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Grant to Michigan hospitals to study ICU safety

This installment covers what happens if changes occur to protected health information

Clinicians will soon be able to offer HIV-positive patients a protease inhibitor (PI) that combines the convenience of flexible dosing with no restrictions on food or water. The FDA recently approved fosamprenavir (Lexiva, GlaxoSmithKline/Vertex Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of HIV infection in adults in combination with other antiretroviral agents. Fosamprenavir will be available in pharmacies later this month.

Massachusetts hospital's discovery of an unlicensed pharmacist on staff offers lessons for other hospitals

FDA holds meeting to discuss strategies to thwart drug counterfeiting

HDMA's task force releases guidelines on how to prevent drug shortages

Reasons why authorized generics are experiencing a resurgence

Clinicians will soon be able to offer their patients the first aldosterone-receptor blocker to be approved for the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). The FDA recently approved eplerenone (Inspra, Pfizer) to improve the survival of stable patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and clinical evidence of CHF following an acute myocardial infarction (MI).

National Quality Forum releases new standards that nursing homes must meet

Pharmacy boards that licensed Medco mail order facilities are closely watching the federal lawsuit filed against the giant PBM that include allegations of numerous violations state pharmacy practice acts.

USP drug safety review #2 - The dangers associated with vaccinations

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.

How the new Connecticut legislation allowing consultant pharmacists to initiate, modify, and discontinue drug therapy will change practice

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.