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Pennsylvania phases in program requiring hospitals to report drug-related and nondrug-related incidents under a new law

The federal prosecutor in Philadelphia filed fraud charges against Medco Health Solutions alledging that the PBM accepted drug manufacturer kickbacks for switching medications and ignored pharmacy practice regulations at its mail order facilites.

National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention issues guidelines to reduce med errors when meds are administered in schools, to the elderly in assisted living facilities, day care centers etc.

Clinicians will soon be able to treat serious bacterial infections using the first cyclic lipopeptide agent to receive FDA approval. The FDA recently approved daptomycin (Cubicin, Cubist Pharmaceuticals) for injection for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant strains), Streptococcus pyogenes, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, and Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-resistant strains only). Daptomycin is not indicated for the treatment of pneumonia. According to the manufacturer, daptomycin is expected to be available in hospitals in early November.

Several pharmacy groups plan to inform the Federal Trade Commission of their oppositon to the proposed merger of Caremark and AdvancePCS, two of the top four pharmacy benefit managers.

One key to controlling drug diversion in the pharmacy is to control the keys to the pharmacy, according to Jerry Moore, executive director of the Alabama pharmacy board.

Beginning October 31, 2004, Kansas pharmacy technicians will be required to pass an examination before they can be registered by the state pharmacy board.

Patients have a right to a copy of their protected health information under HIPAA

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

CMS to conduct pilot on pay for performance

Clinicians can soon offer women the convenience of an extended-cycle oral contraceptive (OC). The FDA recently approved levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol (Seasonale, Barr Laboratories) 0.15 mg/0.03 mg tablets for the prevention of pregnancy. The manufacturer plans a November 1 launch for Seasonale, the first extended-cycle OC to receive FDA approval.

Wausau/Liberty Mutual program takes aim at Rx costs

PCMA sues Maine to block law regulating PBMs

This installment covers drug errors arising from generic names

Ciprodex is a newly approved combination drug to treat middle ear infections

Clinicians will soon be able to offer the parents of children with common ear infections the first ototopical therapy that combines the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin and the antiinflammatory properties of dexamethasone. The FDA recently approved ciprofloxacin, 0.3% and dexamethasone, 0.1% (Ciprodex, Alcon) sterile otic suspension for the treatment of acute otitis media due to Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children age six months and older with tympanostomy tubes. Ciprodex was also approved for the treatment of acute otitis externa due to Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children age six months and older, adults, and older persons.

CMS proposes raising the rates for paying Medicare providers for outpatient care

If a Medicare Rx benefit allows PBMs administering the program to use their own mail order pharmacies, it would add $14.5 billion to $29 billion to the cost over 10 years, according to an analysis by two leading economists.

Discount Rx cards saved an average of less than $5 per script, according to a study by the Congressional General Accounting Office of nine drugs commonly prescribed for seniors.

Wholesalers pick independent superstar pharmacies for 2003

Lawyer tells pharmacists how to comply with HIPAA's security regulations

Clinicians who treat persons with Gaucher disease will soon be able to offer their patients the first oral treatment option for this condition to be approved in the U.S. The FDA recently approved miglustat (Zavesca, Actelion Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of adult patients with mild to moderate type I Gaucher disease for whom enzyme replacement therapy is not a therapeutic option. Miglustat will be available to patients later this year.

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.

If pharmacies don't beef up their patient leaflets by 2006, FDA will pass regulations, instead of relying on the private sector, to get the job done

USP safety review column

Presenters at the 2003 NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference listen to speakers opinions on proposed Medicare Rx legislation.

Florida passes law prohibiting illegible prescriptions and palm pilots do away with handwritten orders

The growth of specialty pharmacies.