collaborative agreements with physicians will take effect in July.

A Utah pharmacist recently pled no contest to charges he filled a fraudulent prescription with M&Ms instead of pain pills, according to a report in the Salt Lake Tribune.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) recently warned about alphanumeric symbol mixups, particularly in handwritten scripts, which have led to medical errors.

The Boerhringer Ingleheim-Eli Lilly Diabetes Alliance presented more than 40 posters, abstracts, and oral presentations June 13-17 at the 74th American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in San Francisco.

Pharmacy groups, patient advocates, and many businesses are urging Congress to pass legislation that would allow Medicare beneficiaries to use discounted or preferred copays at independent pharmacies willing to accept the terms of Part D prescription drug plans.

A federal appeals court has ruled in Walgreens’ favor regarding a pharmacist who was dismissed after shooting at armed robbers with a legally concealed handgun.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has signed an emergency order allowing pharmacists to administer the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine to people 18 years or older.

Penn State Hershey Health System has joined the Rite Aid Health Alliance, which provides support to individuals with chronic and poly-chronic health conditions.

Electronic prescribing was supposed to be the savior of pharmacy. Things haven’t quite worked out that way.

Costly treatments are expected to drive unprecedented growth in U.S. drug spending over the next two years. Some analysts say that’s not good news for consumers or most pharmacists.

Patients must be taught what their meds mean and why they're taking them. That's a job for the pharmacist.