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Walgreen Co. has reached an agreement to purchase specialty pharmacy operator Option Care Inc. for about $850 million. Option Care, based in Buffalo Grove, Ill., provides a full spectrum of specialty-pharmacy and home-infusion services

According to CMS, its partner Argus Health Systems will begin building a network of pharmacies and the program will work similarly to third-party insurance?providing pharmacists with specific instructions on how to handle prescriptions for victims of disasters.

The Convenient Care Association (CCA), the industry trade group that represents retail clinics, recently met to discuss a response to American Medical Association concerns that the clinics represent a conflict of interest.

The purpose of the agreement is to make it possible for members of PPOK to gain entry into the home infusion and specialty pharmacy market with a Vital Care franchise.

s of Aug. 1, patients with cystic fibrosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection who have limited treatment options and are at risk for becoming worse off can access Gilead Sciences' investigational drug aztreonam lysine for inhalation.

The eight classes of drugs cited were hypertension, asthma, lipid management, anxiety/depression, schizophrenia, diabetes, smoking cessation, and HIV/AIDS.The eight classes of drugs cited were hypertension, asthma, lipid management, anxiety/depression, schizophrenia, diabetes, smoking cessation, and HIV/AIDS.

Previously, Coster was VP of policy and programs at NACDS, where he was responsible for policy issues relating to federal healthcare programs. At Rite Aid, Coster will be responsible for lobbying Congress and regulatory agencies on issues that will impact Rite Aid's business.

The program is available at all of the more than 1,100 Kmart pharmacies nationwide and offers a 90-day supply of more than 300 generic drugs for $15 each.

Merck has announced the recall of three lots of ertapenem sodium (Invanz) for injection after broken glass was found in two vials of reconstituted solution.

Researchers speculate that lower vitamin D levels from less sunlight could be a possible explanation for the geographic differences in anaphylaxis.

CMS is extending the registration and bid submission deadlines for the first round of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program.

CMS believes that eliminating the exemption will encourage healthcare providers to move as quickly as possible to e-prescribing using the SCRIPT standard.

HHS secretary Michael Leavitt announced a two-year effort designed to further protect Medicare beneficiaries from fraudulent suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, and orthotics supplies (DMEPOS).